Whether you're paying off student loans or saving for daily necessities during COVID-19, the best place to start is with a budget. Some simple tools can help. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
One in five Americans struggles with medical bills. The secret is that there's something you can do about it — you just have to know where to look and how to ask. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic? This episode helps workers understand their rights, including current rules about unemployment, safety concerns and underlying conditions. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Talking about death makes many of us uncomfortable, so we don't plan for it. But the reality is even a small amount of planning ensures our final wishes are honored — and makes it easier on our friends and family. This episode will help you get started on making a will and an advanced directive, even if you don't have a big estate. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
It's easy to get caught in a cycle of mounting overdraft fees, credit card interest and high-cost loans. A few simple tools can help you hold onto those hard-earned dollars. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
The CARES Act provides relief to many student loan borrowers during the coronavirus pandemic. But how do you know if you qualify? What if you're enrolled in Public Student Loan Forgiveness? What about private loans? This episode, a Life Kit collaboration with Death, Sex & Money from WNYC Studios, explains the fine print of how to handle students loans during coronavirus. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
The coronavirus pandemic has caused vast economic disruptions. Millions of people are filing for unemployment, trying to pay rent and deferring loans. If you've lost work, here are some things you can do. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Staying at home means new challenges for your daily habits. This episode, we talk about budget tips and cooking hacks for your self-quarantine time. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Owning a home is part of the quintessential American dream, but how do you know if it's right for you? These 6 tips will help sort out the pros and cons to renting and owning — and reveal some things a rent vs buy calculator can't tell you. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Whether you're a pro at car buying or intimidated by the thought of stepping into a car dealership, there are always ways to play the car buying game better. This episode will help you strategize to avoid the potential pitfalls when it comes to getting a car loan, so you can drive away with a good deal. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
It's hard to imagine a more boring (and dreaded) word than "mortgage." But if you know where to look, you might find a mortgage that will save you thousands of dollars a year or discover that you qualify for a loan when you didn't think you could. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Life seems full of ever-increasing piles of paperwork – bills to pay, appointments to make, school forms to sign, carpools to organize. Here's how to conquer all the responsibilities on your to-do list so you can get back to real life. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Don't let the sticker price of college paralyze you. This episode gives you smart saving strategies — including how to prioritize your own retirement savings, choosing a 529 plan and what financial aid offices really look at — so you can start saving for your child's college tuition. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
One in 5 Americans struggles with medical bills. Here are things you do to get medical bills reduced — or even forgiven. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
It is possible to get out of debt fast, but it's a gritty marathon to get to a better place. Here's how to keep up the momentum. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
If you're in debt, you're not alone. Here's how to make a plan and get yourself out. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
In this special episode, Sam Sanders of NPR's "It's Been A Minute" talks with financial journalist Hannah Seligson and Aminatou Sow from the podcast "Call Your Girlfriend" about why millennials are so financially intertwined with their parents. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Don't let college anxiety rush you into a financial mistake that could haunt you for years. This Life Kit episode lays out the do's and don'ts of paying for college so that you don't have to mortgage your future before you get there. Here's what to remember: - Consider attending community college before transferring to a more expensive four-year school. - Don't let a school's high price deter you — you may only have to pay a fraction of the advertised price. - The FAFSA form is the gatekeeper to...
You've taken the leap and enrolled in college! But money issues don't end when you accept your financial aid. Paying your way through school can be stressful, but lots of folks have made it work and they have advice for how you, too, can navigate your years in college. Here's what to remember: - Find out what resources your college offers for students — you may have to do some digging. - It's OK to get a job, but try to find one that's related to what you want to do. - Make a budget. And don't m...
Paying off student loans can be a financial nightmare. But if you know how to navigate the system, you can find a payment plan that's more affordable. Plus, if you qualify for loan forgiveness, you might get tens of thousands of dollars of debt wiped out. Here's what to remember: - Download a list of all your federal loans. - If you get an income-driven repayment plan, stay in it! - Don't trust your loan servicer. Do the research, find your payment plan and get it in writing. - Take a personal d...
If you use credit cards in a intentional way, you can free up some valuable perks. We geek out on strategies to make credit cards work for you. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy
Don't get caught in a cycle of unnecessary overdraft fees, credit card interest and high-cost loans. A few simple tools can help you hold onto those hard-earned dollars. Here's what to remember: - Automation is your friend. Set your bills on autopay. - Overdraft protection is deceptive. Link your checking account to a savings account to avoid overdraft fees. - Set up a buffer savings account with automatic deposits. - Don't use credit cards for emergency spending. - If you do have an emergency, ...
To many, it's a dreaded task: making a budget to keep track of money. Guess what? You can do it, and we show you some tools that can help — maybe even make it fun. The founder of the popular budgeting software You Need A Budget tells us how to track your spending. Here's what to remember: - Don't budget just because you should: Set a goal. - Leverage anxiety from a life change and turn it into motivation. - Follow the 50-30-20 method. - Use the power of scarcity. - A roommate is worth 1,000 coff...
We help you understand whether you need an adviser, and if you do want one, how to find someone who will act in your best interest. Here's what to remember: - Many people don't need to pay for financial advice. - Use a "fee-only" adviser, not a "fee-based" adviser. - Consider low-cost options like robo-advisers or Vanguard. - You might need to break up with your adviser — but you can still be friends. - Two online resources can help you find an adviser: NAPFA and Kent on Money . Learn more about...
Investing doesn't have to be hard. We explain how to grow a nice nest egg and avoid that four-letter word that starts with F ... fees. Here's what to remember: - Don't pick your own stocks. - Don't sell stocks if the market crashes. - Diversify your portfolio. - Don't pay too much in fees. - Invest in index funds, not actively managed funds. - Rebalance your portfolio every year — then leave it alone. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
If you're not good at saving money, it's not your fault: Humans are hard-wired to focus on the present. But there's a way to beat evolution and build for your future. Here's what to remember: - Make savings automatic. - Save, even if you have student loans. - Participate in your employer's matching plan. - Reward yourself for saving. - Envision your future self. - Start saving young. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy...
