Paid by the Mile

Amanda and her wife are going through IVF, a process that's taxing emotionally, physically, and financially. Their families come from different worlds, one blue-collar and one affluent, and they're responding in very different ways.

Charlie, a recent college grad, comes from a wealthy family—and he has complicated feelings about it. That's part of what drew him to a job in the Netherlands, which he hopes might offer a greater sense of equality, its stronger public services, and overall better “vibes” than the US. We follow Charlie through his first week in the workforce and see how it changes the way he thinks about money, privilege, and his own country.

Alyssa is a postal worker and her family’s primary breadwinner, so budgeting is serious business. Her magic spreadsheet is the key to making her salary stretch to meet the demands of her growing family, their tithing obligations, and ideally a little fun. And right now it’s more serious than ever: she’s on unpaid maternity leave. Join Season 2 host Lloyd Lochridge as he follows Alyssa through a week in her life.

Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend.

It’s not always easy being a woman in construction. But for Alden, a union carpenter in Massachusetts, the challenges come with a big payoff: the most financial stability she’s ever had.