#451: Rachel’s car is nearing its end of life and she’s short on cash. Should she sell before she’s hit with a major repair?
Cam wants to arbitrage a hefty low-interest loan with a three-year payback period. Is this the opportunity of a lifetime or a disaster waiting to happen?
Kris has tried all the budgeting apps but they’re cumbersome and time-consuming. Is there a better way to track his monthly expenses?
An anonymous caller feels stretched thin with a high mortgage on a single income. Should she sell off some stocks to lower her monthly payments?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/voicemail
For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode451
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Ask Paula: The Hidden Costs of Leverage

You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life.
How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles?
On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing.
But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think.
In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models.
Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.

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#506: "Today's guest, Brandon Ganch, also known as the MadFientist, reached Financial Independence (FI) and quit his job as a software developer at 34. But then he faced a vexing question: what should he do with the rest of his life?

In this episode, Brandon shares his journey with FI, revealing the gap between the ideal life you envision on spreadsheets and the reality that unfolds. He talks about reaching FI sooner than planned, having more money than anticipated, and the adjustments he had to make to his lifestyle. It's a refreshingly honest look at FI that goes beyond the numbers.

We also dive into the changing landscape of work and the impact of automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning. Brandon talks about what he would do differently if he were in his 20's, and shares valuable insights on tools you can use to stay relevant and future-proof your career.

You'll enjoy this if:

-- You're on the FI path and want to ensure your plans are flexible enough for life's surprises
-- You're curious about the unexpected realities of achieving FI
-- You're concerned about automation impacting your job security

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode506
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MadFientist: Life is Too Short to Wait for Someday

#505: Ryan Johnson isn't your average CEO. He's a visionary reimagining city life, one car-free community at a time.
In this episode, we chat with Ryan, the co-founder of Culdesac, about building walkable neighborhoods designed for human connection, not just traffic.
We'll dive into his experience with Opendoor, his passion for electric bikes (he owns over 60!), and his audacious plan to revolutionize urban living.
Buckle up (or maybe don't) for a conversation about the future of cities, the power of community, and why you might not need a car ever again.

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode505
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Harvard Dropout Builds Nation’s First Car-Free Utopia, with Ryan Johnson and JD Roth

#504: Brian Kelly faced a harsh reality during the Great Recession – $65,000 in income and crushing credit card debt. 

He started a simple side hustle, a website called The Points Guy, as an attempt to earn a few hundred dollars a month.  

Fast forward to today: The Points Guy boasts 11 million monthly visitors and a thriving team of 140 employees.  

In this episode, Brian pulls back the curtain on his incredible journey, transforming a fledgling side hustle into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. 

He also shares his signature expertise – the art of redeeming airline miles and points – empowering you to travel smarter.

For show notes, visit https://affordanything.com/episode504
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The Points Guy: Growing a Side Hustle into a 140-Person Business

#503: Lindsay’s husband struggles with a mental disability. She’s worried about the impact on her family’s finances. How does she maintain harmony in her marriage and protect her kids’ future?

An anonymous caller is stoked about her young nephew’s interest in saving for retirement. What’s Paula and Joe’s advice for a teenage saver?

Another anonymous caller wants to get personal about Paula’s personal finances.

Following up on a discussion from episode 494, Melanie has exciting news to share about automating ETF investments at Vanguard.
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.
Enjoy!
P.S. Got a question? Leave it at https://affordanything.com/podcast-questions

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode503
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Q&A: “My Husband is Not Reliable with Money. Should We Split Finances?

#502: The Fed met earlier this week and elected to keep interest rates at a 23-year high, in an effort to wrestle inflation closer to its two percent target.

Despite this, the April jobs report, which was released today, shows that jobs grew for the 40th consecutive month, and unemployment remains under 4 percent, an historic low, for the 27th straight month.

The 12-month inflation rate is 3.5 percent, based on March CPI data.

Stocks remain on a tear, but performance is lopsided, with 10 companies driving 85 percent of this years’ gains.
We cover this and more in our First Friday economic update episode.

Enjoy!

For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode502
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Ask Paula: The Hidden Costs of Leverage

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