Millennial Money

Tax time will be here before you know it...like in a few short weeks. Don't panic though because there are so many great resources to help you out and save you time and money, like MyFreeTaxes. If you make under $66,000, you can file a free Federal and State tax return in a matter of minutes. If that doesn't help the stress melt away, I don't know what will.

On This Podcast Episode:

I'm chatting all things MyFreeTaxes with Laura Scherler, United Way’s Director of Financial Stability and Success. Whether you're a new filer or and old pro, MyFreeTaxes is such a great resource to use. We chat about:Who can use MyFreeTaxes and what makes them differentWho can you go to when you need help filing your taxesWhat's the difference between a deduction and a creditWhat paperwork do you need to get startedHow can you get your refund in the mail ASAP

Links Mentioned:MyFreeTaxesLocal free tax help

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on InstagramDisclosure:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) and financial strategies may be appropriate for you, consult your financial adviser or accountant. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes.

Traveling internationally is exciting but can certainly be expensive to keep up on Instagram and stay connected to your friends on your current cellular plan. Like super expensive. Jefferson Graham from USA Today's podcast, Talking Tech, is covering the details you need to know to travel around the world and avoid the sting from an expensive cell bill when you return home. Your wallet will most definitely thank you.

On This Podcast Episode:

I'm catching up with Jefferson Graham from USA Today's Talking Tech podcast on the latest tech trends, the cell phone carrier that you need to have to save a ton of cash and the coolest tech trends from the Consumer Electronics Show. Even Alexa contributed on this podcast episode.

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on Instagram

Did you know that in 2016 women were paid just 80% of what their male counterparts make? For the same job!

There's a lot of dialogue right now about the treatment of women in the workforce and it's bringing a lot of issues that have been hidden for years out into the open. For women listeners, we've got to learn how to win the pay gap and earn what we're worth, and for the male listeners, you've gotta understand the struggle that we face to make a decent living. 

On This Podcast Episode:

On of my favorite podcast guests and negotiation expert, Jacqueline Twillie, is sharing her tips to battle the wage gap and earn what you're worth. We're rebooting this episode from last year since the topic, and the content, are even more appropriate for the place we find ourselves in this year. 

If you've ever wanted to know how to become a master at negotiation (and you should), Jacqueline is sharing tips that will help you score a bigger salary and more benefits from the job you currently have and how to leverage those same skills to score a brand new job. 

Links Mentioned:Jacqueline TwillieNegotiation Videos By JacquelineNavigating the Career JungleShout Out To Our Sponsor:

Simple contacts is a super convenient way to renew your contact lens prescription and reorder your contacts from anywhere in minutes (I did it from their mobile app) – if you’re as busy as I am you’ll know how much of a time saver that is!

Don’t just take my word for it give it a try yourself – get $30 off your contact lenses by going to simplecontacts.com/mymoney and enter mymoney at checkout.

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on Instagram

Inspired by a listener question from Brandon, the answer to the question, "Is an MBA worth the investment," might surprise you.

While student loan debt currently sits around $1.4 trillion dollars in the U.S., the thought of tacking on more debt might not seem like a great idea...unless it actually is. Our guest on this podcast episode provides some great food for thought to help you figure out if graduate school is worth the investment.

On This Podcast Episode:

Alex Grodnik, MBA, fellow millennial podcaster from Wall Street Oasis, and co-founder of a new fintech startup, Payclub, shares his story to graduate school and how that one decision has shaped so much of his career story. Whether you're deciding to go to graduate school or not, Alex is sharing some great life lessons about finding your passion and what it takes to chase after it.

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on Instagram

Contemporary country singer Tyler Williams might be one of the busiest dudes around - singer/songwriter, NASCAR driver, actor, author - yep, he has his irons in a lot of fires these days. For a guy, so busy and so driven, you’d never guess that at a young age he caught a bad case of stage fright almost thwarted his entire multi-career path.

On This Podcast Episode:

Even with so much on this young singer’s plate, he still found time to write and record a new album which drops January 26. We caught up with Tyler Williams at his home in Atlanta as he talked about his bout with stage fright, how karaoke changed his singing career and how proud he is of his new album Good for Me.

Links Mentioned:Tyler WilliamsI Have a Voice bookAXS Article

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on InstagramJeff on TwitterJeff on Instagram

If you’ve filed your taxes before, or if you're a business owner ,you certainly love all those tax deductions. Why? They help reduce your taxable income and can potentially bump into a lower tax bracket on occasion. BUT…some of those tax deductions we used to love are now gone – they flew out the window on January 1, and who knows if there ever coming back.

On This Podcast Episode:Get an understanding of why tax deductions are so popularI'll discuss what homeowners and future homeowners need to knowWe loved personal exemptions, why did they go awayLearn what job related deductions have gone awayIf you pay or receive alimony payments it's all changed (FYI - For spouses who divorce before 2019, these rules will not affect them, but spouses who divorce after Jan. 1, 2019, the new rules will apply. For divorces that happen before Dec. 31, 2018, spouses who receive alimony payments will need to pay taxes on it and spouses who pay alimony will be able to deduct it.)

Links Mentioned:Podcast with Jill SchlesingerTax bill explained 

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on Instagram

Disclosure:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) and financial strategies may be appropriate for you, consult your financial adviser prior to investing. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes.

