NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Setting money goals in the new year is a time-honored tradition. But ditching them after a month (or a week) is all too common. This year, use your values to guide your financial ambitions. In this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston discuss how you can set goals you’ll actually keep in 2023 — and what to do if you still need ideas for your money this year. 

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Student loans are a tool, as well as a dreaded financial reality, for most Americans who attend college.

In this two-part Nerdy Deep Dive into student loans, Sean and student loans Nerd Anna Helhoski explore how taking on huge amounts of student debt has become the norm in America. They also discuss what’s shifting now in today’s student debt conversation. 

In Part 1, we trace the origins of student loan debt and how college got so expensive.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Going from a two-income household to a one-income household is not solely a financial challenge. But this change also creates opportunities to strengthen your relationship and set clear expectations. To start off this episode, Sean and Liz discuss how to manage finances in a one-income household.

Then Sean and Liz answer a listener’s money question about using HSAs and FSAs. Both can cover health care expenses, but only one can be used as an investment vehicle. 

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Timestamps:

This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 10:45 

Money Question segment: 10:46 - 21:17 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot can happen to your finances in a year. Raises, curveball expenses, luxurious vacations. Each step along your money journey in 2022 has its own lesson. And in this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston look back at the year that was and celebrate what our listeners did with their money during the year — and what they’re most excited about in 2023. 

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Fed is poised to raise interest rates — again. To kick off this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston talk about who’s actually hurt when the Fed raises rates and what you can do about it.

Then they answer a listener’s question about which budgeting apps are the best and whether you might want to use multiple budgeting apps to track your money. 

Also, next year, the Smart Money team wants to talk with you, on the podcast, to answer your money questions. We’ll be able to explore what’s really driving your money questions, provide even Nerdier information and help you make even smarter decisions with your money. 

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Timestamps:

This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 8:59 

Money Question segment: 9:00 - 30:33 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Talking about money doesn’t have to be boring. In this episode of our Nerdy Book Club series, NerdWallet writer Kimberly Palmer talks with former financial advisor Joe Saul-Sehy, co-author of “Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management” and co-host of “The Stacking Benjamins Show” podcast, about setting money goals, recovering from big financial mistakes and how to have a good time while figuring out your finances. 

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The job market is strong — but thousands of workers have been laid off in recent months. So, what’s happening? And what does this mean for the labor market in 2023?

In this episode, Sean Pyles and Anna Helhoski talk about the latest jobs report with NerdWallet data writer Liz Renter, including why the job market is so weird right now and what it means for you. 

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Credit card rewards programs might be on the chopping block in Congress. To start off this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston talk with a credit card Nerd about what’s happening and what it might mean for your credit card rewards.

Then Sean is joined by personal finance Nerd Kim Palmer to answer a listener’s question about when to cancel a luxury credit card.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Timestamps:

This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 11:29 

Money Question segment: 11:30 - 28:08 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 50/30/20 budget is a simple way to organize your finances. But as rent prices soar and inflation impacts everything from gas to groceries, does this budget still make sense? To start this episode, Sean and Liz discuss the merits — and limits — of the 50/30/20 budget.

Then they answer a few listeners’ questions about navigating company stock.

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Also, for a special end-of-year episode, we want to hear your financial rose, thorn and bud of 2022 — aka the best and worst thing that happened with your money this year, and what you’re most excited for in the new year. Leave us a message on the Nerd hotline, or email [email protected]. 

Timestamps:

This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 8:28

Money Question segment: 8:29 - 27:14

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shockwaves rippled through the crypto world with the collapse of the crypto exchange FTX. To start off this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston discuss what happened — and what it might mean for your finances.

Then Sean talks with personal finance Nerds Kim Palmer and Kate Wood about how to grow your money quickly ahead of home improvement projects. 

To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

Also, for a special end-of-year episode, we want to hear your financial rose, thorn and bud of 2022 — aka the best and worst thing that happened with your money this year, and what you’re most excited for in the new year. Leave us a message on the Nerd hotline, or email [email protected]. 

Timestamps:

This Week in Your Money segment: 0:00 - 8:17 

Money Question segment: 8:18 - 30:50 

Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices