Afford Anything | Make Smart Money Choices
Episodes
The Risk of Not Fully Living, with Michael Lynch
15 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#432: Have you ever worried about running out of money after you retire? Do you keep checking your net worth to make sure you have enough? Does this a...
Mr. Money Mustache Talks About His Dating Life
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#431: The title says it all. Paula Pant interviews Mr. Money Mustache about his dating life. We chat about why he wants to date inside the FIRE commun...
Ask Paula: My Parents Are Drowning In Credit Card Debt. What Should I Do?
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#430: D is worried that she’s going to suffer from her parents’ poor financial choices. Is it time to confront them about it? An anonymous caller ...
How BIG Things Get Done, with Dr. Bent Flyvberg
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#429: Have you ever thought about remodeling a kitchen? Retrofitting a camper van for #vanlife? Converting your basement into an Airbnb? Building a cu...
Ask Paula: Do I really need a Financial Advisor?
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#428: Jamie currently lives at home and dreams of reaching financial freedom by her early 30s. How can she take advantage of her low expenses to acce...
Start a Micro-Business & Build Multiple Income Streams, with Nick Loper
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#427: Okay, maybe the phrase “side hustle” is overused. But it’s also misunderstood. “Side hustle” is a catch-all term that people use to de...
Key Takeaways: Best Lessons from the Last Year
04 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#426: Behavioral researcher, Vanessa Van Edwards, talks to us about the critical importance of charisma - and how to use the perfect blend of warmth a...
Ask Paula: My Dad Died, and My Mom Is CLUELESS About Finances
01 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#425: Ellen’s dad died unexpectedly. Her mom is clueless about finances. How does she help a 70-year-old unravel financial complexities? Mike has an...
The Power of Knowing When To Walk Away
25 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#424: We’re taught to stay in the game. Persist. Be gritty. Try, try again. But sometimes, the best decision is to walk away. Move on. How do you kn...
Ask Paula: Can I Make Money With My Passion?
18 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#423: We’ve heard the warnings about following your passion. People ask if you can *actually* make money doing what you love. They frame the quest...
Ask Paula: We’re Saving 72 Percent Of Our Income … and It SUCKS
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#422: Emily is saving aggressively for financial independence, but it’s hard to enjoy the present. Is it time to increase spending? Monroe wants to ...
How to Schedule Your Day for Peak Enjoyment, with Laura Vanderkam
04 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
#421: Life is busy. We spend too much time on chores, errands, commuting, emails and other draining tasks. We lack time for joy and hobbies. Or do we?...
What We Learned in 2022
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#420: Harvard professor Arthur Brooks described two types of intelligence – and explained, in scientific terms, the wisdom that comes with age. Dr. ...
Ask Paula: Should I Stay At My Job For the 401k?
21 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#419: Casey isn’t happy at her job. If she leaves before her one-year mark, she’ll lose her 401k contributions. Should she stay or find a new job?...
Maybe We Should Spend More, with Dr. Jordan Grumet
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#418: When Jordan Grumet was a child, his dad died unexpectedly. That was decades ago. Jordan is a father today, but he thinks often about the possibi...
Ask Paula: Marriage and Money: What Are the Right Conversations?
12 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#417: Our first anonymous caller is getting married. What are the financial considerations the couple should be thinking through since there is a larg...
The Crypto Crash, the Housing Market, and Hot Takes on the Latest Economic Headlines
02 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#416: Crypto is tanking. Household debt is climbing. Student loans are tangled up in the court system. And the house market…did what?! Today’s bon...
How I Give Away 41% of My Income, with Bob Lotich
30 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#415: The average American donates 2.1 percent of their income to charity, according to data from the Giving Institute. But an ordinary couple living ...
Ask Paula: I Think I Can Retire Early. Am I Crazy?!
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#414: Amanda is worried that her recently diagnosed health condition might force her to stop working. How should she financially prepare her family? ...
Why We’re Paying Attention to the Wrong Things, with Dr. Daniel Crosby
16 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#413: If an idea dominates the headlines, we notice it. But maybe we shouldn’t. Today’s guest, psychologist and behavioral finance expert Dr. Dani...
