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: AI toothbrush Car insurance competition (and divident payments!) A time to invest “Early” retirement increasing Ghost jobs Passive income dreams HOA horrors Living back with mom and dad Tough sledding for realtors (Bc who actually needs a realtor?!) Vaca thanks to AI Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! 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.

Anyone else a little tired of hearing about ‘retirement?’ It can feel like this vague, far-off finish line that we're told to obsess over for decades. But here's the thing: when you look at the research, a surprising number of people who are retired—or about to retire—are anxious. They've got regrets. Some of those regrets are financial. But many have nothing to do with money at all. So if we're going to spend years working toward retirement, we should probably make sure we're aiming for one we'll actually enjoy. Joel has known Wes Moss for a long time. They worked at the same radio station for well over a decade. He's still there because, believe it or not, terrestrial radio is still alive and well. His show, Money Matters, has helped countless listeners make smarter decisions about their money, their investments, and, yes, their retirement. Wes has a new book out that challenges a lot of conventional thinking about what makes retirement successful, and today we're diving into the financial and non-financial choices that can help you avoid the regrets so many retirees have. Today we discuss: Why his new research updates his earlier work on happiest retirees rather than replacing it entirely. Fear around retirement is often amplified by nonstop media coverage. Wes says more money alone does not erase anxiety, even for people with $3 million or more. Wes defines happiness in a more Aristotelian way, focusing on fulfillment and purpose rather than pure pleasure. He introduces “money green zones” for investable assets, income, and years left on a mortgage, arguing that happiness rises when retirees land in those ranges. A major theme is core pursuits, which Wes describes as hobbies on steroids. The happy retiree group tends to have 5 or more, and they spend about 20 hours a week on them versus about 13 for less happy retirees. Wes warns that purpose does not just appear in retirement. It has to be built intentionally well before leaving work. They talk about the “friendship recession” and how it gets harder to make close friends with every decade, making community a key retirement asset. The conversation also covers the emotional power of being able to say you could retire now, even if you choose not to. Wes says that confidence correlates with a 21% jump in happiness. On the financial side, Wes explains why a retirement plan, safe assets, and a flexible withdrawal strategy can reduce fear and improve spending confidence. They discuss Social Security timing, with Wes leaning toward using it sooner if doing so helps someone retire a year or two earlier and live better. How much of a remaining mortgage leads to higher levels of happiness And much more!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 - Extra cash: Should we use our savings to pay down a mortgage that’s at 2.8% for 30 years? 2 - Brokerage taxes: How do I prepare for paying taxes on dividends and could you explain ‘tax drag’? 3 - Credit card apps: Am I crazy for feeling hesitant to enter my credit card information into card maxing apps? 4 - Hot and tired: Our window units aren’t keeping up with the heat so is it OK to finance central air?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! 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 Forgotten Lake by Lake of the Woods Brewing… thank you David S for sending this one our way! 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: Matt’s big reveal Slick deals lingerie America’s debt debacle Job hopping superpower Quick responses “Leave the workforce” clause in prenups Joint back accounts and happy couples Is buy now pay later all that bad? Perpetual shopping Mystery vacations to save Travel e-sim boom   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! 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.

“There’s nothing new under the sun.” That comes from Ecclesiastes. But it’s a piece of wisdom we tend to neglect. It's often said that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it. But what if a poor understanding of history does something else too: leaving us less grounded and giving us unrealistic expectations about how life used to be? It’s time for a history lesson today, but not just for the sake of memorizing names, dates, and events. Drawing on countless examples from history, national bestseller Joseph Moore argues that while we're constantly looking back with nostalgia at the "good old days," we may actually be living through the greatest era of prosperity. The books is How To Get Rich In American History, and today we unpack: Why Americans misunderstand the past and over-romanticize earlier eras The American Dream has been declared dead for centuries Optimism and an internal locus of control matter financially Why “stocks for the long run” is a modern idea Early Americans were often told not to save money Real estate myths: it does not always go up and it is not passive FIRE as the CrossFit of personal finance Women’s income has long been central to family wealth Five takeaways from history: solve problems, take risks, move, marry well, believe you can do it And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 - HSA: I don’t see how investing money in a Health Savings Account is going to move the needle for me? 2 - Dividend stocks: I keep buying individual stocks, but maybe it’s time to cut bait? 3 - Renovate/rent: We’re interested in getting into single family housing but how do we go about it? 4 - Cash reserves: What steps do I take to have 1-3 years of cash on hand for retirement?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! 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 Lakeside Kolsch by Lake of the Woods Brewing… thank you David S for sending this one our way! 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: Friends and money in The Guardian Ubiquitious sports-betting Friendly financial advice Whole Foods on the cheap Suveillance grocery pricing Student loan pause = mostly bad outcomes Goodbye Grad and Parent Plus Home equity piggy banks Monitoring for fraudulent credit card charges Checks are for chumps (Jay Z on the power of cash) Vans are back baby! “Dumb” cars Flock cameras… good or bad?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! 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.

