Money Lessons From Our Moms and How to Budget With an HSA on a High-Deductible Plan

Hear money lessons from NerdWallet moms and learn how to budget for healthcare on a high-deductible plan. What does motherhood teach you about money? In honor of Mother's Day, hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola gather money lessons from NerdWallet moms — including Erin El Issa, Amanda Barroso, Kate Ashford, and Pamela de la Fuente — as well as from Sean's mom, Jeanne. They explore the pressure to keep up with influencers and other parents, the costly belief that core childhood memories can be bought, the role allowances play in helping kids feel the weight of their own money, and what becoming a parent reveals about long-term saving. How do you budget for healthcare when your employer switches you to a high-deductible plan and bills are coming in faster than you can build up your HSA? Sean and Elizabeth are joined by personal finance writer Kate Ashford to answer a question from a listener whose routine doctor visit ballooned from a $30 quote to nearly $500 out of pocket. They dig into the triple tax advantages of HSAs, the math behind comparing high-deductible and traditional coverage, why the first year on an HDHP can feel especially brutal, and what to do when medical expenses outpace your savings. Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Money Lessons From Our Moms and How to Budget With an HSA on a High-Deductible Plan is an episode from NerdWallet's MoneyFix Podcast by Sean Pyles.

This episode is 43:10 long.

This episode was published on May 11, 2026.

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