Episode: 439
How to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck & Finally Get Ahead
with Vivian Tu
Getting ahead feels harder than ever. Here are the money moves that can put you back in control.
If you’re tired of living paycheck to paycheck as everything keeps getting more expensive, this episode is for you.
Mel sits down with Vivian Tu, former Wall Street trader, bestselling author, and Your Rich BFF, to break down what to do when you feel broke, behind, or overwhelmed.
You’ll learn how to save when “just spend less” doesn’t work, pay down debt, ask for a raise, start investing, think about retirement, make smarter housing decisions, and have better money conversations.
As Vivian says, you are not the problem, but you do get to be the solution.
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You're not the problem, but you do get to be the solution.
Vivian Tu
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Key takeaways
You can stop relying on willpower by automatically paying your future self first, sending 5–10% of every paycheck straight into savings before you can spend it.
If you're truly living paycheck to paycheck on necessities, cutting back won't solve it; you need more money coming in through a raise, promotion, new job, or side hustle.
When you have multiple debts, make every minimum payment, then put every extra dollar toward the highest-interest debt first to pay less interest and get debt-free faster.
When you ask for a raise, come with receipts: document your wins, show how you've already performed at the next level, name the raise you earned, and then stop talking.
Putting cash into a brokerage account is not investing; you still have to choose investments, and diversification lets you spread your exposure instead of cherry-picking stocks.
Guests Appearing in this Episode
Vivian Tu
Vivian Tu is a former Wall Street trader turned personal finance educator, the founder of Your Rich BFF, and a two-time New York Times bestselling author.
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Well Endowed: The Secrets to Strategic Spending, Building a Financial Foundation for You and Your Family, and Creating Lasting Generational
You’ve mastered the basics of becoming Rich AF. Your bills are paid, your loans are shrinking, and you’ve even started saving. But what’s next? Every dollar you spend—or don’t spend—is a choice that shapes your future. How do you balance today’s dreams with tomorrow’s security?
Smart, relatable, and packed with game-changing advice, this is the ultimate guide to leveling up your finances—and your future.
Resources
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- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Looking for an easy way to save money? Make it automatic
- Fair Health Consumer: Check Normal Costs
- Investor.gov: Beginners’ Guide to Asset Allocation, Diversification, and Rebalancing
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: An essential guide to building an emergency fund
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Consumer advisory: Pause and review your rights when you hear from a medical debt collector
- Federal Reserve: Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2025
- CMS.gov: Dispute a medical bill
- IRS: Retirement topics - Catch-up contributions
- Federal Reserve: Living Arrangements and Care Work
- Penn State: Budgeting with Irregular Income
- Utah State: How Can I Save While Still Paying My Debts?
- Federal Reserve: Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households (SHED)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Do medical bills affect my credit and where do I find out what’s in my medical payment history?
