How to Money
Episodes
Financial Lessons Learned During Covid #239
12 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The novel coronavirus has had a domino-like effect on so many areas of our lives including our finances. Maybe you’ve lost your job and have had to ...
Ask HTM - Upside Down on My Car Loan, How Should I Tackle Paying Student Loans, and Loaning Money to Family and Friends #238
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Friday Flight - The Investing Gold Rush and Negotiating Severance Pay #237
07 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
Choosing Name Brands Over Generics #236
05 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’re all looking to spend less money, especially during these difficult coronavirus days, and one of the best ways to accomplish this is by going w...
Avoiding Financial Scams & Retirement Planning with Ben Carlson #235
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ben Carlson is the Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management. There, he helps to create detailed investment plans and m...
Friday Flight - Surprise Covid Medical Bills and New Stimulus Bill Progress #234
31 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
Why You Are Probably Underinsured #233
29 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of different types of insurance out there and it can be tough to know which types of policies you should look into and which ones to a...
Ask HTM - Investing in Startups, Refinancing Student Loans on a Fixed or Variable Rate, and Skyrocketing Home Insurance Rates #232
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Friday Flight - Mortgage Rates at All Time Lows and Back to School Spending #231
24 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
A Money Convo with Our Wives! #230
22 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s time to hear from our wives, Emily and Kate! We finally bring the ladies back on for an episode that we recorded while we were together at the ...
Cutting Healthcare Costs with Crucial Knowledge with Scott Heiser #229
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We all want to reign in the spiraling costs of healthcare, so that’s why we’re talking today with Scott Heiser. Scott has more than twenty years o...
Friday Flight - WTD if You’ve Lost Health Coverage & Tipping Extra #228
17 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
Getting Creative with Vacation Plans #227
15 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Covid has impacted lots of areas of our lives - including our summer travel plans. So now is a great time to get a little creative if you are hoping f...
Ask HTM - High Yield Checking Accounts, WTD with a Bunch of Cash Right Out of College, and Cash Value Life Insurance #226
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Friday Flight - Lending Money to a Friend and the Soaring Cost of Streaming Services #225
10 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
The Simple Steps to Achieve Fire #224
08 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How do you achieve FIRE? Last week we discussed the pros and cons of the Financial Independence Retire Early movement, and this week we’re covering ...
Modern Frugality and Massive Debt Reduction with Jen Smith #223
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We have a really inspiring interview today that will encourage anyone who is looking to change their life by paying down debt. Jen Smith is a personal...
Friday Flight - Ridiculous Credit Card Interest Rates & Are Cities Dead? #222
03 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
The Pros and Cons of the FIRE Movement #221
01 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Financial Independence Retire Early- you’ve likely heard the term on the show and this movement has gained a lot of steam over the past decade. And ...
Ask HTM - Requesting a Credit Limit Increase, Path to Homeownership Considerations, and Biking with Kids #220
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Friday Flight - Covid Travel Info and Your Debt Collection Rights #219
26 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
Repair or Replace that Old Car #218
24 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the repair costs of owning an old car begin to add up, you might be wondering if it makes sense to ditch it. Many folks make the decision to abando...
Debt Elimination Strategies & Economic Violence with Lynnette Khalfani-Cox #217
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest on this episode is Lynnette Khalfani-Cox. Lynnette, also known as The Money Coach, is a personal finance expert, television and radio person...
Friday Flight - Downsides of Free Investing & Rising Pandemic Prices #216
19 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday Flight 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, ...
Money Simplicity Breeds Better Results #215
17 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have our financial lives become so complex, that the different ‘advanced’ options available to us are actually keeping us from doing the right thi...
Ask HTM - CDs are a Smart Move, Shopping for the Best Mortgage Rates, and What to do with an old HSA #214
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Avoiding Burnout, Overdraft Fees, and Getting Back to Work #213
12 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday 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 ...
Money Conversations are Crucial (Bestie Ep) #212
10 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Money just feels like a topic that is off-limits when it comes to discussions you have with your friends. Is it because it’s too personal? Maybe you...
