How To Money

Just a few years before he died, author David Foster Wallace gave a now-famous commencement speech at Kenyon College. Here’s a small snippet of what he said. “There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says ‘Morning, boys. How's the water?’ And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes ‘What the hell is water?’” Wallace then went on to argue that we tend to live our lives according to values and rules that are hard to see. Similarly, we live in a culture that pushes us to go into debt for everything! It’s the message we are constantly bombarded with - it’s the water we swim in. So on today’s episode we’re going to push back on that line of thought and give the real reasons we should all be striving to avoid debt.During this episode we both enjoyed a EMO-J by Heist Brewery in Charlotte NC. And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your

Lisa Rowan is a staff writer at Forbes Advisor, where she covers banking and personal finance and she was previously a staff writer at Lifehacker’s “Two Cents” covering personal finance. Prior to that, she was a senior writer and on-air analyst at The Penny Hoarder, where she launched the “Dear Penny” advice column syndicated by The Tampa Bay Times. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, CityLab, and many other publications. Now she has recently published her book- Money Hacks: 275+ Ways to Decrease Spending, Increase Savings, and Make Your Money Work for You! We’re excited for you to hear this extremely practical personal finance conversation today!During this episode we enjoyed a Condensation Accumulation by Heist Brewing. And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get yo

It's time for a Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s news and the effects of the pandemic on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we are distilling it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to not just weather this health and financial crisis, but to come out on the other side even stronger. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like: getting paid to get vaccinated, bringing down the cost of your cell phone bill, generous return policies for online shopping, snagging the best car deal over MLK Jr. weekend, Carmax offering a 1,500 mile return window for their cars, the best jobs that pay over $100k, using accessory dwelling units to generate passive income, 15 months of rent assistance available, and new PPP funding for the businesses we love.And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re

When we need to make some serious changes to our personal finances, the small tweaks and changes aren’t going to cut it. Instead, we need to take a look at some of the bigger money moves that will allow us to drastically save and invest more of our money. And often, this isn’t an instinctual response. For many reasons we tend to immediately focus on and get bogged down with the little stuff- it’s the small money moves that often get much of the attention. For example how often do we hear about cutting out a latte or the proverbial avocado toast. But while it is certainly easier to forego a to-go coffee than to look at the bigger money levers in our life, those changes are also going to have a far smaller impact. It’s time to focus on the big stuff!During this episode we both enjoyed a Holmberg Bound by Four Peaks Brewing- thanks to Jacob for donating these beers to the show! And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about

We’re kicking off the week by answering your questions! And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ , send us your voice memo!1 - How can I put my monthly mortgage on a credit card in order to score cashback?2 - When it comes to long term disability insurance, is it worth it to pay more for a longer benefit period?3 - How should we start investing money that we’re receiving for our newborn?4 - Can I rollover my entire IRA into an HSA in order to avoid paying taxes?5 - Why do y’all recommend Carvana when their prices aren’t all that competitive?And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money in these difficult times!Best friends out! L

It's time for a Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s news and the effects of the pandemic on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we are distilling it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to not just weather this health and financial crisis, but to come out on the other side even stronger. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like: stimulus check delays, new data saying that Roth IRAs stink and why we disagree, life without Amazon, Flexible Spending Account (FSA) changes in the new relief bill, harsher prison sentences for illegal streaming, a new streaming service aggregator service, dirty debt collection tactics, as well as paid time off and sabbaticals.And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you

“What do I do next with my money?” - if this is a question you’ve asked yourself before, then the answer is: right here, with this episode! We cover so many money topics that it can be difficult to know how they all relate to you on your own personal finance journey. This episode serves as an incredibly helpful tool that will let you know if you’re headed in the right direction. We use the analogy of biking and how there are 7 Money Gears that we all need to follow to get ahead with our money. And it’s important to shift through these gears in order as well! Listen and find out if you’re on the right track, the importance of momentum when shifting money gears, and what it looks like to achieve financial independence.During this episode we enjoyed a Future Knowledge by Paradox. And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick r