What’s harder: parenting… or the cost of it? We’re huge fans of having kids. They teach you so much, force you to become less self-absorbed, and – let's be real – it’s incredible to watch little mini versions of yourself running around bringing so much joy, purpose, and chaos to your daily life. But financially? Raising a family can feel more daunting than ever. Between housing, childcare, activities, and expenses that seem to multiply overnight, many parents are left asking: How do we make this work? That’s why we’re joined today by Kristy and Bryce of Millennial Revolution. They’ve written a practical new book, Parent Like a Millionaire (Without Being One), on raising kids thoughtfully and confidently without needing a seven-figure bank account. Today we discuss: The impact of money on birth rates Myths and facts of the cost or raising a child “Big Baby” Living smaller and avoiding unnecessary life upgrades Nanny sharing and childcare alternatives Teaching kids financial autonomy and independence Joys of parenthood Gift of financial independence while parenting And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 - House poor: What to do when all your money goes towards your mortgage? 2 - Aldi: Is it true that the best budget grocery store isn’t taking the AMEX Blue Cash Preferred anymore? 3 - Expensive babies: Should I plan to carry newborn delivery costs on a credit card? 4 - Car dealership: How can I avoid fees and cut other costs when I shop for a car at the dealership?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! 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 Juicy A by Flying Monkey Brewing… thank you David S for sending this one our way! 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: Thoughts on the $20 burrito Real wages rise a little Cash hoarding Big banks are still sticking it to you Spendy sports Shot-through shirts WFH fees Pension-ification of your 401k Gen Z investing in WHAT?! Mandated self checkout WhatNot to buy   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! 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.

Frugality is a cornerstone of personal finance advice: cut back, spend less, reduce waste. And for the average American drowning in debt, that’s often solid advice. But money isn’t meant to just sit there untouched—it’s also meant to be spent, experienced, and enjoyed. In fact, even the money you save is really just deferred spending. And let’s face it: money isn’t easy to come by. We work hard for every dollar we earn. So maybe the answer isn’t simply spending less. Maybe it’s spending with more intention. Our guest today wants you to worry less about money, and he argues that the path there isn’t endless deprivation—it’s changing the way you think about spending altogether. Jesse Mecham is a best-selling author and founder of YNAB, the beloved budgeting app that’s helped millions take control of their finances. Today we discuss his brand new book, Never Worry About Money Again, and dive into concepts like: Financial worries are a low grade hum Money as an expression of self Why Jesse believes we should love money Aligning money with life goals and values Influence of interior work and self-awareness Practical tips for simplifying money systems Kids as a status symbol What it means to be a “rec league” family And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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.

Big money mistakes usually come from doing the “smart” thing too soon. We break down listener decisions that look simple on the surface, but could cost you thousands if you get the timing wrong… from where to park a home-sale windfall, to whether a refi is actually worth it, to why stock-picking advice from family can be a trap, and more! 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! If you’re sitting on cash you’ll need soon, debating whether to become a landlord, or wondering if your mortgage rate is low enough to justify another refinance, we give you the clearest path forward. We also tackle the hidden risk in chasing returns with individual stocks and ETFs, and explain why boring, liquid, diversified choices usually win when the clock is ticking. You’ll discover:1 - Home purchase: Why a high-yield savings account or money market fund is usually the right move for short-term home-buying cash.2 - Refi: How to think about refinancing through payback period instead of obsessing over the interest-rate drop.3 - Investing tips: The difference between broad index funds and narrow ETFs, and why that matters for risk4 - Helping others: Paying it forward for others to achieve financial freedom5 - Financial safety net: When a HELOC can be a backup and why a reverse mortgage is a very different beast. 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 Bear Hug IPA by Market Brewing… thank you David S for sending this one our way! 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: Grocery slowdown Cashback for groceries Premium credit card trap FUNFLATION Are you willing to take the bus? Money morons More credit card debt than investments Dwindling Social Security Changing homeowner expectations Ripoff mortgages DIY upgrades  for home insurance discounts Skipping the security deposit The price of water   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.

