Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
What our listeners learned from the pandemic
21 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
2020 was a year of challenges — and opportunities. In this episode, listeners share the money less...
Charitable giving, and using savings to pay student loans
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Feeling charitable this holiday season? Use discretion as you choose where to give. Also, Sean and L...
Pandemic money lessons, and balancing saving for a down payment vs retirement
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sean and Liz share what they learned about managing money during the pandemic. Then they answer a li...
What Biden may do for your finances and how to make money
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Consumer protection will see a revival in 2021, but student loan forgiveness and pandemic relief are...
The holiday shopping episode
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
How are you planning to shop this holiday season? According to our shopping Nerds, we’ll shop dif...
Holiday travel and giving money advice to family
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The two things we should rethink this holiday season are travel and offering financial advice to fam...
Open Enrollment and HSA vs. FSA
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Picking health insurance is a pain, but the right choice can save you serious cash. Also, a health s...
Finding financial stability and protecting yourself from ID theft
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the election, the pandemic and everything else that's happened in 2020, finding stability can b...
Beating burnout and the best college savings plans
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Feel like you working longer and more draining hours during the pandemic? You're not alone. Liz and ...
Retiring early and finding lost money
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
More Americans are retiring early, but not all of them are doing it the right way. And you may have ...
Cut your tax bill, and how to choose the best investment platform
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Looking to cut your tax bill? You have a few go-to strategies, but only a few months left to reduce ...
Unequal unemployment recovery, and whether to buy a new or a used car
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sean and Liz dig into what unemployment trends mean for our economy. Then they answer a listener's m...
The psychology of debt and when to refinance
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Sean and Liz discuss the psychology of credit card debt — why some people see it ...
Used cars in short supply, and Shea Couleé talks money
21 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tight supplies and steady demand are driving up used car prices, but you can still save money. Speak...
Fake reviews and saving too much
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Learning how to spot fake online reviews can save you money. Speaking of saving, you shouldn’t avo...
Investing while paying off student loans
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Should you invest or pay off debt? This question can get especially tricky when you’re talking abo...
Renters are struggling, and what to do with an old 401(k)
31 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Renters are far more likely to be struggling in the pandemic than homeowners. Also, don’t put off ...
Buying local and emergency loans
24 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Buying local could help a favorite small business survive the pandemic. Meanwhile, people who don’...
Pet costs and extreme couponing
17 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Pets can cost a lot more than you think. Pet insurance can help, but it’s not for everyone. Likewi...
How to take advantage of lower rent and mortgage rates — and move safely
10 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
August is shaping up to be another record month on the mortgage front. Here’s what it means for yo...
Is it safe to travel right now, and how to handle a collections to improve credit
03 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Air travel brings you in close contact with others, sometimes for hours. A road trip may be a better...
Losing your health insurance, and setting financial goals
27 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Losing your health insurance can expose you to medical bills that could bankrupt you. Most people ca...
COVID impulse spending, and building credit while paying debt
20 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Spending more impulsively because of the pandemic? You’re not alone. Also, different debt payoff m...
Tax returns are due, and how to get started creating wealth
13 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The IRS has payment plans if you can’t pay what you owe on July 15. Also, the steps to building we...
The wealth gap, and how to cope with variable rate student loans
06 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Discrimination affected wealth creation and opportunity in the U.S., leading to vastly different med...
Setting money goals at milestone birthdays, and scoring big bucks with bank bonuses
29 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As you approach your 30s, 40s or beyond, let the milestone birthday be an excuse to set some new mon...
What a recession economy means for you, and how to handle an inheritance
22 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sean and Liz give tips for managing your finances in a recession. Then they answer ...
The pandemic is changing our financial lives, and what to know about refinancing now
15 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sean and Liz discuss survey results that show how money habits are changing as a re...
Make your donations go further; Plan for new baby expenses
08 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sean and Liz start off by discussing how you can make your donations to social caus...
Is identity theft protection worth the cost?
01 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can identity theft protection services really protect us from identity theft? No, but they can serve...
Is Bitcoin a safe investment?
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
People who invest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies need to be ready for a wild ride. Values can...
I Got Laid Off! What Should I Do with My Retirement Fund?
18 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Getting your retirement account squared away is just one of the many tasks facing the newly unemploy...
Where have all the 0% offers gone?
11 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It used to be easy for people with good credit scores to get 0% balance transfer offers. As lenders ...
How can I buy my first home in an expensive city?
04 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Being a first-time homeowner can be daunting, especially in a pricey market like Southern California...
Where's my coronavirus relief check — and how should I use it?
27 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Most American adults are eligible for government relief checks of $1,200, but many are still waiting...
How should I spring-clean my finances?
