Ask HTM - Cashback vs Travel Points, Letting a Brokerage Cook, and the Right Way to buy a First Home #952

Let’s dive into 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 - Cash back or travel points credit card… aren’t the rewards basically the same? 2 - Should I continue to let my investments in my taxable brokerage account continue to grow or should I focus on my mortgage? 3 - What factors like size and location should we consider when buying our first apartment? 4 - Does it make sense to pay for a credit lock with the 3 major credit bureaus? 5 - Can you help me understand Joel’s Costco Instacart hack?   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. Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool! Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.   During this episode we enjoyed a 2025 Bigfoot by Sierra Nevada! 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.