The Stacking Benjamins Show
Episode SB1794: "How to Afford Life Without Living Like a Monk"
Date: January 23, 2026
Guests:
- Joe Saul-Sehy (Host)
- Paula Pant (Afford Anything)
- Jesse Kramer (Personal Finance for Long Term Investors)
- Justin Brown Woods (Price of Avocado Toast)
Overview
This episode of Stacking Benjamins tackles the pressing issue of affordability in 2026, exploring how to enjoy life and reach your financial goals without resorting to ascetic, "monk-like" living. The hosts and guests bring their trademark fun, approachable tone to discuss actionable strategies, psychological tricks, and lifestyle shifts to help listeners afford the "new normal"—even as inflation and expenses keep rising.
Key Topics & Insights
1. Dining Out and Food Spending
[11:01 - 16:41]
- Main idea: Food is one of the "big three" expenses (alongside housing and transportation) where most people have a surprising amount of control.
- Paula Pant: Emphasizes the outsized impact of eating out, including delivery or takeout, versus home cooking. She distinguishes between “recreational” dining out (for joy and memories) and “convenience” dining out (due to lack of planning), recommending people target the latter:
“The eating that is conscious and thoughtful and you have the joy of anticipation is very different than the eating that you do because it’s 7:30pm, you’re hungry, you haven’t thought about what to make for dinner, and the easiest thing to do is just open up Uber Eats.” – Paula [12:09]
- Justin Brown Woods: He and his wife cut their $700/month restaurant habit to zero while paying down debt – and discovered family meals at home were more fulfilling:
“It created this nightly routine of sitting around the table as a family... we ask, ‘what was your favorite part of the day?’... It’s become this really meaningful part of our family.” – Justin [13:38]
- Jesse Kramer: Agrees that eating out should be a special treat.
- Takeaway: Examine your dining out habits, focus on value not deprivation.
2. Make Variable Expenses Predictable
[17:30 - 18:51]
- Justin: Advocates turning variable bills into fixed, predictable ones via programs like "budget billing" for utilities or structured meal planning.
“Anytime you can get a variable expense and make it a fixed expense, that's going to help you with affordability because it's predictable. It brings that chaos meter down.” – Justin [18:21]
- Joe: Highlights that reducing the unpredictability (chaos) in bills can reduce stress that leads to further “coping” spending.
3. “Just Fix Something” to Build Momentum
[20:52 - 23:44]
- Joe: Notes that simply taking an action—correcting even a $6 overcharge—can shift your mindset from powerless to proactive.
- Paula: Shares her $5.99 shipping story as an example; even the tiniest fix reinforces your identity as someone who manages their money:
“Does it remind me that I am the type of person who is conscientious about her bills? Yes... fixing something, even if it’s $6, does remind you that you’re the type of person who does that, and that becomes a motivating factor.” – Paula [22:51]
4. Taming the Subscriptions Hydra
[23:49 - 29:32]
- Jesse: Warns about the explosion of recurring subscription models (“$17/month forever”). Suggests delaying the decision or limiting to one streaming service at a time.
“Delay decisions that create permanent and recurring expenses.” – Jesse [24:00]
- Justin: Finds overlooked subscriptions are top of the list when helping clients find extra money. He recommends a full review:
“The amount of subscriptions is just wild… let’s examine that for a sec… are they really bringing value?” – Justin [25:15]
- Joe: Shares how “subscription cycling” (binging one service at a time) saved his cousin plenty.
- Paula: Reminds, “The real question is, are you using it?” It’s okay to pay for value, but prune unused or unnecessary recurring charges.
5. Building Affordability Through Self-Awareness
[42:01 - 43:43]
- Justin: Suggests tracking your psychological “triggers”—stressful moments, specific times, or routines that lead to impulse spending.
“Recognize when triggers show up for you and steer away from those moments… That impulse spend is where people get thrown off.” – Justin [42:55]
- Joe: Adds, try observing your urges without acting for two minutes. “Surf the wave”—the craving often passes.
6. The Big One: Housing
[47:01 - 50:14]
- Paula: Recommends considering a move to a less expensive home—not just rent/mortgage, but all “downstream” costs: utilities, taxes, maintenance. Shares a personal story of buying a triplex with roommates to drive housing costs to zero.
- Justin: Many clients save substantial amounts by “right-sizing” their housing, even if it means moving or renting after owning.
7. Rethinking Financial “Necessities”
[54:28 - 59:27]
- Jesse: Encourages listeners to “rethink what’s mandatory and avoid paying for status you don’t actually care about,” using cell phone plans as a prime example.
- All: Discuss trade-offs of top-end phones and expensive plans vs. alternatives (family plans, discount carriers). It’s about honesty:
“Is an iPhone 17 [really] mandatory for me to live a fulfilling life?” – Jesse [54:28]
- Paula: Has used discount cell phone provider Mint for 6+ years and sees no loss in quality.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On fixed costs and unpredictability
“If you can remove that chaos, things start to feel more affordable.” – Justin [18:35]
- On behavioral finance
“From a behavioral lens, does [correcting a $6 error] remind me that I am the type of person who is conscientious about her bills? Yes.” – Paula [22:51]
- On subscriptions
“Their business model is predicated on people being members and not using the service.” – Jesse (on gyms) [26:43]
- On housing
“Making that move has an enormous upfront cost… but it alters so many downstream expenses.” – Paula [47:19]
- On impulse spending triggers
“It’s that idea of just holding up a mirror to yourself… and spiral less.” – Justin [43:10]
Episode Structure & Timestamps
- Dining out and food spending: [11:01 – 16:41]
- Predictable (fixed) expenses: [17:30 – 18:51]
- Taking first steps/fixing small things: [20:52 – 23:44]
- Subscriptions audit: [23:49 – 29:32]
- Discussion on values-based spending: [29:14 – 29:52]
- Classic Stacking Benjamins trivia segment: [30:51 – 41:39]
- Impulse triggers & 'noticing’ habits: [42:01 – 43:43]
- Cutting housing costs: [47:01 – 50:14]
- Mandatory spending & lifestyle inflation: [54:28 – 59:27]
Actionable Takeaways
- Audit your dining out and delivery habits—save big by flagging “convenience” splurges.
- Where possible, convert variable bills to fixed, predictable amounts—reduce stress & chaos.
- Fix something, anything; taking bold action (no matter how small) builds agency and momentum.
- Review and prune subscriptions aggressively—don't pay for what you don’t use.
- Notice personal spending triggers. “Surf the urge” and break the cycle.
- Don’t be afraid to “right-size” your housing, even if it means a big change.
- Challenge what’s truly “necessary”—phones, “status” items, plans, memberships.
Fun & Tone
- This episode stays true to Stacking Benjamins' “fun + functional” blend—quick banter, self-deprecating humor (see Paula’s “Afford Anything abbreviates to AA” joke [47:08]), and lots of lived experience.
- Listeners are repeatedly encouraged to focus on value and intent, not deprivation—“you don’t have to live like a monk.”
Where to Find More:
- Justin Brown Woods: @priceofavocadotoast (Instagram, TikTok); Price of Avocado Toast podcast (hiatus, but evergreen episodes) [60:27]
- Jesse Kramer: Personal Finance for Long Term Investors blog & podcast [61:11]
- Paula Pant: Afford Anything podcast [62:36]
Final Wisdom
“If you don’t make changes to the things you’re thinking about right now and you let it go for two days, you’re probably not going to do anything.” – Joe Saul-Sehy [59:47]
Pause. Act. Start fixing your affordability leaks—today.
Show summary by Stacking Benjamins Podcast Summaries.