20 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Don’t stop with your closets. Spring cleaning your finances can be just as satisfying, not to ment...
Help! I owe the IRS!
13 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
You were expecting a tax refund — but wound up owing money. Changing tax laws and the gig economy ...
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part IV: The CARES Act and Your Student Loans
06 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The economic stimulus package gave millions of student loan borrowers some important breaks, but peo...
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part III: Coronavirus and Your Portfolio
02 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Nauseating drops in the stock market can be hard to endure, but most of us should try to do just tha...
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part II: Saving, Budgeting and Travel
30 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The coronavirus pandemic has scrambled people’s travel plans and their budgets. Here are the most ...
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part I: Mortgages and the Market
26 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Mortgage rates dropped and then soared, making life difficult for people who wanted to refinance and...
How can I brace financially for coronavirus?
23 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The economic impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVD-19 disease it causes is likely to be profo...
My credit score randomly dropped — a lot. What happened?
16 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Unexpected credit scores drops are the worst -- especially when you’re trying to do everything rig...
What's the best way to save for a down payment on a house?
09 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Many first-time home buyers wonder how to save for a down payment and where to put the money while t...
How can I get into the travel credit card points game?
02 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Want to get the most points from your travel credit card, but don't know where to start? We've got y...
Are Roth conversions a good idea?
24 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Roth conversions can give you a big tax advantage in retirement, but they're not right for everyone....
What's the best way to do a spending fast?
17 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A spending fast can help you save money — fast! The idea is to hit the pause button on non-essenti...
Should I invest or pay off my student loans?
10 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Should you invest or pay off debt? This question can get especially tricky when you’re talking abo...
How do we manage money as a couple?
03 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Yours? Mine? Ours? Managing your money as a couple can be stressful, and there’s no one right way ...
From the archive: "What's the best way to rack up travel rewards quickly?"
20 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We'll be back in a couple weeks. In the meantime, here's how you can use these winter months to rack...
From the archive: "How can I pay off my debt faster?"
06 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We'll be back in a few weeks, so here's an episode from our archives that can help you tackle your h...
Happy New Year from the SmartMoney team!
30 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks for a great 2019! We're taking a little holiday break but will be back in 2020 with loads of ...
How can I (actually) keep my new year’s money resolution?
16 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
New Year’s money resolutions are common, sure. But keeping them is a whole different story. In thi...
What are your best tips to save on family holiday travel?
02 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Holiday travel can be expensive — especially if you’re traveling with family. But you have optio...
Does Black Friday live up to the hype?
18 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Black Friday might seem like the best time to get the biggest deals of the holiday shopping season. ...
Which accounts can make me the most money?
04 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You can make money just by putting your cash into the right account. Which account to choose depends...
How much house can I afford?
21 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Think you’re finally ready to buy a home? Here’s how to know how much house you can afford with ...
How can I pay off my debt faster?
07 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Want to pay off your debt fast? You can, with a bit of know-how. In this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz...
How do I buy a used car?
23 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Buying a used car can be confusing. Should you shop around a used car lot, or are the online classif...
How can my credit score save me money?
09 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sure, you got a high credit score — but how can you make the most of it? Sean and Dayana talk with...
Should I refinance my student loans?
19 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Refinancing student loans might save you money — if you’re a good candidate. But that’s not th...
My prescription drug costs are wrecking my budget. What can I do?
05 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Having Type 1 diabetes can be expensive. Just ask Paloma Kemak, aka Glitter Glucose on Instagram, wh...
What's the best way to rack up travel rewards quickly?
22 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
You can rack up travel credit card points quickly — if you know the right tips. In this episode, S...
Am I saving enough for retirement?
08 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Here’s how to know if you’re saving enough for retirement — and what to do if you’re behind,...
Travel-Hack the Holidays
12 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Want to make holiday travel a little less hectic? Dayana and Sean get the scoop from NerdWallet’s ...
Inside student loan scams
16 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Are companies that offer to reduce or eliminate your debt legit? We hear Selina’s story about wh...
What's a side hustle and should I start one?
09 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of side gigs out there. (Nerds took some for a test drive!) Here’s how to tell whi...
I want to invest. How should I start?
02 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We dive into the basics — getting financially ready, finding a good first investment, how to wade ...
How to get out of debt: Interview with The Debt Free Guys
26 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Debt Free Guys, John Schneider and David Auten, reveal how they paid off over $50,000 in credit ...
Is a travel credit card right for me?
19 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
From application, to acceptance, to acquiring and using points, NerdWallet card sharks share tips on...
How do I prioritize my budget?
10 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Wants versus needs. Spending versus saving. You can have it all (even the fun stuff) by following a ...