There’s a lot packed into your 20s. You’re getting an education — formal or otherwise. You’re figuring out what you believe about work, money, relationships, success, and who you want to become. Sure, that process doesn’t stop at 30, but your 20s are especially formative. And there’s no shortage of advice aimed at young adults. Commencement speeches. Career gurus. Personal finance influencers. But a lot of it misses the deeper question of what actually matters. And in a world full of noise, it’s getting harder to separate wisdom from status signaling. Today we’re joined by Jack Raines. He’s a young guy who made some pretty countercultural choices — walking away from prestigious jobs, big paychecks, and conventional definitions of success to build a life on his own terms. His new book, Young Money, is part memoir, part guidebook for the generation coming behind him and today we discuss: Embracing risk in your 20s Balancing financial responsibility and enjoyment Avoiding mindless toil Recognizing meaningful work FIRE as a mental illness Different goals for different life stages Why Jack believes “Am I having fun” is the most important question And much more!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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.

Join our first ever video podcast as we explore the latest in personal finance, technology, and lifestyle, sharing insights and practical tips to improve your financial well-being and enjoy life to the max! Today we get into: Our summer travel highlights and money-saving tips Apple's new devices and price hikes explained The rising cost of healthcare and how to manage it Entertainment on a budget: movies, ice cream, and more The industry of sports betting and its financial impact Listener questions and summer sabbatical reflections The future of technology and personal finance Practical tips for family finances and investments And a lot more ridiculousness!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - SUBSCRIBE! Cashback credit cards: 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.

Searing your steak as a way to ‘lock in the juices’ is something we’ve heard folks recommend for years! Get that grill hot as blazes, toss on your steak, and reap the juicy medium-rare rewards. But even though there might be a kernel of truth here, culinary scientists tell us that it’s not actually the best method. It turns out that the reverse sear is the better way to do it! Similarly, there are phrases and ideas in the personal finance space that get preached as though they’re the gospel truth. And there are a number of reasons why certain bits of advice stick with us- maybe it intuitively makes sense or perhaps it’s packaged well and is just flat-out catchy. We’re all looking for guidance and shortcuts but that doesn’t necessarily mean that these sayings are sage advice. So today we call out some of the biggest culprits on the show and share how you should be thinking about your money.   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 Uplifted Scottish Ale by Talisman Brewing- thanks Andy for donating this one to the pod! 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.

Dying without the proper documents in place can cost your loved ones a ton of money! The latest research shows that probate can easily take a 3% to 7% bite out of your estate. And this is a topic that’s been on our minds for months since episode 704, when we had our wives on the podcast. We realized that the ladies might have a general idea of what to do if one of us died, but for the most part they would be rudderless since both of us handle the bulk of our finances in both of our families. That’s why we’re pumped to talk with Chanel Reynolds who has been on a mission for the past decade, to help folks do what she wished she’d done, before life takes a detour. Chanel founded GetYourShitTogther.org and she authored the book “What Matters Most”, both dedicated to help folks to prepare to face the inevitable reality of death. We discuss digital hygiene and staying organized with your accounts and passwords, key estate planning documents, using online software vs hiring an attorney, beneficiaries and transfer on death deeds, how to effectively approach conversations with family, funeral preparations, and much more!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 Megalodon American Imperial Red which was homebrewed by listener Greg- thanks for sharing! 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 - How do I go about creating a budget with a highly variable income? 2 - As new parents we want to start saving money into a 529 plan but how much should we aim to invest? 3 - Avoiding capital gains when selling a primary residence? 4 - Should most folks have long term disability insurance? 5 - Taking advantage of “3 paycheck months”!   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 Malpais Stout by La Cumbre Brewing- a big thanks to Bob for donating this one to the pod! 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.

