Afford Anything
Episodes
Ask Paula - Should I Buy a Beachfront Rental Property?
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#126: It's time to answer real estate investing questions! Tom asks: "We're thinking about buying a duplex on a beach in a popular vacation destinati...
How to Gain a Competitive Edge, with Morgan Housel
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#125: Morgan Housel has spent thousands of hours reading about investing. As a former columnist for the Wall Street Journal and The Motley Fool, he's...
Ask Paula and Joe - Should I Sell My Brand-New Car (and Lose $6,000 in 4 Months)?
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#124: Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I answer five questions about investing, retirement, insurance, travel and selling an expensive car. ...
Your Money or Your Life -- with Vicki Robin, bestselling author
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#123: In the 1970's, a woman named Vicki Robin teamed up with a man named Joe Dominguez. They came from different backgrounds: she was an Ivy League ...
Ask Paula - I'd Like to Airbnb a Yurt. Should I?
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#122: Tony lives in Chicago, where the returns on rental properties are so-so. He's thinking about investing in Indianapolis, where he consistently fi...
How I Retired at Age 32 - with Liz Thames from Frugalwoods
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#121: After Liz Thames graduated from college, she couldn't find a job. "Nowhere would hire me," Thames says. "I had what I thought was this nice res...
Ask Paula - I'm Retiring at 53. How Will Early Retirement Impact My Social Security?
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#120: Roger Whitney, age 51, calls himself The Retirement Answer Man. As a financial planner, investment analyst and podcast host, he focuses on helpi...
How Much Can I Spend in Retirement? - with Dr. Wade Pfau
05 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#119: Once upon a time, in southern California in 1994, there lived a man named William Bengen. He read many claims, widespread at the time, that sai...
Ask Paula - How Do I Buy a Foreclosure? - and Other Real Estate Questions
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#118: Questions -- I get questions! Today, I’m tackling four queries about real estate investing that come from the audience. Here are the details: ...
How to Avoid Killing Your Spouse (and Should You Get Married in the First Place?) - with Farnoosh Torabi
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#117: My friend and financial expert Farnoosh Torabi joins me to answer a relationship & money question from a listener named Janice.⠀⠀ ⠀⠀ Jan...
Ask Paula -- Help! I'm Underwater on My Car!
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#116: Stacy and her boyfriend would like to downsize to one vehicle. But they're collectively $14,500 underwater on their car loans. Stacy owes $1...
How Dave Ramsey Taught His Kids About Money -- with Rachel Cruze
05 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#115: Rachel Cruze was born the year her father, Dave Ramsey, filed for bankruptcy. During her childhood, she watched her parents transition from str...
Ask Paula -- How Should I Invest $100K in Real Estate?
29 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#114: This week, I answer four questions about real estate investing from the audience. Joelle asks: I own a home outright on the West Coast. I’m t...
How I Run a Six-Figure Business and Host an Airbnb while Traveling the World -- with Natalie Sisson
22 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#113: Natalie Sisson was tired of the corporate world. She wanted freedom, adventure and fulfillment. In 2008, she quit her job and co-founded a tech...
Ask Paula - How to Convince a Spouse to Invest in Low-fee Index Funds?
15 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#112: How can I convince my spouse to invest in low-fee index funds? How should my fiancé and I combine our finances? If I'd like to invest in rental...
How We Retired at Age 38 and 41 -- with Tanja Hester & Mark Bunge
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#111: Tanja Hester and Mark Bunge used to have demanding but fulfilling careers as political and social cause consultants. While they loved the missi...
Ask Paula -- Get Ready for the Next Recession
01 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
#110: Happy New Years! We're kicking off this year on a bright and cheerful note -- with a conversation about the impending recession! Yay! The U.S. ...
How to Create a Complaint-Free World -- with Will Bowen
25 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#109: Happy holidays! I thought it would be nice to wrap up this year with a lighthearted holiday episode about the importance of keeping a positive a...
Ask Paula - I Don't Know How to Invest
18 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#108: Former financial advisor Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer audience questions about investing strategies, early retirement, and tax planning. Wh...
How Scott Harrison Brought Clean Water to 7.3 Million People
11 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#107: Scott Harrison spent 10 years as a New York City nightclub promoter, partying until sunrise every morning and ingesting almost every substance i...