Ask Paula: Should I Repay Debt or Invest?
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#412: Taylor recently graduated. She wants to reach financial independence as soon as possible. What should she do first: invest or repay low-interest...
Invest Anywhere: Learn About a City Like an Expert
04 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#411: In the final installment of this two-part mini-series, we walk you through becoming a subject matter expert in your investment city of choice. W...
The Routine Habits of Breakthrough Thinkers, with Jeremy Utley
02 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#410: You face plenty of problems. But you have a scarcity of good solutions. Stanford Professor Jeremy Utley can help. He says that solving complex p...
Ask Paula: Should I Sell My Rentals to Buy More Stocks?
26 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#409: Liz and her husband are planning to retire in 5 to 10 years. They have rental income properties, but Liz is bored of managing these, and she’s...
Build Your 15-Year Career, with Kiersten and Julien Saunders
21 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#408: When Kiersten and Julian Saunders began dating in 2012, they fell in love quickly, and their relationship felt strong – until they started tal...
Ask Paula: The 5 Types of Accountants (and Who To Avoid!)
12 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#407: Ionnie wants to vet her tax professional as diligently as she assesses her financial advisor – how should she go about doing that? Anonymous n...
Invest Anywhere: I’ve chosen my city…now what?
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#406: In this two-part episode, we first tackle the data points needed to assess various investment locations within your city of choice. We will cove...
Ask Paula: How to Handle a HUGE Bonus, Commission or Windfall
05 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#405: Daniel and his wife want to go on an extended vacation and leave their jobs next year…and still have money in case there’s a problem at the...
How I Paid off $500,000 in Credit Card Debt, Then Launched a Company With $35 Million in Annual Revenue — with Rand Fishkin
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#404: When Rand Fishkin was 25 years old, he carried $500,000 in credit card debt. Less than a decade later, Rand was the Founder and CEO of a company...
How I Reached Financial Independence Through Real Estate – With Chad Carson
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#403: September Sabbatical continued! If you’ve been listening to the show for the past few years, then you know that we’ve entered our September ...
The Psychology of Money, with Morgan Housel
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#402: Do you wrestle with the idea of leaving your savings in an account earning next to nothing versus investing it in the stock market? Do you use i...
You are a Badass at Making Money, with Jen Sincero
07 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#401: It’s September! If you’ve been listening to the show for the past few years, then you know that I’m on what I’ve dubbed my September Sab...
#400: The Lies Told About Early Retirement
02 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we’re sharing three talks given at the EconoMe conference, with each of these talks relating to F.I.R.E. The three discussions are: FI-Landia...
Ask Paula: The stock market is down - Can I still retire?
31 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#399: Bella is SO CLOSE to reaching F.I.R.E and is worried about her withdrawal rate if the stock market drops. If the stock market does drop, can she...
How To Travel For (Almost) Free, with Chris Hutchins
24 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#398: Chris Hutchins is an avid life hacker, a financial optimizer and the host of the top ranked podcast “All The Hacks”, where he shares his que...
Ask Paula: Is the bank trying to scam my parents…?
17 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#397: Nic’s parents are forced to confront earlier than anticipated retirement…and they aren’t financially prepared. Now, a bank is offering to ...
Creating Happiness At Work, with Julie Winkle Giulioni
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#396: International best selling author and leadership speaker, Julie Winkle Giulioni, talks through a multidimensional career framework that features...
Invest Anywhere: There are THOUSANDS of Cities, Where Do I Invest?!
05 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#395: Welcome to Invest Anywhere, our monthly series on long-distance real estate investing. Invest Anywhere airs on the First Friday of each month an...
Ask Paula: How Much Should I Invest vs. Keep in Cash?
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#394: Bill listened to our episode with Bill Bengen, father of the 4% rule, and he wants to know if there was a way for him to figure out how much mon...
Money and Investing Have Changed, with Chuck Jaffee
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#393: Chuck Jaffee is a forty year veteran financial journalist who regularly writes for the Wall Street Journal and is also a nationally syndicated f...
Ask Paula: Did the Great Recession Lead to the FIRE Movement?