Check out our first ever AMA: an ‘ask me anything’ where we focused on personal questions as opposed to personal finance related content! Typically we’re either interviewing someone in the personal finance space, answering listeners’ money questions, doing a deep dive on a particular topic, or covering the latest personal finance news- but we thought it’d be fun for y’all to get to know us more on a personal level. These are the kinds of topics you might hear us talking about if we were grabbing a bear at a local brewery! So have a listen as we answer questions having to do with how we met, how our faith impacts our finances, other careers we’ve considered, long-term fitness goals, the biggest decisions we’ve ever made, favorite bands or genres, finding work-life balance, where we want to travel, and 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.   During this episode we enjoyed a Double Top by Akademia 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.

The fundamentals of personal finance aren’t all that complicated- there’s a reason why we came up with the Money Gears: 7 straight forward steps to take with your money. We could probably boil it down even more: spend less than you make, and invest the rest! So while the core principles of growing wealth are fairly simple, then why aren’t more Americans handling their money better? One reason is because we, as individuals, are incredibly complex! And that complexity can lead to a disconnect between what we know we should be doing with our money, and what we actually end up doing. Sometimes we need someone to guide us, which is why we’re excited to talk with Aja Evans. Aja is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 10 years of experience and she works to help people move toward financial wellness by understanding their relationship with money, their money mindset, and how their feelings impact what they do with their money. And today we discuss confronting our money beliefs, social media’s impact on our finances, financial trauma, setting boundaries, and 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.   During this episode we enjoyed a Quality Time by Inner Voice 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.

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 - What are the tax consequences of selling a single stock within my Roth IRA? 2 - How do I shift my mindset from saver to spender as I enter my retirement years? 3 - I’m getting close to making too much money to qualify for a Roth- how can I avoid that income threshold? 4 - Will closing a bank account that I’ve had since my teenage years hurt my credit score? 5 - Are Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) worth the hassle?   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 Blood Orange Double Wit by Ponderosa Brewing- a big thanks to Bob for donating this one to the pod! 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 love nerdy board games! And one of the things that makes them fun, besides getting to play them with friends and family, is the competition for scarce resources. For instance with the Settlers of Catan, it takes a few rounds of play to get the resources you need to build the settlements, cities, and development cards that help you rack up victory points in Catan. It’s a classic that still holds up, and like most games it's all about tradeoffs. Should you focus on building a road or upgrading to a city? You can’t do it all and you can’t get everything you want all at once. And it turns out that our financial lives are kind of like a game of Catan as we’re always making tradeoffs as well- in particular when it comes to our expenses. We’re torn between the decision of spending big money on an item that we know is going to last, versus an inferior item that will get the job done- at least for a little while, before inevitably breaking. Today we talk about the pros and cons of planned obsolescence, the culture of disposability, the buy it for life movement, as well as changing the way we think to ensure that we’re allocating our dollars to maximize satisfaction!   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 Song of Winter by Hill Farmstead- a big thanks to Michael and Emily for sending this one our way! 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.

Sure you could simply invest in a target date fund, or even take the more aggressive path by going all-in on equities and investing solely in the S&P 500. But what if that means you’re potentially leaving millions on the table by the time you reach retirement? That’s the question at the center of our conversation today with our guest Paul Merriman. He is the author of eight books, has a regular column at MarketWatch, is a legend in the DIY investing arena, and is an advocate of the Two Funds for Life investing strategy. That strategy outperforms the S&P and we discuss how you’re able to do that with small-cap value stocks! After Paul retired from his wealth management firm he founded the Merriman Financial Education Foundation a little over a decade ago. Of course it’s a non-profit, and is “dedicated to providing comprehensive financial education to investors at all stages of life” which is a mission that really resonates with us- he wants individuals to be informed and to understand how much they might be missing out on. We look at the historical data and it’s convincing enough that we might be changing how it is that we invest for our future!   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 Discipline Dubbel by Bold Monk! 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 - I have a recurring transfer to my Roth IRA but is that money actually invested? 2 - How do I keep a bill in collections from hitting my credit report? 3 - Should my life insurance death benefit be based on my outstanding debts or on a multiple of my annual income? 4 - If the societal impact of credit card fees are so negative, shouldn’t we avoid using them altogether?   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 Walk on Water White by Bold Monk! 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.

