Anthony: SmartDollar is able to give you the freedom that you’re looking for, help you work on your finances, help you realize exactly what your money is doing, and where it’s going.

Host: It’s been a big year for Lauren and Anthony Green. They’re now a family of three. One year later, we’re checking back in to hear how SmartDollar and their financial coach, Mark, is helping them tackle debt and make real financial progress. Hey, guys.

Anthony: Hi, Anne. Thanks for having us.

Lauren: Hi, Anne. It’s great to be here.

Host: Lauren, Anthony, can you remind everyone what your positions are at Costco and which locations you work in?

Lauren: I work at the home office as the Employee Benefits Manager. Before that, I worked at several locations in Washington state and also in California, where I’m from.

Anthony: I recently got promoted to the Marysville location. This time last year, I was working at Aurora Village at the department level, and I’m super excited to be here.

Host: Congratulations on your promotion. It’s been a year since we last checked in on how SmartDollar was helping you understand and manage your money. Can you give us an update on what’s new and what progress you’ve made toward paying down debt?

Lauren: Last year, when we recorded the podcast in June, we were about $40,000 in debt. About a year later, we’re now down to around $10,000. So we’ve eliminated roughly $30,000.

That said, it didn’t come without sacrifices and some scary moments while tackling that debt—but that’s where we are today.

Anthony: We also had our baby, and there have been unexpected expenses that come with that. We’ve had to free up money to prepare for life with a newborn.

Host: Congratulations on your little one—that’s so exciting—and on your financial progress. What has been most instrumental in helping you reach your goals?

Lauren: The biggest factor has been using SmartDollar coaching.

When we had Harper, we paused paying down debt to focus on saving because we didn’t know what our expenses would look like—medical bills, childcare, or whether we’d need to buy formula. There were a lot of unknowns, which I’ve learned is normal for new parents.

Once we got a handle on our new expenses, we met with a SmartDollar money coach. That was a game changer. We were matched with a new coach named Mark—we wanted a fresh perspective.

At first, I was nervous to be vulnerable about our finances. Even though I’m usually an open book, it’s hard to admit you’re in thousands of dollars of debt. But Mark normalized our situation and shared that he had been in a similar position. He helped us build a plan to eliminate our debt and start working toward long-term goals.

Anthony: He’s very personable and understanding. He gives us flexibility to live the way we want while learning along the way. The program isn’t rigid—it’s adaptable.

Host: For someone who feels overwhelmed—maybe living paycheck to paycheck or navigating life changes—what’s the first step they should take?

Lauren: Keep it simple: just start. You don’t need all the answers right away—just take the first step and sign up.

For me, debt felt like rock bottom. Then having my daughter gave me even more motivation—I knew I had a responsibility to provide for her. I didn’t have a clear plan yet, but I started researching what was available. When I found coaching, I realized I had support, and that made a huge difference.

Anthony: I agree. Start by supporting yourself and your partner. Everyone’s situation looks different—someone might not have large debt, but they may still struggle paycheck to paycheck.

Regardless of the situation, SmartDollar helps you understand your finances, track your money, and gain control over where it’s going.

Host: That’s great advice. Have there been any other SmartDollar features that helped over the past year?

Lauren: Yes—we used SmartTax this year, which offers free tax filing. I had been using TurboTax that I bought from Costco, so I was hesitant to switch.

But SmartTax turned out to be very similar, completely free, and it even includes audit support. That alone saved us about $50 to $100.

Another feature I haven’t used yet—but plan to—is Mama Bear Legal Forms. It allows you to create and file a will for free. That’s on my to‑do list, along with starting Harper’s college fund.

Host: Lauren and Anthony, thank you both so much for being here and sharing your journey with us. And thank you to everyone who listened in.

Until next time, remember—we’re in this together.