Inside Out Money

Erica joins this week's podcast, and we discuss conscious consumerism and the trifecta of value it can add to your life: it’s good for the world, makes you feel food, and can save you money. We define conscious consumerism and talk through some actionable tips for how to incorporate more of it into your life. We discuss how it can improve the control and agency over your life, which can feel good in a world of more and more things we can’t control. We also share how to educate and influence kids and other friends and family in your life. Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/042-6-ways-to-be-a-more-conscious-consumer/

Andrew, Liz, and Greg join this week's podcast and we deep dive into what we each spent on food, utilities, internet, and cell phones in 2023. This is part two of last week’s episode on what we spend during 2023. Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here:https://www.insideoutmoney.org/041-what-we-spent-in-2023-part-2-food-utilities-internet-and-cell-phones/

Andrew, Liz, and Greg join this week's podcast and share what we each spent during 2023. We share our top spending categories, what we feel good about, and what we want to improve in 2024. Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/040-what-we-spent-in-2023-part-1/

Andrew joins this week's podcast, and we bare all and share what’s in our financial “wallet,” from our accounts to the specific index funds inside them. We talk through the different types of accounts from high-yield savings to 529s to brokerage accounts. We share which brokerage companies we use and like and dig into the specific index funds we invest in. We also discuss the value and importance of a simple portfolio. Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/039-whats-in-our-wallet-our-index-funds-accounts-and-more/

Happy New Year! Greg joins the first podcast of 2024, and we discuss why and how improving your finances is an inside job. We discuss the mindset connection to your finances, the importance of mindfulness, how to stop letting others dictate your values and goals, and how to change your definition of success. We also discuss the concept of enough and the importance of finding wise people to emulate. We hope this discussion helps start your new year on the right foot! Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/038-the-inside-job-of-improving-your-finances/

All of the Inside Out Money co-hosts join for our final episode of 2023. We’ve got Liz, Andrew, Erica, Greg, and Maggie on this week’s episode and share some of our favorites from 2023. We share our favorite books, podcasts, best and worst purchases of the year, big financial wins, and more. We might get off track now and then as we get into mustaches, bromances, and OnlyFans. A huge thank you to all of our listeners and supporters this year! We appreciate all of you and happy holidays! Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/037-best-and-worst-purchases-of-2023-superlatives-onlyfans-and-so-much-more/

Liz joins this week's podcast, and we discuss how we’d get lean if needed for a job loss, recession, or serious emergency. We start with a reminder of why building an emergency fund and tracking your expenses is important. Then, we dive into multiple phases of what we’d cut and why. Throughout the discussion, we’re reminded that we’d be okay and happy without many of the things we spend money on, yet we can still enjoy the conveniences and luxuries while we can afford them.  Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/from-canceling-netflix-to-selling-our-homes-what-wed-do-in-a-recession/

Erica joins this week's podcast, and we discuss predatory marketing and sales tactics to avoid. We share the history of advertising and public relations and delve into everything from strategic marketing to unethical marketing to predatory marketing to illegal scams. We discuss aggressive upselling, high-pressure sales tactics, bait and switch, hidden fees and fine print, misleading claims, exploitative lending, Ponzi schemes, phishing emails, fake customer service numbers, and other internet scams. The more you know these tactics and manipulations, the better you’ll be able to protect your decisions and finances. Most importantly, we end with specific tactics and tips on how to avoid predatory marketing tactics and scams. Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/034-predatory-marketing-tactics-and-scams-how-to-spot-and-avoid-them/

Andrew joins this week's podcast, and we lay out a step-by-step approach to building and growing wealth. Andrew calls this the “investment walk,” we discuss the specific order we suggest and why some of the ordering is subjective. We walk through the steps of spending less than you make, building up an emergency fund, paying off all debt except your house, funding your 401K up to the employer match, funding a Roth IRA up to the max allowed, maxing out your 401K, funding an HSA, contributing to a 529 for college if you have kids, paying down your mortgage, and investing in the market (in index funds of course!). Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/033-step-by-step-path-to-grow-wealth-the-investment-walk-to-financial-freedom/

Liz joins this week's podcast, and we review all the financial things you need to do before the end of the year. It’s important to take some time before the end of the year to review your 401k allocations, consider contributing to a Roth IRA or IRA, contribute to your HSA if you’re eligible, and use up your FSA or dependent care account dollars. We also discuss things like optimizing doctor appointments and medical benefits, leveraging any expiring credit card benefits or rewards, making charitable donations, tax prep, and more. This is also a great time of year to review your expenses from the year and do some goal-setting for the following year. And we encourage you to find an accountabilibuddy to keep you accountable. Get the full show notes, show references, and more information here: https://www.insideoutmoney.org/031-end-of-year-financial-sht-you-need-to-do/