Who is the greatest actor of all time? You might have an opinion- maybe it’s Meryl Streep or Daniel Day-Lewis, but this would likely lead to a pretty fierce debate. And the same could be said about athletes- who is the greatest? Is it Michael Jordan or Michael Phelps? Well it depends on who you’re asking because it’s in the eye of the beholder to a certain extent. We all want to know what sets the  greatest in their given field apart from the ones who were just really good. Luckily the greatest investor conversation isn’t nearly as fraught. Warren Buffett is the GOAT in our eyes and we’re certainly not alone in that assumption. And it’s not only due to the returns he’s garnered- his longevity, consistency, and humility are admirable as well. So today we’re going to talk about the GOAT investor and what financial, and life lessons we can learn from him. How you should approach your investments, how long you should be holding them, and what you should be investing in are just a few questions we’ll answer 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 Blender Black-Ras by New Park Brewing- thanks for donating this one to the pod Matthieu! 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.

There’s a massive difference between how something feels versus the actual reality. We’re talking about vibes as opposed to empirical evidence. And that’s why we’re happy to talk with Dr. Jean Twenge who is a professor of psychology over at San Diego State University. She has researched the personal finances of the different aged cohorts and few experts have addressed the topic of generational change as well as she has. Dr. Twenge has written multiple books on the defining characteristics of specific generations- she did that in her book iGen where she focused on Gen Z, and her latest book, Generations, covers the oldest Silent Generation to the youngest Polars. And an article that she wrote in the Atlantic really caught our eye, because not only did she write about our generation, but she spoke directly to the wealth accumulation of Millennials which of course we found particularly fascinating. Today we discuss generational stereotypes, the impact of individualism and technology on wealth, some of the bigger financial obstacles we face today that our parents didn’t have, the ‘slow life strategy’ and what that means for Gen Z, plus much 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.   During this episode we enjoyed an Icelandic Arctic Pale Ale by Einstok Olgerd! 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 - Should I exit a managed retirement account even though I have seven figures in there? 2 - Is there any benefit to paying off a mortgage earlier in the life of the loan as opposed to later? 3 - What should I keep in mind as the new owner of the house next to me is planning to rent it out? 4 - How should I approach a gun hobby spending disagreement with my spouse? 5 - International roaming with the low cost cellular providers- Mint Mobile or someone else?   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 Icelandic Arctic Lager by Einstok Olgerd! 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.

Is homeschooling the best move for your family? Maybe!? That depends on so many factors like your family values, the goals for your career, what resources are available to you, and even what school your kids are currently attending. We’re both products of basic public schooling, but it’s a topical question as the percentage of children who are homeschooled has basically doubled in the past few years- but, homeschooling isn’t a slam dunk decision. And the same is true on the real estate investing front. We love that path for some people and it’s a strategy that has worked out well for us. You’ve heard of real estate moguls who’ve made millions ‘in real estate’ and maybe the algorithm is even feeding you social media influencers who are claiming that it’s so easy. Well today we have a nuanced conversation to help you to determine if it’s right for you or not. We discuss how the real estate market has evolved over the past decade, some of the cons in addition to pros of becoming a landlord, some alternative ways to invest in real estate that are essentially passive, as well as some lower risk ways to wade into the waters of investing in real estate.   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 US Alive by Mikkeller 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.

Is homeschooling the best move for your family? Maybe!? That depends on so many factors like your family values, the goals for your career, what resources are available to you, and even what school your kids are currently attending. We’re both products of basic public schooling, but it’s a topical question as the percentage of children who are homeschooled has basically doubled in the past few years- but, homeschooling isn’t a slam dunk decision. And the same is true on the real estate investing front. We love that path for some people and it’s a strategy that has worked out well for us. You’ve heard of real estate moguls who’ve made millions ‘in real estate’ and maybe the algorithm is even feeding you social media influencers who are claiming that it’s so easy. Well today we have a nuanced conversation to help you to determine if it’s right for you or not. We discuss how the real estate market has evolved over the past decade, some of the cons in addition to pros of becoming a landlord, some alternative ways to invest in real estate that are essentially passive, as well as some lower risk ways to wade into the waters of investing in real estate.   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 US Alive by Mikkeller 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.

