Popcorn Finance

Popcorn Finance episodes:

• 04.16.2024

  443: How Does an HSA Work?

  Should I be investing in a HSA instead of a 401(k)? Last week, we tackled some HSA questions from a listener. Today Andrew Giancola, host of The Personal Finance Podcast, is back to dive into the finer details of HSAs, including...

  
• 04.11.2024

  442: PFN - What's the Highest Tax Bracket & Why You Should Keep an Eye on Your CD

  There is a cap on how much in taxes the Federal Government can take from your paycheck and it is not as high as you think. Plus, you should use this episode as a reminder to check in on those CDs...

  
• 04.09.2024

  441: What is an HSA (Health Savings Account)?

  What is an HSA and do I need one? A listener wrote in with some great HSA questions including whether or not they are a good option for retirement. Andrew Giancola, host of The Personal Finance Podcast, is joining me to...

  
• 04.04.2024

  440: PFN - Billions of Dollars in Tax Refunds & Time For a Little Spring Cleaning

  Did you know that over 65% of tax filers get a refund? Have you started spring cleaning your bank account? We’ll discuss this and more in today’s episode of Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 65% About 65% of tax filers received...

  
• 04.02.2024

  439: What I Learned Living with Less

  Have you ever read a book that has stayed with you for years? "The Year of Less" by Cait Flanders is one of those books for me. That’s why I wanted to share a replay of the interview I did with...

  
• 03.30.2024

  438: PFN - Housing is Wrecking Inflation

  February’s inflation numbers left economists disappointed and housing might be to blame. We’ll discuss this and more in today’s episode of Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 1 Housing was the number 1 contributor to the total inflation number in February. Today’s Article  US...

  
• 03.26.2024

  437: How Our Weird US Tax Brackets Work & Save on Taxes with the Standard Deduction

  Do you know how tax brackets are set up here in the US? Also, did you know this one tax deduction saves you tons of money each year on your taxes? Today let's get into tax brackets and the standard...

  
• 03.21.2024

  436: PFN - Inflation is Stuck & So Are Interest Rates

  Inflation remains stubbornly high and interest rates are staying right where they are… at least for now. We'll dive into what the Federal Reserve is thinking and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 3.2% This is the February inflation rate...

  
• 03.19.2024

  435: Tax Question - Should I File My Taxes as Married or Single?

  I have a house and a kid with my partner, but we're not legally married. Does this change how I should file my taxes? There is nothing simple when it comes to filing your taxes, so it makes sense that most...

  
• 03.12.2024

  434: Last Minute Tax Tips

  Are you all set for tax season this year? With the tax deadline just around the corner, CPA Keila Hill-Trawick is back on the show with some last-minute tips to help you get organized and make this tax season a little...

  
• 03.07.2024

  433: PFN - The Fragile $5 Bill & How Cleaning Out Your Inbox Could Help You Save Money

  That $5 bill in your wallet or purse isn’t going to last as long as you think and I have a few good hacks that could help you save some money! We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s...

  
• 03.05.2024

  432: How to Make Therapy More Affordable

  How can I make therapy more affordable if my insurance doesn't cover it? This week, I continued my conversation with financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin. Unlike last week's discussion in ep.430, where we explored why many therapists in the U.S. don't accept...

  
• 02.29.2024

  431: PFN - A New Guide for Tipping & We Print a Ton of New Money Each Year

  Discover the surprising percentage of money printed annually to replace old and damaged bills. Plus, get my latest guide on when, how much, and how often to tip as tipping culture continues to evolve. We'll discuss this and more on...

  
• 02.27.2024

  430: Why Won't My Therapist Accept My Health Insurance?

  One of the best investments I ever made was starting therapy a few years ago. Unfortunately, in the U.S. most of us are paying out of pocket because many therapists don’t accept insurance. I wanted to get to the bottom...

  
• 02.22.2024

  429: PFN - Is Inflation Getting Better & Travel More in 2024 with These Tips

  Inflation numbers are in. Are things looking better or worse? Also, are you hoping to travel more in 2024? If so we’ve got a few tips for you. We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 3.1% This...

  
• 02.20.2024

  428: Saving Series - How Saving Has Changed Over the Decades

  A lot has changed in the world of savings over the past few decades. Interest rates have climbed and crashed, CDs have lost popularity, and online banking has changed the way we interact with banks. Today we’re wrapping up our Saving...

  
• 02.14.2024

  427: Money Red Flags That Could Ruin Your Valentine's Day

  What is a financial red flag that would stop you from dating someone? Welcome to a special Valentine’s Day episode of Popcorn Finance! In today’s episode, I’m sharing the interviews I recorded with Allison Baggerly of Inspired Budget, while at the...