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#392: Colleen and her husband own SEVEN paid off rental homes. Now they’re heading into retirement and disagree on what to do with some of that equi...
Powerful Tactics to Take Control of Your Life and Career, with Dr. Reza Abraham
13 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#391: Dr. Reza Abraham, an international leadership consultant, walks us through a framework of staying in control of your career and your life. This ...
Ask Paula: Help! My Bills Are Too High
06 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#390: We start this episode with two anonymous callers who have opposite problems: one says her bills are too high, while the other is worried that sh...
Invest Anywhere: Should I Bother Investing in Long-Distance Real Estate?
01 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#389: Should you bother investing in real estate … especially from a distance? Is the hassle worth it? What’s the upside? Do you really want this?...
Feeling Anxious About Your Investments?, with Scott Nations
29 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#388: Recessions are terrifying. Market crashes often bring out the worst in people’s anxieties and fears. This fear triggers us to act even more ir...
Ask Paula: Is a Crash Coming?
22 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#387: Lila is concerned about inflation and the risk of a recession. Should she invest in the stock market, despite the scary headlines? Or should she...
The Psychology of Secrets, with Dr. Michael Slepian
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#386: We all have our secrets. We keep some secrets from bosses, colleagues and clients, like the fact that we hope to retire early, change careers, o...
Ask Paula: How to Invest When You’re Unsure of the Goal
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#385: Anonymous (“Jennifer”) keeps hearing us say that you should “start with the end in mind” – that your investments should match your goa...
Invest Anywhere: Six Strategies to Make Money in Real Estate
03 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#384: Welcome back to the third episode in our special series, Afford Anything Presents: Invest Anywhere. Invest Anywhere is a new monthly series that...
How to Talk About Money with Confidence and Charisma, with Vanessa Van Edwards
01 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#383: Behavioral researcher Vanessa Van Edwards, who runs the research lab Science of People, breaks down the psychological secrets behind feeling and...
Ask Paula: What Do I Do With Free Money?
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#382: Joe is buying his first house hack and would like to understand if the FHA loan or the doctor loan would be better for him. Sara wants to leave ...
How to Not Let Your Feelings Hijack Your Decisions, with Mollie West Duffy
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#381: Maybe you’re envious of your friend who bought Bitcoin in 2015 and held until it hit 7-figures. Maybe you’re anxious about rapidly rising ho...
Ask Paula: How to Optimize Your Investments Along the Efficient Frontier (If You Dare!)
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#380: Matt wants to optimize his portfolio and wants to know if he should invest along the Efficient Frontier – despite the fact that the asset allo...
Invest Anywhere: 4 Benefits and 5 Challenges of Long-Distance Real Estate Investing
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#379: Welcome to our First Friday bonus episode. Once a month, Afford Anything presents a special feature called Invest Anywhere, in which we teach ou...
Ask Paula: Should I Take a Higher-Paying Job if I Can’t Save As Much for Retirement?
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#378: Anonymous is 25. She has a job offer that comes with a substantial raise. Hooray! Buuut … there’s a problem. If she accepts this job offer, ...
How I Discovered The 4 Percent Retirement Rule, with Bill Bengen
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#377: Today’s episode is sheer retirement nerd bliss. We talk to the creator of the 4 percent retirement safe withdrawal rule, Bill Bengen. If you’...
Ask Paula: How Should My 64-Year-Old Mom Handle a Toxic Boss?
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#376: Meghan’s mom is 64 years old and suffering under a toxic boss. It’s tough to switch jobs at her age. How should she think through the next s...
The 2X Rule (and Other Wealth-Accelerating Advice), with Nick Maggiulli
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#375: Here’s the deal: The majority of people who write about personal finance repeat the same tired aphorisms and cliches. “Millennials aren’t ...
Ask Paula: How Can I Minimize My Taxes?
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#374: Andy in Palm Springs wants to create an income stream through a taxable brokerage account. What strategy should he use to minimize the tax impac...
Invest Anywhere: The 5 Ways Real Estate Makes Money
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#373: How do people make money in real estate? Many focus on rental income, but this is only one of five ways that properties create wealth. We expl...