Only 9% of young Americans have shown an interest in serving in the military according to the latest figures- we’ve seen a precipitous drop which means that our nation’s security could be at risk in the future. And not only that but when you look at it through a simple economic lens, the lower the supply (in this case of individuals willing to serve), the higher the benefits those individuals will receive. So not only are new enlistees fulfilling a patriotic duty, but they also have the opportunity to reap some serious financial rewards as well. That’s why we’re pumped to talk with Lacey Langford on the podcast- she’s a veteran, a milspouse, and an Accredited Financial Counselor with over 15 years of financial planning, counseling, and coaching experience. Today we talk about the host of financial benefits from serving our country and joining the military: Thrift Savings Plans, pensions, the GI Bill that pays for college and other training, tax avoidance, free healthcare, and 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.   During this episode we enjoyed a 100% Lambic Bio Geueze by Cantillon! 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 - Inheritance windfall: Should I keep an inheritance with financial advisors or is it time to trust myself? 2 - ESPP: What’s the best way of taking advantage of my Employee Stock Purchase Plan? 3 - FAVR: Does it make sense to lease a new car if it’s covered by my employer’s Fixed and Variable Rate Reimbursement? 4 - Losing weight: … in order to pay less for life insurance! 5 - Mortgage hack: I’ve got a strategy to slash years off the length of my mortgage, but should I?!   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 60 Minute IPA by Dogfish Head! 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.

Clark Kent has a nerdy newspaper job, he’s got thick glasses- he’s definitely not cool in the city of Metropolis. But when he pulls back the white button up, he’s a beast and becomes Superman! He has superhuman strength, heat vision, freeze breath, and all sorts of special powers that allow him to kick butt and save the world. But Clark Kent doesn’t need everyone to know what he’s capable of- his power is understated and somewhat disconnected from his everyday life. And when it comes to our finances, there’s massive power that we hold as individuals when we don’t feel the need to signal to others what we’re capable of. We gain a degree of financial freedom, a life with less stress, and ultimately a sense of happiness and contentment that doesn’t come from the approval of others. Listen as we discuss how you can practice stealth wealth and achieve it as a goal in your life.   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 Copper by The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery- a big thanks to Greg for donating this one to the podcast! 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.

Student loan balances are climbing, credit card debt is hitting new highs year after year, new forms of borrowing like buy now pay later seem to appear out of thin air (which is a testament to just how creative the financial lending industry can be)! We’re a nation steeped in debt and it’s become so normal that we barely question it anymore. But once you realize the emotional toll it’s taking, digging your way out of a debt hole is a lot harder than it sounds. In fact, studies show the biggest barriers to getting help aren’t just financial, they’re personal: a lack of confidence or know-how, paired with feelings of embarrassment, shame, and even moral failure. That’s why we’re excited to have Johanna Samara joining the show! Johanna has spent two decades on the front lines of the debt world, she’s currently the VP of Debt Resolution at Money Management International which is one of our favorite nonprofit debt solution providers, and today we discuss: Rising cost of living Shifting debt from lifestyle to survival Collecting internally to a collections agency MMI mission and how they’re different than for-profit management  Settlement is NOT the only option Overcoming the stigma of debt Communicating with a creditor and giving full disclosure Statute of limitations And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 - Gift house: My future in-laws might gift us a home… that we’ll eventually own… good idea? 2 - Prepaid Visa: Is it frugal or cheap to leave an entire prepaid Visa during a dinner out? 3 - Wealth inequality: Research, resources, questions to ask… let’s get into it! 4 - Home maintenance: What are some tips for a first-time homeowner when it comes to lawn care, pest control, and other home services? 5 - ABLE accounts: Should I deprioritize my new ABLE account if there’s a chance that I’ll over-save and invest?   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 I’m Only Me When I’m With You by Piedmont Brewery! 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.

Getting your driver’s license was a liberating milestone worth celebrating because it meant you no longer needed your parents to drop you off at work, or it meant that your friends didn’t need to pick you up to hang out- you had some freedom to do what you wanted! It was a period of life that was likely accompanied by significant change that we can only truly appreciate in hindsight. And as fun as it was to drive on your own for the first time, graduating high school or college is an even more momentous occasion that comes with the ability to change your trajectory in life. Or to even chart a new course that’s completely different from the one you’ve been on- in a way it’s a fresh start. And this extends to money as well because if you follow the right advice at this critical juncture, you have the ability to drastically change how your personal finances are going to look just 5 or 10 years from now. You could end up loaded with debt or you could be well along the path towards financial independence. But one of the problems is that we often don’t have a plan when it comes to our finances. So that’s what we’re discussing today: the relationship between time and money especially when you’re younger, using your money to minimize regrets, upgrading your life on purpose, and the most time-tested ways to invest your money.   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 The Taken by Casa Agria x There Does Not Exist! 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.

