Podcast Summary: The Stacking Benjamins Show

Episode: The Money Basics That Save You When Life Goes Sideways (SB1782)

Date: December 31, 2025
Hosts: Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, Doug
Featured Guest: Tiffany Aliche (The Budgetnista)

Episode Overview

On the last Stacking Benjamins episode of 2025, Joe and OG bring on Tiffany Aliche, also known as “The Budgetnista,” to share lessons about foundational money skills—particularly the basics that create a safety net when life throws unexpected challenges. The show transitions from its trademark lighthearted banter to profound, real-life financial lessons as Tiffany vulnerably recounts her husband’s sudden passing and how core money principles allowed her to survive tragedy. The episode highlights the importance of estate planning, insurance, giving yourself grace, and building supportive financial habits and communities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Reflecting on 2025 and Teeing Up the Conversation

• The hosts share highlights from their year—golf wins (01:08), memorable trips, and breakfast burritos—before announcing Tiffany Aliche as the episode’s central guest.
• Joe sets the stage for a candid, heartfelt interview:

  “This is one of those interviews...your job is to shut up. Because Tiffany had some horrible things happen...If 2025 wasn’t a great year for you, it isn’t about what happens because bad things are going to happen. It’s about how you respond.” (05:07)

TikTok Minute—Gordon Ramsay’s Porsche (11:28–14:46)

Segment Topic: Gordon Ramsay shares a story about selling his Porsche to afford a home, highlighting financial priorities.

Key Quote (Gordon Ramsay, via TikTok clip):

“Here I am driving around in a flash 911, and we didn’t even have a house… the best advice he ever gave me: sell your Porsche. I did sell it, and 10 years later I went and bought it back.” (12:29)

Lesson:

• Joe and OG use Ramsay’s example to discuss letting go of aspirational possessions to put true financial security first.
• OG emphasizes:

  “Everything counts. Everything’s on the table, even the thing you like the most… You can buy it back later. It’s just a car.” (13:47)

Extended Interview: Tiffany Aliche (Budgetnista) on Money Basics

(Starts ~15:51)

1. Names, Background, and Family Money Norms

• Tiffany recounts the story behind her Nigerian name and becoming “Tiffany” in the US (16:01–17:16).
• Discusses how her immigrant parents normalized frugality—one big holiday gift, practical presents, and resisting consumerist expectations.

• “My parents normalized frugality… For me now, it’s really the way I navigate from a happy place. I don’t feel like I’m living less not having all the things that make you look wealthy on the outside.” (20:24)

2. Giving Yourself Grace with Money Mistakes

• Counsels listeners not to expect perfection—allow yourself “grace and space” after overspending or slipping (17:51–18:37).
• Introduces the concept of making budgeting and gift-giving collaborative, not isolating.

3. Building Support Systems—Your "Linda"

• Details the vital role of her best friend Linda:

  “She creates a safe space for me to show up as myself imperfectly… Linda doesn’t think you’re terrible. So maybe you’re not.” (22:44)

• Stresses the value of safe, judgment-free zones for sharing money struggles, whether that’s through friends, family, or Budgetnista’s Dreamcatchers community.

4. Practical Budgeting—“Split it Before You Get It” (26:54–30:43)

• No need for complex apps:

  “I’ve never used an app for my budget. Maybe because my dad was an accountant and so I’m a spreadsheet girl all the way.” (26:13)

• Outlines her four-account system:
  • Two checking (spending, bills), two savings (emergency, long-term/goals/investing).
  • Automate payroll splits, disconnect the debit card from the bills account to prevent overspending.
  • Joe: “Just getting the money in the right spot and taking it out of my hand… is absolutely huge.” (29:51)

5. The Power of Little Wins

• Normalize small, incremental improvements—compare with walking for exercise versus jumping into the gym (30:56–33:04).

6. Insurance: The Most Overlooked Money Basic (33:15–37:57)

• Tiffany: “I didn’t fully understand that the real purpose of insurance is to protect the assets that you’ve grown.” (33:22)
• Highlights neglected insurance types:
  • Life insurance outside the workplace, renters insurance (often <$20/mo), disability insurance (vital for income replacement if a health crisis hits).

• “Disability is probably the number one [missing insurance]. People underestimate it… You can get this gap insurance… if you don’t have 6 months worth of savings.” (37:10)

7. Estate Planning: When to Start & Lessons from Sudden Loss (38:08–46:43)

• Start your estate plan as soon as you have anything worth protecting.
• Update beneficiaries, wills, and consider a trust as assets grow.
• Tiffany’s personal story: Her husband Jerrel died suddenly at 41.

