Lesson 4: Podcast Budgeting
Making your show sound pro without going broke
Hey Besties,
Wow, we’re already on lesson four of my Podcast Curious to Podcast Pro in Just Six Months! course. Time flies when you’re having fun.
You can catch up on prior lessons here:
Today, let’s talk money—or, more specifically, how to spend as little of it as possible while still making a podcast that sounds amazing. Because, let’s be real: podcasting can be expensive, but it certainly doesn’t have to be.
Your production budget can range from free-ninety-nine to $500+ per episode, depending on your time investment, technical skills, and financial resources. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to cut costs, smart budgeting for your podcast comes down to being strategic with your gear, software, branding, and marketing. So let’s break it down.
🎙️ GEAR: What do you actually need?
If you’ve been scrolling through lists of podcasting mics and feeling overwhelmed, breathe. You don’t need to drop $500 on a microphone to sound good.
✅ My mic situation: I’ve had a Shure SM7 for years, but I recently bought the Shure MV6 for my new studio, and honestly? It’s about half the price, and I think I prefer it.
✅ Budget mic picks: The Samson Q2U ($70) and the Audio-Technica ATR2100x ($80) are solid USB/XLR hybrid mics that sound professional without tanking your bank account.
✅ Travel mic hack: I’ve been using the Saramonic LavMicro U1A Clip-On Lavalier Microphone with a Lightning connector—which is super cheap, I got mine for like $20 at Best Buy—a good chunk of the past year while traveling, and guess what? No one listening is the wiser.
✅ Headphones? Yes, they’re mandatory. But you don’t need studio-grade ones. I have nice ones, but they pinch my ears, so I’ve just been using some cheap gas station headphones—and it makes no difference. Grab something like the Sony MDR-7506s (~$100) when you're ready to upgrade.
💸 Pro tip: You don’t need a mixer unless you’re doing live multi-person recording, and you don’t need a studio unless you have a fancy client or just love flushing money down the toilet.