Let's talk about lesser known credit card benefits! Did you know that with a credit card you might already use, you have access to $600 worth of cell phone insurance that is already baked into the card? Or that some credit cards will reimburse you up to $500 if something you purchased drops in price and you make a claim within 90 days? There are countless hidden benefits that credit cards offer- and you need to know they even exist before you can benefit from them so be sure to have a listen! An...
Sep 12, 2018•41 min•Ep. 36
Who doesn’t want to earn more money?! In a time where we’ve seen wage growth stagnation, workers want to make more or in some cases, they can’t seem to get out of the cycle of living from paycheck to paycheck. Side hustles are the answer! There are lots of pros and cons which we cover, but not all side hustles are created equal. In our new sharing or gig economy, oftentimes the default response to just go drive for Uber or Lyft, or even charge Bird scooters- but we argue that these are dead end ...
Sep 05, 2018•42 min•Ep. 35
Americans spend WAY too much on groceries! After housing and transportation, we spend more money on food than anything else- close to 15% of our expenses. On a recent episode Matt mentioned how his family eats on $1 per person per meal, and so we figured it was time to spend an entire episode discussing how you can cut your grocery bill like crazy! If you’re not really into cooking we give some very easy and helpful tips that you can start trying out today, but we also talk about some more advan...
Aug 29, 2018•53 min•Ep. 34
Financial independence - what does that even mean and should you be pursuing it?! Chances are you've heard us mention it before on the show, but we finally dedicate an entire episode to what financial independence is all about. We also discuss what it's NOT all about. For instance, is retirement the same thing as financial independence? Be sure to listen to the entire episode and you'll be able to easily calculate when you'll be financially independent. And at the beginning of this episode we ea...
Aug 22, 2018•45 min•Ep. 33
Nobody ever talks about life insurance, so naturally, we’re doing an episode on it! While likely the least sexy aspect of personal finance, it’s incredibly important- especially if you have loved ones who are dependent on you, and the income you earn. This week we’re answering a listener’s question as he specifically asks if he has enough life insurance in place, as well as how important is his age when it comes to his annual premiums. These are some awesome questions (thanks Josh) so listen to ...
Aug 15, 2018•44 min•Ep. 32
We talk a lot about real estate investing on the show. However, if that’s not your thing then don’t worry about real estate- it is not necessary to build wealth. Just be sure that you’re investing somewhere, in something, and it’s so important that you invest in what you know! In this episode we cover some alternative ways to invest your money, as a way to get you thinking creatively and strategically when it comes to investing so that you can earn over 10% while feeling more fulfilled at the sa...
Aug 08, 2018•49 min•Ep. 31
“Don’t rent, you’re just throwing away money. Buy a house instead, it’s a great investment!” - says almost everyone who purchases a home. It’s often accepted as a gospel truth that purchasing a home as a primary residence is always a great investment. This is just not true. We promise you, unless you’re house hacking, chances are your house makes an awful investment. It could possibly be a good lifestyle choice, maybe a great decision for you and your family, or perhaps you're getting a great de...
Aug 01, 2018•51 min•Ep. 30
Micro investing apps- you know they exist but now its time to learn what they're all about and whether or not you should be doing it. These apps are amazing in that they can get people investing and saving money in mere minutes. But then there are the downsides. For instance, is the accessibility and ease of use of these apps worth the risk of reacting to financial news and what the market is currently doing? Listen as we discuss some of our favorite apps, go over the pros and cons, and cover wh...
Jul 25, 2018•45 min•Ep. 29
The only way you can save MORE money is by either earning more, or by spending less- and spending less (aka frugality), is a much smarter decision! Don’t be tempted to just work harder and earn more money, because as soon as you stop working, your income stops! Frugality is the better answer. It isn’t restricting, keeping you from spending money on the things you love to do. Instead it’s freeing, and it is all about consciously deciding to not spend money on the things you don’t love, in order t...
Jul 18, 2018•56 min•Ep. 28
Not all rental properties are created equally- and we’re not just talking about how well they’re built! There are a number of factors to keep in mind when you’re considering purchasing different properties as potential rentals. In this episode we talk about finding a good deal on a property and then we cover our favorite criteria that we like to use to filter out those good deals. We also spend some time talking about the 1% rule and if we feel it’s even still relevant in a hot housing market! A...
