How to Money

Spending money is EASY… it’s the saving and investing that’s hard, right!? Not necessarily. Our guest today isn’t going to judge your spending habits, but he does want to help you learn what’s worth wanting. Morgan Housel wrote what many consider to be the most compelling money book in recent memory, The Psychology of Money. His new book is called The Art of Spending Money and a few of the ideas covered today:   Spending is the ultimate purpose of money Independence is the most important thing money can buy Understanding the difference between internal and external benchmarks is crucial Identity should not be tied to financial metrics How inconsistent spending habits can lead to happiness Cultural shifts have changed how we view money and success Finding purpose beyond money is essential for a fulfilling life And plenty more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   Please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Nine-figure wealth: what do we do after our company sells for $300 million?! 2 - Healthcare subsidies: are health sharing plans my only other option to keep my healthcare costs down? 3 - Landlord liability: should I really go with the formality of holding each of my properties in it’s own LLC to safeguard my personal assets? 4 - 401k snatch: does it make sense to continue contributing to my 401k after my employer has lowered the match? 5 - Long term disability: when does it make sense and do I need to get a policy in place?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed a Shift Experimental by Incendiary Brewing - a huge thanks to Brandon for donating this one to the show! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Longevity calculators (Matt’s preference) Credit card caps The youths ditching credit cards Free rent Gambling on housing Private labels on the rise GLP1 to slim down the budget Pokemon investing Bear market benefits Investing like an optimist Cable TV bundle rebounds Don’t sleep on free streaming 100 month car loans Budget busting used cars   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all get the same 24 hours – but it sure doesn’t always feel that way, does it? Why is it that some people seem to have time for hobbies, meaningful conversations, even a slow cup of coffee, while others are just trying to survive the day on repeat? Today, we’re breaking down what it really takes to build a life that feels enjoyable, sustainable, and manageable… not rushed and reactive. And a crucial part of that equation are smart money decisions and intentional choices about how we spend our time. Our friend Andy Hill is here to share his wisdom. Andy runs Marriage, Kids & Money, and he’s the real deal – someone who has put in the work and built a life guided by values, freedom, and family. Everything he shares today comes from experience, not theory. Some of the topics we get to: Best reason every for tracking and budgeting Importance of effective communication with a partner Cutting expenses shouldn't mean depriving yourself of joy The debt hatred method focuses on paying off emotionally burdensome debts first Transitioning to solopreneurship can provide more control over your time Experimenting with work-life balance can lead to a more fulfilling life What “FU” money affords you Life is for living, not just saving for the future And plenty more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Andy: Own Your Time is the book, and Marriage, Kids, and Money is the podcast. Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Camper purchase: should I use my HELOC to replenish my emergency fund that we used to buy a used camper? 2 - Baby wealth: what accounts do I prioritize for my twins future and how should I be thinking about generational wealth? 3 - Expensive gyms: is it frugal or cheap to not tell my gym that I’m still paying the old rates? 4 - Apartment hunting: how should I approach the conversation with my landlord about breaking my lease due to our growing family? 5 - Crypto: is it a good idea to invest in individual stocks and crypto if they’re already represented in my portfolio via an index?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed a Dulce Muerte by Incendiary Brewing - a huge thanks to Brandon for donating this one to the show! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: World Cup ticket prices Retailers charging for returns Return rabbits Garnished wages on the way Education Department loan simulator Easily compare college costs Double majoring Nihilistic renters Shopping your mortgage No corporate landlords Timeshares, so hot right now Overdraft fees rising   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“The quality of your life pretty much exists outside of the realm of money.” That’s a quote from today’s guest and we’re going to spend a good amount of time talking about everything BUT money! Personal finance and handling your money effectively is important of course, but don’t confuse the means to the end, with the end itself. Money is simply a tool, and like the adage about dying with ‘the most toys,’ it’s easy to see how taking the approach of maximizing your wealth accumulation would leave you wanting. Vicki Robin is all about helping folks change their relationship to money. She unknowingly sparked the FIRE movement back in 1992 with her co-author Joe Domniguez when they released the book Your Money or Your Life. We discuss of number of topics in this episode including:  How money is a tool, but not the only one Consciousness in spending can lower consumption Community relationships are essential for support Aging can bring new opportunities and perspectives Consumer culture often breaks community bonds Financial independence should include a sense of service The ‘backpressure’ cause by the fear of death And much more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Vicki: read her latest writings over on Substack, Coming of Aging. And the book that started it all, Your Money or Your Life. Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New year, new outlook, and a fresh strategy for your wallet. Welcome to 2026!   In this episode, we’re setting the table for the year ahead. After the unique challenges and "did that really just happen?" moments of 2025, it’s time to stop reacting and start orchestrating your own financial future. We’re stripping away the jargon to talk about what actually matters: building wealth slowly, steadily, and with a craft-beer-level appreciation for the process. To give you a taste of what we’re diving into:   The Money Gears: We’re walking through the specific steps to take your finances from "survival mode" to "total optionality." From why exactly you need $3,045 in the bank to the moment you can finally start crushing some Money Gear 7 goals. Frugality vs. Deprivation: Why "living small" is actually the secret to living large, and how to make the shift from having to save to wanting to save. The K-Shaped Reality: We discuss why the "average" economy doesn't exist and how a bare bones budget is going to help keep you afloat. Our own personal goals for the year, and more!   Whether you’re looking to get your time back, ditch the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, or finally understand where your money is actually going, this episode is your roadmap for the new year.   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed an If Only To Be Thoughtless Once More by Burial! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Think back to the last time you lost power at your place. I’m sure it was an inconvenience- it was likely annoying to find yourself walking into a room and reflexively reaching for the light switch, even though the power was out. But the real problem with an outage are the downstream effects it has: food in the fridge spoils, traffic is a nightmare if the stoplights are out, folks even die due to extreme heat or cold. We’re less worried about a power outage and more worried about the mayhem that ensues. And in a similar way we’re less worried about silly credit scores and more worried about the negative impact that a crappy score can have on much of your personal finances. Listen as we discuss our stance on taking out loans, the high cost of neglecting your credit, and steps that you can immediately take in order to mitigate the knock-on effects of crappy credit.   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed a Grapefruit Radler by Halfway Crooks Beer! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is easily our most precious resource, but rarely do we pay much attention to what it is that we’re going to spend our minutes and hours, which inevitably turn into weeks and years. And if you completely fail to do this, you end up as the proverbial careerist, looking back at the wasted decades, wishing you would’ve done something differently. And our guest today, Ben Miller, actually did shake things up- he traded a position on Wall Street with Goldman Sachs for a fulfilling life out in Colorado. He chose meaning over money, and he’s on a quest to help others to discover what a fulfilling life is for them with the app he’s developed: ChroniFI. We discuss nerdy board games, what caused Ben to make the pivot out west, finding work/life balance as an entrepreneur, why earning a ton of money is only one half of the equation, how to figure out what to spend your money on, determining whether to spend on ‘convenience’, and plenty more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: ChroniFi - See how your current purchases impact your future retirement! Ben's app links your time and your money, boiling it down to the steps you need to take in order to achieve financial freedom. And be sure to use our ChroniFi.com/HowToMoney link to get 25% off! Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed a Apri-Guav Tastee by The Veil! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Home sale: should I sell my house to an iBuyer? 2 - Life insurance: is my work provided life insurance enough or should I go ahead and get an affordable policy while I’m young? 3 - Retirement: my 401k has a ‘true-up’ feature but does investing just once, at the end of the year, stymie compounding returns? 4 - Investment property: does it make sense to build a brand new house and then rent it out as an investment property? 5 - Pod talk: how can I grow my podcast- how did y’all grow your podcast audience?!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed a Chubby Unicorn by Common Space! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big thanks to our friend Joe Saul-Sehy for inviting us to join an episode of Stacking Benjamins – we had a blast, and we think you'll enjoy this convo as well!   –   It's the most wonderful time of the year in the basement, and we're kicking off the holiday season with our biggest, most packed episode yet.   Joe Saul-Sehy, OG, and Neighbor Doug welcome Joel Larsgaard and Matt Altmix from the How to Money podcast for a year-end celebration of everything that mattered in money during 2025. Think of this as the holiday parade of personal finance episodes. There's a lot happening, it's all connected, and you'll want to stick around for the whole thing.   First up, Joel and Matt join the crew for their Top 5 Lessons from the Events of 2025. From AI's real impact on everyday work to market surprises nobody saw coming, this segment unpacks the money moments that actually changed how we think about our finances. These aren't just headlines rehashed. They're the insights that'll help you make smarter moves in 2026.   