If you’re wanting to know how to make a New Year’s resolution actually stick this year, then this is your episode! Charles Duhigg is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who writes for the New Yorker, the New York Times Magazine, and many other publications. He is also author of bestsellers ​The Power of Habit​ and ​Smarter Faster Better, and he’s the host of Slate’s podcast ​How To! As a business and self-help expert, Charles explores habit formation and the science of productivity in order to help folks on a day-to-day basis. We’re excited to have him join us on this episode to talk about how we can implement better habits when it comes to our personal finances, and how we can lead a more productive life in general.During this episode we enjoyed a Boysen in the Yard by Wrecking Bar Brewpub. And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and gi

Hello 2021, it's time for a Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s news and the effects of the pandemic on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we are distilling it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to not just weather this health and financial crisis, but to come out on the other side even stronger. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like getting paid in cryptocurrency, sports memorabilia at Costco, details from the new relief bill like who is getting stimulus checks and when they should be arriving, extended unemployment benefits, student loan provisions, why we’re not fans of debit cards, and then what to expect in 2021: the stock market, spending habits, housing market, and home equity trends.And as we’ve kicked things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a qu

It’s time to party! During this episode we’re going to hear how many of y’all were able to get ahead with your personal finances this year. The ability for us to slow down and take the time to celebrate our money wins is going to have a lot of positive effects on all of us. Not only does it motivate you personally, but it gets others pumped who might be in a similar situation! And this is even more important after a rough 2020- considering that over 68% of Americans have reported experiencing financial setbacks this year, we need to hear some uplifting personal finance stories! Often we don’t celebrate after we’ve worked hard to achieve something. Sometimes there’s a tendency to have that onward and upward mentality, looking for that next best thing, but not today. Today on the show, we share our money wins for the year and we’re going to feature some of the awesome moves from the How to Money community as well. Thanks to all of you for being a part of this super fun episode!During this episode we both enjoye

We’re kicking off the week by answering your questions! And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ , send us your voice memo!1 - How can I get a conversation started with my girlfriend about personal finances?2 - Should I pay off my mortgage or should I hang on to that in cash?3 - Does it make sense to borrow from my 401(k) in order to pay off a credit card?4 - Is it worth it to stick with a budget cell phone provider?5 - How can I avoid underpayment penalties from the IRS and should I set up a retirement account through my business or set it up as a personal account?During this episode we both enjoyed a Trader Joe’s Winter Spiced Ale 2020. And as we’re looking forward to kicking things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us

What is the best way to pay down debt? Americans are in tremendous amounts of debt (think over 400 billion on just credit cards alone)! Not only is this debt keeping folks from reaching their financial goals, but it’s also taking a toll on the mental health of borrowers. Knowing the best strategy to get out of this debt is a big deal and could be the difference between living paycheck to paycheck or achieving financial freedom. Listen as we cover both approaches so you can decide which is better for you: the debt snowball (popularized by Dave Ramsey) and the debt avalanche (also known as debt stacking).During this episode we enjoyed a Maple Vanilla Copra Kai by Southern Grist Brewing. And as we’re looking forward to kicking things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spre

Every once in a while we like to step back and think about our work. Why do we do it? Are we doing a good thing? There are a lot of misconceptions of work floating around the internet and our workplaces today. There’s the generally more millennial-ish, romanticized view of work as a calling and a means of personal fulfillment, and on the flip side there’s the end goal of a stable career where your loyalty and daily grind results in a predictable paycheck but maybe not much else - many of us fall somewhere on this spectrum. Regardless of your current views toward work, we want you to know that work is a wonderful thing and yet work isn’t everything. Viewing work in a healthy way takes intentionality and balance! Join us as we cover a few key concepts central to developing a healthy philosophy toward work.During this episode we enjoyed a Hawaiian Christmas Land by Little Cottage Brewery. And as we’re looking forward to kicking things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let

