How To Money

This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I close a credit card that has a $40 annual fee? 2 - As a minor with my first job, where should I save and invest my money? 3 - How do I get my spouse on board using one of the budgeting apps? And with those apps are there any security concerns? 4 - I have a chunk of money that I plan to live off of in the coming years- where should I put it? 5 - Should I consider financing a car in order to keep my credit score high?And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/During this episode we enjoyed a Chance IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co which you can learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe 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!Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listene

Before you’re tempted to rush out and pounce on those Black Friday deals: How amazing is it that we live in a world where there are so many ‘free’ things all around us? And how unfortunate it is, that we often don’t even see these ‘free’ resources because we’re so used to purchasing and consumption- we don’t even think to make use of them. Our technology and culture steers us in the direction to spend. Chances are you’re not taking advantage of this ‘free’ stuff and you’re overspending because maybe you haven’t thought about it or there are some things you’re not even aware of yet. Putting these resources to use will make you smarter, save you money, and will overall lead to a healthier and more balanced life.During this episode we enjoyed a Sticky Hands IPA by Block 15 Brewing Company- a big thanks to Dale for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get m

Kristin Wong is passionate about helping people understand money in an accessible way. She started Lifehacker’s personal finance blog called Two Cents and she also authored the book “Get Money” last year - which is a great beginner’s guide to personal finance. She has also been featured in other major publications like Refinery29 and Glamour Magazine and you can currently find her writing in Smarter Living and the NYT. Even though Kristin is not a fan of Costco, we still had a great time talking about how we can gamify our personal finances, tips for being a digital nomad, and salary transparency in the workplace.During this episode we enjoyed a Lundi IPA by Monday Night Brewing- which you can learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe 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!Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodc

There are times in our lives as consumers, that we’re faced with a decision: even though I can’t afford it, do I buy this thing that I really want? “Ohhh, that new iPhone looks really awesome” or “It would be a ton of fun to take a trip to the mountains next month!”. We often already know that the answer to these questions should be “No, I don’t have the money” because we know it’s not worth going into debt for these types of expenses. But sometimes the answer isn’t always as cut and dried as we’d like it to be. What if, as someone looking to invest in yourself, you’re thinking about taking out some student loans? Or what if you’re considering purchasing a home and you don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars set aside? Occasionally, we find ourselves in these situations where debt might make sense. Listen as we talk through some of those scenarios as well as what else to keep in mind when you’re considering taking on debt.During this episode we enjoyed a Czech Pilsner by yEAST Atlanta Brewers- a big thank

This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I make additional principal payments on my mortgage? 2 - I want to open a flexible account for my daughters- what should it be? 3 - Would you recommend a foreclosure or pre-foreclosure for us as first-time homebuyers? 4 - What do y’all think about investing in gold and other precious metals? 5 - While shopping for a house, should we take into account the potential rent from house hacking with our friend, as we consider what we can afford? And how about some specific tips for renting to a friend?And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/During this episode we enjoyed a 6A, which is a New England style saison pale ale by yEAST Atlanta Brewers- a big thanks to our beer brewing friend John Francis for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to

The price of college has gotten so incredibly expensive that we’re wondering if college is even worth it anymore. With the current total outstanding student loan debt totaling over $1.6 trillion, the return on your investment isn’t as obvious as it was decades ago. Now is the time to ask: Is getting a degree from a traditional academic institution the best course going forward? The answer isn’t going to be the same for everyone, but we’ll touch on the important things to consider before you decide to go back to school or as you have that conversation with your high schooler as they weigh college options.During this episode we enjoyed a Mexican Lager by St. Archer- a big thanks to our friends at St. Archer for donating the beers to the show this week! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe 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!Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-cho

Our guest on this episode is personal finance writer J.D. Roth who started his blog, Get Rich Slowly in the early days of the internet- back in 2006! It’s grown to be one of the most well-respected personal finance sites around thanks to his honesty, superb writing, and desire to serve his readers. We hear all about J.D.’s history with money, whether politics belong in personal finance, the different stages of financial freedom, as well as the intersection of depression and money. And let’s not forget- we snuck in some conversation about Taylor Swift and J.D.’s lifelong devotion to his hometown soccer team!During this episode we enjoyed a Gold by St. Archer Brewing Co- thanks to our friends at St. Archer for donating these beers to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe 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!Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at h

