Life & Money with Abby

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Life & Money with Abby

I teach you how to use money more effectively as a tool to do more of the important things in life.

06/07/2026

One of the things I've noticed over the years is that many people have no problem saving money, investing money, or planning for the future.

What they struggle with is actually enjoying the life they've worked so hard to build.

There always seems to be another goal to reach. Another account to grow. Another milestone that needs to happen before they feel comfortable spending money on themselves, taking the trip, or simply slowing down long enough to enjoy where they are. While being responsible with your money is important, I think sometimes we lose sight of why we were making those responsible decisions in the first place.

Most people don't create financial plans because they want the biggest account balance possible. They create financial plans because they want options. They want flexibility. They want the ability to spend time with the people they love, create meaningful experiences, and make decisions from a place of confidence instead of stress.

That's why financial confidence isn't just about saving for tomorrow. It's also about living today. If you've built a plan that supports your goals and aligns with your values, it's okay to enjoy the opportunities that plan creates. In fact, that's often the point.

The goal was never simply to accumulate wealth. The goal was to build a life that feels meaningful while you're living it.

A good financial plan should help you feel confident about the future without missing the present. If you're looking for guidance on creating a plan that does both, I'd love to help. Reach out and let's start the conversation.

06/04/2026

A lot of parents remember walking into a business, filling out an application, and having a job by the end of the week.

For many teens today, that's simply not reality.

They're competing against:

Adults looking for second jobs

College students home for the summer

Fewer entry-level opportunities

Online applications that never seem to go anywhere

And while we're talking about money, let's acknowledge another reality:

Life is expensive.

Gas is expensive.
Food is expensive.
Activities are expensive.

Which makes it even more important that we help our kids build financial skills early.

If your teen is struggling to find a traditional job, don't let that stop the conversation about money.

There are still valuable lessons they can learn through:
💡 Babysitting
💡 Pet sitting
💡 Lawn care
💡 Tutoring
💡 Selling a skill or service
💡 Helping with a family business

The goal isn't just earning money.

The goal is learning responsibility, initiative, problem-solving, and how money actually works. Because someday they'll have a paycheck. And when they do, the habits they build now will matter far more than the size of that first paycheck.

📩 Want help teaching your kids how to think about money in today's world? Let's start the conversation.

06/01/2026

We've all heard it.

"Must be nice to take that vacation."
"Must be nice to buy that house."
"Must be nice to retire early."
"Must be nice to drive that car."

Sometimes it's said as a joke.

Sometimes it's not.

What people rarely see are the years of decisions behind the outcome.

The budget conversations.
The sacrifices.
The extra work.
The debt that was paid off.
The opportunities that were passed up.
The plan that was followed when nobody was watching.

One of the biggest financial mistakes people make is allowing other people's opinions to influence their financial decisions.

Spending money to avoid judgment. Avoiding opportunities because someone might not approve. Feeling guilty for enjoying something you've worked hard and planned for.

Your financial plan isn't supposed to make everyone else comfortable. It's supposed to help you live the life that's right for you and your family. The goal isn't to impress people. The goal is to make intentional decisions, enjoy the results, and stop apologizing for them.

If you've built a plan that supports your goals, your values, and your future, you don't need permission to enjoy it.

✨ Confidence is quieter than comparison.

📩 If you're ready to create a financial plan you can actually enjoy living, let's start the conversation.

05/30/2026

A lot of parents avoided 529 plans for years because of one big fear:

“What if my child doesn’t go to college?”

Fair question.
And honestly, for a long time, that concern stopped a lot of families from investing altogether.

But here’s what many people still don’t realize:

Unused 529 funds can now potentially be rolled into a Roth IRA for your child.

That changes the conversation significantly.

Because now, a 529 plan can help create:
✔️ education flexibility
✔️ long-term investing opportunities
✔️ an early retirement advantage
✔️ financial momentum at a young age

Imagine your child entering adulthood with:

- no student loans
- investment experience
- and retirement savings already started

That’s powerful.

Now, there are still rules and limits involved:

- the 529 must meet certain age requirements
- rollovers have contribution limits
- funds must move into the beneficiary’s Roth IRA
- and not all situations qualify the same way

But the bigger point is this:

529 plans are more flexible than many people think.

And sometimes the best financial move isn’t waiting until you have the “perfect” plan.

It’s understanding the options available to you now.

5/29 is a good reminder that investing for your kids isn’t only about school.

It’s about creating future flexibility.

Want to understand whether a 529 plan makes sense for your family? Let’s talk through it together.

