Fennel Financial Coaching

Fennel Financial Coaching I help professionals ditch debt without the overwhelm and build wealth without the stress. Frustrated with your financial situation? Ready for a change?

Tired of living paycheck to paycheck? Let's chat!

10/05/2026

Monday scroll feels weird sometimes.

You open Instagram. Everyone had a big weekend. Trips. Brunches. Concerts. Matching outfits.

And you're sitting there like, "I did laundry."

Here's your reminder: that's normal. Most weekends are low-key. Those are good ones too.

Case in point, here's mine. I went to a free event in my community. I tidied up the yard to get ready for winter. I baked zucchini bread with ingredients I already had in my pantry. I finished the laundry. I even wiped out the fridge. Nothing fancy. Nothing pricey. Still a great weekend.

The big weekends are great too. Concert? Brunch? Trip? Go for it. It's about choosing where your money goes on purpose. Keep some weekends simple. The lavish ones will feel guilt-free.

Just remember that what you see online is a highlight reel. You get to decide what's worth spending on.

No shame in a simple weekend. 🤍

👋 Hi, I'm Jeannette. I help professionals ditch debt without the overwhelm and build wealth without the stress. Follow for simple, no-shame money guidance.

[free weekend ideas, frugal weekend, budget friendly weekend, save money on weekends, no spend weekend, frugal living, free things to do, simple living, money mindset, debt free journey, financial wellness, intentional spending, spend on purpose, money balance]

I decided how much I'd spend at a silent auction before I ever put on my dress. That one decision protected my money bet...
10/04/2026

I decided how much I'd spend at a silent auction before I ever put on my dress. That one decision protected my money better than willpower ever could.

The room was full of beautiful, tempting stuff. The wh***ey cocktail in my hand did not help.

I had my eye on two handmade mugs all night. I bid twice. Then someone bid $105.

What I did next is a lesson in deciding before you're standing there needing to decide.

➡️ If you've never really set a limit before, that's okay.
Start here: what's one thing coming up this month where you could decide your number ahead of time?

💭 Think: dinner out, a birthday gift, a sale you know you'll browse, holiday shopping, or your next grocery run.

Tell me what it is in the comments. We'll start small.

🔗 Full story in the comments.

I spent years staring at a line on my pay stub and never asking what it was. 🙈Turns out it was one of the best perks of ...
10/01/2026

I spent years staring at a line on my pay stub and never asking what it was. 🙈

Turns out it was one of the best perks of teaching in Washington. A tax-free health account my district funded the whole time.

Swipe to see what VEBA is, what it covers, and how the money gets in there. Then go log in.

👋 Hi, I’m Jeannette. I help professionals ditch debt without the overwhelm and build wealth without the stress. Follow for simple, no-shame money guidance.

Disclaimer: This post is for educational purposes only and isn't financial, legal, tax, or mental health advice. VEBA contributions and sick leave rules vary by district and contract, so check with your HR department for the details that apply to you. Please consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

[VEBA, Washington teachers, teacher benefits, fringe benefits, health reimbursement account, tax free health account, sick leave, retirement healthcare, financial literacy for teachers]

09/25/2026

Growing up, I was always told it was rude to discuss money.

I never admitted I had debt.
I never asked a relative for advice.
We never once talked money at Thanksgiving.

So I want that to change. The more we talk about money with friends and colleagues, the more we all learn and grow.

➡️ What's one money thing you wish more people talked about openly?

👋 Hi, I’m Jeannette. I help professionals ditch debt without the overwhelm and build wealth without the stress. Follow for simple, no-shame money guidance.

[money conversations, breaking money taboos, generational wealth, financial coach, personal finance for women, money mindset, talking about money, debt payoff]

One of the most overlooked benefits I see with my teacher clients is VEBA. Most of them have never even heard of it.If y...
09/20/2026

One of the most overlooked benefits I see with my teacher clients is VEBA. Most of them have never even heard of it.

If you're a WA teacher and you're drawing a total blank right now, you're not alone. I taught for years and had no idea either. It was just some random line on my pay stub I never thought twice about. Turns out it's one of the better benefits WA teachers get, and so many people are sitting on it without knowing it's completely tax free.

I broke it all down on Substack, including a lesson I learned the hard way about resigning versus retiring that cost me real money.

🔗 Link in the comments if you want the full story.

✨️ Extra Credit: Share it with the teacher friend who needs to hear it.

