Podcast Summary
Home ownership hidden costs: The average hidden costs of home ownership are around $18,000 a year or $1,510 a month, including property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance.
Home ownership comes with hidden costs beyond just mortgage payments. Micah Lussier, a reality TV star from Love is Blind and Perfect Match, joined Trading Secrets to discuss her experiences and the relevance of home ownership costs. According to a recent study, the average hidden costs of home ownership are approximately $18,000 a year or $1,510 a month. These costs include property taxes, homeowners insurance, electricity, Internet, cable bills, and home maintenance, which is estimated to be about 2% of the value of your home. This significant increase in expenses compared to four years ago is why first-time home buyers today need to earn 80% more than they did then. Micah also shared her experience being selected for the Love is Blind reunion and the differences between live and taped sessions. She discussed the fee structure for talent appearing in reunions and provided some behind-the-scenes insights.
Personal growth and reality TV: Reality TV focusing on relationships and drama can provide entertainment while therapy through platforms like BetterHelp can lead to self-understanding, emotional regulation, and effective responses.
Therapy, specifically online therapy through BetterHelp, can significantly improve self-understanding, emotional regulation, and help individuals respond instead of react. Reality TV, particularly shows with a focus on relationships and drama, have been successful in recent times. The speaker's experience on Love is Blind and Perfect Match exemplifies this trend. When it comes to work, success in a marketing role in tech, such as the one the speaker had before reality TV, is often measured by the number of projects completed and the role's focus. The speaker had around 4-5 years of experience and had moved companies before. In terms of monetization, the speaker's brand is centered around travel and beauty. Before her reality TV career, she worked in tech marketing. In summary, therapy can lead to personal growth, reality TV with relationship themes and drama are popular, and success in tech marketing roles is project-based and role-dependent.
New experiences, opportunities: Be open to new experiences and seize opportunities, even if they come with potential risks or uncertainties. You never know where they might lead, like monetizing a social media presence.
Opportunities can come knocking at any time, even if you're not actively looking for them. This was the experience of someone who went from a high-paying tech job to being on a reality TV show like "Love is Blind." They shared that they had always sought something different and when the opportunity presented itself, they took it, despite the potential ulterior motives. After leaving the tech industry, they began to monetize their social media presence, and while it didn't start off as profitable, it has since grown significantly. Ultimately, it's important to be open to new experiences and to seize opportunities when they arise, even if they come with potential risks or uncertainties.
Reality TV impact: Reality TV can offer opportunities for exposure and personal growth but also lead to unwanted attention and misrepresentation. Proactively creating content during initial buzz can help maximize exposure and differentiate oneself from other cast members.
Reality TV can be a double-edged sword for participants, providing opportunities for exposure and personal growth, but also leading to unwanted attention and misrepresentation. Natalie, a former contestant on Love is Blind, discussed her experience and the impact it had on her brand and future steps in the entertainment industry. She acknowledged that while some aspects of the show were dramatized, it served as her entry into content creation. During their time in the pods, contestants were given topics to discuss, including finances, which led to uncomfortable conversations about money and prenups before marriage. Natalie and her partner didn't discuss finances in the pods but found themselves addressing the issue as they prepared for marriage. She also shared her thoughts on the virality of certain moments on Love is Blind and revealed that she would consider going back on reality TV for the exposure and fun, as long as it was a reasonable offer. Looking back, Natalie wishes she had been more proactive in creating content during the initial buzz surrounding the show, which could have increased her engagement and set her apart from other cast members.
Criticism and cost of living: Approaching criticism with the right mindset can empower you, while understanding cost of living differences is crucial for financial success
Dealing with criticism and hate can be empowering if approached with the right mindset. Micah Lucia, a guest on the podcast, shared her experience of receiving backlash and how she wishes she had taken it in stride earlier. She advises taking risks and seizing opportunities, as life is short. Another important topic discussed was the significant difference in cost of living between various cities, using Seattle as an example, which is 50% higher than the national average. Knowing the cost of living adjustment is crucial when negotiating salaries or relocating for jobs. Micah, despite her financial success, didn't feel she had valuable financial advice to share, but her story of buying her first house at 25 is a testament to the power of determination and resourcefulness.
Self-compassion in money management: Focus on increasing income or decreasing expenses instead of feeling shame for financial situations, and simple strategies can lead to significant changes.
It's essential to practice self-compassion when it comes to managing money and building a career. Shame is a common feeling, but it's important to remember that it's a lie we tell ourselves. Instead, focus on increasing income or decreasing expenses to improve financial situations. Additionally, simple strategies like the one mentioned, "if you spend all your money, you'll never save money," can lead to significant changes. In the realm of reality TV, Micah shares her thoughts on Perfect Match, where contestant Micah is doing well, both personally and professionally. She's building her brand and handling herself gracefully on the show. As for Harry Jowsey and Jess, their relationship is a developing storyline, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.
Bachelor in Paradise format change: Blake Horstmann proposes changing Bachelor in Paradise to a more authentic format like Perfect Match, where couples are already set up based on compatibility and past interactions, eliminating scripted encounters and allowing for genuine connections.
Blake Horstmann, a Bachelor alum, suggests improving Bachelor in Paradise by incorporating the format of Perfect Match, where couples are already set up based on their compatibility and past interactions. This approach would eliminate the need for scripted encounters and allow for more authentic connections. The discussion also touched upon Micah's experiences on Perfect Match and her plans for her brand. Additionally, the upcoming return of Bachelor in Paradise is highly anticipated, with potential adjustments to make it more engaging and authentic. Harry Jowsey, a popular contestant from previous shows, is expected to receive a significant paycheck for his appearances. Overall, the conversation emphasized the potential for more realistic and intriguing dating shows, as seen in Love is Blind.