Don’t you just love it when you travel to a place that you’ve always wanted to explore and all the stars align and the place is as cool, as welcoming, and even more interesting than you thought? That’s exactly how we experienced Austin recently.

 

On This Podcast Episode:

For many years Austin has been known as one of the music capitols in the world and of course Texas barbecue is king around these parts. But, the one ingredient that makes this Texas capitol city so special, are all the friendly and diverse folks that have created the awesome Austin of today.

While we were in town we sat down with some of those local friendly’s to get their side of this very cool and growing city. Join as we talk with our friend Casey about ever-expanding food scene, our new friend Shelly about her hidden gem of a boutique hotel and our local band friends Transit Method take us around some of the best places to catch music in Austin.

My co-host for the podcast is my husband, Jeff Game, a travel, and music journalist that's always on the hunt for a good story to tell. 

Links Mentioned:Hotel ElevenFranklin BarbequeThe White HorseContinental ClubEmo’s AustinACL LiveArlo’s Food Truck

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on InstagramJeff on TwitterJeff on Instagram

If you've ever wondered what you should be doing each month with your finances, I've got a podcast episode for you.

I've compiled a list of the top things you should be thinking about each month to help you make smart money moves throughout the year. This is just a guide - so make sure you make it your own and focus on the steps each month that are right for your own situation. It's your year to rock your finances - I'm just sayin'.

On This Podcast Episode:

I'm taking it month by month to lay out a money to do list to keep you focused and your bank account soaring.Jan – How are you doing? This is a month to check in on your financial goals – have you set new ones?Feb – Getting your tax stuff together is the name of the game because tax day is April 17.March – Time to double check your retirement contributions + invest your tax return somewhere good.April – Save and shred any documents you don't need after filing your return and create a master money list with every account number, password and financial account listed.May – Check in with your Emergency Fund - are you earning over 1% interest on your savings?June- Check in with your investments and your money tracking system.July – Time for a mid year check-in - figure out what's working and what isn't.Aug – Review and update any beneficiaries and if you haven't created a will and advanced health care direction....do it in August. Also, call your cell phone, internet and cable company to try to find any better deals than what you have now.Sep – Full on holiday mode - create your holiday budget and dial in your travel plans.Oct - If you've filed an extension on your taxes, they are due Oct 17. Had a new baby? Think about setting up a 529 college savings plan.Nov- Open enrollment for health insurance time and a good reminder to evaluate your current policy and any new plans.Dec – Focus on gift giving - you can gift up to $15,000 per person without having to file a gift tax return. Donating to charities could also help lower your taxable income. Then...get some rest and enjoy the holidays.

Links Mentioned:FreshbooksWillingTomorrowCollegebackerGoogle FlightsRaise

Shout Out To Our Sponsor:

Find out today why ZipRecruiter has been used by businesses of all sizes – just like mine- to find the most qualified job candidates with immediate results – If you want your biz to soar in 2018 head to ZipRecruiter.com/mymoney to try it for free – again that’s ZipRecruiter.com/mymoney.

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on Instagram

Disclosure:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) and financial strategies may be appropriate for you, consult your financial adviser prior to investing. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes.

Does this podcast episode resonate with you? I can't tell you how many times I'm asked this question and the answer is always more complicated than you might think - but, it always end up with a yes.

There are lots of things to hide from your partner - your secret mac and cheese addiction and the fact that you really don't like to work out. However, when it comes to debt, honesty is the name of the game. (I promise you it's not that scary).

On This Podcast Episode:

A recent question to the podcast prompted this episode, but I have a feeling a lot of the listeners are wondering the same question. On this episode we're tackling this question and I'm offering guidance on why you should always talk about debt.Learn how to figure out the right time (and way) to talk about debtUnderstand why disclosing debt is super duper importantFind out how to set boundaries with your partner around debtTake a listen to my own story about talking about debt in a relationshipHave a lightbulb moment and come to peace about this scary question

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on Instagram

Disclosure:

The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which investment(s) and financial strategies may be appropriate for you, consult your financial adviser prior to investing. There is no assurance that the techniques and strategies discussed are suitable for all investors or will yield positive outcomes.

As we talked about in a recent travel episode, Austin is one of the hottest cities to travel in 2018 and might just be getting a lot more awesome-er (it’s a word) when the “Urban Oasis” that is the brand spanking new Fairmont Austin opens later this year.

Located smack dab in the middle of downtown, this brand-new gem of a hotel is a great addition to the expanding Austin skyline.

On This Podcast Episode:

Our good friend, Director of Communications for the Fairmont Austin, Casey Barks gave Jeff, my co-host, and me a behind the scenes tour of their brand-new property. This Texas-sized hotel will now be the largest Fairmont which towers 37 stories high and holds 1,048 rooms, with five of the most anticipated restaurants opening in 2018, including a food hall.

Ready to check in?

Links Mentioned:Fairmont AustinThe DriskillKimpton Hotel Van Zandt

Thanks for Tuning In:

Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast.

Also, please leave an honest review for Millennial Money on iTunes! Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and much appreciated! You’re awesome!

Want More:Shannah on TwitterShannah on InstagramJeff on TwitterJeff on Instagram