How to Money

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: Jump at the pump We have ‘oil insurance’ Most fuel efficient cars Cheapest new cars Fewer work from home roles Lack of job-hopping leverage We’re all time poor 401k raiders HELOC pillagers Small biz 401k plans on the rise Joel hates cashmere Printer companies have us over a barrel Affordable Apples   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.

Joel met Phil halfway through a marathon a few months ago – literally in the middle of the race. It’s funny how life works and after running side by side and chatting for half an hour it was clear he’d only scratched the surface of his story. Phil Sanders is a serial entrepreneur and like most entrepreneurs, not every venture has been a home run. He’s experienced the highs, the lows of bankruptcy, and everything in between when it comes to building businesses. Today, Phil runs a company called Multiply, where he helps business owners sharpen their strategy, build more successful companies, and he’s here today to share some of his hard-earned wisdom. We discuss: How Phil is balancing current enjoyment with future savings Profitability should be a primary focus from day one Overcoming ego and temptation to find identity in work and business Identifying what you want out of your business How bankruptcy can lead to personal growth and new opportunities Vulnerability and overcoming fear to building strength and resilience Embracing change for professional and personal growth And much more! Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Phil: his financial services and strategy business is Multiply, and you can keep up with him on LinkedIn and Instagram 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.

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 - Housing costs: What’s a good rule of thumb to stick with to help me keep my mortgage payment in check? 2 - 401k rollover: Can you share the penalties and benefits of a retirement account rollover? 3 - Boat payment: How much should I pull out of my savings to finally get rid of my boat loan? 4 - World Cup: How do I ensure that I make the most money and avoid any pitfalls when renting my place for the World Cup this summer? 5 - Down payment: My down payment is in stocks but I might be buying a house next month… what do I do?!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: 401k rollovers: Capitalize is the site we discussed where you can easily roll over an old 401k for free- don’t let your retirement dollars languish with an inferior provider! 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 Harpeth by Living Waters! 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: Tariff turmoil New retirement plan on the horizon, with a match Housing maintenance costs Gen Z content to rent Frozen home sales in January Lowest mortgage rates since 2022 Trolling from beyond the grave Prenups in vogue again Got insurance, but still not immune to bankruptcy Border hopping for bargains Always check the pantry Passing on the steak   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Prenups… are for lovers according to Aaron Thomas! 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.

Most money advice is a broken record: save more, invest early, and wait for freedom. But what if the real risk isn't running out of money but instead is running out of time? In this episode, we’re challenging the "accumulation at all costs" mindset with Bill Perkins, author of the cult classic Die With Zero. It turns out that a healthy money relationship isn’t just about building wealth but it’s also about intentional spending. Bill argues that time is the most precious asset we have, and that waiting too long to enjoy it can be a costly mistake because we don’t want to reach the finish line with a full bank account and a lifetime of missed opportunities! We discuss how: Time is the most precious asset we have Travel makes you a richer person Your health impacts your wealth Timing your life experiences Memory dividends are inflation protected fulfillment Delayed gratification as a form of prison His concept of time buckets Life is full of risk and we have to decide what's worth it And much more! Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Bill Perkins: Check out the book yourself: Die With Zero, be sure to not follow (Bill’s own recommendation) on Insta or X, and more resources can be found at the site for the book as well. 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.

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 - Student loans: what can I do to avoid being in student loans for the rest of my life?! 2 - Lower income, higher net worth: should I be nervous that our monthly spending is more than what we’re bringing in? 3 - Self employed: if I would like to save more should I invest more dollars into my brokerage account or is there a better option? 4 - Amazon: can I still use my Fire TV if I cancel my Amazon Prime membership? 5 - Small business: what are the best business savings accounts available today?   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 Porter 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: 401k mullets and quarter-zips Don’t sleep on the solo 401k Crappy coffee Surveillance pricing 1.3 trillion in credit card debt High income earners are delinquent too Collections dos and don’ts Pets are family The going babysitting hourly rate Gray-shaped economy Gamble on anything and everything Bitcoin bashing   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.

How often do you stop to consider that your hormones might be the ones clicking "Add to Cart"? We like to pretend money is just logic and spreadsheets, but let’s be real: it’s emotional, it’s messy, and it’s never just about the numbers. If you’re tired of carrying the weight of old financial mistakes or wondering why you’re stuck in the same self-sabotaging loops, this episode is your manual for a reset. Today, we’re joined by Shannah Game, a CFP and Money Therapist who bridges the gap between your brain and your bank account. Get ready to ditch the shame, kill the stress, and finally build a relationship with money that actually feels good. Today we discuss:  How even successful folks feel stressed about their money Importance of communication with your parter Understanding and enjoying the financial journey in addition to goals Identifying ‘enough’ Recognizing the ways you’re crushing it Financial growth accompanied by emotional growth Impact of your finances on your overall well-being And much more! Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Shannah: Find everything “Shannah” at her site, HeyShannah.com, including her book Unraveling Your Relationship With Money. 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.

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 - Collections: Is waiting for my unexpected medical bill to head to collections a good or great strategy? 2 - Student loans: What should I do while my student loans are in administrative forbearance? 3 - HSA: Will I be able to reimburse myself for kid medical expenses off in the future when they have their own insurance? 4 - Preggo: After Money Gear 7, what should be our next top priority since we’re now expecting a baby this summer? 5 - Infidelity: What do I do about the secret debt my wife racked up over the holidays?   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 Vienna Lager 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: Hidden skimp-flation Plunging prices Full coverage premiums on the decline Costco bests Aldi DoorDash dependency Headhunters turned breadhunters Ghost jobs Sourdough baking in the cash Day-trading Doris Volunteering to better health and life satisfaction Unretiring Drugs on TrumpRx WTD about home prices Buying a house with a friend No minimum credit scores for mortgages False Identity Theft Reporting… is a crime   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit score: No shortcuts but actual ways to boost your credit score. 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.