09/18/2026

🌺 10 years married. 9 days in Kauaʻi. A net worth that used to be six figures of debt and is now seven figures in the bank.

And I still price checked the rental car.

Here's the thing nobody tells you about paying off debt. You don't stop thinking about money. I used to think that was the whole goal, get out of debt and finally stop caring about every dollar. That never happened. And honestly, I'm glad it didn't.

For us, the spending habits didn't go away. They just started buying plane tickets instead of paying down credit cards.

👋 Hi, I’m Jeannette. I help professionals ditch debt without the overwhelm and build wealth without the stress. Follow for simple, no-shame money guidance. 



[debt free journey, financial freedom, money mindset, budgeting tips, how to build wealth, paying off debt, saving money tips, personal finance for beginners, travel on a budget, money habits that work]

I get this question a lot: "How do you still travel when you're trying to build wealth or pay off debt?"Here's my honest...
09/15/2026

I get this question a lot: "How do you still travel when you're trying to build wealth or pay off debt?"

Here's my honest answer: for a long time, our vacations looked like whatever fit our income and our goals at the time. That's what living within your means actually looks like when you're in debt payoff mode. It's not about denying yourself forever. It's about matching your spending to where you are right now.

Joe and I used to load up the car and go camping for a long weekend. That was it. And honestly, it was enough. We weren't itching for more because we knew exactly what we were working toward.

Now that we've paid off that debt and built real wealth, our vacations look different. This year we spent nine days in Kauai celebrating our 10 year anniversary. But even with more room in the budget, we still got intentional with it.

We said yes to the big splurges. We also said yes to the free stuff along the way. And one of those free moments ended up being the highlight of the entire trip. Not what I expected going in.

I wrote the full breakdown on Substack: what we spent, what we skipped, and the mindset shift that made the whole trip feel like freedom instead of restriction.

🔗 Link in the comments if you want to read it.

Hawaiian Photo Dump 🌴At the end of August, Joe and I spent 9 days on Kauaʻi celebrating our 10 year anniversary. This tr...
09/09/2026

Hawaiian Photo Dump 🌴

At the end of August, Joe and I spent 9 days on Kauaʻi celebrating our 10 year anniversary. This trip has been on our bucket list forever. We're finally at the point in our financial journey where we get to start checking things off that list. 9 days on Kauaʻi for 10 years together felt like exactly the right way to celebrate.

I've also had Kauaʻi on my mind a lot this week with Hurricane Lowell in the news. Some of the places we fell in love with don't even look the same right now. The island has a long recovery ahead. Sending so much aloha to Kauaʻi. 

[kauai, hawaii, anniversary trip, bucket list, financial journey, debt free journey, travel goals, aloha, hurricane lowell, photo dump]

08/23/2026

Happy New Year, Teachers! 🍎

A retired teacher used to text me that every August. I thought she was being silly and dramatic. Turns out she just got it before I did.

January isn't your new year. This is. New class list. Blank whiteboard. A chance to drop the habits you don't want anymore and try something different. Even in the years you're running on fumes, there's still that spark.

So if you're prepping your room right now, half dreading it and half excited, I see you. Happy New Year. Here's to new beginnings, teacher style.

Drop a 🍎 if August or September are your real new year too.

[teachers, back to school, new year for teachers, teacher motivation, fresh start, teacher reel, august energy, teacher community, new school year]

"Good for her. Not for me."That's a line I borrowed from Amy Poehler. She wrote it in “Yes Please,” about comparing hers...
08/21/2026

"Good for her. Not for me."

That's a line I borrowed from Amy Poehler. She wrote it in “Yes Please,” about comparing herself to other moms. I've been saying it to myself for the last couple years.

The all inclusive trip in Mexico. The teacher grading every Sunday. The brand new camper. The color coordinated classroom. The house redecorated every time a new Pinterest trend hits. The new phone every single year.

I'm not right, and they're not wrong. It's just where we're each at, our own values, our own season right now.

Every dollar I don't spend chasing their life is a dollar I get to put toward mine.

Comparison used to send me straight into "I should be doing that too." Now I just say the line and let it go.

What's your "good for her, not for me" right now? Drop it below, I want to hear it.

👋 Hi, I’m Jeannette. I help professionals ditch debt without the overwhelm and build wealth without the stress. Follow for simple, no-shame money guidance.

[comparison trap, money mindset, teacher money mindset, financial coaching, comparison is the thief of joy, teacher life, values based spending, personal finance, Amy Poehler quote, Yes Please book quote]

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