  “Two years ago… my husband passed away suddenly from an aneurysm… and because we had done a lot of the financial work ahead of time, it made it easier. But the 15% [of planning] that we didn’t do… oh boy, oh boy.” (41:06)

• Practical grieving advice:

  • Keep joint accounts for liquidity.

  • Keep the deceased’s cell phone active for access to critical codes/emails/accounts.

  • Collect important documents in a fireproof bag.

  • Take candid photos and videos—emotional legacies matter too.

  • Joe: “When my brother died… we had to go look for [his financial info].” (45:16)

  • Tiffany: “Your cell phone and email are the key to everything… All my sisters know my password to my cell phone and my email.” (46:51)

8. Taking a Pause to Grieve—And the Importance of Flexibility (49:15–54:00)

• Recounts traveling to Bali for two months to process the loss, enabled by her financial buffer and automated systems.

• “My therapist said, ‘Tiffany, you have unlocked the next level of human living, which is you understand that to love is to lose’… and we choose to love anyway.” (53:32)

9. The Real Purpose of Money

• It's not about consumerism, perfection, or “get rich quick” schemes.

• “The purpose of the financial component is to free up energy, space, and time so you can work on the love and connectedness.” (54:00)

Takeaways & Actionable Steps

• Start or update your estate plan—wills, beneficiaries, trusts where appropriate.
• Don’t skip disability and renters insurance.
• Automate and simplify:
  • Use separate accounts for bills, spending, emergency, and long-term goals.
  • Split direct deposits to remove temptation and ease tracking.
• Build your financial support system: Find your “Linda,” join communities, and seek out safe spaces for money talk—judgment-free.
• Give yourself grace: No one gets it perfect. Start where you are.
• Document and communicate: Let those you love know how to access important information; collect shared memories.

Notable Quotes & Emotional Moments

• Tiffany Aliche on Financial Grace:
  “You are not here to get it perfect. You are just here to do your best…give yourself grace and space if you don’t.” (17:51)

• On Insurance and Planning for the Unexpected:
  “Death is the most common uncommon thing…You think you have so much time.” (41:26)

• On Grief and Money Readiness:
  “You’re not going to be able to make great financial choices under high emotional strain. It just won’t work…do the things you know you can do.” — OG (60:53)

• On Love, Loss, and Meaning:
  “When I stood next to Jerrel, life became as clear as it ever could be…what’s really important: love and connectedness. That is the purpose of the financial component.” (54:00)

Audience Q&A: Brokerage Accounts While Abroad (63:55)

• Listener Maggie asks: Is it wise to bulk-fund a brokerage account during a rent-free year to catch up on retirement?
• OG’s advice:
  • After funding emergency and short-term needs, max out retirement accounts, then invest excess in a brokerage account.
  • No contribution limits or major tax concerns with standard investment accounts—just invest when ready & follow your goal timelines.
  • Check issues with opening accounts while overseas; some US brokers (like Schwab) allow it.

Important Timestamps

• Gordon Ramsay Porsche Story: 11:28–14:46
• Tiffany Aliche Full Interview Start: 15:51
  • Childhood & Name Story: 16:01
  • “Grace and Space” with Money: 17:51
  • Secret Santa & Holidays: 18:37
  • The “Linda” Principle & Support: 22:44
  • Budgeting Quick Start: 26:54
  • Insurance Wisdom: 33:15
  • Estate Planning: 38:08
  • Sudden Loss and Lessons: 41:06
  • Aftermath & Practical Grieving: 46:43
  • Love, Meaning, and Financial Priorities: 54:00
• Listener Mail (Brokerage While Abroad): 63:55

Tone & Style

The episode masterfully balances warmth, humor, and levity with profound, emotionally resonant truth-telling and hard-earned wisdom. The hosts and guest are candid, conversational, and supportive, making the often-dense topic of financial planning relatable and essential.

Closing To-Do’s (79:26)

Doug’s List:

1. Take Tiffany’s advice: get your estate plan done—now!
2. Evaluate your priorities: would you rather pretend you’re wealthy or build real wealth?
3. Biggest To-Don’t: Don’t cut your own bangs (a nod to humor and personal care).

Resources

• Tiffany Aliche’s new workbook: Made Whole: The Practical Guide to Reaching Your Financial Goals (book site)
• Stacking Benjamins Facebook Group “The Basement”: search “Stacking Benjamins Basement” on Facebook

For anyone who hasn’t listened, this episode is a rich mix of community, practical steps, and real-life stakes—a reminder that strong basics are the foundation that makes resilience possible.