How to Stop Worrying About Money

Money stress isn’t a personal failure—it’s a systems problem. In this episode, Lauren welcomes back Jesse Mecham, founder of You Need A Budget (YNAB), to unpack why so many high-achieving women still feel anxious about money—even when they’re earning more than ever. Jesse explains why the goal isn’t spending less, but spending with intention, and how a few mindset shifts can dramatically reduce money anxiety, decision fatigue, and guilt around spending. This conversation reframes budgeting as a tool for clarity, confidence, and actually enjoying your money again. You’ll learn: Why earning more doesn’t automatically reduce money stress—and what actually does How “giving every dollar a job” creates confidence and ends constant financial second-guessing What modern money tools (like Buy Now, Pay Later and AI automation) get wrong—and how to use tech without losing awareness or control Show Notes Weekly Newsletter Sign-Up: Jesse 2020 podcast: Guest Resources: YNAB app: YNAB YouTube: Career Contessa Resources Book 1:1 career coaching session: Take an online course: Get your personalized salary report: Sponsors Head to cozyearth.com and use my code CONTESSA for up to 20% off. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa. See Privacy Policy at and California Privacy Notice at .

You can listen to How to Stop Worrying About Money online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How to Stop Worrying About Money is an episode from The Career Contessa Podcast by Lauren McGoodwin.

This episode is 00:32:07 long.

This episode was published on Mar 10, 2026.

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