“Beyond the Budget: A New Way to Wealth and Freedom.”

In this episode of the Money & You podcast, host Michelle Perkins welcomes aligned author, investor, and entrepreneur Janine Mix, whose journey from $120,000 in student debt to multimillionaire is as inspiring as it is instructive. Together, they challenge traditional financial advice centered on restriction and self-denial—like “don’t buy the coffee”—and instead spotlight the other side of the budget: INCOME.
Janine shares how a total life reset and a bold leap from Los Angeles to Montana launched her into a lucrative adventure in real estate investing—despite having no job, poor credit, and no money. She reveals how leveraging other people’s money, taking creative risks, and developing a healthy relationship with money, helped her break free from financial struggle and eventually reach financial independence by age 33.
Michelle and Janine also explore how mindset, shame, family money stories, and self-sabotage shape our financial lives. Janine introduces her “MixShift” framework for rewiring limiting beliefs and encourages listeners to embrace proactive financial planning, even starting with small weekly steps.
00:00 – Introduction to Janine Mix’s story
06:40 – Escaping debt, dead-end jobs, and old mindsets
15:10 – Starting in real estate with no money
22:45 – The myth of “cutting your way to wealth”
34:20 – The importance of the income side of your budget
41:15 – Emotional money stories and overcoming guilt
54:40 – Janine’s “Money Moves Monday” and building financial joy

Key Takeaways:
Budgeting Isn’t Just About Cutting: Focusing solely on cutting expenses keeps you small. Shifting your mindset to increasing income opens up possibilities for wealth.
You Can’t Cut Your Way to Wealth: Even skipping your daily coffee won’t lead to real freedom. Invest in the gap between your income and expenses—it’s where transformation happens.
Mindset Shapes Money: Janine introduces the three money influencers: what you heard, learned, and experienced around money. Healing begins with awareness.
Risk and Reset Lead to Reward: Sometimes stepping into the unknown—whether it’s moving across the country or pitching an investor—can be the turning point in your financial life.
Money Should Be Fun: From credit card point hacks to money planning dates, cultivating a joyful relationship with money is essential.

Additional Resources:
Book: Buy the Damn Coffee by Janine Mix — An empowering call to ditch guilt and redefine your path to prosperity.
Freebie: Get Janine’s 5-Step Money Planner: janinemix.com/moneyyou
Podcast: Permission to Prosper — Financial empowerment and strategy for women.
YouTube: Adventures with Millionaires (launching soon!)

For much more on all things money mindset, money management, earning, and creating a financially free life…
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