How to Money

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...

Is College Worth It? #139

13 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Getting Rich Slowly & Combating Money Anxiety with J.D. Roth #138

11 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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! ...

Hosting an Airbnb to Create Real Income #137

06 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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. Th...

Ask HTM - Going on Vacation While Still in Student Loan Debt, Paying for a Home Renovation, and Credit Card Auto Rental Insurance #136

04 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 a...

Amassing Peace Out Money Creates Freedom (Bestie) #135

30 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

Extreme Frugality in a Culture of Excess with Liz Thames #134

28 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Save Big Money on Travel Lodging #133

23 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 e...

Ask HTM - Negotiating a Salary for an Entry Level Position, Cars with Salvage Titles, and Saving and Investing with a Wildly Varying Paycheck #132

21 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 ou...

Creating a Holiday Spending Plan #131

16 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 wit...

Brilliant Real Estate Investing Tactics with David Greene #130

14 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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, ...

Becoming Financially Optimistic #129

09 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s vitally important to discuss financial optimism because a LOT of folks have negative money scripts floating around their heads. Their pessimism...

Ask HTM – Budgeting to Care for an Aging Parent, Car Subscription Plans, and Timeshares #128

07 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 - Fin...

To Refi or Not to Refi? #127

02 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 paym...

Using Credit Cards for 50k in Free Travel with Brad Barrett #126

30 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

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 CP...

Recession Proofing Your Finances (Bestie) #125

25 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We have some really exciting news to share before introducing this Wednesday episode (and ironically enough, we discussed the cost of diapers at the b...

Ask HTM – Are Condos a Good Idea, an Electric Vehicle Frugal or Cheap, and an Explanation of the Many Different Types of Auto Insurance #124

23 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Condos: are they a good investment? Should I consider one instead of a house? 2 - What are ...

Financial Habits that Determine Your Future #123

18 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over the course of our lives, our habits become ingrained and the small things we do day after day shape who we become. This is especially true of our...

Losing Everything to Financial Empowerment with Tiffany Aliche #122

16 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Tiffany Aliche is also known as the Budgetnista and her mission is to make life-changing financial education accessible to women worldwide. She’s be...

The Massive Benefits of House Hacking #121

11 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Housing costs are a significant expense, gobbling up around 37% of most American’s take home pay- other categories don’t even come close! Spending...

Ask HTM - Money in Your 20s, Financing Solar Panels, and Extending a Line of Credit #120

09 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - What should I do with my old employer sponsored retirement plan? 2 - Where should I invest ...

The Power of Investing in Yourself #119

04 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We talk a lot about investing- whether that be in the stock market, in real estate, or in bitcoin (JK don’t ever do that)! But it’s not often that...

Growing up on $0.44 a Day to Worldwide Traveler with Kristy Shen #118

02 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Kristy Shen has an amazing story- from growing up in China on $0.44 a day to becoming financially independent at age 31 and traveling non-stop around ...

Debunking Conventional Financial Advice #117

28 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There’s a lot of crappy financial advice out there. Some sayings you might hear all the time and you’re not even sure where they even originated- ...

Ask HTM - Long Distance Landlording, Pros and Cons to Bankruptcy, and Getting My 20 Year Old Sister Investing #116

26 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - I’m moving to the beach, should I keep my current house as a rental or sell it? 2 - When ...

The High Cost of Loyalty #115

21 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Loyalty to certain brands, stores, or service providers could be costing you a ton of money. The same might be true when it comes to your devotion to ...

Having Essential Money Conversations with your Parents with Cameron Huddleston #114

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Talking with your parents about their finances might prove to be a very difficult conversation- discussing religion and politics may even seem like a ...

Rebuilding a Rough Credit Score #113

14 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Much of our financial life often revolves around one number- our credit score. It’s really important that your score is in a healthy range as it imp...

Ask HTM - Money from an Auto Insurance Claim, Investing During an Impending Recession, and Compounding within a Portfolio #112

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I continue investing with an impending market correction? 2 - What should I do with ...

Why You Need a New Hobby #111

07 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What do you do for fun? This might seem like a trivial question, but discovering your hobbies can have some pretty large impacts on your financial hea...

Automating Your Money and Negotiating like a Boss with Ramit Sethi #110

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This episode is chock full of personal finance gold. Sure, we spend a good amount of time talking about negotiating, but we also cover intentional spe...