Smart People Do Dumb Things with Their Money with Jill Schlesinger #211
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all made some financial mistakes, but hopefully through reading, listening to podcasts, and learning from our previous mistakes, we can move f...
Falling Interest Rates & Real Estate Investing in the Covid Era #210
05 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
*While we typically try and record our Friday episode just days before being published, we recorded 207 and 210 weeks ago in order for us to be able t...
Yes, You Can Negotiate Your Bills #209
03 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is everything in life negotiable? It depends on who you ask. We all enjoy paying less than we have to and getting a deal, but there are certain instan...
Ask HTM - Applying for a Credit Card with Frozen Credit, Paying Down Student Loans vs Investing, and Purchasing a Used Car without a Local Bank #208
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Affordable Used Cars & the Future of Office Life #207
29 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday 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 ...
Financial Advisors Aren't All Bad #206
27 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There are professionals who can help us in almost every aspect of our lives. In some cases it’s a slam dunk easy decision, but there are other times...
Fighting to Give Consumers Leverage with Richard Cordray #205
25 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we have the honor of speaking with Richard Cordray, who served for six years as the first Director of the Consumer Financial Protectio...
Changing Healthcare Plans & Graduating in the Middle of a Pandemic #204
22 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday 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 ...
Career Pivoting in a Changing Economy #203
20 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Change can be a little frightening, but it’s the only constant. Our entire economy has seen a massive change- industries that were in slow decline a...
Ask HTM - Timing a Roth IRA Conversion, Attacking Debt or Saving for Retirement, and Budgeting for Housing Expenses #202
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Where to Look for a New Job & Is More Stimulus Money Coming? #201
15 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the effects of Covid-19 on your personal finances. There’s a lot of news and information out there, but we are distill...
Investing In a Volatile Market #200
13 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Why is it that when a consumer item like a new phone is on sale, we pounce, but when the stock market is on sale, we run? Buying and holding are both ...
Where to Turn for Debt and Budget Help with Thomas Nitzsche #199
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In his early 20s, Thomas Nitzche found himself in loads of debt. Like so many folks, he didn’t learn how credit cards really worked, and so the char...
Frugality is Cool Again and Bike Riding Surges #198
08 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the effects of Covid-19 on your personal finances. There’s a lot of news and information out there, but we are distill...
Battling Money Anxiety #197
06 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Money anxiety is something we have all experienced in one way or another. Whether it’s student loans, trying to save up enough for a car, or even ha...
Ask HTM - Ditching a Crappy High-Paying Job, Student Loan Refinancing, and Investing with Fundrise #196
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Credit Card Companies Cutting Limits and Postponing Mortgage Payments #195
01 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the effects of Covid-19 on your personal finances. There’s a lot of news and information out there, but we are distill...
To Refi or Not to Refi? #194 (Bestie Ep)
29 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the Great Lockdown continuing to take its toll on the economy, mortgage rates are at near all-time lows so now is a great time to consider refina...
Couple’s Finances and Weathering Financial Storms with Farnoosh Torabi #193
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest on this episode is personal finance expert Farnoosh Torabi who has transformed what most would consider setbacks, into the very things that ...
Reopening the Economy and Getting Refunds #192
24 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the Great Lockdown, Covid-19, and your money. There’s a lot of news and information out there, but we are distilling t...
Money Chores to Crush During Quarantine #191
22 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us have been stuck at home with extra time on our hands due to the quarantine. Even if your state or local government hasn’t made it an offi...
Ask HTM - Investing in Bonds, New Student Loan Interest Rates, and Insurance Brokers #190
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
The Great Lockdown Effects on Spending and the Housing Market #189
17 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the Great Lockdown and your money. There’s a lot of news and information out there, but we are distilling that down to...
WTD with Stimulus Checks and Tax Refunds #188
15 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A stimulus check, tax refund, or any large windfall doesn’t happen all that often, so it’s no surprise that we’re not all that great at doing so...
