{"podcast":{"title":"From Foster to Forever","slug":"from-foster-to-forever-6781182","podcast_index_feed_id":6781182,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/from-foster-to-forever/","website_url":"https://www.fromfoster2forever.com/","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/c59e6602-0030-4ccd-9c75-05cc29d4bd24/FFtF1500-2.jpg","author":"Rachel Fulginiti","episode_count":45,"summary":"There are many ways to build your family. Fostering-to-adopt is not the easiest, but it's a beautiful and profoundly impactful thing to do. Join Rachel Fulginiti, creative multi-hyphenate and two-time foster to adopt mom, as she shares her own story and the stories of others who have successfully navigated the foster care system and created their forever families through adoption. We explore the complex journey, touching on subjects like welcoming newborns or older children into your home, resiliency through loss and heartbreak, transracial adoption, special needs, co-parenting through a divorce, and more. We also amplify the voices of adult adoptees, who can teach us so much through their lived experience. If you've ever considered fostering and/or adoption, experienced it first-hand, or are simply curious to learn more, this show is for you.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/from-foster-to-forever-6781182"},"episode":{"title":"Money, Foster Care & the Real Cost of Growing Your Family (with Dylan Snowden)","slug":"money-foster-care-the-real-cost-of-growing-your-family-with-dylan-snowden","published_at":"2026-04-07T18:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/from-foster-to-forever-6781182/money-foster-care-the-real-cost-of-growing-your-family-with-dylan-snowden","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/from-foster-to-forever-6781182","url":"https://www.fromfoster2forever.com/","audio_url":"https://pdcn.co/e/episodes.captivate.fm/episode/beb8f557-5c66-445a-928a-0fc05c3643eb.mp3","summary":"Thinking about foster care or adoption—but unsure how to prepare financially? Dealing with challenging finances already? In this episode of From Foster to Forever , I sit down with financial coach Dylan Snowden to talk about one of the most overlooked (and often overwhelming) parts of the journey: money . We get real about the hidden costs of growing a family, how to plan for the unknown, and why understanding your finances before a child enters your home can make all the difference. Whether you're just starting to consider foster care or you're already parenting, this conversation will help you feel more grounded, prepared, and empowered. 💡 What You’ll Learn How to estimate the true cost of raising a child —even when so much is unknown Why you should understand your current expenses before fostering The reality of foster care stipends (and why they don’t go as far as people think) A simple way to plan for unexpected costs (hint: add a buffer!) How to figure out what your life actually costs each month The difference between “serious” expenses vs. “fun” spending —and why you need both How to reduce impulse spending (Amazon! Target! Oh my!) What a 529 plan is and whether it’s still worth it Why your retirement matters more than your child’s college fund How couples can navigate money differences without fighting A realistic approach to paying off debt and still living your life 🔑 Key Takeaway You don’t need to have everything figured out—but you do need to start with awareness. Understanding your current financial picture is the foundation for making confident, grounded decisions about growing your family. ❤️ A Note from Me This conversation felt especially meaningful because Dylan actually helped me and Joe get a handle on our finances during a major life transition. I…","meta_description":"Thinking about foster care or adoption—but unsure how to prepare financially? Dealing with challenging finances already? In this episode of From Foster to…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3017,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/from-foster-to-forever-6781182/episodes/money-foster-care-the-real-cost-of-growing-your-family-with-dylan-snowden/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/from-foster-to-forever-6781182/money-foster-care-the-real-cost-of-growing-your-family-with-dylan-snowden.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}