Episode 60: The True Cost of Healthy Living with Rachel Staycheff-Hamm
by Financial Design Studio, Inc. / February 5, 2025The cost of healthy living be an expensive commitment. But you might find its worth it for your retired self. In this episode, our guest, Rachel Staycheff-Hamm shares how a diagnosis changed how she lives. She shares the ways she focuses on health for her family, from food to medicine, and the resources they use to achieve this.
Take a listen right here, or head over to your favorite steaming platform!
Related Links
Resources Rachel mentions:
- Geneva Lakes Produce for local (Chicagoland) farmers
- Hasslemann Family Farms for local (Chicagoland) meat
- 99 Counties for local (Chicagoland) meat
- Truly Free for household products
- Norwex for cleaning supplies
- Palatine Farmers Market for local (Chicagoland) farmers.
- Mamavation for research on toxic products
- Well Rooted for pediatrics and functional medicine.
- Imperfect Foods for a grocery service
Dive deeper with some of our resources:
- How to take care of Aging Parents in the Hospital (video)
- What kind of Medicare Coverage do You actually need? (video)
- Health Insurance Options for Early Retirement (article)
- Healthcare for your Aging Parents (podcast)
Timestamps
1:31 Meet Rachel!
4:10 How did you start your health journey?
10:05 What does it mean to live healthier?
18:49 How do you do this with a family?
26:29 Why is this important to you?
31:38 What are the costs of an unhealthy lifestyle?
40:04 What are the challenges you might face?
50:42 Where should you start?
1:03:08 Is healthier more expensive?
1:09:47 Closing thoughts
Credits for Episode 60
Host: Michelle Smalenberger, CFP®
Guest: Rachel Staycheff-Hamm
Executive Producer: Anna Lewis
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Recommended Reading
Episode 59: The Anti-Consumerist Manifesto
In this episode, Anna Lewis breaks down the dangers of consumerism, and how the anti-consumerist challenges this worldview.
Episode 58: How to Get Involved and Make a Difference with Marsha McClary
In this episode, Marsha McClary shares how to get involved, from local town politics to non-profits, like Feed My Starving Children.

Financial Design Studio, Inc.
We are financial advisors in Deer Park and Barrington, IL. A team with a passion for helping others design a path to financial success — whatever success means for you. Each of our unique insights fit together to create broad expertise, complete roadmaps, and creative solutions. We have seen the power of having a financial plan, and adjusting that plan to life. The result? Freedom from worrying about the future so you can enjoy today.