05/28/2026

For a lot of people, spending money on enjoyable things still feels uncomfortable.

Especially if you grew up:

- hearing “we can’t afford that” constantly
- watching financial stress at home
- feeling guilty anytime money was spent on fun
- learning that survival always came before enjoyment

So when summer rolls around and life gets fuller, there can be tension.

You want to enjoy the trip.
The patio dinner.
The concert.
The family memories.

But part of you still feels guilty spending money at all.

That’s where financial baggage shows up.

Not because you’re irresponsible,
but because old money experiences shape current emotions.

A healthy financial plan isn’t designed to remove joy from your life.

It’s designed to support it responsibly.

That means:
☀️ planning ahead for experiences
☀️ enjoying what you’ve worked hard for
☀️ creating memories without creating chaos later
☀️ understanding that rest and enjoyment matter too

You are allowed to build a financial life that includes peace, fun, and breathing room.

Not just survival.

05/26/2026

Michigan finally gives us a few sunny days and suddenly everyone wants to do everything.

Patios. Weekend trips. Sports. Concerts. Boat days. Home projects. Ice cream runs. Graduation parties.

And honestly? That’s not a bad thing.

Your financial plan is supposed to make room for real life, not keep you trapped inside worrying about every dollar.

But this is also the season where your Moneyagram type tends to show up fast:

1️⃣ The Budget Keeper: starts stressing over every extra expense.
2️⃣ The Giver: says yes to everything, even when it stretches the budget.
3️⃣ The Go-Getter: tries to out-earn the season.
4️⃣ The Dreamer: avoids checking the numbers altogether.
5️⃣ The Analyzer: overthinks every decision instead of enjoying anything.
6️⃣ The Protector: worries about what could go wrong later.
7️⃣ The Enjoyer: assumes summer memories are worth any price.
8️⃣ The Leader: provide for everyone, figure it out later.
9️⃣ The Peacemaker: avoids the conversation entirely.

The goal isn’t to eliminate fun.

It’s to make intentional decisions before the season gets expensive by accident.

Because the right financial plan should create freedom:
✔️ Freedom to enjoy the people around you
✔️ Freedom to spend without guilt
✔️ Freedom to know your future is still being protected

You don’t need to say yes to everything.
You just need a plan that helps you say yes to the right things.

05/21/2026

A lot of people imagine retirement spending looking like:
✈️ Travel
⛳ Golf
🍷 Nice dinners
🏖️ Vacations

And yes, those things absolutely matter.

But some of the biggest financial pressures in retirement are actually the everyday costs people underestimate for YEARS.

Things like:
🏡 Home maintenance as you age
🩺 Rising healthcare costs
🚗 Insurance increases
⚡ Utilities and energy bills
👨‍👩‍👧 Helping kids and grandkids financially
📱 Monthly subscriptions and recurring expenses that quietly stack up

One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming retirement automatically becomes less expensive.

In reality, your spending or saving habits from pre-retirement tend to carry over in to retired life as well.

That’s why good financial planning isn’t just about saving enough to retire someday.

It’s about creating a plan that can support your actual lifestyle, your priorities, and the realities that come with different seasons of life.

Because confidence in retirement usually doesn’t come from guessing.

It comes from preparation.

If you want help building a retirement strategy that reflects real life, I’d love to help.

05/18/2026

A first summer job is a HUGE milestone for kids.

It builds confidence.
Responsibility.
Work ethic.
And honestly, it’s one of the best times to start teaching healthy money habits in real life.

But there are a few mistakes parents make that can accidentally set the wrong tone early.

❌ Don’t attend the interview with them.
This is their opportunity to learn how to communicate, prepare, and present themselves professionally. Confidence comes from doing it themselves.

❌ Don’t let them spend every dollar they make.
A paycheck feels exciting when there aren’t many responsibilities yet. This is the perfect time to introduce simple boundaries:
Save some.
Spend some.
Give some.
Invest some.

❌ Don’t wait to talk about investing.
Even small amounts matter when kids have TIME on their side. A first paycheck is a great opportunity to explain compound growth, Roth IRAs, or long-term investing in a way that actually feels real to them. You might be surprised how little they can start with.

The goal isn’t to control every dollar your kid makes.

It’s to help them build confidence and decision-making skills before the stakes get higher later in life.

And honestly?
Those early habits tend to stick.

If you want help teaching your kids how to build healthy financial habits early, I’d love to help.

Address

Byron Center, MI

Website

https://www.drakefinancialgroup.com/, https://linktr.ee/lifeandmoneywithabby

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