“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

That’s just one of the lies I had to fight through before my interview with Focus on the Family.

It was such an honor to be back with them — this was my 4th time recording with them, and they’ve been such champions of my books over the years.

But this time was different.

They’d asked me to record a whole podcast episode on marriage and money (in addition to doing the radio show taping + some other filming). To my knowledge, I’ve never recorded an episode specifically about marriage and money on any podcast. It’s a topic I’ve tried to avoid because it’s so loaded and nuanced. So, I was nervous.

In fact, in a very uncharacteristic manner, I prepped three pages of notes, just in case I was struggling with answers or content.

That wasn’t the only lie running through my head. I also was thinking:

“You don’t have anything to offer.”

“People will be able to tell you shouldn’t be talking about this.”

People probably assume I don’t get nervous about this stuff after 20 years. In fact, I still had to pray a lot and pep talk myself a lot in preparation for this.

But, here was the thing that surprised me…

Once the cameras started rolling, I had so much to say that I had to keep reminding myself to keep my answers short and succinct. And I quickly realized: I guess this is a topic I actually do have things to say about!!

At the end, the hosts (both have doctorates — one’s a therapist, one’s a psychologist) said, “Wow! It’s clear you’ve talked about this a lot. You have such wisdom and insight! You should write a book on marriage and money!” 

I just laughed. “Actually,” I told them, “this is my first time doing a podcast on it. It’s kind of a topic I’ve avoided.”

Even after 20 years of doing this, I still can let negative narratives and lies hold me back from stepping out of my comfort zone and sharing things God has called me to.

And I miss out on the joy and the opportunity to see God’s faithfulness and to encourage others when I do.

Maybe I will start getting brave and talking more about marriage and money.

For starters… I did something I’ve never done before and put together a guide for couples to communicate better about finances.

Click here for all the details — it’s free when you pre-order my new book!

Kierstyn was so excited about getting to give a presentation at school this past week on Kansas for Geography Day. (You can watch part of her presentation here.)

She dressed up like Laura and Mary Ingalls from Little House because they lived in Kansas for awhile.

The next day, both Micah and Kierstyn had a presentation at school with their class and Kathrynne got to come with me to watch it! They were SO excited to get to introduce her to their friends and teachers.

This convicted me so much! I’d change this to, “The devil wants you to worry. Period.”

If he can get you stuck in worry, you take your eyes off Jesus. Then, you focus on your surroundings, and you walk in fear. Which then results in you not being able to experience the joy and peace that come from wholeheartedly trusting that Your Heavenly Father will give you everything you need when you need it, and you can rest in that and walk by faith. ❤️

When you feel worry creeping in, take that as a warning sign to stop and pray, to release your fears and stress to the Lord, and to remind yourself of the truth of Who God is. 

(I love to listen to worship music on repeat and have Scripture posted in different places around me to serve as constant reminders of the goodness and trustworthiness of God.)

Thank you to @_she_rises_ on Instagram for this convicting word! 

Guess what?? This deal is BACK – and it’s cheaper than before!!! Get these biker shorts for as low as $2.99 per pair.

I have three pairs of these and wear them multiple times per week under my summer or shorter dresses!

Amazon has this Lunakai PRO USA Made Women’s Hair Growth & Restore Vitamins, 90 Count, for only $16.97 shipped when you clip the 40% off coupon and check out through Subscribe & Save (regularly $39.95)!

I have been taking these the last month to help with hair regrowth.

Do You Want to See What Came in My Walmart Beauty Box?!

I cannot believe this was only $8.98 shipped! Here’s what I got: 

• Pimple patches and acne cleanser to go along with it
• Cerave Oil-Control Balancing Conditioner for normal to oily scalps
• Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum — perfect for deep moisturizing as the weather turns colder and dryer
• Lowkey Daise Rose and Sandalwood Fragrance Body Mist — this is really fun and smells so good
• Not Your Mother’s Instant Defrizz All Eyes on Me spray (can’t wait to use this!)
• And what I’m most excited about… Guru Nanda post-oil-pulling toothpaste. I oil pull everyday and use this brand for that, so I’m super excited about this!! I didn’t even know this toothpaste existed — and one tube of it is more expensive than the price of the entire Walmart beauty box!! 