  
• 02.13.2024

  426: Savings Series - Everything You Need to Know About Money Market Accounts

  In a world of high-yield savings accounts, why would I want to open a money market account? Welcome back to our Saving Series! In our previous episodes, we've delved into the world of high-yield savings accounts and CDs. Today, we're taking...

  
• 02.08.2024

  425: PFN - The Federal Reserve's Control on Interest Rates & Predictions for a Future Interest Rate Decrease

  The Federal Reserve announced last week that it won’t be making any changes to interest rates right now, but it didn’t take the possibility of future interest rate decreases off the table. What does this mean for you and me?...

  
• 02.06.2024

  424: Savings Series - Everything You Need to Know About CDs

  What exactly is a CD and is it worth using? Welcome back to our Saving Series! Last week was all about High Yield Savings Accounts. This week let’s tackle CDs - from their origin to when to open one. Plus, I’ll...

  
• 02.01.2024

  423: PFN - Crypto Fraud is on the Rise & Could Buy Nothing Groups Be the Secret to Saving Your Budget?

  Buy Nothing Groups are popping up in almost every neighborhood across America at a surprisingly fast rate. Could this be the secret to saving your budget and our environment? Additionally, it looks like crypto scams are on the rise. We'll...

  
• 01.30.2024

  422: Savings Series - Everything You Need to Know About High Yield Savings Accounts

  Is now the best time to be a saver? Even if it's not the best time, it is still a great time to start saving. So I thought this would be the perfect time to start a new series all about...

  
• 01.25.2024

  421: PFN - Student Loan Forgiveness is Arriving Early & Have Streaming Prices Gone Too Far?

  The Biden Administration is fast-tracking student loan forgiveness for certain borrowers. And the cheap streaming prices we all loved seems to be a thing of the past. We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 64 this is...

  
• 01.23.2024

  420: Side Hustles That Actually Pay Real Money

  Are there any side hustles that can ACTUALLY help me increase my income? If one of your goals for 2024 is to make more money then today’s episode should help get you brainstorming on how best to do it! I’m joined...

  
• 01.18.2024

  419: PFN - What is Loud Budgeting & Holiday Spending Increased in 2023

  Do you know what Loud Budgeting is? I didn’t either before this episode. And did you spend more money this holiday season? The numbers say yes. We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 3.1% this is the...

  
• 01.16.2024

  418: High Earners & the SAVE Student Loan Repayment Plan. Does It Make Sense?

  Is the SAVE student loan forgiveness plan right for me? Today I’m answering a question from Deanna, a listener wondering if The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan - the newest income-driven repayment (IDR) plan for student loans - is...

  
• 01.11.2024

  417: PFN - $1 Billion Box Office & Student Loan Forgiveness

  Are movie theaters back from the brink of failure and is the latest student loan forgiveness program, SAVE, a good deal? We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 2 This is the number of movies that earned...

  
• 01.09.2024

  416: What to Know About Student Loans in 2024

  What does student loan repayment look like in 2024? Nika Booth, student loan expert and creator of Debt Free Gonna Be, is back to share some updates on student loans for 2024. A lot has changed since her last visit this...

  
• 01.05.2024

  415: Best and Worst Movies of 2023 - Part 2

  Part 2 of the Best and Worst Movies of 2023 What were the best and worst movies you watched in 2023? In early 2023 a friend challenged me to see who could watch the most movies released in 2023. So after watching...

  
• 01.04.2024

  414: Popcorn Finance NEWS - Inflation is Cooling, Will Interest Rates Fall?

  Welcome to the very first episode of Popcorn Finance NEWS, where we break down the numbers and the news in about the time it takes to make a bag of popcorn! This new Thursday episode is the News Edition of Popcorn...

  
• 01.02.2024

  413: Best and Worst Movies of 2023 - Part 1

  What were the best and worst movies you watched in 2023? In early 2023 a friend challenged me to see who could watch the most movies released in 2023. So after watching over 70 films last year, I thought a fun...

  
• 12.26.2023

  412: Our Failed 2023 Goals

  Who else made an overly ambitious list of goals for 2023? It’s that time of year again when social media is flooded with lists and round-ups of what everyone achieved and accomplished this year, but what about all the goals we...

  
• 12.23.2023

  Signed Book Christmas Giveaway!

  I’m giving away two copies of Berna Anat's book Money Out Loud and one of them is signed with a special message from Berna! To enter go to PopcornFinance.com/Giveaway The giveaway is running through the end of the year, December 31, 2023,...

