Crazy Cool Family

March is about Money!

Episode 330 is a fun, practical, and faith-filled conversation as Suzanne sits down with Crystal Paine (MoneySavingMom.com) to help families approach money, time, and motherhood with wisdom and peace.

Crystal—mom of six (from almost 21 to age 3), writer, speaker, podcaster, and CEO of a small team—shares how her family learned to live intentionally and stay out of debt during law school by getting creative with groceries, simplifying, and focusing on what actually works in real life. She breaks down why saving money doesn’t have to mean clipping paper coupons (hello, digital deals!) and introduces a powerful mindset shift: time is money—so any “money-saving” habit should be worth the time it takes.

You’ll hear practical, step-by-step encouragement for overwhelmed moms, including why menu planning is the best first step (before trying to overhaul a budget), how to set a realistic grocery budget, and how to make slow, steady progress without stress. Crystal also explains why learning money systems can feel like learning a foreign language—and why starting small is the key to long-term success.

The conversation goes deeper as Crystal shares her parenting journey through a hard season, how God reshaped her heart, and the story of foster care, adoption, and unexpected pregnancies that changed everything. She reminds listeners that the foundation for home management isn’t hustle—it’s starting with prayer, trusting God with the day, and letting Him multiply what we don’t have.

Crystal leaves families with one central takeaway: Emmanuel—God with us. You don’t have to white-knuckle life alone. God is present, powerful, and faithful in the details.

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MoneySavingMom

Don't save your marriage for.... later!

In this episode of the Crazy Cool Family Podcast, we sit down with McKenzie (our 4th daughter) to introduce the marriage Deep Dive “Fostering Love in Your Marriage.” She has been married for 4 1/2 years and has two tiny, beautiful daughters.

Together they unpack why the word fostering matters — nurturing, cultivating, and fighting toward something good — and why so many couples drift into fighting against each other instead of fighting for their relationship. Suz and Kenz talk about how marriage can become a “back burner” once kids arrive, but why it’s worth prioritizing again because children can feel unity and disunity in the home.

The conversation centers on returning to what God says about love and marriage, using Scripture as the anchor rather than relying only on the world’s tools. They also share practical rhythms couples can start using right away, including making time, practicing honesty, doing regular check-ins, and choosing to love with intentionality.

If you are looking for a way to invest in your marriage this month, this is the podcast for you. Listen and share with a friend, today!

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In this episode, Don and Suzanne talk with Casey and Meygan Caston from Marriage365 about simple, practical marriage tools for busy parents. If your relationship feels stuck in logistics, resentment, or disconnection, this conversation gives you actionable habits you can start right away.

You’ll learn how small, daily investments — not grand gestures — build strong, lasting marriages.

In This Episode:

The weekly marriage check-in meeting that reduces conflict

How to share the mental load as a couple

Why thriving marriages use tools and systems

How to apologize in a way that actually repairs relationships

The power of forgiveness and humility in family life

Why initiation is leadership in marriage

How to work on your marriage — even if your spouse won’t engage yet

How healthy marriage habits impact your kids

Get Their BOOK! The Marriage Habit — practical habits and tools to build connection, repair conflict, and strengthen your marriage.

Something to Try This Week:

Schedule a 30-minute weekly marriage meeting

Practice one intentional apology

Initiate one connection moment daily

Ask your spouse how you can lighten their load

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Still Feeling Stuck? Here's Part 2!

In Part 2 of this conversation, we shift from personal and marriage goals to setting vision and goals for your family.

Healthy family goals don’t start with changing your kids—they start with aligned parents. Building on the foundation of personal growth and marital unity, we talk about how to intentionally design your family culture instead of letting it drift.

In this episode, we cover:

Why family goals work best when parents are unified

How to create family vision without overwhelming your kids

The difference between family goals and family values

How to invite your children into the process in age-appropriate ways

Setting rhythms and priorities that shape your home over time

You don’t need a perfect plan—you need clarity, unity, and direction.

🎧 Listen to Episode 327 and start designing your family culture for 2026 with purpose.

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Designing 2026: Goals That Matter

Feeling overwhelmed by goal-setting? In this episode, we share a simple, biblical framework for setting meaningful goals for 2026—starting with you and then your marriage.

Using Mark 12:30, we break goals into four areas: heart, soul, mind, and strength, and talk about how small, realistic steps can lead to real growth over time.

We also dive into:

How to set personal goals without burnout

Why the soul is often overlooked—and why it matters

Protecting your mind in a world full of noise

Designing your marriage instead of letting it drift

How to set marriage goals without creating conflict

Progress matters more than perfection.

🎧 Next episode: Setting goals as a family and building unity at home.

Podcast Resources:

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Buy the Deep Dive TODAY! (Listen to the episode for a special offer)