Welcome
To the budget mom
Welcome To the budget mom
(also known as TBM) I'm Kumiko Love!
What You Need Is
A Budgeting System
That Allows You to Make Smart Decisions and Fund the Life You Want Today and in the Future.
And if you think that’s impossible with unexpected expenses that keep coming up and a mountain of debt on your shoulders, stick around so I can show you EXACTLY how you can reinvent your money story.
Your financial journey is not (Just) A Money Journey
It’s about transforming your money habits and building a more fulfilling life, one step at a time.
It’s a journey of self-discovery. It teaches you how to take control of your financial life through intentional spending that reflects what truly matters to you.
It’s a way to break free from societal expectations and create a personalized financial plan that honors YOUR unique life circumstances, values, and goals.
clarity
To Put Your Dollars Where It Serves You Best
Stability
To Always Have Options When It Comes to Money
confidence
To Stop Questioning Your Decisions
clarity
To Put Your Dollars Where It Serves You Best
Stability
To Always Have Options When It Comes to Money
confidence
To Stop Questioning Your Decisions
clarity
To Put Your Dollars Where It Serves You Best
Stability
To Always Have Options When It Comes to Money
confidence
To Stop Questioning Your Decisions
as seen in
What Building
Looks Like
True Wealth
It’s not about how fancy your house is or if you travel to Europe.
So you can create the life of your dreams, in your own unique way. Ready to build a purpose-driven financial foundation?
To Stop Questioning Your Decisions
confidence
To Put Your Dollars Where It Serves You Best
clarity
To Always Have Options When It Comes to Money
stability
as seen in
Kumiko Love
As a single mom making $30,000 per year and facing $78,000 in debt, I felt hopeless and constantly stressed. I craved more control over my life and money, but every single financial plan I tried felt like it was created for someone in entirely different life circumstances.
Many unfinished budget spreadsheets later, I said NO MORE. I decided that it was time to create a budgeting system that worked for my real, messy, and exciting life instead of blindly following the one-size-fits-all approaches. And just like that, the Budget by Paycheck® Method was born.
Since then, I have been able to pay off my debt, buy my dream home in cash, and help millions of women all over the world change their relationship with money and build a better life for their families.
The Budget Mom | Accredited Financial Counselor® | National Best-Selling Author
A new money story is possible for you, too.
Kumiko Love
As a single mom making $30,000 per year and facing $78,000 in debt, I felt hopeless and constantly stressed. I craved more control over my life and money, but every single financial plan I tried felt like it was created for someone in entirely different life circumstances.
Many unfinished budget spreadsheets later, I said NO MORE. I decided that it was time to create a budgeting system that worked for my real, messy, and exciting life instead of blindly following the one-size-fits-all approaches. And just like that, the Budget by Paycheck® Method was born.
Since then, I have been able to pay off my debt, buy my dream home in cash, and help millions of women all over the world change their relationship with money and build a better life for their families.
The Budget Mom | Accredited Financial Counselor® | National Best-Selling Author
A new money story is possible for you, too.
The Budget Mom Story
choose a chapter to get started
chapter 1 | The apron
As a little girl, I remember watching my mom pull out cash tips out of her apron to see if we had enough to pay rent. A single mom, she worked tirelessly to provide a better life for us, yet we were always stretched too thin. I knew that I wanted to create a different financial narrative for my future family, but I didn’t have the slightest idea of how I was going to do it.
chapter 2 | The marriage
My ex-husband and I didn’t fight about money. Instead, we never talked about it. Every month, we had just enough to cover our bills and nothing left over - no savings, no goals. And that worked fine until my son, James, was born. The first time I looked into his innocent newborn eyes, I knew that I wanted his money story to be wildly different.
chapter 3 | The divorce
Then the divorce happened. Suddenly, I found myself living in an 800 sq ft apartment with no furniture. I was making $30,000 per year as an assistant, agonizing over all the things other moms had, and feeling constantly stressed about money.
With one of my paychecks, my son & I bought a TV and watched it as we ate dinner on the floor of our living room. I craved change, but I didn’t know what to do or where to start.
chapter 4 | The furniture splurge
One of the hardest parts about the divorce for me was the guilt. I knew that I was making the best decision for our mental health, but I was acutely aware of everything my son didn’t have anymore: his own room, a backyard, a swing set he adored, and the list goes on.
So, I snapped. I took the day off work and bought $20,000 worth of furniture on my credit card. This put me at roughly $78,000 of high-interest debt with no plan for how I was ever going to pay it off.
chapter 5 | The Spreadsheets Pile
Trying to get my finances under control, I started a new budget every week. I lived in the constant cycle of restricting my spending only to splurge on something pointless because someone else had it.
I followed all of the financial gurus who claimed to give me proven action steps only to end up feeling more confused as an endless pile of budget spreadsheets accumulated on my (brand-new) dining room table.
chapter 6 | The ice cream cone
We were at the park. My son wanted ice cream, so we drove to the nearest McDonald’s and I put his $1.09 cone on my credit card. That’s right, I didn’t know if I had enough money in my checking account, so I financed a $1.09 ice cream cone.