Some of the best things in life are free, but many of the most meaningful goals demand serious time, effort, and sacrifice. The problem is, we rarely get a clear look at what it actually takes to reach those heights. Instead, we see the highlight reel, not the hard parts, which can leave us with a warped sense of the work required to achieve our own ambitions. Our guest today is here to set the record straight. She believes you can earn your freedom but only if you’re willing to put in the work. Bola Sokunbi is a first-generation immigrant who has helped tens of thousands of women build wealth and take control of their financial futures. Her personal story, paired with her practical advice, makes for a powerful combination. Bola’s new book is Clever Girl Millionaire and today we discuss:  High cost of financial splurges run amok Appreciating vs depreciating assets Quickly adapting to a new financial system The example set by her parents Learning financial lessons the hard way Building wealth with side hustles Identifying your phase of life Determining your “bigger why” And much more… Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 - Jumbo downpayment: What’s the downside of putting down more on a house in order to reduce my monthly payment? 2 - Saving rate stress: Should I worry about contributing to my Roth if I’m already investing 25% of my income via my 401k? 3 - Roboadvisor: Is it worth paying the extra .2% for the Vanguard roboadvisor or should I rebalance on my own? 4 - Failure to financially launch: What do I do about my adult son who has ruined his credit, only recently landed a solid job, and now wants to buy a house?   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 Whale Fall 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.

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: WFH holding you back Education debt = time thief Nice gal discounts AT&T vs US Mobile K-shaped credit scores Super prime downsides Portfolio over politics Social Security cliff approacheth  (and Mike Piper on millennials counting on SS) Stock driven wealth BTC underwater   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.

Try to explain consciousness. Go ahead… we’ll wait. It’s almost impossible, but that doesn’t make it any less real! Same with gravity. You can’t see it, but it shapes every movement you make, and it did long before anyone could fully explain it, even after Isaac Newton put words and math to it. Economic forces work similarly to gravity. You don’t always see them, you might not fully grasp them, but they quietly influence every financial decision you make, from the biggest to the smallest. That’s what today’s show is all about. Alex Mayyasi is a journalist, podcaster, and author of the new book, Planet Money, where he explores the hidden economic forces shaping everyday life. Today we discuss: Pricing is more than just a number Tariffs as taxes and their impact on quality of goods Our personal choices in an uncertain world Absolute wealth vs relative wealth Expectations for continued economic growth Housing supply and demand as a game of musical chairs Alex’s new podcast about the business of food, Gastronomics And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 - JL Collins: Do you guys agree with the same investing principles in The Simple Path to Wealth? 2 - Mortgage ripoff: Even though I have a 4% mortgage, why am I paying closer to 45% in interest?! 3 - Cash or stocks: Since we’re nearing retirement, should we refill our cash holdings or go all in on investing instead? 4 - Extra income: Help us figure out what we should be doing with more income than we know what to do with!   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 Here’s To Feeling Good All The Time by Bissell Brothers! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s 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: Stock exposure rules of thumb (the Google sheet) Exotic ETFs Space stocks! AI trading agents Delaying debt payoff Interest rates rise Delinquent credit card payments Flee from the influencers Home insurance hardships Sand in the gears of the housing 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.   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 Rockin' the Suburbs, Ben Folds pokes fun at the “struggles” of middle-class life… it’s angsty, a little whiny, but also tongue-in-cheek. It’s killer piano rock that makes you laugh because deep down, it’s a little too relatable. And that tension is still alive today. A lot of Americans, and plenty of HTM listeners, feel like they’re doing all the right things: saving diligently and investing wisely but at the cost of flexibility, and maybe even some joy right now. So how do you balance building wealth for the future without squeezing the life out of the present? That’s what we’re diving into today with Scott Trench. He literally wrote the book on this, Set for Life: Dominate Life, Money, and the American Dream, and he has helped thousands of people chart a path to financial independence. Today we discuss: Frugality isn’t a virtue Managing your biggest monthly expense House hacking Scott’s ideal day and vision document Real estate as an inflation adjusted store of value Index funds vs real estate Optionality vs optimality  Illiquid investments and avoiding the middle-class trap Why Scott doesn’t count his primary home as an investment And much more!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Scott: Check out Scott’s book on the topic, Set For Life as well as the resources he mentioned. Cashback credit cards: 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 - Retirement rollover: Should I pay the fee with Capitalize to expedite my 403b rollover, just wait, or are there other options? 2 - Too liquid: How do I know if I have too much cash since my financial goals are a number of years out? 3 - Safety vs growth: As I approach retirement, does it make sense to buy additional years of service to boost my pension? 4 - Local vs national: Should I pay more for my mortgage if it means better service with a local lender or is it only about the lowest rate? 5 - Autopilot: Is the “AI World War III” portfolio worth considering over on the Autopilot app?   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 If It Doesn’t Have OJ I’m Not Drinking It by Two Tides Brewery! 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: Rent reductions Escrow shortages Home equity sharing EV fees Charity parity Prediction market bans Financial crunch impulse buys Everything’s a subscription Healthcare price hikes Rx drug deals   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.