Then the show shifts to a fascinating trend everyone's noticing but nobody's quite figured out yet. Why is everyone suddenly betting on everything? Prediction markets are exploding, retail investors are taking bigger risks, and the line between investing and gambling feels blurrier than ever. Joe, OG, Joel, and Matt dig into what's driving this shift, whether it's brilliant or reckless, and how to think about risk when it seems like the whole world just discovered the casino.   But wait, there's more. Nick from Alaska calls in with a real-world budgeting challenge that proves even the most prepared Stackers face seasonal money surprises. His situation sparks the kind of practical, helpful conversation this show does best.   And because this is a holiday kickoff episode, we're wrapping with big news about the Stacking Benjamins Vault, the new tool designed to help you organize and protect your most important financial documents without the headache.   –   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sherlock Holmes is a literary character we’re all familiar with who has the uncanny ability to solve any mystery he comes across. And one of the things that sets the British detective apart from others is his use of inductive reasoning to solve his cases. He begins with observations which then propel him in his search for the truth. Deductive reasoning, on the other hand, begins with a hypothesis and then uses the facts in order to confirm a theory. And so as we’re trying to figure out how wealthy we need to be, we think that taking the Holmsian approach is most helpful. Rather than picking a nice round number out of thin air like $1 million, we’re doing some observing and we’re asking some questions! Because regardless of how much money you already have set aside for retirement, you could be missing the mark if you’re only reading the headline numbers reported by the ‘experts’. Today’s episode should help you to realize you probably don’t need as much money as you think, you’ll gain a healthier view of work vs retirement, and we’ll go over some practical calculations to help you decide how much money you’ll *literally* need.   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed a Double Clutch Nitro Oatmeal Stout by Gruner Brothers- thanks for donating this one to the show Katie! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traveling for free sounds like a lofty goal for most folks. Sure if you’re single or if you’re a DINK couple- but there’s no way you can pull that off with an entire family in tow! Well, it’s actually easier than you think and our guest, Lyn Mettler, is here to explain how. Lyn is a long-time travel journalist who has been featured on the Today Show and US News & World Report. And she practices what she preaches as she and her family travel and fly, for free, about six times every single year! We cover her simple approach, what three credit cards to focus on in order to give you the most bang for your buck, a smart approach to the Southwest Companion Pass, getting into Disney on the cheap, how to use points to erase travel expenses, and plenty more travel tips on today’s episode.   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Lyn: You can learn every detail there is to know about scoring free airfare over at Lyn's site Families Fly Free. And check out her podcast while you're at it! Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   During this episode we enjoyed a Che Si Dice by Halfway Crooks! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Caring for parents: how do I financially prepare to take care of my parents as they enter their later years? 2 - Partial retirement: would contributing to a Roth or traditional IRA allow me to pay less taxes and retire earlier? 3 - Charitable giving: can I use a donor advised fund to strategically give to my local church, even if they don’t accept electronic payments? 4 - Extra mortgage payments: should I stop making extra payments on our house and instead invest those dollars? 5 - Old 401k: what should I do with my old 401k after accepting a new job?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!   During this episode we enjoyed a Polotmavý by von Trapp Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Deceptive dollar stores When it pays to go cheap Warrior dividends Less great target date funds Moderate millionaires The wealth effect Underperforming financial advisors Time to update those beneficiaries Wanna be real estate moguls Frustrated flippers Don’t gamble Robinhood pushing prop bets Betting your credit card balance Debit card cashback   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tall fellas UNITE! Joel has to contend with talking with someone who is taller than him for a change, but that’s mostly besides the point (unless tall guys actually invest differently than the rest of the population!?). We’re joined by Ben Felix – one of the clearest voices in finance and investing who is co-host of the Rational Reminder podcast and also runs a killer YouTube channel full of thoughtful, evidence-based investing advice. Ben is a CFA, CFP, the Chief Investment Officer at PWL Capital and more importantly, he helps regular folks understand the why behind their investing decisions. We discuss topics like: The biggest reason to invest rather than save Savings rates based on individual circumstances How more financial advisors are shifting to behavioral coaching The only free lunch in invested Why target date funds aren’t optimal What DIY investors need to look out for And plenty of other topics!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Check out Ben’s podcast over on Youtube along with his helpful channel where he posts on investing, financial decision-making, and living a good life. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Target date fund: is my brokerage double dipping expense ratios if my target date fund has other funds as well? 2 - High deductible healthcare plan: help me to determine whether or not my HDHP makes sense! 3 - Promissory note: did I make a massive mistake in selling my house with a promissory note? 4 - Pro bono: what certifications should I get if I’d like to help others with their finances for free? 5 - 50 year mortgage: “change my mind” that a 50 year mortgage isn’t a great option for folks to build wealth with homeownership!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a Contrast, which is a collaboration between Burial and Allagash! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Fancy, frugal, or cheap advent calendars Political money planning Wild “FI Number” Guesses Free electricity AI replacing jobs And the jobs it CAN’T replace Cash is cringe Time for the kids to pay rent Owning nothing and renting it all Instacart iniquity- how much more convenience is costing you   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey. Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Greek mythology, Atlas holds the heavens on his shoulders as a punishment from Zeus. And every time you see an image of Atlas, remember the hundreds of millions of Americans who are perpetually burdened by debt. To many of those consumers, the weight of credit cards, personal loans, and car loans feels like an eternal struggle… the new normal with no end in sight. But like our guest today, you can reject that fate and rewrite your story. Jade Warshaw paid off almost half a million dollars in consumer debt over the better half of a decade. Now she uses her hard-earned knowledge to teach others how to do the same. She’s a Ramsey personality and is the author of the new book ‘What No One Tells You About Money’ which explores the emotional side of personal finances. We dive into that and also cover: Facing deep emotional struggles when dealing with debt Financial discussions should include emotional health Debt can strain personal relationships significantly Understanding money involves more than just numbers Feeling isolated in financial struggles Role of debt in growing a family Good debt vs bad debt Jade’s final piece of advice And much more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Jade’s new book, out January 6th: What No One Tells You About Money Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Downpayment debate: should we put down more than 20% if we have extra money in our investment accounts? 2 - Car loan: is it worth signing up for a car loan with the dealership if it means I snag a four-figure discount? 3 - Special needs: how do I support my son with Down Syndrome while also preparing for retirement some day? 4 - Annuities: are annuities the ticket as a safe alternative investment? 5 - Maxing accounts: how discouraged should I be that I’m no longer able to max my HSA and Roth IRA?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Our episode with the Shefska’s on how to pay as little as possible for your new car! Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed A Measured Procession of Veracity by Burial! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Cyber Monday malaise Gen Z paring back AI toys Reluctant retailer returns Gift cards galore BTW, here is that site that allows you to donate gift cards for good. Trump accounts (little) dudes getting a Dell! Homeowners held hostage More affordable apartments Impoverished Americans Geographic arbitrage Real ID fees   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s talk about money and “the youths” today! While a lot of personal finance advice is evergreen and helpful to folks of all ages, it’s also important to reach people where they are and in the way they like to consume information. As middle-aged dads, we hope to stay relevant, but we don’t have the same street cred as our guest today. We’re joined by Lillian Zhang who, as a first generation born American, carved her own path by figuring out the job search, learning how money works, and building wealth from scratch. She earned a degree from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and now works in Silicon Valley by day while writing and publishing her book: The New Money Rules. Today we discuss: Gen Z feeling pressure to catch up with peers financially Social media influencing Gen Z's perception of wealth Riskier investments are appealing to younger generations Traditional 'get rich slowly' strategies are less popular among Gen Z Financial literacy is crucial for informed investing Having money, practicing personal finance early on to cement concepts like tradeoffs … and much more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Lillian’s new book: The New Money Rules, but you can also keep up with her on Insta, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Accelerated Mortgage Payoff - is velocity banking a smart way to quickly pay off my mortgage? 2 - Donor Advised Funds - do I get to deduct more from my taxes if my donor advised contribution grows after investing? 3 - Retirement Investing - am I better off contributing to my Roth IRA or my employee sponsored 457b? 4 - Medical Bills - should I take an offer for a medical bill discount by paying before the end of the year, or is there a better option? 5 - Life Insurance - I already have rental properties and a 401k that my baby could inherit so do I also need life insurance?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: We talked about Donor Advised Funds in depth with Adam Nash. If you’re looking for the best place to open a donor advised fund then look no further than Joel’s review of Daffy. A great physical fitness newsletter by friend of the pod, Drew: Move To Improve Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed an Automatic IPA by Creature Comforts! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re taking a moment to slow down and reflect on what HTM listeners are truly grateful for during this busy holiday season. And yes… doing this on Black Friday is intentional. Instead of swapping stories about the hottest deals, we’re choosing to hit pause on consumption and appreciate what we already have.   We also want to connect the dots between the financial sacrifices and smart money moves you’ve made and the deeper parts of life they impact, like family, time, peace, and purpose. Money matters, but what matters more is what it makes possible. So ask yourself: What does life feel like now that you’re not buried in credit card debt? Has building an emergency fund reduced your stress in a meaningful way? Does having a retirement investing plan give you more freedom to be present with your kids? Does saying “no” to a high-pressure promotion feel right now that you’re within reach of coast FIRE?   These are the reflections we hope you’ll sit with today!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Though it seems like the world is in shambles, humanity has progressed quite impressively when you look at virtually any length of history. Our modern society has produced a slew of nice things that would have been hard to fathom 50 years ago, much less 250 years ago- smartphones, duct tape, GPS. They’ve all, to greater or lesser degrees, made our lives better and that’s simply looking at consumer goods. Think of other clear markers like infant mortality, literacy rates, longer lifespans and how they all point to incredible progress. But how did those innovations and that abundance come about? Why does 2025 look so radically different in the developed world than 1825? Marian Tupy’s book Superabundance explains it all and demonstrates how far we’ve come in easy-to-understand language. Marian Tupy is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. He’s also the founder and editor of HumanProgress.org, a site that seeks to evidence these dramatic improvements. Listen as we cover how: Progress is not guaranteed and can regress under certain conditions Life expectancy has dramatically increased over the last 200 years Economic freedom and openness to trade drive prosperity Nostalgia often overlooks the harsh realities of the past Environmental concerns can be addressed through innovation and technology Time prices illustrate the abundance of resources available today Gratitude for our current circumstances can lead to greater happiness And plenty more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Superabundance: The Story of Population Growth, Innovation, and Human Flourishing on an Infinitely Bountiful Planet is the book and HumanProgress.org is the site! Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Home repair: should I get a new roof based on a roof inspector who says my insurance will cover it for free? 2 - Roth conversion: as an average wage earner who is maxing out my Roth IRA, should I convert my 401k as well? 3 - Tech heavy portfolio: should I rebalance my retirement portfolio away from AI if I think it’s a bubble? 4 - Savings rates: should I ditch Ally for another bank that’s paying a higher rate on their savings account? 5 - Open enrollment: I’ve always gone with my employer provided Health Reimbursement Arrangement, but is the HSA better?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: We referenced a bunch of previous episodes: Finding financial freedom making less than $40,000 a year with Hope Ware. Timing a Roth conversion with CFP Cody Garrett. AI and your investments with Vanguard’s Joe Davis. I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, are the ultimate retirement accounts. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a Kirkland Signature Vintage Ale 2025 by Deschutes! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Help us dominate the Daffy Voices for Good Campaign! Burdensome credit card benefits Frankenstein BNPL cards Robinhood Gold 3% cashback credit card Cash delivered to your doorstep Soft switching Tariff turnaround Eat more chicken Delayed flight compensation iPhone pocket sock $300 water bottle Discounted drugs GLP-1 in the C-suite End of electric (cars) Credit history vs car insurers Car-play diem   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Taxes for creatives” could have also been the title of this episode, giving the more entrepreneurially minded the boost they need to officially launch a little business they’ve been considering. But for most folks the topic of taxes isn’t comforting, it’s straight up terrifying… even though it shouldn’t be. Today’s guest, Hannah Cole, is on a mission to create fearless folks who launch into the world of deductions, bookkeeping, tracking, tax filing, and all the other terms that strike a little fear in your heart, with full confidence. Her new book, Taxes For Humans, acts as a field manual for self-employed folks to simplify their taxes and take the bull by the horns. Topics covered today: Taxes can be intimidating, but understanding them is empowering Creatives often struggle with the business side of their work, including taxes The IRS is more forgiving than many people think Receipts, tax forms, and bookkeeping are the key three systems Deductions are available for ordinary and necessary business expenses When and how much in quarterly estimates, in order to avoid penalties A visual guide to tax deductions And much more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Be sure and check out Hannah’s new book, Taxes For Humans, or just get it on Amazon. And her visual guide to tax deductions is especially cool for folks looking to organize their business expenses, who also hate IRS forms ;) Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Home renovation: what factors did Matt consider when deciding to add on to his existing house? 