Jul 11, 2018•49 min•Ep. 27
For specific links and additional information about this episode, head over to our site: HowToMoney.com . Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jul 04, 2018•5 min•Ep. 26
This is our first ever listener question that we've addressed on the show - from Mark: “I was wondering about your thoughts on saving for a child’s education. My wife and I both work at colleges (she’s a professor, I’m a counselor) and we’re actually not sure what college will look like in 15 years and what the value proposition will be. Also will our kid(s) even want to go to college? We haven’t made decisions on a 529 or other account but starting to have the discussion. Thanks, fellas!” Mark ...
Jun 27, 2018•48 min•Ep. 25
You’ve worked hard for your money, so you should be able to keep every, single, penny. Right?! Well, aside from taxes, you have every legal right to keep your money- however, we’re here to tell you that you would be better off giving a portion of your money away. Whether that means a simple year-end charitable donation or taking the steps to set up a donor advised fund, there is room in your budget to be a giver. And even if you’re not able or willing to set aside a percentage of your income tow...
Jun 20, 2018•53 min•Ep. 24
Talking about money with your partner can be extremely hard! We’ve all heard funny stories and countless anecdotes of money fights within relationships, but the fact remains that these disagreements often end in broken relationships. This week we have an honest and revealing conversation with our wives about how we talk about and handle our finances as couples. We also had some great questions that were posted in our Facebook group- some specific ones we get to are: Any advice for newlyweds in h...
Jun 13, 2018•54 min•Ep. 23
Conventional wisdom tells us that getting out of debt is smart. And while generally that might be true, we're here to explain how that approach may not be the best decision for you! Oftentimes keeping low-interest debt around while you're able to invest and maximize your returns elsewhere will easily make the most sense when you're looking at the numbers. In this episode we cover the characteristics of good debt and bad debt, and then we talk through some helpful pointers on how to manage your c...
Jun 06, 2018•38 min•Ep. 22
Nearly half of Americans wouldn't be able to easily handle a $400 emergency! This is financial insanity. Considering the lack of any sort of margin in our lives today, it shouldn't be a surprise that Americans treat their money any differently than they treat their time. There just never seems to be enough, and any disruption (of money or time) brings a myriad of problems that must be addressed. Living paycheck to paycheck has unfortunately become the norm and it's a problem that needs to be add...
May 30, 2018•35 min•Ep. 21
Commuting to work sucks! It’s likely one of your least favorite things to do everyday assuming you’re an individual commuter, driving along in your own metal box that costs you thousands to own and operate. It’s stressful dealing with traffic and not to mention our cars encourage us to be lazy and perpetuate the lifestyle of excess and consumption. I mean does it really require a $15,000+ luxury vehicle that weighs over 4,000 lbs to transport a single individual to work and back?! In this episod...
May 23, 2018•49 min•Ep. 20
Investing advice is the number one reason why people hire financial advisors, and we're here to tell you that you're wasting your money!!! Certainly a financial advisors could help you with other things like financial goal setting and managing cash flow, but ultimately it still comes down to you doing the hard work yourself (plus, we've already covered those topics on previous episodes, have a listen)! The biggest reasons why you don't need a financial advisor is because financial advisors can b...
May 16, 2018•37 min•Ep. 19
Asking for a discount isn't something that most people enjoy doing, but we'd be willing to wager that you don't ask for discounts enough. It's your money after all- hang onto it! In this episode we discuss haggling, rejection, and some reasons why asking for a discount should be a healthy part of your financial life. We also go through some practical steps we take when asking for a discount and share a few stories of when we've gotten that sweet discount or when we've had to say 'thanks for cons...
May 09, 2018•53 min•Ep. 18
Transportation costs are American's highest monthly expense (aside from housing of course), so how you buy a car can be a financial game changer! There is clearly a smart and legit way to buy a car and that's what we're talking about in this episode. Don't accept that you have to get a new car because yours is 'old'- avoid cultural and advertising driven spending and try and minimize the money you spend on cars! Listen to the episode to find out why and how everyone should be buying used cars. A...