Why are we Saving for Retirement, Again? #109

31 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

If you have a difficult time setting aside money for the future and saving towards retirement, then identifying why it is that you’re saving might b...

Ask HTM - House Hacking, Teaching Kids About Money, and Small Business Banking #108

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Is it OK to buy a new car if I’m going to keep it for 15 years? 2 - What receipts should ...

Cutting the Cord and the Best Streaming Options #107

24 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We should all probably watch a little less TV than we do, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be getting a deal in the process! The television bund...

A Nasty Case of Healthcare Costs with Dan Weissmann #106

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The leading cause of bankruptcy in America is the inability to pay medical bills- an estimated half a million people file for this reason every year! ...

Are HSAs the Best Retirement Account? #105

17 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Health Savings Accounts aren’t just for paying your medical bills- when used properly, they are pure retirement gold! If you have a qualifying healt...

Ask HTM - Cutting Costs by Replacing Light Bulbs, Negotiating a Lower Credit Card APR, and Peer to Peer Lending #104

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I keep my car payment around in order to boost my credit score? 2 - When does it mak...

Before You Click 'Buy' On Your Next Online Purchase #103

10 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you’re planning to score a deal on Amazon Prime day or not, chances are you do a good bit of purchasing online. Obviously we love getting a ...

Avoiding Money Fights, with Andy Hill #102

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Getting your significant other on-board when it comes to personal finance goals may be no small task- which is just one of the reasons we’re excited...

Celebrating Diverse Views of Financial Independence #101

03 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Many of us have our own personalized, specific goals when it comes to our money, so it’s no surprise that we also have many different views of what ...

Ask HTM - Paying Off a Debt in Collections, Investing via Fundrise, and Buying a New Electric Truck #100

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - What does it mean to put index funds in my Roth IRA? 2 - Should I invest in Fundrise and RE...

The Benefits of Knowing Your Hourly Rate #099

26 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Understanding what our time is worth allows us to make more informed decisions regarding our time and money. Your hourly rate informs your decision to...

A Game Changing Approach to Financial Education with Dan LaSalle #098

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

So many of us grew up without any sort of formal or informal education about personal finance. Few states offer a personal finance course in their pub...

Socially Responsible Investing #097

19 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

More and more investors want their money to be going to companies who are doing good in the world, or at least to companies who are being responsible ...

Ask HTM - Couples Combining Their Money, Chasing High Interest Rates, and Changing Tax Withholdings to Pay Debt #096

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I get umbrella insurance or put each investment property in it’s own LLC? 2 - Shou...

Rules for Mindful Spending #095

12 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Here on How to Money, we often debate the merits of a purchase, not because we hate spending money and try to avoid doing so at all costs, but because...

How Your Behavior Impacts Your Finances with Dr. Daniel Crosby #094

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There is so much more to handling your finances and investing well, than just knowing the correct information. Oftentimes we’re blind to the factors...

Why Warehouse Clubs Might Be Awesome #093

05 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Anyone who has heard of the different warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s has also heard that they’re a great place to save you mo...

Ask HTM - Moving Forward with a Credit Freeze, Variable or Fixed Rate Mortgages, Car Insurance Woes #092

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Having just started my career, how much should I have in my emergency fund? 2 - Should I st...

Fees Will Kill Your Retirement Savings #091

29 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How much are you paying to invest in your 401k or IRA? You might see fees as an unavoidable cost of investing, but even a 1% fee could easily cost you...

Valuing Time with Laura Vanderkam #090

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Pretty much everyone we know would love to have more hours in their day- more time to spend with friends and family, more time to read or exercise (or...

The Best Cars for Frugal Folks #089

22 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

How much are you spending on your car? Aside from housing, Americans spend more money on cars and transportation costs than any other category, accoun...

Ask HTM - Side Hustle Apps, Multiple Roth IRAs, and Collecting Rent #088

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Is it possible to create a side hustle using the different grocery or exercise apps that pr...

Slashing Your Monthly Utility Bills #087

15 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Every month we waste a lot of money on utility bills that could be back in our pockets if we would only be more intentional about making our homes mor...

Elevating the Everyday and Paying Off 200k with Kiersten and Julien Saunders #086

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Is it possible to pay down $200,000 of debt while living in a big city, and still find enjoyment in everyday life? Yes! In this episode we’re lucky ...

Debt Snowball vs. Debt Avalanche Approach To Paying Down Debt #085

08 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What is the best way to pay down debt? Americans are in tremendous amounts of debt (think over 400 billion on just credit cards alone)! Not only is th...

