How to Money

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: trad hobbies, getting fit on the cheap, gig economy update, Social Security reliance, accessible financial advisors, AI stock tips, binge shopping, top 2025 money goals, hating on Honey, and going after Zelle.

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re going all-in today on budgeting with our special guest Jesse Mecham! There are a number of folks listening who might recognize his name, but I’m guessing even more folks are familiar with the company he started back in 2003 while he was still in college: You Need A Budget, or YNAB as it’s commonly known. Millions of individuals have used YNAB to get on a budget which has allowed them to achieve their life-changing financial goals. Whether that’s simply paying off debt or the complicated endeavor of getting on the same page as their partner. Jesse has likely thought more about budgeting over the past 20 years than anyone else out there, so we’re excited to talk with him about all the things that he’s learned over the years. Listen as we discuss why you need a budget in the first place, Jesse’s 4 rules of budgeting, how often you should spend on your budget every month, his approach to credit cards and debt, plus much more!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

• Don’t be cheap and forego getting a life insurance policy. Compare rates with Policygenius.

During this episode we enjoyed an Igneous IPA by Hutton & Smith! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For a year that was dominated by headlines of destructive hurricanes, cyberattacks, and political uncertainty, we think it’s more important than ever to highlight some of the good things that happened – and no, we’re not talking about Joel’s Costco rebate check! Not only do we get to share our personal financial wins from 2024, but an incredible number of How To Money listeners have achieved major milestones with their money this year. Creating this episode always fires us up, and we hope it does the same for you! From hanging onto an old 4Runner to keep costs in check, to flying to Hawaii four times for free with a Southwest Companion Pass, and maxing out a 401k for the first time, all the way to hitting millionaire status and getting dentures to save! The stories we’ve heard are nothing short of inspiring and we hope today’s episode not only helps you celebrate these wins but sparks ideas and provides some motivation for some epic financial moves in 2025. Here’s to learning from each other, crushing goals, and making it happen together!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

• Don’t be cheap and forego getting a life insurance policy. Compare rates with Policygenius.

During this episode we enjoyed a Falling Star by Monday Night Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sitting on your butt is killing you! According to the Heart Foundation, folks who sit the most are 90% more susceptible to dying from cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. And while taking a load off and having a seat isn’t going to immediately harm you, the accumulation of years and decades of a more sedentary lifestyle could lead to an earlier death! And we feel similarly when it comes to consumer debt. Paying a little interest this month isn’t going to completely wreck your financial future, but it’s a real problem if it becomes a permanent fixture in your life. Not to mention the fact that credit card interest rates are rising and millions of Americans made their holiday purchases with money they don’t have. Listen as we discuss the straightforward steps to create a foolproof plan, where we land on the debt snowball vs debt avalanche approach, as well as some additional helpful tips that will allow you to ditch debt for good.

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

• Don’t be cheap and forego getting a life insurance policy. Compare rates with Policygenius.

During this episode we enjoyed a Perpetual Composition by Southern Grist Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We hope that you’re having a wonderful holiday season. And if you celebrate Christmas, or any holiday that involves the exchange of gifts- isn’t it so much fun giving presents and seeing the faces of your loved ones light up? And while that might be the case on Christmas morning, it’s a different story later in the day for many adults and kiddos alike. There’s frequently a post present letdown that many of us experience. Either there was something we wanted that we didn’t get, or the gifts that we did receive aren’t quite as awesome as expected. They don’t make us happy and we easily fall into the trap of pursuing happiness in all the wrong ways. Of course on the surface this is something that you already know, but while many of us would say that we agree with this sentiment, we actually end up living our lives in contradictory ways. In this episode we detail some of the different ways that we’re chasing after happiness, but then we discuss two different types of happiness and how we can make sure that we’re pursuing the kind that will last.

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

• Don’t be cheap and forego getting a life insurance policy. Compare rates with Policygenius.

During this episode we enjoyed a Mile High Salute by Mutation Brewing- a big thanks to Jack and our friends there at the brewery! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking with your parents about their finances might prove to be a very difficult conversation- discussing religion and politics may even seem like a walk in the park compared to breaching the topics of retirement, long term care, and wills. Which is why we’re so thankful to have Cameron Huddleston join us to explain how we can go about having these essential conversations with our parents. She has recently published her book “Mom and Dad, We Need to Talk” and she is here to walk us through initiating and leading these conversations with our parents about their finances. Thank you, Cameron, for breaking this down for us and encouraging us to get started!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

• Don’t be cheap and forego getting a life insurance policy. Compare rates with Policygenius.

During this episode we enjoyed a Fairy Nectar by Kros Strain Brewing Co- a big thanks to Joey in Omaha for donating this beer to the show! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Costco Instacart HACK, stockpiling before the tariffs, travel trade-offs, working from HELM, international stock exposure, fake T-Mobile fees, axed overdraft fees, memecoin madness, homebuyer closing scams, Fidelity insights, positive downstream effects of homeownership, & housing inventory spikes.

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Imagine this: you wake up after a restful night’s sleep, not to the crash of toys in the playroom, but to the soft chime of your alarm or maybe even sunlight streaming through your window. You ease into your morning by getting ready for a run or some work without negotiating with kids over what they can or can’t wear to school. You enjoy a delicious breakfast, again, without an argument with any kids. For us, this scenario feels like a distant dream. As our listeners know, our homes are filled with the beautiful chaos of kids, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! But not everyone wants that kind of life. Some folks genuinely prefer the peace and quiet of a child-free lifestyle which is totally fine! However, our guest today argues that life without kids comes with its own unique financial challenges. Joining us is Dr. Jay Zigmont, founder and CEO of Childfree Wealth. Jay is a flat-fee fiduciary who specializes in helping those without children navigate their distinct financial priorities and goals. Today, we’ll dive into his insights and explore what financial planning looks like for people living a child-free life. Have a listen!

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

• Don’t be cheap and forego getting a life insurance policy. Compare rates with Policygenius.

During this episode we enjoyed a Bell’s Christmas Ale! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s dive into the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!

1 - I feel awkward about haggling with locals while on an expensive cruise- help!

2 - Should I really invest my HSA dollars? I’ve heard that the fees make it prohibitively expensive.

3 - My friend says that what my portfolio is missing is cash value life insurance. True or false?

4 - How do I know if I’ve saved enough for retirement and can slow down my investments?

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

During this episode we enjoyed a Pecan Pie Porter by Clown Shoes! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: exorbitant EV charging, overrated walkable neighborhoods, ruined coffee crop, more expensive YouTube TV, tinkering for worse returns, interminable trading, Health Investing Accounts, retiring with credit card debt, terrible Ticketmaster, being forced to sell, cooling home prices, shopping malls to the rescue, & transforming student loans into 401(k)s.

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:

• Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here. 

• Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.

• Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group.

• Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!

• Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.

And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money. Have an awesome weekend!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.