2 - Credit cards: I want to cancel my oldest credit card, but how concerned should I be about dinging my credit score? 3 - Student loans: should I pay off my student loans or wait for forgiveness if I have the cash on hand to eliminate them? 4 - Medical expenses: could I fully subsidize my healthcare costs were I to aggressively invest my HSA dollars?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Converting your primary into an investment property is one of the easiest ways to create some semi-passive income.  I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, are the ultimate retirement accounts. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a Jeremy’s Changed by Fonta Flora! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Help us dominate the Daffy Voices for Good Campaign! 50 year mortgages Robinhood getting into the mortgage game Cash for Christmas FindHelp.org is a great resource for those in need of food, shelter, transportation and more Flights not quite as delayed Expense ratio transparency Investment nudges by Vanguard $2,000 tariff rebate checks Fancy credit cards potentially no longer accepted RIP Direct File Avoiding all the scams Voice authentication via code words   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everywhere you look, people are talking about AI. Some say it’s going to save the world; others think it might break it. But while the headlines focus on sci-fi futures and big-tech battles, we’re interested in something a little closer to home: what does all of this actually mean for us as everyday, DIY investors – today, and over the next decade? Fortunately, we don’t have to wing it. Vanguard’s global chief economist, Joseph Davis, has been studying the forces shaping our financial future – AI included. And in his new book, Coming Into View, he breaks down the megatrends that are poised to reshape the investing landscape. Today we discuss: How Vanguard's mission focuses on aligning investor interests with their work Predictions about lower future returns are based on economic fundamentals AI's impact on productivity will extend beyond the tech sector Cost management in investments is crucial for long-term success Demographics alone do not determine economic growth outcomes The importance of diversification in investment portfolios remains unchanged Investors should stress-test their financial goals against potential market scenarios And much more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: To dig into more of how AI will impact your portfolio, check out Joe’s book: Coming Into View Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Open enrollment: what factors should I consider when hopping to a more affordable health insurance provider? 2 - Buy now pay later: how much of a discount would have to be offered to make a “pay in 4” worth considering? 3 - Money gears: should I hit pause on investing in order to finally get rid of my credit card debt? 4 - Credit score: would paying down my mortgage early hurt my credit score and my ability to invest in real estate later? 5 - Savings rate: should I include dollars automatically invested into my 401k when calculating my savings rate?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed an Upside Dawn by Athletic! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Timeshare rescission periods $50k average for new cars Shorter car loans please Repos on the rise $10k new car tax break Occupation consternation AI labor market anxiety Career plan Bs $100 work lunch budgets Frugal habits going mainstream Creepy dumb chore robots Ads everywhere Avoiding the marketing   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: 11 questions to ask yourself, before quitting your job. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly 100 years ago, economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that we’d be working 15-hour weeks by now due to gains in productivity and technology. Tim Ferriss claims that you can pretty much do it all in a 4-hour workweek! Neither of those seem plausible but our guest today takes a much more reasonable approach and says that 4-day work weeks are not only feasible but can lighten the load, allowing us to live more life – all while being more productive! Juliet Schor is an economist and professor of sociology at Boston College and is best known for her research on work, consumption, and economic inequality. Some of the topics discussed today include: How cultural attitudes towards work can hinder progress Four-day work week can improve productivity and employee satisfaction Companies are beginning to recognize the benefits of shorter work weeks People often prioritize work over personal life due to societal pressures Ways to advocate and push for a more reasonable work week Navigating a post-growth world requires reevaluating consumption habits No amount of money can compensate for more work among certain workers And plenty more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Be sure and check out Juliet’s book, Four Days A Week: The Life-Changing Solution for Reducing Employee Stress, Improving Well-Being, and Working Smarter Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Tax help: where should I find a tax professional and how much should one cost? 2 - Frugal or cheap: should I continue to reuse ziploc bags if I have millions in the bank? 3 - Revocable trust: does it make sense to update my parents' trust or should they scrap it for a brand new one? 4 - Savings rates: what’s going on with HYSA interest rates? 5 - Termites: is it time to take matters into my own hands or do I just pay to renew the termite warranty?