It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when thinking about financial planning. Especially in your mid-20s to mid-30s, when life is full of new beginnings, big decisions, and the pressure to “have it all figured out.” In this episode, Tim Regan and Kaitlyn Hedger take a candid, compassionate approach to breaking down those barriers. Their focus? Helping the next generation start strong with a financial kickstart and live what they call the “Two-Comma Life®” – a life not just of millionaire numbers but of abundance, freedom, and intentionality.

Let’s dive deeper into the major topics they tackled: understanding cash flow, transforming the dreaded “budget,” managing debt, and aligning your reality with your dreams.

The “Two-Comma Life®”: What Does It Really Mean?

Tim and Kaitlyn kick off the episode by clarifying what the “Two-Comma Life®” is all about. There are two commas in a million dollars, sure, but it’s more than the net worth. It’s a mindset of living with financial freedom, intentional abundance, and purpose-driven choices—not feeling pinched or in scarcity.

They’ve built the Kickstart program specifically for those aged 25 to 35, the age range where big financial decisions start to stack up. Whether you’re launching your career, moving out on your own, planning a wedding, or eyeing a first home, this is the perfect time to lay a strong financial foundation.

Step One: Set Your Goals (And Know Your “Why”)

Before diving into the numbers, Kaitlyn stresses the importance of goal setting – the first step in their process. Where do you want to go in life? What are your dreams and priorities? Maybe travel, homeownership, building a family, or simply feeling secure.

Without this, any attempt at budgeting feels random and stifling. Your goals transform budgeting from a list of “can’ts” into a strategic map guiding your best life. As Tim puts it: Mapping your money without first knowing your destination is like planning a road trip with no idea where you want to end up.

Step Two: Master Cash Flow — The Real Meaning of Budgeting

Budgeting has a bad reputation – boring, restrictive, and tedious. But as Kaitlyn explains, cash flow management is simply about awareness: What’s coming into your bank account, what’s flowing out, and does your spending align with what matters most to you?

She proposes breaking spending down into three buckets:

• Income sources: Salary, side gigs, sales—everything coming in.
• Fixed bills: Rent, phone, recurring payments.
• Variable spending: Groceries, dining out, self-care, fun.

So many people don’t realize how much is leaking out in subscriptions, take-out meals, or little extras. That’s why reviewing three months’ worth of transactions can be eye-opening – and often, not to shame, but to empower you to redirect those dollars toward your true priorities.

Why Mindful Spending Makes Decisions Easier

Once you connect your spending habits to your goals, it becomes much easier to make conscious trade-offs. Should you get your nails done every week, or put more in your future-home fund? Is convenience dining worth the hit to your savings, or would you rather invest in a dream vacation?

Tim and Kaitlyn point out that it’s a real “choose your hard” scenario: Spend now for instant gratification and miss out on bigger goals, or be disciplined now to enjoy freedom later. Like sneaking an extra cookie every day – small choices add up in surprising ways over months and years.

Debt: Defining the Monster and Tackling It With a Plan

Debt can feel like a taboo topic, but it’s often just another part of your financial landscape – especially student loans. Tim shares the idea of “defining the monster”: Naming your debts, understanding exactly what you owe, and weaving them into your plan makes them less scary.

The key is balance. You don’t have to rush to pay everything off at once, especially if it means neglecting savings or other goals. A customized plan might mean chipping away at loans while also putting dollars toward investments, home down payments, or even enjoying life a bit.

Kickstart: Your Blueprint for Living Intentionally

Tim and Kaitlyn wrap up by reminding listeners that budgeting and cash flow are ongoing tools – not a one-time exercise or a punishment, but a system for living intentionally. PrairieView Wealth & Tax Partners’ advisors help clients keep this roadmap updated, tweaking it as life shifts and goals evolve.

If you’re ready to live the 2 comma life—and want hands-on support getting started—Kickstart could be your launching pad. Visit pvwp.com for more resources or to connect for personalized guidance.

Start where you are, envision where you want to go, and let each dollar map your journey toward abundance and freedom.