Ask Paula: I’m 33 and Want to Retire at 45 – What Should I Do?
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#372: Eve has been investing in her brokerage account and the tax liabilities are starting to add up. She wants to retire in 12 years and is wonderin...
What’s the Point of Happiness, Anyway?, with Dr. Bill Von Hippel
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#371: Psychology professor Bill von Hippel explains the evolutionary science behind how we’re hardwired as humans. We’re wired to be social, to co...
Ask Paula: My Income Is Dropping From $190,000 to $40,000; What Should I Do?
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#370: Kristen is 32, and she and her husband want to retire in less than 20 years. They make too much to contribute to a Roth IRA. Should they use bac...
Why Does the Stock Market Crash? | Stocks 101 Explained, with Brian Feroldi
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#369: To answer these questions, we need a deep, tree-trunk understanding – a core, fundamental understanding – of how the stock market operates. ...
Ask Paula: Talk Crypto To Me
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#368: Grace wants to buy a manufactured home for rental income. Should she calculate her returns differently for a manufactured home? Alex is curious ...
The Roots of Procrastination, Inattention and Anxiety, with Dr. Ellen Vora, M.D.
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#367: Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, many commentators have remarked that we’re living in an “epidemic of anxiety.” More than 40 mill...
Ask Paula: How Do I Invest For My Parents' Retirement?
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#366: Micheal’s parents just sold their home to pay off debt and fund their retirement. How should he invest the profits? Ryker would like to unders...
Inflation, Explained
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#365: Nearly every financial news story for the past several months has centered around inflation – but what, exactly, is inflation? What are its ca...
Ask Paula: No Spouse, No Family - How Do I Financially Prepare For Care Later In Life?
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#364: Our first caller is curious about whether he should keep his 30 year term life insurance policy or let it lapse with 12 years left on the policy...
Two Types of Intelligence, with Harvard Professor Arthur Brooks
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#363: In our 20’s and 30’s, we have high levels of fluid intelligence, or raw intellectual horsepower. We can ace tests, impress people with our m...
Ask Paula: Okay Seriously, Why Hasn’t Anyone Solved the Budgeting Issue?
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#362: David is questioning how to better manage his spending. He’d like a stronger framework to think through budgeting challenges. Elisa and her hu...
The GameStop Revolution, One Year Later — with Spencer Jakab
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#361: Wall Street Journal columnist Spencer Jakab marks the one-year anniversary of that weird time when the subReddit Wall St Bets pumped shares of m...
Ask Paula: I’m Worried My Parents Are Getting Ripped Off By Their Financial Advisor … Help!
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#360: I’m worried my parents are getting ripped off by their financial advisor. What should I do? My wife is trying to qualify for student loan forg...
The Four Quadrants of A Successful Life, with Andrew Hallam
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#359: Money, relationships, health and purpose: life is running smoothly when all four of these elements are working together in tandem, like wheels o...
Ask Paula: Should I Invest in Index Funds More Actively?
08 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#358: Where is the balance between the risks and potential returns of actively and passively investing in index funds?Where do you place your savings ...
Practical Investing and the Efficient Frontier, with Joe Saul-Sehy
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
#357: Discussing advanced investing topics with me is former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy. You may recognize him from the Ask Paula episodes, but w...
Ask Paula: FIRE vs. FOMO -- How Do You Balance Between These?
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#356: How do you find balance between smart money management vs. missing out on opportunities? Should you pile money into investments or take that dre...
A Hospice Doctor's Advice on Financial Independence, with Jordan Grumet
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#355: When Jordan Grumet realized he has achieved financial independence, he fell into a deep depression. He didn’t know who he was anymore, he says...
Ask Paula: How Do I Make Sure I Don't Spend the Money I've Invested?
16 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#354: Charlie in Cali has enough money saved to pay cash for a house, but she and her husband decided to finance their home, instead. They’d rather ...
The Secret to Perfect Timing
09 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#353: Daniel Pink joins us to discuss an unusual theory: (1) that our energy rises, falls, and then rises again; (2) that this pattern plays out acros...
