Hi again, and welcome to Episode 3 of One Fix at a Time, the podcast for midlife women who are ready to clean up their digital mess, rethink their finances, and finally tell the stories they’ve lived through.
If you’re new here — Hi, I’m Kari. I just turned 50 last month, and I’m right in the thick of all the midlife fun… but probably not the kind that just popped in your mind when I said that.
This podcast isn’t about menopause, fashion for older ladies, or anti-aging secrets.
What I really care about — and what I built my Life Map around — are three other things:
- Reset — digital decluttering: years of built-up files, apps, and emails
- Rebuild — managing money, especially when you’re on your own
- Reflect — capturing your stories before they disappear
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✍️ Episode Transcript
Today’s episode is all about the Rebuild path — and it’s what I call Solo Money.
This one’s personal, because I live it.I’m on a single income trying to help multiple generations — my adult son and daughter-in-law, my mom, and trying to spoil my two beautiful grandkids.
I know I’m not the only one. So many of us are stuck in this in-between spot. Apparently, we’re called the sandwich generation — which is a term I just learned recently. We’re trying to stretch one paycheck across multiple lives.
And let’s be honest — it’s exhausting to make all the financial decisions, all the time.
But really, it’s not all bad. Like when I’m tight on money and realize — hey, I can skip dinner if I want. No one’s depending on me to cook tonight.
That’s the quick overview of Solo Money.
It’s not just about budgeting — it’s about making real choices and finding something that actually works, even when life feels unpredictable.I created Project: Improve Me because I wanted to improve myself — and maybe help someone else out there who feels like I did.
If you missed Episode 1 or 2, those explain the Life Map and the Reset path. They’re short, and they’ll help this all make more sense. Or just download the free Life Map Welcome Guide on my website.
So let’s talk about money — and how it still trips me up, even after working in accounting in one way or another since I was a teenager.
I know what I’m supposed to do. I’ve built budgets and spreadsheets for businesses and other people…
But doing it for myself? That’s harder.There’ve been plenty of times I fell off the wagon financially and just couldn’t get back on.
Sometimes I didn’t make enough to handle even one small emergency.Sometimes I spent money trying to buy other people’s happiness — like old boyfriends, or my son, when I felt like I was failing as a mom.
And sometimes, it was retail therapy.
Which is ridiculous — because I don’t even like having a lot of things.
Half my time now is spent getting rid of clutter — not adding more.That’s why I came up with my Solo Money system.
I hope it helps women like me — who are trying to do it all, on their own.It’s not just numbers. It’s also behavior and emotions.
Every month, I ask myself some real questions — not just plug things into a spreadsheet and hope the bottom line looks okay.I do a monthly spending review. I look back at what I actually bought and ask:
What was that for?
Was it worth it?
Would I spend on that again?That’s how I do my subscription and expense audit.
Even small changes can give me back some breathing room — if I plan ahead.Another big shift that helped me was how I categorize my money.
For years, I sorted every little transaction into buckets like utilities, car expenses, credit cards…But those labels didn’t help me change anything. They were just names.
Now I use just three categories:
Needs — what I must have to survive. Housing, food, utilities, insurance, prescriptions.
Wants — things I could live without. They’re nice, but not necessary. When money’s tight, these are the first to go.
My Future — this one matters more than I used to think.
As a middle-aged woman with no backup plan, I’ve had to learn how to plan ahead — for myself.
That might mean saving for retirement, building an emergency cushion, or just wanting to leave something decent behind for the people I love.
This category doesn’t always get the most money — but it deserves a spot. Even if it’s just five dollars at a time.
Using these three categories helped me make decisions with purpose.
My old method? It just helped me sort receipts.That’s why I created the Solo Money Starter Kit.
It’s 22 pages with tips, mindset questions, and space to figure out your own version of this.It’s free on the site — and I’m always around if you get stuck.
I’m not a financial advisor, but I’ve been through enough that I can give you a down-to-earth opinion — and maybe even a new idea.
Let me tell you something I used to do that made things worse:
I avoided logging into certain accounts.
I didn’t open bills or letters.
I ignored calls from creditors.That avoidance? That’s a trauma response.
It comes from shame. Or fear. Or just… exhaustion.But it makes things worse.
Late fees. Canceled services. Damage that takes years to undo.I’ve lived that. And I’ve had to rebuild from it — slowly.
So here’s something useful you can do today. Nothing dramatic.
Open your bank app or statement — and just look.
Don’t do anything yet. Just scroll, and notice.
What surprised you?
What do you regret?
What felt worth it?You don’t need a plan yet.
Just noticing is how change starts.If this helped, check out the Solo Money Hub at ProjectImproveMe.com.
You’ll find the Starter Kit, the blog series, and other tools.If my system doesn’t work for you — that’s okay.
But maybe one part of it will.Use what helps. Leave the rest.
And I’d love to hear what’s working for you — or what’s not. Seriously, reach out anytime.
Next week, we’ll move into the Reflect path. This one’s personal.
If you’ve ever felt like your story didn’t matter, or wasn’t worth writing down — I hope you’ll come back.
If you liked this episode, I’d be so grateful if you’d share the podcast with a friend — or two.
Word of mouth is everything for new creators like me.
And remember — you don’t have to do everything at once.
Just focus on One Fix at a Time.
Thanks for listening — and I’ll talk to you next week.
