Podcast Summary: "Own Your Time: Build a Life You Control w/ Andy Hill"

How to Money (iHeartPodcasts), Episode #1088, January 14, 2026
Host: Joel
Guest: Andy Hill, Author of "Own Your Time," founder of "Marriage, Kids and Money" podcast

Episode Overview

This episode explores what it truly means to "own your time"—building a life that feels balanced, controlled, and purposeful, rather than rushed and reactive. Joel sits down with Andy Hill to discuss actionable strategies for taking more control of your time and finances, practical ways to align money decisions with your values, and the personal journey Andy and his family took from overworked professionals in debt to value-driven solopreneurs with a flexible, intentional lifestyle.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance of Owning Your Time and Defining “Enough”

• Joel kicks off by highlighting that we all have the same 24 hours, yet some seem to make life more enjoyable and meaningful. The difference, the hosts argue, is intentionality around both money and time.
• Andy says that for him and his wife, their journey toward owning their time began when they wanted to have kids and realized their demanding careers left them with little space for family (04:48).

  “We were in a stuck position saying we want time with each other and our kids, but our careers are kind of taking over. … That was a stuck moment for us in our late 20s.” —Andy (04:48)

• Discovering they had a negative $50,000 net worth, despite good salaries, was a wake-up call that forced them to address their finances head-on (06:15).

2. Getting on the Same Page as a Couple

• Andy describes the challenge of “spirited marital compromise.” His initial focus on numbers and deprivation “turned [his wife] off.” He learned to start with each other’s dreams rather than spreadsheets (08:14).
• Advice for couples: Begin with dreaming together, not numbers. Use exercises like “what would you stop doing if you got a $5 million check tomorrow?” (10:11).

  “Start with dreaming. We used to do this as kids … then we stop dreaming, because we’re so busy just going.” —Andy (10:11)

3. The Basic Habits That Lead to Buying Back Your Time

• Know your numbers: Know both what comes in and where it goes. Most people know what they make, but not where it all goes (12:44).

  “Where’s it going? ... That’s more important than how much you’re making, really.” —Andy (13:15)

• Create margin: The gap between income and expenses is your “power move” for freedom (14:26).
• Cutting expenses with care: Start with easy or nonessential cuts (unused subscriptions, renegotiated insurance). Only address larger items like housing if necessary, and remember you can only cut so much before it affects joy (14:55).
• Increasing income: Don’t just cut—look for ways to earn more (raises, side hustles, selling unused items), balancing both approaches (14:55).

4. Considering “Extreme” or Non-Traditional Moves

• Examples include moving to a lower cost of living area or “right-sizing” a home—not always about downsizing, but fitting your actual needs (17:41, 18:26).
• The importance of questioning the default social script of “bigger is always better.”

5. Dealing with Debt and “The Debt Hatred Method”

• Beyond debt snowball or avalanche: pay off debts that you hate the most first, regardless of interest rate. Emotional relief can be more motivating and effective (19:50).

  “If you owe some money to your brother … and you hate it, it’s like, pay that baby off first!” —Andy (19:50)

6. Education Decisions: Is More Always Better?

• Andy and Joel discuss when advanced degrees do (and don’t) make sense—depends on personal goals and if the degree unquestionably bolsters your earning power. Andy regrets getting an MBA since it didn’t deliver the uptick he hoped for (21:38, 24:03).

7. The Solopreneur Life: How Andy Transitioned

• Andy shares how he used savings intended for real estate (“$100,000 FU Money Fund”) to buy himself a runway for launching his solopreneur business (28:38).

  “My wife said, ‘Why don’t you just use that as a financial runway for this digital solopreneur thing you’ve been doing?’ That was … the best words that ever came out of my wife’s mouth—besides ‘I do.’” —Andy (28:38)

• The three supports needed: Proven concept/side income, financial runway, and family support.
• The importance of being willing to experiment, fail, and even return to your old career if necessary (“It’s not the end of the world to go back.”) (32:00).

8. Working LESS on Purpose

• Over five years, Andy and his wife reduced their workweek from 40-50 hours to 20-25 hours, experimenting with a three-day workweek and four-day weekends (33:13, 35:09).

  "I'm able to pay myself $100,000 by working 20–25 hours a week. That's like the dream life I’ve always wanted.” —Andy (36:36)

• Using trial, error, and “hacking away at the unessential” (Bruce Lee quote) to constantly refine what’s worth your time.