Ask Paula: Should I Pull Money from My Emergency Fund to Invest or Pay Off Debt?
03 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#352: Anna and her husband have volatile income, but Anna thinks that having 18 months of living expenses is unnecessary. She’s torn between paying ...
The Six Myths of Productivity
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#351: Geoff Woods, Vice President of The ONE Thing and host of The ONE Thing podcast, is an expert on ruthless prioritization, habit development, and ...
Ask Paula: How Much Should We Spend on a Wedding?
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#350: Anonymous and her husband have set themselves on the path of saving for retirement. But an old mistake haunts them: a financial planner convince...
A Candid Conversation with Mr. Money Mustache & Paula Pant
19 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#349: A frank and candid conversation about life, dead-lifting, and enjoying the hell out of doing meaningful work. For more information, visit the sh...
Ask Paula: How Should We Invest to Retire By Our Mid-40’s?
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#348: Aja’s mom is 75 and has to take required minimum distributions from her IRA. She doesn’t need the money. Where should she put it? Anonymous ...
The Radical Invention of the Index Fund, with Robin Wigglesworth
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#347: Back in the 1960’s, Jack Bogle thought that actively-managed mutual funds performed better than a passive indexing strategy. He pseudonymously...
Ask Paula: How Can We Reach Financial Independence by 35?
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#346: Pensions make Chad uncomfortable, to the point of quitting his job to roll his $175,000 over to an IRA. Is the 12 percent match his employer off...
How to Understand Your Medical Bill, with Marshall Allen
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#345: Let’s talk about one of the biggest expenses you might ever encounter: health care costs. When you get a hospital bill, do you understand it? ...
Ask Paula: I’m Bored at Work, and I’m 14 Years from Retirement; Should I Tough It Out?
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#344: Russell’s job offers the option to contribute to a 457 plan. Since he’s in the highest tax bracket, should he take advantage of the tax defe...
Are We Heading for a Housing Crash in 2022?
11 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#343: The real estate market in 2021 has been bonkers. That’s the technical term. From 2012 to 2020, home prices nationwide rose at an annualized av...
Ask Paula: How to Make Smarter Real Estate Decisions
04 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#342: Russell is a busy professional who’d like to invest passively in real estate. Is there data he can use to compare this approach to owning and ...
Courage and The Consequences of Inaction, with Ryan Holiday
02 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#341: Imagine a line. Cowardice exists at one extreme end of that line. Recklessness exists at the other extreme end. And in the balanced middle, you’...
How to Make $1 Million in Business with No Employees, with Elaine Pofeldt
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#340: Imagine this: You start a side hustle. Maybe you sell planners or lead workouts in the park. You make a few thousand dollars during your first y...
How to Invest in Real Estate, Debt-Free, from Thousands of Miles Away, with Rich Carey
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#339: Have you ever thought, “I’d like to invest in rental real estate but there are no cheap properties in my area!” “Homes in my city are to...
Why Investors Need a Latticework of Ideas, with Morgan Housel
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#338: This month, we’re running four episodes based around the four pillars of F.I.R.E. — financial psychology, investing, real estate and entrepr...
Habits are Overrated, with Kristen Berman
08 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#337: Meet Kristen Berman, a top researcher in the field of behavioral economics. She’s the co-founder of Irrational Labs, which designs products th...
Ask Paula: Should We Sell a Condo if We’re Barely Breaking Even?
03 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#336: Anonymous and his partner have a one-bedroom condo that they rent out in Pasadena, CA. The problem? They’re barely breaking even. Should they ...
What You Think You Want vs. What You Really Want, with Luke Burgis
01 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#335: Have you ever spent years studying the wrong major, climbing the ladder at the wrong company, chasing the wrong career? Have you spent years l...
Ask Paula -- What Paintbrush Did Michelangelo Use? (said no one ever)
25 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#334: In today’s episode, we answer three questions from a college senior named Rafael. He asks about productivity tools and tactics, student debt, ...
The End of Recessions?, with Ben Carlson
18 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
#333: In the 1890s and early 1900’s, we had recessions every two years. From 2009 to 2020, we enjoyed an 11-year bull run, the longest bull run in h...