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Learn how you can take on some DIY pest control that will give you professional results at a fraction of the cost. And a Bug-A-Salt gun is fun and actually works- especially on house flies! Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a The Scars on Greedy Palms by Burial! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Candy buyback Eating roadkill?! Affordable Thanksgiving dinner Discount burnout Bubble trouble What even is “bearish” High on gold Leveraged ETFs Bummed after winning the bidding war Renters rejoice Luxury apartment con job Gen Z credit hurdles   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, are the ultimate retirement accounts. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A financial advisor WON’T magically fix your money problems, but many folks assume that by hiring a professional, they’re well on their way to financial success. Maybe, but maybe not, because a bunch of different factors come into play. And who better to have this discussion with other than award-winning investor advocate and financial educator Pam Krueger. She began her career as a stockbroker before moving into financial media, where she created and co-hosted the PBS series MoneyTrack where her work emphasizes transparency, investor protection, and understanding how advisors are compensated. Pam is also the founder and CEO of Wealthramp, a platform that connects consumers with vetted fiduciary financial advisors and today we discuss:  Determining if you should DIY or delegate The one silver bullet in everyone’s financial journey Conflicts of interest and the fiduciary standard Fee-only advisors, unbiased advice without commissions Expecting transparency in advisor fees Paying for “meh” financial advice Breaking up with an advisor if you’re unhappy How Wealthramp advisors are vetted and finding the right advisor for you!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Head to HowToMoney.com/advisor if you’re interested in a SOLID financial advisor who will be a great fit for you. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Savings rates: how should I account for a disability payment when calculating my savings rate? 2 - $300,000: if I want to retire early in a couple years, what should I do with a settlement payout? 3 - 401k faux pas: WTD with my 401k that I overcontributed to last year? 4 - New car: how should I save up for a new ride I might buy in 5-6 years? 5 - Credit repair: student loan autodraft got dropped, credit score busted, now pay to get it fixed?    Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Calculating your savings rate and knowing that single metric can give your finances the boost needed to achieve early retirement. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a Presence of Another World by Bissell Brothers! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: The running industrial complex Exorbitant cost of running tourism Lead in the protein powders More money leading to sloppier habits Moneyless millionaires AI takes on ecommerce Subs for the suds Silly names are killing craft beer Credit card churning Premium cards with premium fees HSAs are going mainstream Rx vending machines   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: I’m not sure who needs to hear this but Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, are the ultimate retirement accounts. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Figuring out your money is tough enough if you’re flying solo. Doing it with your partner ramps up the difficulty level because you're throwing in varied money history, habits, and goals. It can create a lot of friction! Our guests today have a lot of great advice for couples looking to do better with their finances and create a ‘team vibe’ with their partner. If you looked up the definition of ‘power couple’ in the dictionary, you just might see a picture of Doug and Heather Boneparth next to it. Doug has built his own successful financial advisor firm while simultaneously tweeting hilarious memes. Heather is a former corporate attorney and director of business affairs for that firm, Bona Fide Wealth. They’ve written the fabulous new book ‘Money Together’ which launches next week on the 28th, and today we discuss: How understanding individual money histories is crucial for couples Impact of shame around finances Balancing individual and shared goals Creating positive financial vibes Regular money dates  Investing in one area often requires sacrifices in another It's important to recognize the contributions beyond monetary income And plenty more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: DoMoneyTogether.com is where you can go to learn all about Heather and Doug’s book. ReadTheJointAccount.com is their newsletter and BoneFideWealth.com is their wealth advisory firm. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Credit card no-nos: after getting a $900 welcome offer should I take advantage of one year of no interest? 2 - HSA: what’s the best way of keeping up with medical expenses so I can invest my HSA funds? 3 - 403b: should I participate in my 403b if I don’t think I’ll stay long enough to vest? 4 - Roth IRA: explainlikeimfive, how exactly do I invest in my Roth?! 5 - Medium term investing: is 2-3 years long enough to invest a down payment?