This was the moment that changed everything. I knew that we couldn’t go on like this. My son deserved more. I deserved more. I wanted to spend time with him without constantly worrying about money. Creating a plan that *actually* worked wasn’t a choice anymore. It was a necessity.
chapter 7 | The Budget by Paycheck® Method
I knew that I needed a budgeting system that made sense for my REAL life. I was fed up with following financial advice that was unrealistic for most, but especially for someone like me.
So, I got to work. I looked at my old budgeting plans, picking out the best parts and turning them into a budgeting system that worked for MY unique values and goals. Millions of women now know this system as the Budget by Paycheck® Method.
chapter 8 | The freedom
With a budgeting system that finally worked for me, I got clearer on my vision and closer to reaching my goals every day. I started seeing my finances from a completely new perspective. I made every dollar work in a meaningful way. With dedication, I was able to become debt-free. I took my mom on a gorgeous vacation. And in 2020, I bought my dream home in cash.
chapter 9 | The budget mom community
I didn’t plan for The Budget Mom to become a business. In the early stages of my financial journey, I was lonely. I started posting budgeting videos online to find a community of like-minded women who were dealing with the same things that I was. Today, millions of women from all over the world use The Budget Mom tools to reinvent their money stories and support each other.
chapter 10 | your turn
You deserve to feel in control of your finances and life. If it was possible for me as a broke single mom who had to finance a $1.09 ice cream cone, it’s possible for you, too. I outlined eight simple steps for you to get started with The Budget Mom community - most of them are FREE!
The Budget Mom Story
choose a chapter to get started
chapter 1 | The apron
As a little girl, I remember watching my mom pull out cash tips out of her apron to see if we had enough to pay rent. A single mom, she worked tirelessly to provide a better life for us, yet we were always stretched too thin. I knew that I wanted to create a different financial narrative for my future family, but I didn’t have the slightest idea of how I was going to do it.
chapter 2 | The marriage
My ex-husband and I didn’t fight about money. Instead, we never talked about it. Every month, we had just enough to cover our bills and nothing left over - no savings, no goals. And that worked fine until my son, James, was born. The first time I looked into his innocent newborn eyes, I knew that I wanted his money story to be wildly different.
chapter 3 | The divorce
Then the divorce happened. Suddenly, I found myself living in an 800 sq ft apartment with no furniture. I was making $30,000 per year as an assistant, agonizing over all the things other moms had, and feeling constantly stressed about money.
With one of my paychecks, my son & I bought a TV and watched it as we ate dinner on the floor of our living room. I craved change, but I didn’t know what to do or where to start.
chapter 4 | The Furniture Splurge
One of the hardest parts about the divorce for me was the guilt. I knew that I was making the best decision for our mental health, but I was acutely aware of everything my son didn’t have anymore: his own room, a backyard, a swing set he adored, and the list goes on.
So, I snapped. I took the day off work and bought $20,000 worth of furniture on my credit card. This put me at roughly $78,000 of high-interest debt with no plan for how I was ever going to pay it off.
chapter 5 | The spreadsheets pile
Trying to get my finances under control, I started a new budget every week. I lived in the constant cycle of restricting my spending only to splurge on something pointless because someone else had it.
I followed all of the financial gurus who claimed to give me proven action steps only to end up feeling more confused as an endless pile of budget spreadsheets accumulated on my (brand-new) dining room table.
chapter 6 | The ice cream cone
We were at the park. My son wanted ice cream, so we drove to the nearest McDonald’s and I put his $1.09 cone on my credit card. That’s right, I didn’t know if I had enough money in my checking account, so I financed a $1.09 ice cream cone.
This was the moment that changed everything. I knew that we couldn’t go on like this. My son deserved more. I deserved more. I wanted to spend time with him without constantly worrying about money. Creating a plan that *actually* worked wasn’t a choice anymore. It was a necessity.
chapter 7 | The Budget by Paycheck® Method
I knew that I needed a budgeting system that made sense for my REAL life. I was fed up with following financial advice that was unrealistic for most, but especially for someone like me.
So, I got to work. I looked at my old budgeting plans, picking out the best parts and turning them into a budgeting system that worked for MY unique values and goals. Millions of women now know this system as the Budget by Paycheck® Method.
chapter 8 | The freedom
With a budgeting system that finally worked for me, I got clearer on my vision and closer to reaching my goals every day. I started seeing my finances from a completely new perspective. I made every dollar work in a meaningful way. With dedication, I was able to become debt-free. I took my mom on a gorgeous vacation. And in 2020, I bought my dream home in cash.
chapter 9 | The budget mom community
I didn’t plan for The Budget Mom to become a business. In the early stages of my financial journey, I was lonely. I started posting budgeting videos online to find a community of like-minded women who were dealing with the same things that I was. Today, millions of women from all over the world use The Budget Mom tools to reinvent their money stories and support each other.
chapter 10 | your turn
You deserve to feel in control of your finances and life. If it was possible for me as a broke single mom who had to finance a $1.09 ice cream cone, it’s possible for you, too. I outlined eight simple steps for you to get started with The Budget Mom community - most of them are FREE!
Ryen Pilialoha
Ryen joined The Budget Mom team in 2019 when the business was still operating from the corner of Kumiko’s 800-square-foot apartment. Starting as an assistant, she now oversees TBM’s operations, helps develop new products, and everything in between! She graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in Human Resource Management and Economics and currently lives in Kansas City with her fiance Cody, and their dog.