Money fights are one of the most common, and most damaging, sources of tension in a relationship. Whether it’s spending, debt, or mismatched financial goals, those arguments can quietly erode trust and connection over time. But here’s the good news: money doesn’t have to be the thing that drives couples apart. When partners develop healthy financial habits and learn how to communicate about money, it can actually strengthen their relationship. Which is why we’re excited to welcome Dr. Sonya Lutter to the show today. She’s both a marriage therapist and a financial planner, and she leads the Financial Health & Wellness program at Texas Tech. She brings a rare, research-backed perspective on how couples can keep money from becoming a stumbling block and instead make it a source of teamwork. Today we discuss:  How financial therapy combines finance and emotional support Perception of financial wellness often differs from reality Financial stress impacts decision-making abilities Biological responses to stress affect financial decisions Regular financial conversations can prevent conflicts The most common relational dynamic that leads to money fights How financial infidelity can be as damaging as sexual infidelity And much more! Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Sonya: All things Sonya over at her website, SonyaLutter.com 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.

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 - iBonds: What is the actual rate that I’m earning and should I dump them to fund an ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit)? 2 - Trusts: Should I implement a trust in order to protect my sizeable investments in my taxable brokerage account? 3 - Roth conversion: Do I need to let my Roth conversion sit for 5 years before I’m able to tap it? 4 - Precious metals: Is now the time to sell the silver I invested in years ago? 5 - Down payments: To what extent is it illegal to tap a HELOC to fund my next home purchase?   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 Cerberus Nocturne Vanilla Porter 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: Mr. Beast meme coin The Lipstick Effect Non-negotiable travel Travel as a work perk Stretching your dollar with Goodwill Vanguard making your investments more affordable You’re now taking on nondiversification risk Gold and silver tanks In-car advertisements Less Model X more Optimus Affordable car insurance for FSD Moving to lower COL states DIY solar   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.

Jumbo shrimp. Open secret. Bittersweet. We call these oxymorons - ideas that shouldn't work together, yet somehow do. Most people put 'frugality' and 'hedonism' in that same category, assuming you can't have a blast while saving a buck. But our guest today, Annie Raser-Rowland, is here to shatter that myth. An Australian horticulturalist and author, Annie argues that true pleasure isn't bought, instead it’s found in the more sensual and free moments we overlook when we're too busy working to pay for things we don't need. Today, we’re exploring how to live an excellent, joy-filled life that doesn't require a massive income or a single dreaded coupon. We specifically touch on: Spending a quarter of the typical person Why Annie believes that experiences provide more joy than material possessions How community and interdependence enrich our lives Setting long-term goals can motivate frugal habits Literary figures and role models can inspire us to live more fulfilling lives Advertising influences our spending habits negatively And plenty more! Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Annie: The Art of Frugal Hedonism is the book, and learn more about Annie and what she’s up to at her site. 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.

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 - Money Gears: I’m confused… why do you recommend getting a 401k match before paying off high interest credit card debt? 2 - Cash windfall: What should I do with the rest of my inheritance? 3 - 403b: Should I opt for the new Roth version, stick with the traditional, or maybe it’s possible to do both? 4 - Greenland: With all the political upheaval we’re seeing, should shift all my investments to gold? 5 - Credit report: Where should I go to get my actual free credit report?   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 Bourbon Barrel Aged Wee Heavy w/Coconut Maple and Macaroons 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: $119 for an entire year of cell service NYC tipping company Don’t panic tip Richer refunds Tax refund advance loans Save by shopping your rideshare No miles for basic flyers Water sommeliers Best Costco buys Affordability polls $3 dinners (don’t have to look like this) Subjective financial security stress   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 whiplash student loan borrowers have experienced over the past few years has been staggering. Payments paused, forgiveness promised, forgiveness blocked, repayment systems rewritten, and now wage garnishment is back on the table for some folks. It’s no wonder navigating student loans has become a specialized skill. Few people know that landscape better than attorney Stanley Tate. He’s helped hundreds of borrowers get out of default, qualify for forgiveness programs, secure affordable payments, negotiate settlements, stop garnishments, and even discharge student loans in bankruptcy. Through his blog, newsletter, and videos, Tate has offered guidance to countless others. Some of the topics covered today: How much time borrowers in default have had to address the elephant in the room Why income-driven repayment plans are crucial for many borrowers Why private student loans are expected to see a resurgence Borrowers often misunderstand their repayment options and forgiveness paths How emotional decisions often overshadow financial reasoning in education funding The biggest student loan mistake that his clients make Living life fully is essential, even amidst student loan burdens And much more! Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Stanley Tate: Newsletter, tools, and other resources up on his site and he’s got a great YouTube channel as well. 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.

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 - Credit score: what assets should I focus on in order to boost my credit score? 2 - Geo arbitrage: how should I approach moving to Italy when all of my tax advantaged investing accounts will now be taxed? 3 - Down payment: should I invest my cash that I’d like to put down for my first house? 4 - Car loans: why do you guys recommend paying cash for a car when you can earn more by investing in the stock market?   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 NA Safe Sexride 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: Dry January is still costing you Background (credit) checks Garnished student loan wages Points for paying your mortgage If the juice is still worth the squeeze Credit card consultants Smaller weddings saving money Paying for guru chatbots (should we launch our own new AI or do traditional one-on-one coaching?) Hey siri, reduce my medical bill by 80% AI UBI Tapping a 401k early Greenland and the future of investing in US stocks   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.

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.