The Budget Mom Interview: Kumiko Love
Meet Kumiko Love, mom and budgeter extraordinaire! (Who also happens to be one of the most quotable people I’ve ever talked to—just listen.)
To say that I was honored and delighted when I got the chance to speak with one of the most iconic moms in money blogging would be an understatement. As a personal finance blog, Think Save Retire has written extensively on the concept of what it means to be a domestic engineer.
After interviewing Kumiko I had one thought: The Budget Mom is a nice name for a blog but she should really be known as The Badass Mom.
Because, while her budgeting advice is clean and clear as can be, she also has a ton of soul and a great attitude and outlook on life. She’s also one of those people you know will get anything done if she sets her mind to it—and effortlessly inspire everyone around her to do the same!
As a self claimed, “spender at heart”, Kumiko is no stranger to how tough it can be to develop good money habits. She’s more than someone who talks the talk. Kumiko walks the walk. Her journey and outlook toward finances is a story anyone can relate to because most of us have been through it when it comes to debt and dismantling the money habits we grew up with.
Seriously. If you need inspiration to keep you working toward your goals, this is the interview for you. I know I have a healthy dose of discipline after talking with her.
So without further ado, watch and listen to my conversation with The Budget Mom herself and check out the timestamps below to jump to the parts that interest you.
Enjoy!
Key Timestamps and Quotes from My Interview with The Budget Mom, Kumiko Love:
- 0:00 – Building a community with The Budget Mom + what you may not know about Kumiko
- 2:26 – Where Kumiko got the energy to start The Budget Mom and how she overcame her nerves about it
- 3:13 – The quote that changed Kumiko’s perspective about spending and making tradeoffs
- 4:12 – Kumiko’s reminders for making smart financial decisions
- 5:38 – Melissa shares her left brain <> right brain hacks for decision making
- 6:30 – How does The Budget Mom define financial independence?
“It's not just enough to identify that money makes me anxious, or I'm stressed thinking about it, or I feel guilt or shame around my money. Ultimately, not only do we have to identify those things, we have to address the underlying issues on why we feel the way we do.”
- 8:08 – The emotions of money and what impacted Kumiko’s money mindset outside of school and work
- 11:00 – Being a single mom is a super power. PERIOD.
- 13:00 – Kumiko’s advice for talking about money with kids. (In sum: Take the fear of finance out for yourself and your children by being proactive)
“I knew from a very early on that I would not be able to have my son grasp the money management skills that I wanted him to unless he had the ability to know, think, and feel what it meant to have your own money.”
- 18:14 – Don’t be afraid to ask for and accept help. How Kumiko involves her family in distance learning her kiddo.
- 21:15 – How to buy your dream home in cash. (Yes, you read that right. Kumiko bought a 7500+ square foot home outright in 2020.)
- 24:18 – What does Kumiko hope her son has in life?
- 26:11 – The hardest parts of her home buying journey from 2016 to 2020
- 29:35 – Kumiko’s favorite content from The Budget Mom (planner giveaway coming soon!)
- 32:40 – What’s one best practice about money management that Kumiko disagrees with?
- 36:38 – What is the biggest difference in how Kumiko thinks about finance today than before starting The Budget Mom?
- 38:55 – What does Kumiko want Think Save Retire’s readers to know?
- 40:49 – Kumiko asks Melissa about cash envelope methods and budget buckets
- 42:06 – Melissa shares how financial first impressions can be deceiving
- 43:46 – The root of financial fear can also be the same source of financial preparedness
- 47:14 – Where you can follow The Budget Mom and her real life + her free resources
Where can you find Kumiko?
Make sure you check out Kumiko Love’s blog and resources, The Budget Mom, as well as her Instagram and YouTube channel.
You can also shop her online store where you’ll find her famous paycheck planner (yes, the one she used to pay off $70,000+ in debt).
Make sure to check out Kumiko's book, available as of 2/1/2022 entitled My Money My way, Taking Back Control Of Your Financial Life.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What sparked Kumiko Love to start The Budget Mom?
Kumiko was inspired to create The Budget Mom due to her own struggles with finances and the desire to share her journey towards better money management. Overcoming initial nerves, she was driven by the energy to build a community that empowers others to tackle their financial challenges, making significant life changes through practical budgeting advice.
How does Kumiko Love define financial independence, and what strategies does she suggest for achieving it?
Kumiko defines financial independence as the freedom to make life decisions without being overly stressed about the financial impact. She emphasizes the importance of addressing not just the symptoms of financial stress but understanding and tackling the root causes of one’s financial behaviors and emotions.
What advice does Kumiko Love offer for discussing money with children?
Kumiko believes in removing the fear associated with finances by actively involving children in money management discussions and decisions. She advocates for giving children the opportunity to handle their own money, helping them to understand the value of money and develop essential financial skills from a young age.
Can you share a remarkable achievement of Kumiko Love related to her financial journey?
One of Kumiko’s standout accomplishments is purchasing her dream home in cash. In 2020, she bought a 7500+ square foot home outright, a testament to her disciplined saving, budgeting, and financial planning over several years.
What unique financial perspectives or practices does Kumiko Love disagree with, and how has her approach to finance evolved?
Kumiko challenges conventional money management practices by advocating for a more personalized approach to budgeting that acknowledges individual needs and preferences. Her financial perspective has evolved to prioritize understanding emotional connections to money, leading her to develop and share tools and resources that cater to diverse financial journeys.