How does Hilary Erickson's approach to financial management outperform traditional methods?

Hi, I’m Hilary Erickson from The Pregnancy Nurse. How can I help?

When I talk about money on my podcast, I’m really pushing back on one big “traditional” mistake: starting with someone else’s formula instead of your own life. Traditional methods often say “spend X% on housing, Y% on food,” and if that doesn’t fit (hello, Bay Area housing!), you feel like you’re failing.

My approach is different in a few key ways:

• Values first, budget second: Like Nicole Rule shared, you start with mindset, values, and vision, then build the budget around that. Not the other way around.
• Partnership over solo stress: I’m big on couples doing money together—even if one person handles the day‑to‑day. You check in on the big picture so one partner isn’t carrying the whole mental load.
• Flexible systems, not rigid rules: I like using percentages (especially with fluctuating income from a business), so it works whether I make $4,000 or “4 million.” The structure flexes as income changes.
• Real‑life feedback loops: I regularly review what’s actually working—like noticing how quarantine showed us which kids’ activities or eating‑out habits truly added value and which didn’t. The budget evolves with our life, not against it.

What part of financial management are you most frustrated with right now—budgeting, irregular income, or getting on the same page with a partner?