9. Emergency Funds, Experimentation and Resilience

• The 2020 pandemic was an early challenge—Andy lost most of his business revenue. Having both financial buffer and emotional support (from his wife and father) made weathering this possible (37:06).
• A business emergency fund is especially important for entrepreneurs—“waves” of income will come (37:07).

10. Owning Time without Entrepreneurship

• Andy offers advice for people who want more time but don’t want to be business owners:
  • If you’re a good employee, ask for a part-time arrangement (39:55).
  • Seek part-time or flexible positions elsewhere.
  • Consider freelancing for high hourly rates in your existing industry.

11. When Should You Start Using Savings to Buy Your Time Back?

• There's always a tension between “keep piling up the nest egg” versus recognizing when you have “enough” to dial back and enjoy life now.

  “Find out your ‘enough.’ … At what point can you say, ‘That’s good, I think I’ve got enough. Life is for living.’” —Andy (43:23)

12. What Owning Your Time Looks Like in Practice

• Mondays: Focus on family—running with his wife, exercise, prepping for the week, errands—before the kids get home.
• Fridays: Social time—lunch, pickleball, movies with friends (with the “luxury” of empty theaters!).
• Weekends: Left completely unplanned.
• The increased time allows for more “do-it-yourself” home and meal tasks, saving money and improving health (51:08, 51:40).

  “Instead of somebody else making food with a lot of butter and a lot of salt, I’m making the food the way I need to.” —Andy (51:40)

13. Overworking, Guilt, and the Cultural Narrative

• Joel and Andy discuss American “work pride” and how overwork takes a toll on health, family life, and longevity (53:01).

  “If there’s corporations behind [the overwork message]: 60, 70 hours is something to be proud of. Sleep, right? Get three hours a night of sleep. No. … I’d rather work fewer hours … and also be present for my family.” —Andy (53:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On intentional dreaming (10:11):

  "We used to do this when we were kids all the time … and then we stop dreaming, because we're so busy just going." —Andy

• On the reality check of net worth (06:15):

  “We were making a lot of money, but we were spending all of it, and we had a negative $50,000 net worth.” —Andy

• On the power of a supportive spouse (28:38):

  “That was like the best words that have ever come out of my wife’s mouth besides ‘I do.’ … She said, ‘You got this.’”

• On cutting expenses vs. increasing income (14:55):

  “You can only cut so far before you or your spouse says, ‘Hey, man, this can't all be about deprivation.’”

• On the “debt hatred method” (19:50):

  “Line up the ones that you hate the most to the ones you hate the least … pay that baby off first!”

• On finding the “sweet spot” for work (36:36):

  "I'm able to pay myself $100,000 by working 20 to 25 hours a week. That's like the dream life I've always wanted."

• On not letting others write your story (top takeaway, 54:48):

  “Make sure somebody else isn’t dictating what’s best for you.” —Joel (Summing up Andy’s message)

Important Timestamps

• [02:46] Andy's introduction and splurging preferences
• [04:48] Early career and the trigger to change
• [06:15] Net worth reality check
• [08:14] How to get on the same page as a couple
• [12:44] Most crucial habits for buying back time
• [14:55] Reducing expenses vs. deprivation
• [17:41] Extreme measures and “right-sizing”
• [19:50] The “debt hatred method”
• [21:38] The true cost-benefit of advanced degrees
• [28:38] Transition to solopreneurship and the importance of “FU money”
• [33:13] How to engineer a shorter workweek
• [37:06] Early business failures and lessons from the pandemic
• [39:55] Advice for non-entrepreneurs to own their time
• [43:23] When to start buying back your time (“find your enough”)
• [48:54] What Andy’s days look like in practice
• [51:40] How more time leads to saving on convenience
• [53:01] Challenging overwork and guilt

Tone and Style

The episode is conversational, candid, and reflective. Both Joel and Andy share personal stories and use humor, with a warm, approachable vibe. Advice is empathetic—not prescriptive or judgmental.

Key Takeaways for Listeners

• Owning your time is available to anyone ready to be intentional about aligning money with personal values and long-term dreams—regardless of starting point.
• Experimentation and small wins (both financial and lifestyle) compound over time.
• The “right” work-life balance is unique—don’t let outside expectations dictate your goals.
• You can start buying back time before “full FI”—through negotiation, part-time arrangements, or flexible work even if you are not entrepreneurial.
• Prioritize dreaming, intentionality, and partnership in both finances and how you structure your days.

Resources Mentioned

• Andy’s new book: Own Your Time (out January 21, 2026)
• Andy’s podcast: Marriage, Kids and Money

For more, visit howtomoney.com.