We earn. We save. We spend. But how much of that work are we sharing with our kids? April is Financial Literacy Month and our guest today is Sharon Lechter, the New York Times bestselling author of "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." She’s going to help us raise smart savers. We’ll talk about introducing basic financial concepts to little ones and how to get teens involved in big household decisions about money.

Have you ever thought about how much fine print you actually encounter? From big purchases to smaller contracts, we sign our names on the dotted line a lot. The National Association of Consumer Advocates just issued a report showing some of the worst of the worst in standard form contracts that consumers regularly sign. So today, we’re chatting with the organization’s Christine Hines. She is a senior policy director. She’ll break down red flags to watch for and if there are actually ways around these contracts that may not be in your best interest.

Chances are you have at least one if not more credit cards in your wallet. In fact, a recent report indicated that half of Americans have two or more credit cards. And rewards credit cards seem to be pretty popular with consumers. These kind of cards have perks like cash back or points that you can apply and reduce airfare. But with all the benefits, rewards credit cards come with some risk.

Today, Richard Barrington joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He's a financial analyst for Credit Sesame and has worked for 30 years in the financial industry. He says rewards credit cards are deceptive and can lead some consumers into debt.

Getting a notice that your vehicle has some type of manufacturer recall is never good news. However, in most cases, dealerships can get you in and fix the problem for free. But, when they can't...that's a problem. Sometimes, parts are not available, leaving motorists driving a potentially dangerous vehicle. In fact, right now, there are 3.7 million vehicles that are on the road that have "Park Outside" recalls because they can catch on fire. So motorists are encouraged to not park in their garage. 

Today, Mike Lavigne joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He's with Carfax, which just released concerning data involving "Park Outside" recalls. He says there's been a 40-percent spike in these recalls since last year. So, what can you do as a consumer?

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety just released its first results from tests on more than a dozen partial automation systems. What they found may be concerning and reveals there’s a lot of potential for drivers to misuse those features. Today, David Harkey joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He’s the President of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. We’re talking about how these safety features are tested and changes already on the horizon to make the road and your car safer for you.

Rising interest rates have made all kinds of loans more expensive. They’ve also made lenders pickier about who actually gets money. A recent Bankrate survey shows half of people who’ve applied for a financial product have been denied since the Fed started raising rates in march of 2022. So today, we’re talking with Bankrate’s Sarah Foster about this trend. We discuss who’s mostly likely to be denied for loans and new credit cards and the ways you can improve your credit score to make you more credit-worthy. 

Spring break season is right around the corner, and summer vacation will be here before you know it. Once you’re at your destination, the fun can begin. But actually getting there can be full of annoyances, like hogging that middle arm rest on the airplane. We’re talking with travel expert Katy Nastro from Going about some of the top traveler complaints, some the unspoken rules you should never break when you board, and we’ll answer the burning question: What’s better? The aisle seat or the window seat? 

If you have a car payment, is it a little bit more than you can afford? You're not alone. The average auto payment right now for a new car is $726, and for a used cars it's $533. Brian Moody joins us on the podcast. He's the executive editor for Autotrader and he tells us what the pros and cons are right now if you're thinking of refinancing, or buying a vehicle. 

It's  a topic many of us don't talk about until we absolutely have to: Planning a funeral. When people are faced with losing a loved one, many don't know exactly what to do, who to contact or how much a funeral or cremation is going to cost. So in this episode, Ed Reggie joins us on the On Your Side podcast. He's a consumer advocate who specializes in educating folks on funeral planning. He's also the founder of Funeralocity, a website that breaks down the costs at individual funeral homes across the nation, no matter where you live.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so we’re talking about love and money. If you’re dating someone, when should you start talking about finances? Our guest is Angelica Prescod. 
She’s a financial advisor is Scottsdale. She’s going to help us tackle some big questions about budgets, retirement accounts, debts you owe to old flames, and what you need to tell your new partner.