May 02, 2018•54 min•Ep. 17
Community is so incredibly important! In a culture today that values self-sufficiency and where it's every man for himself, we felt it was necessary to spend an episode covering one of the key fundamental values in our lives: community. Specifically we discuss how community can save you money , how it can help you out in a pinch , and how it contributes to a healthy and balanced life . Even though we love to talk about saving money, there are things you just can’t purchase that community provide...
Apr 25, 2018•54 min•Ep. 16
Purchasing a home is always a good idea... right?! And renting is a huge waste of money- or at least that's what you've heard. In this episode we address these two huge assumptions and cover the benefits of renting and buying a home. There are a lot of things to consider like geographic mobility, financial flexibility, housing stability, and creative freedom! Listen to the full episode to hear why either renting or buying a home might be a good idea for you. A quick tip for now though: make sure...
Apr 18, 2018•45 min•Ep. 15
Credit cards can be a double-edged financial tool, and in this episode we cover how you can use them like a pro. Do you find yourself carrying a balance from one month to the next? Or are you tempted to overspend when you know you can just put it on credit? If so, then credit cards are NOT for you. For everyone else there are awesome benefits like earning cash back and scoring huge sign up bonuses, not to mention it's easier to track your expenses (which is an important step when creating a budg...
Apr 11, 2018•48 min•Ep. 14
Cutting your monthly bills is a big deal - they add up! You could save hundreds of dollars a month which might even be enough to fully fund a Roth IRA. In this episode, we talk about some general strategies on how to cut your monthly bills, but then we dive into some specific bills like our cell phone, internet, cable, and the online streaming subscriptions like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon. We also enjoyed a bottle of Boulevard's Grand Cru, which you can find and learn all about on Untappd. A spec...
Apr 04, 2018•52 min•Ep. 13
Spending money is OK- as long as that spending aligns with your values! In this episode, we cover the challenging topic of: the big why that’s behind money. Why do we spend and save? All too often, we go through life doing the things that we're 'supposed to do' without actually considering whether or not those things bring us joy and align with our values. We find ourselves living stock lifestyles as we mindlessly subscribe to the spending patterns that we see around us- STOP! Instead let's try ...
Mar 28, 2018•53 min•Ep. 12
Spring is here, so it's time to clean out your home and sell the junk you no longer use! We all have too much stuff in our lives and not only does it take up space in our homes, but it clutters our minds. Why not sell or even give it away? You won't regret it, plus you might end up with some extra cash in the bank. In this episode we cover minimalism , rules that help us decide what to get rid of , the best platforms for selling your unused items, and we also have a few tips to help you create a...
Mar 21, 2018•47 min•Ep. 11
You heard it here: Dave Ramsey is wrong and your credit score is way more important than you think! In this episode we cover what is a credit score, why you need good credit, and then specifically we discuss how to improve your credit score. There are some key factors that you need to know since they make up your credit score. The 5 factors that make up your credit score: Payment history, 35%Credit utilization or amount owed, 30%Length of credit history, 15%Credit mix, 10%New credit, 10% And som...
Mar 14, 2018•52 min•Ep. 10
Investing for your retirement is way simpler and easier than you think- and I'm going to prove it. Do these 2 things and you'll be a millionaire by the time you retire (I'm not even exaggerating one bit!): 1. Open your retirement accounts: 401k – If your employer offers a retirement plan like a 401k, especially with a match, start contributing immediately!!! Since a ton of employers offer a 50% match, you won't be able to find a better return on your investment anywhere. At the very least contri...
Mar 07, 2018•47 min•Ep. 9
Finally, an entire episode that is only about the beer... and saving money of course! Joel and I spend this episode talking about how we get a deal on craft beer and we also touch on what we're NOT willing to do in order to save a buck. Is it worth it to brew your own beer at home? Do you know what styles of beer to avoid if you're shopping the discount shelf? Are any of the beers at Aldi good? Have a listen to find out as we dedicate this episode to getting a deal on craft beer. At the beginnin...
Feb 28, 2018•41 min•Ep. 8
Traveling and going on vacation doesn't have to break the bank. In this episode we spend most of our time talking through some tips that will help you save money the next time you book some travel. But first, we want you to think about the aspects of travel that you enjoy the most, and then center your trip around that (like breweries and the outdoors- a couple of our favorites!). March to your own drum! Don't give in to the pressures of taking the touristy route or doing the activities that you...
Feb 21, 2018•48 min•Ep. 7