We’re excited to have Rachel Cruze join us today on the podcast for an episode all about self-awareness and money. Rachel is a two-time #1 national best-selling author, financial expert, and host of The Rachel Cruze Show. Since 2010, Rachel has served at Ramsey Solutions where she teaches folks to avoid debt, save money, and win with their money at any stage of life. She has authored three best-selling books, and her latest book Know Yourself, Know Your Money is set to release in early January. We dive into self-discovery, unique money tendencies that we all have, the role of fear when it comes to how we handle our money, and the different types of dreams and their impact on our personal finances. Here on the show we often talk about the “why behind our money” and that’s what this episode is all about.During this episode we enjoyed a Shattered Remains of Nothingness- another amazing beer by Burial. And as we’re looking forward to kicking things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread

It's time for a Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s news and the effects of the pandemic on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we are distilling it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to not just weather this health and financial crisis, but to come out on the other side even stronger. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like important retirement investing deadlines, buying Airbnb stock, the downside of Poshmark and other gig apps, personal data usage and privacy transparency, where to buy furniture online, avoiding buy-now pay-later installment plans, appliance shortages due to covid, the $300 above-the-line charity deduction, nonprofits and contactless donations, employers matching employee donations, and donating frequent flyer miles.And as we’re looking forward to kicking things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share butt

Planning for the future and looking forward to the next best thing in our lives is natural- especially this time of year! But here’s the problem: it’s hard to know how to move forward and what steps you need to take if you haven’t reflected on the past. So during this episode we raise some questions that you can ask yourself before you start thinking about next year. This will not only help you to realize that 2020 wasn’t a complete throw-away year, but it should also directly inform the actions and goals you’ll set for yourself in 2021. These questions will help you to begin your financial year in review.During this episode we both enjoyed a Montmorency & Balaton Cherry Sour by Westbrook Brewing! And as we’re looking forward to kicking things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts

We’re kicking off the week by answering your questions! And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ , send us your voice memo!1 - What are the pros and cons of putting all of my expenses on a credit card?2 - How much lower should an interest rate be in order to make a home refinance worth it?3 - How do I go about breaking ties with my dad’s financial advisor?4 - Should I save or invest a gift of $5,000?5 - If family members loan me money for a down payment, how would that impact my ability to get a mortgage?During this episode we both enjoyed a Fruit/Wood/Time: Black Raspberry which is a Sour by Westbrook Brewing. And as we’ve ramped up the podcast with an additional Friday episode every week, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word

It's time for a holiday season Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s news and the effects of Covid-19 on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we are distilling it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to not just weather this health and financial crisis, but to come out on the other side even stronger. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like $550 headphones, 401k matches are back, free airfare to Hawaii, travel insurance covering covid, better MBA options, Zoom Santa’s making bank, virtual job interviews, high school grads earning 70% more, and the student loan forbearance extended.And as we’re looking forward to kicking things off with a bang in 2021, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get mo

We don’t want you to cancel the holidays- we want you to cancel the overconsumption and debt that typically accompanies the holiday season. Americans racked up an average of $1,325 last year- how much more of a problem will it be this year as so many folks are still reeling from the impact of covid?! For many of us, our default way of thinking is that in order to have a “successful and fun” holiday season, we need to spend a ton of money. Even for frugal folks like us, it can be easy to get caught up in all the spending even if we are able to avoid the debt. So during this episode we talk about ways to resist overconsumption and how to enjoy the holidays without going overboard.During this episode we both enjoyed an Owl Theory by Fieldwork Brewing Company- a big thanks to Tim for donating this one to the show! And as we’ve ramped up the podcast with an additional Friday episode every week, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, s

On today’s episode we’re joined by a fellow personal finance podcaster: Rich Jones, host of Paychecks and Balances. Rich has also worked in human resources and recruiting for the better part of a decade, and so we’re particularly excited to talk with him about negotiating raises. Entrepreneurship tends to get all the attention, but for most folks, the steady 9-5 job with benefits is how they’re paying for life. It’s really important to talk about handling interviews, identifying transferable skills, and navigating performance review season because these are all factors in determining how much you’re paid! So if you’re interested in negotiating a fatter paycheck, then this episode is for you!During this episode we enjoyed a Boss of the Plains by Fieldwork Brewing Company- a big thanks to Tim for donating this one to the show! And as we’ve ramped up the podcast with an additional Friday episode every week, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the