Going Minimalist To Save More with Joshua Becker #187
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We’ve all heard about the minimalist lifestyle- maybe you’re picturing a bearded hipster drinking coffee in his perfectly white dining room or an ...
Retirement Account Rule Changes and Stimulus Check Details #186
10 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the coronavirus and your money. There’s a lot of news and information out there, but we are distilling that down to sp...
Cutting Expenses in Times of Financial Distress #185
08 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
67 million people are anticipating having trouble paying their bills due to the fallout from Coronavirus. A lot of us have seen our income drastically...
Ask HTM - Becoming a Single Income Household, Higher Costs in a Big City, and Long-Term Care Insurance #184
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Important CARES Act Details and Why There’s No TP in Stores #183
03 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the coronavirus and your money. There’s a lot of news and information out there, but we are distilling that down to sp...
Working From Home Without Going Crazy #182
01 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It is essential for us to learn how to thrive while working from home. Our modern workforce has been heading towards working remotely for years, but o...
Cooking at Home on a Budget with Beth Moncel #181
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Since we’re all spending a lot more time indoors, getting to know our kitchens a little better and not going to restaurants, we’re particularly ha...
Covid-19 Stimulus Checks, Unemployment, & Small Business Help #180
27 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Friday episodes are all about the coronavirus and your money. There’s a lot of news and information out there, and our goal is to distill that down ...
Behavioral Money Tendencies that Wreck Us #179
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It doesn’t matter if the market is flying high, or if it’s dropping faster than we’ve seen in history, each one of us is capable of making the o...
Ask HTM - Day Trading, Student Credit Cards, and Utilizing a VA Loan to Purchase a Home #178
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Coronavirus Economic Woes, Job insecurity, & Staying Afloat #177
20 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The economy and its effect on our personal finances continues to change due to the coronavirus, so our shorter Friday episodes are here to stay! Our g...
Different Approaches to Budgeting #176
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Maybe the reason you haven’t been able to stick with a budget is because you’re trying to use the wrong kind of budget! There are different approa...
Simple and Smart Investing with JL Collins #175
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of investing in the stock market, especially amid these turbulent times, then look no further. We are fortunate...
The Coronavirus, Market Volatility, and Your Money #174
13 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This is a special edition of How to Money to address the financial effects of the coronavirus and what we should be doing with our money during these ...
Striving for Work-Life Balance #173
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling overworked?! Between trying to get ahead at your 9-5 and pursuing side hustles, chances are really high that you feel like your work-life bala...
Ask HTM - Cash Management Accounts, Paying $9500 to Ditch a Crappy Job, the Rule of 173 Explained #172
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.co...
The Tradeoffs of Driving an Electric Car #171
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the proliferation of electric vehicles, you might be wondering if you should look into an EV for your next car purchase. The advancements in batt...
Navigating College Decisions with Elisia Howard #170
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Delaying your college application a few months could cost you $20,000! This is just one of the many things we learned during our conversation with Cer...
How to get Great Customer Service (Bestie) #169
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Working hard for money isn't a foreign concept, but working hard to receive good customer service often is- we so rarely advocate for ourselves! The f...
Ask HTM - Paying Off Balance Transfer Cards, Emergency Funds while House Hacking, and What to do when Inheriting a 401k #168
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.co...
Are Experiences Better Than Stuff? #167
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You won’t be surprised to hear that we’re critical of the consumeristic society we live in. Our culture wants us to believe that buying things wil...
Achieving Financial Independence in the Military with Doug Nordman #166
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today, Doug Nordman starts every morning by checking the surf forecast to see how he’s going to spend the day. He and his wife are financi...
WTD When Markets Decline #165
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
There will be declines in the stock market, and you’ll likely see the amount of money you have invested begin to drop. This is normal during a bear ...
Ask HTM - Is ID Theft Insurance Worth It, Reducing Car Insurance Rates for Kids Who Rarely Drive, and the Merits of Balancing a Checkbook #164
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions!1 - Should I continue to balance my checkbook every month, or is it a waste of time?2 - I ha...
