Lifestyle creep — where your growing expenses outpace salary increases — can deflate your budget and prevent you from building wealth. To start this episode, Nerds Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner talk about how to determine if you’re succumbing to lifestyle creep and how to be more intentional about your money while still enjoying the finer things in life. 

Then Sean and Liz Weston answer a listener’s three-part question about whether to pay off student loans while they’re paused, what to do with their savings and how to find the best deals when booking travel.

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

On this episode, Sean Pyles talks with mortgage writer Linda Bell about the legacy of redlining and the racial wealth gap. Then, Liz Weston and Sean answer a listener's question about whether to pay off a car loan early — and the potential impact on their credit. 

To have the Nerds answer your money questions, email [email protected] or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.

How has the delta variant of the coronavirus changed how you’re managing your money? To start this episode, Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner talk about how they’re adapting to the latest chapter of the pandemic and what you can do to increase your financial resiliency. 

Then they answer a listener's question about how to manage competing financial priorities use their savings — whether they should put it toward a mortgage or a wedding. 

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

With supply chain issues and uncertainty about whether classes will be in person, virtual or a hybrid, back-to-school shopping this year poses unique challenges. To start this episode, Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner give the Nerds’ favorite tips for how to save when buying school supplies. Then Sean and Sara answer a listener’s question about how to break bad money habits. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

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If you’re jumping into the housing market, know what you’re getting yourself into. This episode, Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner talk with NerdWallet data writer Liz Renter about her new home buying report, including how first-time home buyers should navigate the market. Then Sean and Liz Weston answer a listener’s question about how to buy a house with a partner when you’re not married. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwal

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More Americans are job hunting, but more are falling for job scams, too. Liz and Sean talk about how to spot and avoid scams in the job market right now. Then they answer a listener’s question about the best way to max out a Roth IRA. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

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An important deadline looms for getting health insurance on the ACA exchanges. Liz and Sean discuss what you should know, even if you already have health insurance. Then they answer a listener’s question about how to find the best rates (and coverage) when shopping for car insurance. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

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Credit reporting is flawed. Liz and Sean discuss what the issues are and how they can be fixed. Then they answer a number of listener questions back to back in a lightning round of money questions, including managing taxes while working remotely and how to find a high yield savings account. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

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Inflation is on the rise, as your budget has surely noticed. This episode, Sean talks with investing Nerd Alana Benson about what’s happening and what it means for your finances. Then Sean and Liz answer a listener’s question about the potential risks of going with a smaller mortgage lender. To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email [email protected].

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