Most folks we know are big fans of Airbnb- they’ve either had a great experience while traveling or they’re considering it for their next trip. There’s a good chance this is also true for you, but have you ever considered hosting on Airbnb? There are countless ways that we can make extra money on the side, but we’ve found that most of them aren’t nearly as rewarding as welcoming travelers into your home! Matt’s Airbnb apartment has been up and running for a few months now so in this episode we dive into the benefits and drawbacks for him and his family. We also cover what you should consider when trying to decide if hosting is a good idea for you as well as some tips for getting your Airbnb off the ground.During this episode we enjoyed a Neighborhood Nomads by Casa Agria Specialty Ales- a big thanks to our friend Josh out in California for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d l

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - How do I justify going on vacation while I still have student loans? 2 - Should I pay for an addition with a home equity loan or by draining my emergency fund? 3 - Is the rental car insurance provided by my credit card a good option? 4 - How can I drop PMI early? 5 - What should I do with my Roth IRA that is currently with a high cost brokerage?And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/askDuring this episode we enjoyed a Liquid Stardust by Surly Brewing- a big thanks to our friends at Surly for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe 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!Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine that you have a well paying job but otherwise it sucks and you wish you could leave. And now imagine that an amazing opportunity comes along for you to start your dream business- that thing you’ve always wanted to do, but the problem is that you know you won’t be able to pay yourself for a solid year. What you need is peace out money to keep you afloat! Or maybe some family or health issues have come up and you want to be able to spend time with family, or maybe you just want to take some time off and road trip it for 6 months. Either way, the answer is peace out money! We’re defining this as having enough money on hand to leave situations or jobs where you could technically stay, but you’re choosing not to because you’d rather do something else. You have that peace out money to bridge you to the next job or opportunity that you really want to pursue. Listen to the full episode to hear the additional benefits of peace out money, how it's different than reaching financial independence, and then finally

Liz Thames, better known as Mrs. Frugalwoods, is the creator of the award-winning personal finance blog, Frugalwoods.com and she’s the author of the book, Meet The Frugalwoods: Achieving Financial Independence Through Simple Living. At age 32, she reached financial independence and left a successful career in Boston to create a more meaningful, purpose-driven life on a 66-acre homestead in the woods of Vermont with her husband and their two young daughters. Liz has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, NPR, in the New York Times and more. We’re excited to hear about the frugal steps she took in order to achieve financial independence, the side benefits of frugality, as well as what her life looks like there on the homestead.During this episode we enjoyed a Boss Tweed by Old Nation Brewing- which you can find and learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you.Best friend

In order to travel affordably, we have to keep our lodging costs in check! The money we spend on a comfortable place to sleep at night can be a huge expense, sometimes keeping us from traveling at all. Luckily there are some incredible ways to save more thanks to the internet and different apps created specifically to improve price transparency and to help you find the best deal online. We also have some great suggestions with some specific strategies to allow you to save big money on travel lodging.During this episode we enjoyed a Darkness by Surly Brewing- a big thanks to our friends at Surly for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you.Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I negotiate my salary for an entry level position? 2 - As we begin to consolidate our debt, what effect will closing some credit cards have on the type of loan we’re able to get? 3 - Should I keep my HSA with my employer or take it somewhere else? 4 - Is a salvage title a deal breaker? 5 - How to save and invest effectively on a wildly varying paycheck?And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/askDuring this episode we enjoyed a If It's The Peaches by Cherry Street Brewing- which you can find and learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you.Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Countless Americans don’t have a plan for how much they will spend or who they will be buying for this holiday season. What results is we end up with that all too familiar spending hangover with folks paying off those “unforeseen” expenses well into the New Year. Instead, we can avoid that debt by beginning to think and save now (even starting to save now for next year!), and creating a spending plan that includes things like gift budgeting, making cuts to your list of who to include, and tracking your spending. And while you’re making these changes, it’s really important to communicate the reasons why you might be cutting back- you don’t want your friends thinking you hate them! Talking about it with those you care about is an important step and we dive into how to do that effectively.During this episode we enjoyed a Timely Surrender by Archetype Brewing- another big thanks to Brad and Corina up at Archetype for donating the beers to the show this week! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe a