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a Twin by Living Waters Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Government shutdown federal layoffs Deploying a Bare Bones Budget Accidental landlords Ending capital gains on primary residences Space heaters to the rescue $30 home (mint)ternet Rent vs attending a wedding WFH premium Debilitating debt Perceived importance of college College discounts The necessity of creative destruction   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today is a self professed personal finance oddball! Len Penzo spent 35 years in the aerospace industry before retiring at age 58 as an electrical engineer. Along the way he launched LenPenzo.com in December 2008 (he even helped to give Joel a start writing personal finance content back in the day). Since then, the blog has drawn millions of readers and earned awards from publications like Kiplinger. Len’s work has appeared in outlets like Forbes, Time, Business Insider, CBS MoneyWatch, and he’s been featured on radio and TV segments. And he now has a new book out called True Money Stories that’s about the intersection of money and family life. We discuss: Intelligence vs. financial management Running household finances like a business The importance of honesty in personal finance Allowing children to make financial mistakes The annual sandwich survey and inflation Navigating retirement and long-term care And much more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Check out Len’s book True Money Stories, more of his writings at his site, and follow over on X. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - eBay: when to list and when to sell locally? 2 - Quarterly estimates: making estimates vs increasing withholding to avoid the tax shock 3 - Backdoor Roth IRA: is the window closing to make backdoor Roth IRA contributions? 4 - Buying a home: when it makes sense to make an as-is offer? 5 - Selling a home: what should I do if the appraisal comes back below the offer price?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: We referenced this holistic tax planning conversation with CFP Cody Garrett. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a Rice Lager by Hi-Wire Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like:  The refi revival 2026 investing limits Ditching the S&P Private equity in target date funds Falling behind on payments Debt collections on the rise Delay pay disaster Travel now pay later Landline loving Avoiding chatbots Getting paid for your data   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Demographics are destiny” is a phrase we’ve all heard. And while the future of America isn’t a foregone conclusion, declining birth rates, rising inequality, and the dramatic increase of single-parent households are having a profound impact on our society, impacting the overall economy. With all of this in mind, another question is raised: how should we respond and what money choices should we be making now? To help answer this question, we’re joined by Melissa Kearney who is an economist known for her extensive research on social policy, poverty, inequality, and the economics of families and fertility. Melissa is author of the book, The Two-Parent Privilege, and she’s a professor of economics at Notre Dame. We discuss: How pessimism about the economy often contrasts with individual financial well-being Declining birth rates are a global concern with potential economic consequences Marriage is not just a romantic arrangement, it has economic implications too Immigration could be a solution to counteract declining birth rates Declining birth rates could lead to challenges in social security systems Investing strategies may need to adapt to demographic changes   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Be sure to check out Melissa’s book, The Two-Parent Privilege! Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Credit card autopay: how do I avoid getting hit with an interest charge? 2 - Timing a HELOC: should I apply and open a line of credit before my income drops significantly? 3 - Solar panels: should I take the plunge with solar in order to mitigate monthly expenses in retirement? 4 - Family money talk: how do I convince my parents that taking out a loan for some HVAC work is foolish? 5 - Cellular for wearables: what’s the best option if we’re adding a line for our kid’s watch?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Negotiating severance during an impending layoff by Financial Samurai. Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a It’s Complicated Being A Wizard by Burlington Beer Co! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like:  Government shutdown Streaming price hikes Underwater autos Best high mileage vehicles Car insurers that have your back Freelancers FTW Side hustle scams E-fund idiocy Employer matched savings Employer provided financial advice TrumpRx Pharma ads   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today says, “you can’t transform the world if you’re living paycheck to paycheck.” We couldn’t agree more! And money literacy is at the heart of avoiding that fate. Not only did Professor Kristen Carioti literally write the personal finance textbook, but she also found a way to make personal finance classes a requirement at her school, Mount Mary University. Kristen is boots on the ground, teaching the next generation how to think about and handle their finances effectively. We discuss: Students are eager to learn about personal finance, indicating a demand for a money education Building good money habits early can lead to long-term financial success Budgeting should be viewed as a plan rather than a restriction Trade-offs in financial decisions are often overlooked by young adults Financial tools should be chosen based on individual needs and effectiveness And plenty more!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Check out Kristen’s site to learn more about her, the personal finance book, and reach out to her on LinkedIn to connect professionally! Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.  Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical. Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.