Ask Paula - How to Estimate Repair Costs, File Taxes on Rental Income, and More
04 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#106: How do you search for rental properties out-of-state? Should I offer a lease-option contract to my friends? How can I estimate repair and mainte...
Life as an Experiment -- with A.J. Jacobs
27 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#105: A.J. Jacobs is the Editor-at-Large of Esquire Magazine and the New York Times bestselling author of multiple books. His three TED Talks have col...
Ask Paula - How Can I Learn about Money from the People Around Me?
20 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#104: This week, I answer 4 questions about quitting a depressing job, learning how to ask probing questions, saving for a downpayment, and more. Edw...
Random Smattering of Lessons on Money, Work and Life — plus A Call for Radical Authenticity
13 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#103: On today’s show, I'm sharing this random smattering of lessons on money and life.⠀ ⠀ 1) Simplify everything.⠀ 2) Risk = Probability x...
Ask Paula - Should I Sell My Rental Property and Invest the Proceeds in the Market?
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#102: This week, I'm back to answering questions posed by listeners of the podcast. An anonymous listener asks: Should we continue to rent out our h...
The Code of Trust, with Robin Dreeke
30 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#101: Robin Dreeke is former head of the FBI’s Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program. His primary role, at the time, was to thwart foreig...
Life After Financial Freedom, with Brandon - the Mad FIentist
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#100: Over a year-and-a-half and two million plus downloads later, the Afford Anything podcast has hit another awesome milestone: the 100th episode! ...
How I Grew BiggerPockets From 0 to 870,000 Members - with Joshua Dorkin
16 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#99: Thirteen years ago, Joshua Dorkin's friends teased him about starting a website that seemed to have no future. "I would get calls from my buddie...
Ask Paula - The Side Hustle Episode
09 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#98: How much money should you invest in a side hustle or side business? How do you know if your side hustle idea is viable? What if you want to sta...
There Are More Heroes Than Villains
03 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There are more heroes than villains in this world. We have seen a tremendous outpouring of love and support today. Please support the cause that's ca...
How to Be Awesome at Your Job, with Pete Mockaitis
02 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#97: How can you be awesome at your job? That's the question that today's guest, Pete Mockaitis, and I tackle on the latest Afford Anything podcast e...
Ask Paula - Should I Be an Out-of-State Airbnb Host?
25 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#96: Today I tackle 4 real estate questions that come from the listeners. Chris, age 25, says: Over the next 30 years, I'd like to acquire 15 rental...
Money for the Rest of Us, with JD Stein
18 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#95: J. David Stein used to manage billions of dollars. He retired at age 46. Now that he's retired, he faces a different challenge: How should he i...
Ask Paula - The Early Retirement Episode
11 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#94: Early retirement? Yes please. This week, I answer questions from the audience community around early retirement planning, health savings and debt...
The Secret Lives of Introverts - with Jenn Granneman
04 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#93: Do you enjoy spending time alone? Does your inner monologue chatter constantly? When you were a student, did you sometimes stay quiet even when y...
Ask Paula - How Do I Hire an All-Star Rental Property Team?
28 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#92: If you're interested in real estate investing, and if you've wondered how to assemble an all-star team, today's episode is for you. I'm hosting ...
How to Spend Less, Earn More and Grow the Gap
21 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#91: Grow the gap between your income and your expenses: How to tackle the 4 biggest expenses in the average American household budget. Also, I share...
Ask Paula -- I'm Tired of Paying Rent. Should I Buy a House?
14 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#90: Curious about real estate investing? I'm rocking the microphone solo on today's episode, tackling the rental property questions that you -- the ...
Imagine You Only Have 10 Years to Live ...
07 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#89: Imagine you’re financially secure. You have enough money to support yourself, your family and pursue your dreams. You’ll need to continue wor...
Ask Paula - When is Lifestyle Inflation a Smart Business Decision?
31 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#88: Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I answer 4 questions from the Afford Anything community. We chat about how to control lifestyle infla...
Myths about Money - Are Your Ideas Holding You Back?
24 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#87: A week and a half ago, I flew to Portland for the World Domination Summit -- a conference with an admittedly eyebrow-raising title. The conferen...
Ask Paula - Should I Keep My Properties in an LLC
17 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#86: The real estate questions keep coming in, so today I’m answering questions from three Afford Anything listeners: Heather is ready to buy her f...
