Money Talks with Andy Hill: From Negative Net Worth to Millionaire

Money Talks with Andy Hill

Next up in our Money Talks series is Andy Hill, founder of Marriage Kids and Money and author of Own Your Time. Here's our conversation with him.

Tell us a little about yourself and your story. How did you get into the personal finance space?

I'm Andy Hill, founder of Marriage Kids and Money and author of Own Your Time. I got into personal finance because my wife and I wanted to figure out how to use money to create more freedom for our family.

Early in our marriage, we had a negative net worth and a lot to learn. Over time, we paid off our mortgage, became debt free, grew our investments, and eventually became millionaires in our 30s.

Along the way, I started Marriage Kids and Money to share what we were learning. That turned into a podcast where I've interviewed hundreds of families and financial experts about building wealth, creating financial independence, and ultimately using money to create more time for the people and things that matter most.

What does your own budgeting system look like day-to-day? Do you use any tools, spreadsheets, apps?

My wife and I use Monarch Money to manage our household finances. We like having one place where we can see our spending, investments, net worth, and overall financial picture.

But our system isn't about tracking every penny every day. At this stage, it's more about staying aligned on our bigger goals, making sure our spending reflects our values, and having regular conversations about where we want our money to go.

I think the best budgeting system is ultimately the one you'll actually use consistently.

There's a lot of conflicting personal finance advice online. What's one piece of conventional wisdom you've pushed back on or changed your mind about?

I've changed my perspective on the idea that financial independence is all about retiring as early as possible.

Earlier in my journey, FIRE was very appealing to me because I wanted to escape the corporate grind. But eventually I realized I didn't actually want to stop working. I wanted more control over how, when, and why I worked.

That's a big theme in my book Own Your Time. Money is an incredible tool, but the goal isn't necessarily to accumulate as much as possible or retire at 35. The goal is to build enough financial freedom that you can make more of your life decisions based on your values instead of your paycheck.

If someone comes to you completely overwhelmed, debt, no savings, not sure where to start, what's the first thing you tell them to do?

Start by getting clear on where you are today.

Figure out how much money is coming in, how much is going out, what you owe, and what you own. You don't have to solve everything immediately.

From there, I'd focus on creating a small emergency fund and getting some breathing room between your income and expenses. That margin gives you the ability to start attacking debt, saving, and eventually investing.

Small wins matter. You don't need to completely transform your financial life this month. You just need to start moving in the right direction.

What's next for you, in your business, your finances, or both?

I'm really focused on spreading the message behind my book Own Your Time: 10 Financial Steps to Put Your Family First and Escape the Corporate Grind.

For me, the next chapter isn't necessarily about making more money. It's about continuing to design my work around my family and my life. I've been experimenting with a three-day workweek and thinking a lot about what "enough" looks like once you've built financial independence.

Professionally, I'm continuing to grow Marriage Kids and Money, speak, write, podcast, and help more families use their money to create more freedom and time together.

Where can people follow you, find your content, or work with you?

Marriage Kids and Money: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/

My book, Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageKidsandMoney

Podcast: search "Marriage Kids and Money" wherever you listen to podcasts, or find Andy on social media by searching Marriage Kids and Money.

Bonus: something that would surprise your followers

In my 20s, I played in a cover band called Vermont Response. And believe it or not, it actually helped me get my first date with my wife.

MySpace was the hot new thing at the time, and our band had uploaded videos and music to our page. My future wife was living in California, so she was able to check me out online before agreeing to go out with me. Apparently seeing that I was cool, talented, and fun was enough to seal the deal. So I guess I have Vermont Response and MySpace to thank, at least in part, for my marriage.