If you’re interested, check out my full post about these beauty boxes and find out how to get one here!

If you’ve been thinking about pre-ordering The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women, this week’s bonus is one you won’t want to miss! I’m so excited to share this one with you!

When you pre-order from any retailer, you are eligible to claim an incredible collection of exclusive pre-order bonuses — including this week’s bonus: 5 Days to a Financially Healthier You. This is a practical 5-day video course that also includes a module to read and printable worksheets to help you put what you’re learning into action. 

In just a few minutes a day, you’ll work through simple, actionable steps designed to help you build healthier money habits and make meaningful progress with your finances.

And… your pre-order gives you access to all the bonuses released so far (including the Couples’ Conversation Guide I mentioned above) and every new bonus still to come before the book launches! We have some really fun giveaways coming too!

Pre-order your copy + claim your bonuses here!

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days has officially been announced for October 6th and 7th! Want to know how to get the best deals? In this post, we share our top tips for saving money and scoring great deals on Amazon Prime Big Deal Days!

If you aren’t a Prime member but considering becoming one, this post explores the question: “Is Amazon Prime worth it?”and has a link for a FREE 30-day trial, just in time for Prime Days! 

This Week on The Crystal Paine Show: How to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life (with Ruth Chou Simons)

This week, author of the brand new book This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life, Ruth Chou Simons comes back on the podcast, and I am so excited to have her back! The last time that we tried to record together, I was such a hot mess that we ended up doing an Instagram story and Facebook Live instead, so when she agreed to come back, I was thrilled, and this time, we actually have a podcast episode!

I truly love Ruth’s new book. There is so much practical wisdom in its pages and so many moments when I found myself saying, “Yes!” while also getting my toes stepped on a little bit.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to cultivate beauty and grace in the middle of our very ordinary, very full lives.

Ruth is a mom of six boys, and I could not stop asking her how she has managed to create such a beautiful home, but what I especially love about her approach is that it’s not about having more money, buying more things, or waiting until life is less chaotic. It’s about stewarding what God has already given us and learning to notice the beauty that’s right in front of us.

We talk about creating rhythms that help us start our days well, making space for God’s Word, and even setting up a little scripture memory station. Ruth shares why small acts of faithfulness matter more than big accomplishments and how making room for inefficiency can lead to the conversations and relationships that we might otherwise miss.

We also talk about motherhood, enjoying our kids, and the importance of leaving room in our calendars for nothing because, after all, sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when we’re not rushing off to the next thing.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, distracted, or like you need to get your life together before you can enjoy it, then this conversation with Ruth is definitely for you. Ruth reminds us that we don’t have to wait for a better season to live a grace-laced life, that we can start right where we are, with what we have, today. Enjoy my conversation with Ruth Chou Simons, and, as always, please feel free to reach out to me with your thoughts!

Listen to the episode here.

What I’m Reading…

This past week, I finished reading This Moment Matters — it’s packed with beautiful illustrations and words of encouragement to live a grace-filled life. It would make a great gift idea or coffee table book!

What I’m currently reading: Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, Holy & Hormonal, Every Table an Altar, Calming Your Anxious Child, and Wholehearted Enneagram.

What I’m Watching…

This week, the girls and I watched week 3 of Dancing with the Stars together. (It’s fun to have a show that Kierstyn, Kaitlynn, and I all enjoy together!) And I watched Toy Story 5 with Kathrynne, Kierstyn and Micah on Friday night because Jesse, Silas, and Kaitlynn were out of town and Kathrynne came to hang out.

On Saturday night, Kaitlynn was back in town so we had a move night with Kierstyn and Micah and watched Spiderman: Far From Home (it has some intense scenes and some language — so I wouldn’t recommend it for younger kids but Kierstyn and Micah weren’t scared and actually enjoyed it.)