Ask HTM - Annuities vs. Life Insurance, Improving Credit Scores, and Robo Advisors #084

06 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - What’s the difference between annuities and life insurance? 2 - Ways to improve my credit...

The Beauty of the Roth IRA #083

01 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We think it’s a great decision for almost everyone to invest in a Roth IRA. Second only to an employer matched 401k, a Roth IRA is very often the be...

Overcoming Poverty, Achieving Financial Independence, and Intentional Living with Jillian Johnsrud #082

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It’s time to dispel the myth that you need to have a huge salary, or that you need to work and save for decades, in order to eventually retire. This...

Saving Big on Car and Home Insurance #081

24 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For most people car and home insurance policies are expected, necessary costs of owning those things. Because we automatically set up these policies, ...

Ask HTM - Saving For Real Estate, Legit Car Wrapping, And Investing With Student Loans #080

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Where should I keep money that I’m saving for a down payment for real estate? 2 - Should ...

What Every Renter Needs To Know #079

17 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There are a host of reasons why renting a place instead of buying might be a great idea for you (we even dedicated an entire episode to the topic!). B...

Money, Van Life, and Alternative Living with Life Opted Out #078

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

What kind of life do you really want to lead? Does consumption and stuff dictate your life more than you’d like? It is so important to examine your ...

The Truth About Debt Consolidation #077

10 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

US households owe a total of $420 billion in credit card debt so it’s no surprise that everyone is looking for an easy solution. Debt consolidation ...

Making Working More Optional with $Pro Tanja Hester #076

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you feel comfortable with the expectations of your job and the number of hours you work? Or do you sense impending burnout with the constant demand...

How Much Do Kids Really Cost? #075

03 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Even though the federal government published a report that determined the average cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 is $233,000- that doesn...

Front Loading the Sacrifice with $Pro Doc G #074

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It's always encouraging to be reminded that the hard work you're putting in and the sacrifices you're making now can mean a much smoother ride in the ...

Escape Living Paycheck To Paycheck #073

27 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nearly 80% of Americans wouldn’t be able to pay their bills if they missed a paycheck. When you’re used to living paycheck to paycheck, the idea o...

Stop Buying New Stuff with $Pro Katy Wolk-Stanley #072

25 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Rampant consumerism and consumption is becoming the norm, and this is partly due to the fact that it is so easy to make purchases online. $Pro Katy Wo...

Getting Great Customer Service #071

20 Mar 2019

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...

Cutting College Costs with $Pro Cody Berman #070

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The cost of college is higher than ever. On average, students today are paying 213% more to go to college than their parents paid 30 years ago (and th...

But Isn't Stock Investing Risky? #069

13 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

People don’t invest in the stock market because of a perceived ‘risk’- their minds immediately jump back to the Great Recession or even the Grea...

Private Student Loan Benefits and Pitfalls with $Pro Meagan Landress #068

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have federal student loans? Are you wondering if you have any refinancing options? There is a lot to consider in a refinance beyond the adverti...

Actually Buying a Home #067

06 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The difference between scoring a home vs. missing out can be incredibly small- and a lot of it comes down to your offer. There are lots of little thin...

Paying Off Your Student Loans with $Pro Meagan Landress #066

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over 45 million Americans are saddled with over 1.5 trillion in student loan debt- this is a nationwide epidemic! With such a massive burden, how do y...

Before You Buy A House #065

27 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Buying a house will likely be the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make, so it’s no surprise that it can be an intimidating process. But this i...

Find the Cheapest Flights with $Pro Scott Keyes #064

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The fact is that everyone wants to travel, but nobody wants to pay more than they need to for airfare. Who doesn’t want a deal?! Our $Pro today is S...

Planning A Wedding Without Going Broke #063

20 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Weddings are expensive, but they don’t have to be! Spend your money on the things that truly matter to you and your fiancé and let the rest go. Cut...

Networking To Make More Money with $Pro Jordan Harbinger #062

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Networking is one of those things you may not think is necessary- until it’s too late. Our $Pro this week, Jordan Harbinger, is here to explain how ...

Teaching Kids About Money #061

13 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Since personal finance is not taught in most public schools, the job falls squarely on parents and caretakers. Hopefully this means we are intentional...

Small Time Real Estate Investing with $Pro Chad Carson #060

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

You don’t have to be a millionaire to be a successful real estate investor. Chad Carson, our $Pro this week, is here to explain how even a small, ef...