  
• 12.19.2023

  411: How to Tell Your Friends You’re Broke

  When was the last time you had a money chat with your friends? Telling your friends that something isn't in your budget can be difficult, not to mention awkward. Erin Lowry, author and the personal finance expert behind The Broke Millennial...

  
• 12.13.2023

  410: What Do I Do with My Christmas Bonus?

  What would you do if you received an extra $1,000 this holiday season? This week I’m joined by the internet’s favorite hype woman, Berna Anat and we’re answering a question from Derrick, a listener wondering what he should do with his...

  
• 12.05.2023

  409: Money Hacks

  We are all looking for hacks to help us get better at managing our money. This week’s guest, Lisa Rowan, wrote a book compiling over 275 money hacks that she has collected over years of writing about personal finance. Today we...

  
• 11.28.2023

  408: Minimum Wage Is Complicated in the United States

  When do you think the Federal minimum wage was last changed? If you guessed over a decade, you’d be right, which is insane. Unlike other government numbers, the federal minimum wage is not adjusted based on inflation and so we’ve been...

  
• 11.21.2023

  407: Do I Need to Put a Down Payment on My New Car?

  Is putting a big down payment on a new car a good idea? A listener wrote in wanting to know the best way to approach her next car purchase. I spent waaayyy too much time in my favorite program (Excel!) creating...

  
• 11.14.2023

  406: How the SECURE Act 2.0 is Changing Retirement

  Will the way that retirement plans work be changing in 2024? This week I’m answering a question from Kurt, a listener who has heard about a few changes coming to retirement plans thanks to the Secure Act 2.0. Will new rules...

  
• 11.07.2023

  405: A Healthy State of Panic

  Can we use fear to make better financial decisions?? In today’s episode, we’re exploring working with our fears instead of against them to build a better financial life. Farnoosh Torabi, personal finance expert, author, and speaker, is back to discuss her...

  
• 10.31.2023

  404: There Is No Magical Investing Secret

  Is keeping it simple really the best way to ensure I’m prepared for retirement? Why are we always looking for a more complicated solution to something when the simplest is often the best choice? That’s how I feel about investing, as...

  
• 10.24.2023

  403: 401(k) Withdrawals on the Rise

  Have you had to take money out of your 401(k) in order to keep afloat financially? It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that times are tough financially right now for a lot of Americans and a newly released report from...

  
• 10.17.2023

  402: I Hate The Term Generational Wealth

  What comes to mind when you read the term generation wealth? This term has been everywhere lately and honestly, up until recently it hasn’t sat right with me. The idea behind “generation wealth” just seems unrealistic and unattainable for the majority...

  
• 10.10.2023

  401: What's the Difference Between an IRA and a 401(k)?

  Can I contribute to an IRA and a 401(k) at the same time? A listener wrote in with this exact question so this week I'll break this question down and dive deeper in to what makes these plans different.   Have a...

  
• 10.03.2023

  400: How Do I Get My Money Out of an Annuity?

  This week we hit 400 Episodes! To celebrate I'm answering a great question sent in by Sil whose brother has found himself in an annuity that he wants to move into his 401(k). In this episode I'll discuss whether or not...

  
• 09.26.2023

  399: What Are Annuities and Are They Worth the Fees?

  What is an annuity and is it something I should add to my retirement plans? This week Jill Schlesinger, CFP and host of the Jill on Money podcast, joins me to help explain the ins and outs of annuities and whether...

  
• 09.19.2023

  398: Financial Planning is More than Just Investing

  What exactly does a financial planner do? This week I’m answering another listener question with CFP and host of the Jill on Money podcast, Jill Schlesinger. We get into the nitty-gritty of when you should turn to a financial planner and...

  
• 09.12.2023

  397: Investing is Overwhelming, Should I Just Hire an Advisor?

  Is investing supposed to be this hard to wrap my head around? I’ve been sitting on a backlog of listener questions and so for the next few weeks on Popcorn Finance, I’ll be answering your money questions with the help of...

  
• 09.05.2023

  396: What's the Most You Would Ever Spend on a Couch?

  What luxury item would you be willing to spend your hard-earned cash on? Have you ever been scrolling online and stumbled upon something that caught your eye, but then you saw the price and your immediate reaction was, "Ain't no way...

  
• 08.29.2023

  395: Money Is Emotional

  How does money's emotional impact affect how we address our finances?   At first glance, personal finance can seem like a technical and unemotional topic, but in reality, it’s a subject that can stir up a lot of feelings related to trauma,...