How to Make Money without a Job -- with Nick Loper from Side Hustle Nation
10 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#85: Like many people, Nick Loper used to work a full-time job that didn't excite him. Unlike most people, Loper decided to escape his uninspiring wo...
Ask Paula: No, Really, I'm Asking for a Friend! -- How to Crush $500,000 in Debt
03 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#84: This week, I tackle your questions with my good friend, recovering financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy. Here's what we answer: 1. I'm asking for a f...
This is The Toughest Episode I've Created So Far
26 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#83: Hey. It’s time we talked. I’ve made many tough decisions in my business. I’ve said “no” to thousands of pitches, turned away countles...
Ask Paula - How Do You Pick a Rental Property?
19 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#82: Welcome to another Ask Paula episode! This week, I answer three real estate questions: #1: What criteria do you use when you’re shopping for ...
Get Me Out of This Crappy Job! - with Jenny Blake, author of Pivot
12 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#81: Jenny Blake used to have an enviable job. As a Career Development manager at Google, she enjoyed the perks of a Silicon Valley life, plus the sa...
Joe Says Life Insurance Won’t Make the Headline. But it Did.
05 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#80: Chris, age 30, makes $200,000 per year and saves 50 percent of his income. What accounts should he use in order to maximize his tax benefits? De...
How I Bootstrapped a $4 Million Company, with Laura Roeder
29 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#79: When Laura Roeder was 22, she quit her job to become a full-time freelancer. She earned $30,000 in her first year as a freelancer; $60,000 in he...
Ask Paula (and Will) - How Technology is Changing the Future of Real Estate Investing
22 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#78: Imagine that you're looking for a rental property. It's a warm Saturday afternoon, and you decide to cruise through a few open houses in the area...
What I've Learned from 9 Years of Nonstop Travel, with Geraldine DeRuiter, The Everywhereist
15 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#77: “Have you ever tried to stop-peeing midstream? It’s like trying to put spray cheese back in the can. The damage has been done, and the only t...
Ask Paula - How to Handle an Inheritance, Should I Invest in Properties or Start a Business, and More.
08 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#76: This week, my buddy Joe Saul-Sehy joins me to answer another round of listener-submitted questions. A listener from California asks: My husband ...
Jen Sincero says she used to be a "grouchy broke person"
01 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#75: In her early 40's, Jen lived in a converted garage, buried in credit card debt and scrounging for spare change. She was the type of person who'd ...
Ask Paula - How to Repay $50k in Student Loans on a $31k Income, What's the Deal with Bonds, and Do I Really Need Insurance
24 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#74: Former financial planner and friend of the show, Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins, joins me to answer the following listener questions: Kic...
What Chess Taught Me About Making Smarter Life Moves -- with Steve Gossett
17 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#73: Last January, I went to a party at a trailer park that featured a huge bonfire, a few llamas, and a member of Public Enemy. (I realize that soun...
Ask Paula -- Should I Loan Money to Friends? Stay Sane While Repaying Debt? ... and More
10 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#72: Spaghetti is a major part of my life. I eat it, of course, as many people do. I also spill it all over my pants, despite the fact that I’m 33 ...
Can I Retire Yet? - with Roger Whitney, the Retirement Answerman
03 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#71: Roger Whitney is known as the "retirement answer man." "All I think about, all day long, is how to make that [retirement] transition successfull...
Erin Lowry on Raising Children Who Are Enabled, Not Entitled
27 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#70: Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial, talks about the early childhood scripts that we learn about money. Why is this topic important? Well, if...
Ask Paula - The Real Estate Edition
20 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#69: So many Afford Anything listeners have great questions about real estate investing. That's why this episode of Ask Paula is dedicated to answerin...
Ask Paula - How to Invest Your Tax Refund, Save for College, and Avoid Massive Pitfalls
13 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#68: My buddy Joe Saul-Sehy, host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast, joins me this week for another episode of "Ask Paula (and Joe!)" -- in which we w...
Ask Paula -- How to Care for Aging Parents, Buy a Car, and Organize a Business
06 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#67: It's the first Monday of the month, which means it's time to answer questions from the Afford Anything community. Our first question comes from ...