For this episode, we’re excited to hear from David Greene who is a nationally recognized authority on real estate investing. David has been on CNN, Forbes, and HGTV several times and he’s also a former police officer and current co-host of the BiggerPockets real estate podcast. He is the author of best selling books like “Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat: The BRRRR Rental Property Investment Strategy Made Simple” and “Long Distance Real Estate Investing”. We not only hear his tips on what to look for when purchasing a solid investment property, but we also go back to his fortuitous beginnings in real estate and the type of mindset that is required in order to be a successful real estate investor.During this episode we enjoyed a The Explorer by Archetype Brewing- a big thanks to Brad and Corina up at Archetype for donating this beer to the show this week! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear fr

It’s vitally important to discuss financial optimism because a LOT of folks have negative money scripts floating around their heads. Their pessimism hurts their current view of their money and their future financial wellbeing. How can we combat that? Financial optimism. We need to understand the good that currently exists in our lives and cultivate a hopeful attitude towards our finances. When we’re pessimistic about the current state of our financial health, it leads to inaction and that creates a cycle that secures that pessimism for the long term. It’s time to flip the script, change how we view our finances, and start doing awesome things with our money!During this episode we enjoyed a Caramel Macchiato Stout by Old Bust Head- a big thanks to Matt’s in-laws for donating this beer to the show this week! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you.Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-c

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - What are some strategies to keep my healthcare affordable before Medicare kicks in? 2 - Financially speaking, should I be preparing to take care of my aging mom who is bad with her money? 3 - What kind of receipts should I be keeping up with as I manage my financial affairs? 4 - Are car subscription services, like Care by Volvo, a good way to pay for a car? 5 - Timeshares seem so cheap these days, are they a good deal?And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/askDuring this episode we enjoyed a Melange #14 by The Bruery- which you can find and learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you.Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With mortgage rates near all-time lows, now is a great time to consider refinancing. Pouncing on these lower rates can lower our monthly mortgage payment, allowing us to free up some money that was being funelled towards housing. But what else should we consider? Are you a good candidate for a refinance? And then on top of that there are also costs involved in refinancing that can make it prohibitive. In this episode we discuss the factors you need to consider, some great reasons to refi, and how to make sure you are refinancing effectively.During this episode we enjoyed an Old Tuffy by New Belgium- a big thanks to Maggy for donating this beer to the show this week! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you.Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we’re excited to have our friend Brad Barrett join us on the podcast. Brad is co-host of the podcast ChooseFI, but before that he was a CPA who left his job thanks to his pursuit of financial independence so he obviously knows a thing or two about personal finance. However, Brad’s favorite topic is leveraging credit card rewards to save more money, and take trips you never would have dreamed possible! Listen as we kick things off by discussing financial independence, but then we dive into credit card rewards and the best ways to score those free flights and free nights.During this episode we enjoyed a sCAMPer IPA by UpCountry Brewing Co- a big thanks to our good friend Stacey for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you.Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i

We have some really exciting news to share before introducing this Wednesday episode (and ironically enough, we discussed the cost of diapers at the beginning of this one)!Are we ready for a recession!? The economy has been roaring for close to a decade and corrections are inevitable. We’re not saying to pay uber close attention to the news cycle and the different predictions of the market tanking, but it is good to be prepared. And even if an actual recession never occurs, getting our personal finances in shape will allow us to be prepared for short-term bumps in the road- whether they’re market related, or purely personal. Give this episode a listen to hear our top tips on how you should recession proof your finances.During this episode we both enjoyed a Resilience IPA by Sierra Nevada which you can find and learn all about on Untappd. A big thanks to Felipe in Chico CA for donating this delicious beer! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or whe