Optimization is everywhere in the personal finance world. If we just invest perfectly, we’ll get where we want to go, faster… What's not to love?! Well, retirement planning might be a lot more like horseshoes and hand grenades, where getting close enough is actually good enough. And chasing perfection? That can come with some real downsides. Our guest today is a dear friend who brings clarity to the world of personal finance. Jesse Cramer began his career as a mechanical and aerospace engineer designing telescopes, and now brings that same precision (plus a genuine desire to help people) into the way he thinks about money. He writes over at The Best Interest, hosts his podcast Personal Finance For Long-Term Investors, and today we discuss: Choosing to not max Roth IRAs How to know if you’re Coast FIRE Striking the balance between optimizing your finances and enjoying life Reversion to the mean and this year’s stock market returns The crushing cost of conservative retirement planning Alternative investments Does retiring earlier mean living longer Aligning your money with your life And much more!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 - Pet insurance: As I’m expecting some big vet expenses, should I continue to pay for insurance for my dog? 2 - Roth vs 529: Should we save for our son’s college in a Roth since it gives us more flexibility? 3 - HSA: Can I backfill my health savings account to invest, after I pay for an expensive medical procedure? 4 - Cashless kid: What’s the best way for my 14 year old to pay for expenses while at a cashless summer camp? 5 - 0% balance transfer: Are there good balance transfer cards that have good cashback as well?   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 Substance by Bissell Brothers! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s 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: Insurgent I-bonds Small business swipe fees Credit card limits lowered Trendy tiny homes Smaller homes in walkable communities Recurring handyman subscription fees Millennial early retirement Cutting back on the big 3 AI financial advisors Chat privacy risks Why the AI hate?   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.

Most of us think of college as an investment… one that hopefully pays off over decades. And for a lot of people, it does. But with costs skyrocketing, it’s not quite the slam dunk it used to be. So what if you could flip that equation? What if instead of paying for college, college paid you? Our guest today did exactly that. Nia Baiyeroju earned over a million dollars in scholarships and now she’s helping others do the same. She’s here to break down how it works and how you can take advantage of the estimated $100 billion in available funds. We specifically discuss: Leveraging your unique story An unlikely social media platform to find scholarships Casting a wide net and going for smaller opportunities Losing $20,000 bc of a missing headshot Sidestepping the headache of filling out applications The value of internships Hustling, burnout, and mental health Importance of stated goals and community And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Nia: See what else Nia is up to over on her site and all the socials! 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 - Kid IRAs: How do I go about setting up a Roth IRA for a minor? 2 - Advisor fees: By my math, most folks are paying closer to 20-25% for financial advice! 3 - Pension credits: Should I spend $50,000 to purchase teacher service credits in order to boost my pension? 4 - US Mobile: I’m considering switching to the new Starlink home internet… good idea? 5 - Rent vs own: Why don’t y’all ever talk about the nightmares associated with renting?!   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 Whippersnapper by Two Tides 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: Waiting till 8th Secondhand tech Cities with all the jobs Mistaken starting salaries Slow state of play in the housing market Crypto-backed mortgages Commuting “literally breaking me” Biking actually is an alternative Self-inflicted inflation Energy bills on the rise More borrowing to get by   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.