Take Radical Responsibility for Your Life -- a Breakfast Chat with 26-Year-Old Millionaire Emma Pattee
27 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#66: You know that rare moment when you meet someone with whom you connect *instantly*? I felt that way when I met Emma Pattee, the 26-year-old milli...
How to Improve Your Relationship with Money
20 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#65: I've always taken an approach to life that puts my freedom first. My one and only 9-5 lasted only 3 years. Since then I've been self employed a...
Michael Kitces -- Your Mind is More Powerful Than Money
13 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#64: Your potential is unlimited. I realize that's the type of cliche that you normally find embossed in cursive script on the side of coffee mugs. I...
Ask Paula - Travel vs. Passive Income, Proximity in Real Estate Investing and Selling Off Properties
06 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#63: It's the first Monday of the month, and you know what that means - another Ask Paula episode. Our first question comes from Richard, who wants t...
Ask Paula - Q&A Featuring Special Guest Joe Saul-Sehy from Stacking Benjamins
30 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#62: Joe Saul-Sehy, a former financial advisor and host of the Stacking Benjamins podcast, joins me to answer your questions in this bonus episode of ...
John Lee Dumas - From Small-Town Kid to Multimillionaire Entrepreneur
23 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#61: Even though John wasn't never an entrepreneur at heart -- even though he didn't (yet) self-identify as an entrepreneur -- he decided to throw him...
Andrew Hallam (Part Two): The Nine Rules of Wealth You Should Have Learned in School
16 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#60: Andrew Hallam grew a million-dollar investment portfolio on a schoolteacher's salary by his mid-30's. In his bestselling book, Millionaire Tea...
Andrew Hallam: How I Became a Millionaire on a Teacher's Salary
09 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#59: By his mid-30's, Andrew Hallam became a millionaire on a teacher's salary. He began by investing $100 a month upon advice given by a mechanic. Th...
Ask Paula -- Death, Taxes, Crushing Debt and Moving in with Mom
02 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
#58: Ashley is a single mom saving diligently for her 2-year-old son. What alternatives are there to 529s and brokerage accounts? Julie and her husba...
Philip Taylor - Top 5 Financial Lessons PT Learned in the Past Decade
26 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#57: Philip Taylor, aka PT, is one of the most well-connected guys in the personal finance world. He’s spent the past half-dozen years building tigh...
Billy Murphy - Expected Value, or What Professional Poker Taught Me About Running a 7-Figure Business
19 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#56: Former professional Poker player Billy Murphy has an intriguing story. He achieved financial independence at age 29, and he did this by applyin...
From Money Moron to Millionaire, with Scott Alan Turner
12 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#55: Scott Alan Turner used to be a money moron. (In his words.) He traded a Jeep for a Porsche in his 20s, purchased a 3,000 sq. ft. house with two ...
Ask Paula - Automating Savings, Starting a Blog, Emergency Funds, Investing in Real Estate Confidently, and More
05 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#54: It's the first Monday of the month, which means I'm fielding questions from the audience. We start with a question from Nicole. She's a new lis...
Live Q&A with Paula on Real Estate and Travel
28 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#53: This episode is a little different. Instead of interviewing a guest, this podcast episode is a recording of a recent talk I gave in Equador. Th...
How to Combat Lifestyle Inflation, with Julia Kelly
21 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#52: Imagine transitioning from making $8.50 per hour and sharing a crammed apartment with 5 people, to becoming a six-figure business owner doing wh...
Six Types of Financial Frenemies, with Mary Beth Storjohann
14 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#51: Today's guest is Mary Beth Storjohann, CFP®, Founder of Workable Wealth, and author of the book Work Your Wealth. As I was reading through her...
Ask Paula - Retirement Savings in Your 50's, Starting a Side Hustle, Buying Health Insurance, Home Warranties, and More
07 Nov 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#50: Mark, a 55-year-old listener, has no savings. He's been listening to personal finance podcasts. He recently read Tony Robbins' Money: Master the ...
Behind-the-Scenes Mastermind Call - with J.D. Roth
31 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#49: If you're a longtime listener, you might remember J.D. Roth, founder of Get Rich Slowly and owner of Money Boss, from Episode 20. In this previo...
How to Overcome Procrastination and Perfectionism, with Stephen Guise
24 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#48: Imagine that your goal is to build a flat stomach and stronger biceps. But deep down, subconsciously, you’re afraid you might fail. So you pro...
