The Mel Robbins Podcast - If You’re Struggling With Money, Listen to This

In this episode, you’ll learn some of the best financial advice you’ll ever hear - no matter what your financial situation is right now. If getting ahead only seems to be getting harder, and you’re tired of living paycheck to paycheck, you need to hear this: Harder doesn’t have to mean hopeless. Today, Mel sits down with Vivian Tu – bestselling author, and the personal finance educator millions know as Your Rich BFF – for a conversation about what to do when you’re over feeling broke, behind, or overwhelmed by money. Vivian has been there, and she knows how hard it is to get ahead right now when everything costs more and your paycheck just doesn’t stretch the way it used to. Her message is simple: You don’t have to be broke forever. In this blunt but compassionate conversation, she’s sharing practical moves that can help you start taking your power back – whether you’re buried in debt, starting with nothing saved, worried you’ll never own a home, behind on retirement, or wondering where to begin. You’ll learn: -Why “just spend less” is bad advice — and the system that works better -The painless way to pay off your debt -How to get the raise you deserve -How to think about retirement when you feel hopelessly behind -The home-buying question most people never ask -How living with your parents is a power move -The beginner investing mistake no one warns you about -The money conversation couples should have much earlier -The mindset shift from feeling powerless to taking control Vivian says money is a tool, and the point of having more of it is power, freedom, and the ability to feel in control again – or maybe for the first time. Life isn’t always fair, and getting ahead right now feels harder than it should, but Vivian says there are still moves you can make. You’re not the problem, but you do get to be the solution. For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page. If you liked this episode, listen to this one next: The Science of Making & Breaking Habits: How to Change Your Life in 1 Month. Mel also wants to tell you: Try the 23g protein shot I drink every single morning Join 2 million readers loving my weekly newsletter - full of tips, tools, and inspiration The Let Them Theory: read the book everyone’s talking about Watch the episodes on YouTube Connect with me on Instagram Follow the show’s Instagram for clips, behind the scenes, and more Find some daily positivity on my TikTok Want zero ads? Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes ad-free Disclaimer

Duration: 1h 16m
Broadcast on: 28 Sep 2026
Audio Format: other

In this episode, you’ll learn some of the best financial advice you’ll ever hear - no matter what your financial situation is right now.

If getting ahead only seems to be getting harder, and you’re tired of living paycheck to paycheck, you need to hear this:

Harder doesn’t have to mean hopeless.

Today, Mel sits down with Vivian Tu – bestselling author, and the personal finance educator millions know as Your Rich BFF – for a conversation about what to do when you’re over feeling broke, behind, or overwhelmed by money.

Vivian has been there, and she knows how hard it is to get ahead right now when everything costs more and your paycheck just doesn’t stretch the way it used to.

Her message is simple: You don’t have to be broke forever.

In this blunt but compassionate conversation, she’s sharing practical moves that can help you start taking your power back – whether you’re buried in debt, starting with nothing saved, worried you’ll never own a home, behind on retirement, or wondering where to begin.

You’ll learn:

-Why “just spend less” is bad advice — and the system that works better

-The painless way to pay off your debt

-How to get the raise you deserve

-How to think about retirement when you feel hopelessly behind

-The home-buying question most people never ask

-How living with your parents is a power move

-The beginner investing mistake no one warns you about

-The money conversation couples should have much earlier

-The mindset shift from feeling powerless to taking control

Vivian says money is a tool, and the point of having more of it is power, freedom, and the ability to feel in control again – or maybe for the first time.

Life isn’t always fair, and getting ahead right now feels harder than it should, but Vivian says there are still moves you can make.

You’re not the problem, but you do get to be the solution.

For more resources related to today’s episode, click here for the podcast episode page.

If you liked this episode, listen to this one next: The Science of Making & Breaking Habits: How to Change Your Life in 1 Month.

Mel also wants to tell you:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hey, it's your friend Mal, and welcome to the Mal Robbins Podcast. I am so excited for the conversation today because you're going to learn how to stop living paycheck to paycheck, and exactly what to do right now. And you're going to learn it from Vivian, too. She is known to millions of people online as your rich BFF. And today, she is here for one reason. She is here to help you. She's one of the most respected and popular personal finance educators in the world. And here's what I love about her. She's been there. She knows the struggle you're feeling because just a decade ago, she was living paycheck to paycheck herself. And she's going to tell you, when you're trying to pay off debt and keep up with bills and live your life at the same time, one of the hardest questions can be, "Where do I even start?" And if you're wondering, "Is it harder right now to get ahead?" You're not crazy. Vivian will tell you it is harder to get ahead right now. But that doesn't mean you're powerless. You're going to learn where to start if you've got nothing saved, how to pay off debt when it feels overwhelming, when it makes sense to start investing, and what to do. If you're worried, you'll never be able to afford to buy a house or your behind-down retirement. Today, you're going to learn how to get ahead when advice like, "Well, just cut back. Doesn't cut it." See, you don't need to fix your entire financial life. You just need to know your next right move. And today, Vivian 2 is here to show you how to make it. When I think of fall, I think of a couple things. I think of the first school drop-off, the first sweater weather day, the first chilly evening around the fire pit, and our sponsor, LL Bean. For over 100 years, LL Bean has been part of these traditions, crunching leaves and manemade bean boots, cheering from the sidelines and scotch-plaid flannel, and walking the dog in a rugged field coat. Go grab the layers you love and the people you love and get outside. Visit LL Bean.com to shop the fall collection. LL Bean, be an outsider. The Mel Robbins Podcast is brought to you by Expedia. I love Expedia because I love traveling, and here's the thing. You may be holding off on booking a trip right now, because you think you need the whole plan to come together. But guess what? You don't. With Expedia's bundle and save, the more you book, the more you can save. Get up to 30% off every time you add something, and then you add more later. Expedia, the one place you go to go places. Sign in to save on select bookings. The Mel Robbins Podcast is proudly sponsored by Amiga Insurance, our exclusive insurance partner. You know when someone finishes your sentence because they already understood what you needed?

Transcription truncated.