How To Money

This show exists to help you make smart decisions with your money. But if we’re being honest, How To Money might not be as necessary if the financial system weren’t so confusing in the first place. For a lot of people, navigating modern money realities feels like swimming in shark-infested waters with high stakes, unclear rules, and the potential for costly mistakes at every turn. Our guest today is Professor John Campbell, author of the book Fixed: Why Personal Finance is Broken and How to Make It Work for Everyone. John is an economics professor at Harvard, who believes the financial system has a responsibility to serve ordinary people with products they can understand, afford, and safely use. Today, we’re talking about what’s broken in personal finance and what real solutions could look like. We specifically discuss: Disparities in financial products Complexity in personal finance Problematic financial products Human behavior when it comes to money decisions Dangers of loyalty Limi

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 - International investing: Should I look outside of the US if I’m concerned about “Mag-7-nondiversification” in the S&P? 2 - Grunt work: Is it frugal or cheap to work for beer at my local craft brewery? PLUS a healthcare question… 3 - 13 credit cards: As we eliminate our credit card debt should I close my cards or keep them around? 4 - Cell service: Where to go for the most affordable home internet and cell service? 5 - Tax refund: What’s the best use of a $2,000 refund that I’m expecting to receive?   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

Thanks to Justin for having Joel on his show, FI Minded! --- The FI community is incredibly good at effort, optimization, and doing hard things for a long time. But somewhere along the way, many of us forget how to stop. Even after gaining more control over our time, we fill it back up with projects, commitments, and expectations, leaving us busy, tired, and quietly stretched thin.Joel Larsgaard shares what it looked like to recognize that “doing it all” was no longer sustainable, even when the work was meaningful. After front-loading years of effort through saving, investing, and building How to Money, Joel began intentionally pulling back: working fewer hours, prioritizing family and health, and even taking a six-week sabbatical. This conversation explores why doing less isn’t laziness, but a necessary evolution after years of striving.You’ll hear how financial independence can be used as a tool for time, not just wealth, along with practical ways to say no, resist constant expansion

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: Listener side hustles like Star Craft Cocktails! Not so high prices at the pump? Spooked mortgage interest rates Warflation Headphones or else Does expensive oil lead to higher returns? 24/7 oil futures Five minute bets Ticketmaster LiveNation is the worst Gambling on the missile strikes Will Kalshi get shutdown? Drones in our backyard Downpayment assistance programs Attractive ARMs $40 billions towards youth sports   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 sp

Every year, patients are billed and stuck with $14 billion in medical debt that should be wiped out under existing hospital financial assistance rules. This debt isn’t inevitable, it’s unnecessary! Given the fact that medical debt is the number one cause of bankruptcy and a huge source of stress for families, is it a step too far to say that there is a medical debt crisis in America? We don’t think so and our guest today is doing something about it. Jared Walker is the founder of DollarFor, an organization helping people crush hospital bills they don’t legally owe. Since 2012, DollarFor has helped eliminate more than $125 million in medical debt nationwide. Some of the topics covered today: The unnecessary strain of medical bills that many are not obligated to pay Simply letting others know about “charity care” could drastically help their situation Taking your time to negotiate bc medical bills don’t impact your credit score for a year Hospitals often do not inform

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 - Mortgage recast: Should we take a windfall and recast our mortgage or use the lump sum to invest? 2 - Trump accounts: Where should 530a accounts land among the Money Gears… high or low priority? 3 - Thin credit: What should I do since I was denied a credit card due to a thin file? 4 - Used cars: Is buying a car from a private seller the best option and where’s the best place to look? 5 - Debt relief: So it turns out the company I signed up with for debt relief might be a scam, what should I do?!   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

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: Rivian repair Robinhood Platinum AI in our mortgage underwriting and our taxes Side hustle salad days 56% of Zoomers hustling Sullen savers More actively managed assets (is what we don’t need) Same with new venture funds Real estate headwinds for investors Tariff refunds on the way Ticking tax bomb on forgiven student loans   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 th

Joel married into a family of teachers. His father-in-law has spent nearly 40 years in the classroom, his mother-in-law has taught for 30, and his brother-in-law is an outstanding Spanish teacher. While it’s clear that every one of them truly loves their work, we also know that passion alone doesn’t pay the bills. Teaching requires some real sacrifice, especially in today’s economy. And while no one enters the profession expecting to get rich, we believe that shouldn't mean teachers are destined for a life of financial stress or a mediocre retirement. In fact, our guest today argues that those assumptions are flat-out wrong. While educators face unique financial hurdles, they also have powerful, underused advantages. When those tools are understood, retiring comfortably isn't just a dream - it’s a reality. Shaun Morgan is a full-time teacher who is just as passionate about teaching personal finance to his fellow educators as he is about his work in the classroom. Some of the topics cov

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 - Raise vs lifestyle: Should I take a 50% pay increase or maintain the flexibility of working from home? 2 - Nvidia: How do I go about rebalancing my portfolio when I have $800,000 of Nvidia in my brokerage account? 3 - Feedback: Maybe Joel is being cheap not frugal and should you really let a medical bill go to collections? 4 - Insurance: What’s the best way to get an agent to shop multiple different providers to get me the best deal? 5 - Books: My son is 25 years old - what book should I get him to help kick off his personal finance journey?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: C

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Jump at the pump We have ‘oil insurance’ Most fuel efficient cars Cheapest new cars Fewer work from home roles Lack of job-hopping leverage We’re all time poor 401k raiders HELOC pillagers Small biz 401k plans on the rise Joel hates cashmere Printer companies have us over a barrel Affordable Apples   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook

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

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Housing costs: What’s a good rule of thumb to stick with to help me keep my mortgage payment in check? 2 - 401k rollover: Can you share the penalties and benefits of a retirement account rollover? 3 - Boat payment: How much should I pull out of my savings to finally get rid of my boat loan? 4 - World Cup: How do I ensure that I make the most money and avoid any pitfalls when renting my place for the World Cup this summer? 5 - Down payment: My down payment is in stocks but I might be buying a house next month… what do I do?!   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: 401k rollovers: Capitalize is t

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Tariff turmoil New retirement plan on the horizon, with a match Housing maintenance costs Gen Z content to rent Frozen home sales in January Lowest mortgage rates since 2022 Trolling from beyond the grave Prenups in vogue again Got insurance, but still not immune to bankruptcy Border hopping for bargains Always check the pantry Passing on the steak   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Prenups… are for lovers according to Aaron Thomas! Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Oth

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

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Student loans: what can I do to avoid being in student loans for the rest of my life?! 2 - Lower income, higher net worth: should I be nervous that our monthly spending is more than what we’re bringing in? 3 - Self employed: if I would like to save more should I invest more dollars into my brokerage account or is there a better option? 4 - Amazon: can I still use my Fire TV if I cancel my Amazon Prime membership? 5 - Small business: what are the best business savings accounts available today?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: 401k mullets and quarter-zips Don’t sleep on the solo 401k Crappy coffee Surveillance pricing 1.3 trillion in credit card debt High income earners are delinquent too Collections dos and don’ts Pets are family The going babysitting hourly rate Gray-shaped economy Gamble on anything and everything Bitcoin bashing   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending. Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM F

How often do you stop to consider that your hormones might be the ones clicking "Add to Cart"? We like to pretend money is just logic and spreadsheets, but let’s be real: it’s emotional, it’s messy, and it’s never just about the numbers. If you’re tired of carrying the weight of old financial mistakes or wondering why you’re stuck in the same self-sabotaging loops, this episode is your manual for a reset. Today, we’re joined by Shannah Game, a CFP and Money Therapist who bridges the gap between your brain and your bank account. Get ready to ditch the shame, kill the stress, and finally build a relationship with money that actually feels good. Today we discuss:  How even successful folks feel stressed about their money Importance of communication with your parter Understanding and enjoying the financial journey in addition to goals Identifying ‘enough’ Recognizing the ways you’re crushing it Financial growth accompanied by emotional growth Impac

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!   1 - Collections: Is waiting for my unexpected medical bill to head to collections a good or great strategy? 2 - Student loans: What should I do while my student loans are in administrative forbearance? 3 - HSA: Will I be able to reimburse myself for kid medical expenses off in the future when they have their own insurance? 4 - Preggo: After Money Gear 7, what should be our next top priority since we’re now expecting a baby this summer? 5 - Infidelity: What do I do about the secret debt my wife racked up over the holidays?   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit card perks: Check out our favorite cr

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Hidden skimp-flation Plunging prices Full coverage premiums on the decline Costco bests Aldi DoorDash dependency Headhunters turned breadhunters Ghost jobs Sourdough baking in the cash Day-trading Doris Volunteering to better health and life satisfaction Unretiring Drugs on TrumpRx WTD about home prices Buying a house with a friend No minimum credit scores for mortgages False Identity Theft Reporting… is a crime   Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Credit score: No shortcuts but actual ways to boost your credit score. Credit card perks: Check ou

Money fights are one of the most common, and most damaging, sources of tension in a relationship. Whether it’s spending, debt, or mismatched financial goals, those arguments can quietly erode trust and connection over time. But here’s the good news: money doesn’t have to be the thing that drives couples apart. When partners develop healthy financial habits and learn how to communicate about money, it can actually strengthen their relationship. Which is why we’re excited to welcome Dr. Sonya Lutter to the show today. She’s both a marriage therapist and a financial planner, and she leads the Financial Health & Wellness program at Texas Tech. She brings a rare, research-backed perspective on how couples can keep money from becoming a stumbling block and instead make it a source of teamwork. Today we discuss:  How financial therapy combines finance and emotional support Perception of financial wellness often differs from reality Financial stress impacts decision-making abil