How to Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy, with Clark Howard
17 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#47: New York Times bestseller, radio and television personality, Clark Howard is known as a personal finance expert, that title doesn't tell the whol...
The Unbelievable Power of Building a Community - Live at FinCon
10 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#46: This episode is a little unusual because I interviewed fellow podcast listeners live at FinCon (a conference for financial bloggers). Why? To ge...
Ask Paula - Should I Invest $5,500 in One Huge Chunk? - and More Investing Questions
03 Oct 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#45: Podcast listener Eva is interested in opening a Vanguard account. She noticed that people need $50,000 to access their personal advisor services....
"Why I Quit My Dream Job" – with entrepreneur Leslie Samuel
28 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#44: When Leslie Samuel immigrated to the U.S. at age 17, he hoped for the American Dream: an education, a secure job, and a traditional career path. ...
Jean Chatzky Shares Money Rules for Modern Life
19 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#43: Jean Chatzky, financial editor for the TODAY Show, host of the HerMoney podcast and a frequent guest on TV shows like Oprah, Regis & Kelly, and T...
The Incredible Value of Deep Work, Instead of Distraction – with Cal Newport
12 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#42: Your most valuable asset isn’t your house, car or retirement portfolio. It’s your attention. Most knowledge workers spend their day frantica...
Ask Paula: Investing, Rebalancing and Renovating
05 Sep 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#41: Mollie, a listener, is making smart money moves. She's getting the maximum match on 403b contributions. She's saving for a downpayment on a home...
The Power of Habit Formation, with Gretchen Rubin
29 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#40: Most of us want to develop better habits. We want to exercise more, eat healthier, get more sleep, watch TV less, pay off debt, or save money. T...
The Seven Stages of Financial Independence, with Joshua Sheats
22 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#39: It's tempting to think of "financial independence" as a finish line. You've either crossed the finish line, or you're still running the race. B...
Why You're Not As Busy As You Think, with Laura Vanderkam
15 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#38: There are 168 hours in a week. If you work 40 hours per week and sleep 8 hours per night, you’ve accounted for 96 hours. You have an additio...
Chris Guillebeau -- How to Live a Remarkable Life in a Conventional World
08 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#37: Chris writes about life, work and travel. He has visited every country in the world and written a number of New York Times best selling books. H...
Ask Paula -- Should I Buy a Turnkey Rental Property? -- and More Real Estate Investing Question
01 Aug 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#36: It's the first Monday of the month, and you know what that means ... Time for another Ask Paula episode! On today's show, I answer a handful of ...
How to Start Freelancing on the Side, with Carrie Smith from Careful Cents
25 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#35: Carrie Smith enjoyed her full-time accounting job, but she wanted to make extra money on the side. Who doesn't, right? She landed a second j...
How I Built a Six-Figure Online Store -- with Steve Chou from My Wife Quit Her Job
18 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#34: Steve Chou's wife used to work grueling hours at a job she dreaded and despised. When she became pregnant with their first child, she decided ...
How I Became a Millionaire on a Military Salary - with Doug Nordman
11 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#33: After serving in the Navy for 20 years, Doug Nordman, then-age 41, retired from his military career. Most of his peers started second careers in ...
Ask Paula: The Market Might Drop. Should I Sell?
04 Jul 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#32: Should you sell your stocks, given that we might be heading for a possible downturn? Also, what are the downsides of index funds? Should you inve...
The Simple Path to Wealth, with Jim Collins
27 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#31: Jim Collins, also known as popular blogger JL Collins, has been financially independent since 1989. He achieved this in the simplest way possible...
Okay, I’m Financially Independent. Now What? -- with Jim Wang
20 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#30: When Jim Wang was 29-and-a-half, life changed forever. Jim started an online company (a blog) in his mid-20's. His website grew to several hund...
Ask Paula: Pay Debt vs Buy a Home? Invest in Index Funds vs Creative Alternative?
13 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#29: Paula answers questions you sent in about multi-level marketing, paying off credit card debt vs buying a house, and socially responsible investin...
How I Woke Up, Removed the Blindfold, and Noticed My Money for the First Time -- with Evelyn Connors
06 Jun 2016
Contributed by Lukas
#28: Most people only pay attention if there's a problem - that includes money. Guest, Evelyn Connors gets honest and raw about her previous understa...