Saving vs Investing #163
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Are you saving your money when instead you should be investing it? Or maybe you’ve been investing, but alternatively you should be saving! Folks get...
Selling a House for Top Dollar with Mindy Jensen #162
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Wanna sell your house for a lot of money? Then it would behoove you to listen to this interview! Our guest today, Mindy Jensen, is a licensed real est...
Automating Your Finances FTW #161
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We live increasingly busy and complex lives and the same is true of our money. Repeatedly making smart money moves is hard. It’s easy for us to forg...
Ask HTM - Rent or Buy a Car for Trips, Saving Money with Pet Health Insurance, and Reducing Student Loan Minimum Payments #160
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! Our family has outgrown our current car so our multiple road trips every year are getting c...
Creating a Debt Payoff Plan #159
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Personal levels of indebtedness are at all time highs in our country. Consumer spending is growing, student loans are ever-present, and car loans are ...
Freelance to Freedom with Vincent Pugliese #158
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re thinking about starting your own side hustle, then this episode is a #MustListen! Vincent Pugliese is a husband, dad, and a professional p...
When Frugality Doesn't Cut It #157
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We can only go so far with being frugal, before we venture into the realm of cheap. Now don’t get us wrong- frugality is a great tool in your person...
Ask HTM - Savings Interest Rates are Dropping, What to do if You're Overpaid, and Investing in an ESPP #156
13 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - I was overpaid by my employer, what should I do now? 2 - Should I convert my 401k into ...
Level Up Your Money with Gamification #155
08 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
For most normal people, personal finance is boring! There are many reasons why Americans have a really difficult time getting their money act together...
Waking Up Early and Intentional Living with 5am Joel #154
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It’s probably going to be hard, but waking up earlier this year can help you to get your personal finances in order! We’re excited to talk with ou...
A New Year with More Margin #153
01 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When 80% of folks report that they’re living paycheck to paycheck, it’s clear that this lack of margin in our lives is a major contributing factor...
Before Renting Out a Spare Bedroom, Transitioning a Side Hustle to a Small Business, and Why Most 403(b) Accounts Suck #152
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I consider renting out a furnished spare room, and do I go about to vet possible...
Money, Your Brain, and Buying Happiness (Bestie) #151
25 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Merry Christmas and happy holidays! In the midst of all the festivities, now is a good time to ask ourselves: “Buying new stuff makes us happy, righ...
Don't Mess Up Your Taxes, with Keith Schroeder #150
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today is Keith Schroeder who began working in the backwoods of Wisconsin on a family farm fixing silo unloaders- not the kind of job most of...
Cash, Debit, or Credit? #149
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
How we pay for things has a LOT of implications. Chances are whether you use “cash, debit, or credit” is more a result of habit than a thoughtful ...
Ask HTM - Paying Off Student Loans with a Cash Out Refi, Section 8 Landlording, and Lump Sum Investing #148
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should we go with a cash out mortgage refinance in order to pay off student loans? 2 - ...
Fees are the Worst, and How to Avoid Them #147
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Fees are a major pain and they’ve worked their way into so many different industries! We recently talked about travel lodging and discussed the anno...
Staying Focused in an Age of Distraction with Curt Steinhorst #146
09 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
On average, we lose 3 hours of productivity every single day due to distractions! There are countless ways that we’re distracted in our lives today,...
The Role of Technology as Small Businesses Innovate #145
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When 99% of American companies are small businesses, it’s no exaggeration to say that these businesses are the backbone of our country. These startu...
Ask HTM - Where a Minor Should Save and Invest, Security Concerns with Budgeting Apps, and Financing a Car to Boost Credit Score #144
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 jo...
Taking Advantage of Free Stuff (Bestie) #143
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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’...
Becoming a Digital Nomad and Salary Transparency with Kristin Wong #142
25 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Kristin Wong is passionate about helping people understand money in an accessible way. She started Lifehacker’s personal finance blog called Two Cen...
When Debt Makes Sense #141
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ask HTM - Investing in Gold, Paying Extra Towards a Mortgage, and Opening a Flexible Account for Kids #140
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
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 flexib...