How to Money

This episode is all about FIRE which stands for Financial Independence Retire Early. This movement came about as an entire generation began to push back against the notion of traditional retirement- working hard in a job you hate so that you can kick back when you’re 65. Thanks, but nah. We have friends who have completely rejected that idea and have retired in their 20s and 30s, but the most important thing to keep in mind is that the pursuit of financial independence doesn’t have to look a specific way. Just like those books we loved in the 90’s you get to choose your own adventure! From leanFIRE to fatFIRE and everything in between, there are a variety of lifestyles we can aspire to. So we’ll talk about the different types of FIRE and then some of the most important tactics to consider on your path to achieving financial independence.

During this episode we enjoyed a Smells Like Bean Spirit Double Maple by Mikerphone 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.

Since yesterday was the 4th of July, we’re talking about financial independence with someone who has achieved it at the young age of 27. Rachel Richards is a former financial advisor, a real estate investor with almost 40 rental units, and the bestselling author of “Money Honey.” She has also written “Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement” which we’re covering today as we discuss the lessons Rachel has learned on her way to financial independence. Rachel quit her 9-5 job and now lives off over $15,000 a month in passive income and she spends her time doing whatever she feels like- whether that’s traveling the world with her husband or hiking the Rockies with her dog. Learn how setting up streams of passive income to achieve financial independence is more attainable than you think!

During this episode we enjoyed a M-43 Tart Strawberry by Old Nation 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.

It's time for a Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s financial news and the impact on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we distill it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to continue to make smart money moves. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like: Bobby Bonilla made the wrong decision, keeping utility costs low during scorching heat, peak inflation with costs coming down, appreciating used cars, personal rates of inflation, saving money sucks, Peloton disabling treadmills, new Venmo fees, Gen Zers and Millennials are being targeted with new scams, high costs of title insurance, avoiding extended car warranties, student loan interest rates have increased, & book giveaway winners!

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.

Nobody enjoys paying full price- who doesn’t like scoring a sweet deal?! Yet many of us don’t think to do what it takes to pay less for the things that we buy. Whether it’s the fear of rejection or not wanting to be perceived as a cheapskate, there are a number of false narratives at play that are keeping us from pouncing on discounts. And it’s important to simultaneously keep in mind that, in the words of Michelle Singletary, “discounts make us dumb!” In the quest to pay less, it’s important to not fall victim to the ploys of marketers and advertising! We discuss all of these patterns of thinking, as well as the steps that we need to take in order to ensure that we’re getting the absolute best deal on almost everything.

During this episode we enjoyed an Origins by Crooked Stave! 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’re kicking off the week by answering listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ , send us your voice memo!

1 - How should we budget for a bi-weekly paycheck?

2 - Should I give unsolicited investing advice to my brother-in-law?

3 - Since I’m building up my net worth, should I increase my liability car insurance limits?

4 - Are I Bonds a good idea? (pronounced ‘eye’ bonds!)

5 - 15 or 30 year mortgages: which should I refinance to? And what are your thoughts on flipping houses?

During this episode we enjoyed a Seeing Green by Civil Society 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.

It's time for a Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s financial news and the impact on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we distill it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to continue to make smart money moves. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like: Costco mortgages, how you can raid our bookshelf, Advance Child Tax Credit, car rental gift card scams, high earners living paycheck to paycheck, reverse cord-cutting, investing (in) teenagers, more Zillow Offers, putting rent on a credit card, & keeping banks from closing your credit card.

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.

Most everyone out there has heard of lifestyle creep, also known as lifestyle inflation. We define this phenomenon as the unconscious upgrading of our lifestyle and standard of living which ends up costing us more and more money. And aside from the ability of lifestyle creep to sneak up on us, one of the other dangers is that it is often difficult to turn back the clock and downgrade our standard of living! So we’re asking the question today- is lifestyle creep inevitable? In this episode we discuss some widespread examples of lifestyle creep in our society, why it happens, and how we can thwart lifestyle creep from derailing our personal finances.

During this episode we enjoyed a Hobnail by Urban Artifact Brewing- thanks Sondra for donating this one to the podcast! 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.

Michelle Singletary is an award winning personal finance columnist for The Washington Post. She’s also a frequent contributor to NPR and she has also appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” and CBS’ “The Early Show.” Michelle has written multiple books on personal finance and her latest book, “What To Do With Your Money When Crisis Hits,” was just published last month. Not only is it an incredible resource for folks who find themselves in difficult times, but it’s also chock-full of practical money advice to implement even during the best of times. It’s the kind of advice that your grandma would approve of! Listen as we get to talk with Michelle Singletary today and as we learn more about her book.

During this episode we enjoyed a Squeezebox by Urban Artifact Brewing- thanks Sondra for donating this one to the podcast! 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.

It's time for a Friday Flight! These episodes are all about the week’s financial news and the impact on your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we distill it down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to continue to make smart money moves. In this episode we cover some interesting and helpful stories like: micro weddings are here to stay, The Great Resignation, increased employee benefits, acquiring new skills, solid 529 plans, parent PLUS loans are the worst, making millions from speed cameras, vehicles are lasting longer, spending more money on restaurants than groceries, and the best credit card sign-up bonus.

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.

During today’s episode we’re going to explain how you need more financial stress in your life!.. Well, not quite, but we do think that the proper amount of stress in our lives can be helpful in achieving the money goals we’re pursuing. All things in moderation though- just like you want to avoid having too much of a good thing, we obviously want to avoid overwhelming stress in our lives. But the thing is, it’s oftentimes not even the stress itself that is bringing us down, but the negative coping mechanisms and habits that we turn to that can be the most destructive, and that can cost us the most. We believe that by reframing how you view stress and by putting it in the proper light, you can use financial stress to your advantage. Listen and we’ll explain how!

During this episode we enjoyed a Coconut Stout by Easy Chair Brewing Garage- thanks to Jess for donating this one to the podcast! 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.