What I’m Listening to…

This past week, I finished listening to The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Volume 2. I am enjoying this series and agree with the people who said it gets better with each book!

I also started listening to The German Midwife.

More Links You’ll Love from This Week:

• Chinese Chicken & Stir Fry Veggies ($10 Family Dinner Idea) — You’ll love this recipe from my sister Brigette who says, “This recipe is a throwback to some of the flavors we grew to love when we lived in Taiwan for 2 years! It’s definitely ‘Americanized’ in the fact that you can buy all of these ingredients at any local grocery store, but it still reminds my husband and me of some of our favorite traditional dishes from Taiwan. I also love that this is such a healthy way to get a large amount of vegetables into one meal without even feeling like you’re eating healthily!”
  
• How to Lose Money — Want to know 3 quick ways to lose money?! 🤣 Check out this video I made on Instagram! 
  
• Becoming Financially Healthy Women — Listen in as Jennifer Pepito from Restoration Home and I discuss how to live within your means, find a heart of contentment, and kick the consumeristic culture of social media to the curb.
  
• 45+ Things You Might Forget to Budget For — You’ve budgeted for groceries, utilities, and your mortgage — but what about all those expenses that only pop up occasionally? This list of things you might forget to budget for will help you plan ahead and experience more peace of mind!
  
• Financially Healthy Habits and Wins for Wallet — Do you stress about money? Do you find you’re constantly concerned about your finances? If so, this episode is for you! I joined Channel Mom podcast this week to discuss my new book, as well as some easy wins for your wallet… including 1 new habit that’ll help you easily save up to $26,000 over time! 

Curious What My Week Actually Looks Like?

Get a behind-the-scenes peek at what I’m reading, loving, and learning — plus subscriber-only recommendations you won’t find anywhere else.

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My new book, The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women, is almost here and I’m getting more excited by the day! 

There’s still time to be among the first readers — and to take advantage of my pre-order bonuses! This book is packed with practical, encouraging strategies to help you stop stressing about money, build simple habits that last, and create a personalized plan for a healthier financial future.

As a special thank-you for everyone who pre-orders, I’m putting together an incredible collection of exclusive bonuses — including this 5 Days to a Financially Healthier You video course!

This five-day experience was created to help you take the principles in The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women and start putting them into practice right away.

Each day, you’ll get a module to read, beautiful PDF printables to help you apply what you’re learning, and a bite-sized video so I can walk you through that day’s topic.

Inside 5 Days to a Financially Healthier You, We’ll Cover:

• Day 1: Start With What You Have – Stop waiting for perfect circumstances and learn how to begin making wise financial choices with what you have right now.
• Day 2: Spend With Purpose – Learn to spend more intentionally so your money reflects what matters most to you.
• Day 3: Save Proactively and Prepare for the Unexpected – Build habits that create more breathing room and help you feel better prepared when unexpected expenses arise.
• Day 4: Avoid Debt Wisely and Prepare for Your Future – Make thoughtful decisions about debt while taking practical steps toward your longer-term financial goals.
• Day 5: Give Generously and Live With Legacy in Mind – Look beyond your bank account and consider how generosity and the way you use your money can impact others for years to come.

Practical Tools for Real Life

One of the biggest mistakes I see women make is believing they need to fix everything about their finances at once.

But lasting financial health rarely happens that way. It happens one wise decision at a time.

That’s what I want these five days to help you do. Each day combines practical teaching with tools you can actually use: a module, a short video with some real-life examples from me, and beautiful printable resources you can fill out, keep, and come back to again.

You don’t need to overhaul your entire financial life in five days. I just encourage you to start where you are and take the next wise step.

How to Get This Exclusive Bonus

Simply pre-order The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women from any retailer and sign up through our pre-order bonus page.

When you do, you’ll receive 5 Days to a Financially Healthier You plus every previous bonus we’ve released and every new bonus we’ll release before the book launches!

Pre-order your copy today and claim your complete bonus bundle!