In this episode, Sean and Liz discuss survey results that show how money habits are changing as a result of COVID-19. Then, they answer a listener's money question about whether home improvement projects can help home refinancing odds — and if it’s still a good time to refinance. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
Jun 15, 2020•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast In this episode, Sean and Liz start off by discussing how you can make your donations to social causes go further. Then, they answer a listener's money question about how to plan for expenses as a new parent. Kim Palmer, a Nerd with a lot of first-hand experience managing baby costs, joins the conversation. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
Jun 08, 2020•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Can identity theft protection services really protect us from identity theft? No, but they can serve as an (expensive) early warning signal. Most people should first consider some free ways to reduce the chances of becoming a victim, such as credit freezes and monitoring a credit score. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
Jun 01, 2020•24 min•Transcript available on Metacast People who invest in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies need to be ready for a wild ride. Values can soar and plunge, plus there’s no guarantee you’ll get your money back. Cryptocurrency is more of a gamble than an investment, and shouldn’t be more than a small portion of your overall portfolio. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
May 26, 2020•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Getting your retirement account squared away is just one of the many tasks facing the newly unemployed, but it’s an important one. Rolling the money into an IRA could be the best choice, particularly if your former employer isn’t allowing the new “coronavirus hardship withdrawals.” As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
May 18, 2020•25 min•Transcript available on Metacast It used to be easy for people with good credit scores to get 0% balance transfer offers. As lenders pull back, those with credit card debt may need alternative plans to deal with their balances. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
May 11, 2020•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Being a first-time homeowner can be daunting, especially in a pricey market like Southern California. Chris Browning of the Popcorn Finance podcast has questions about what to expect, and he turns to the Nerds for some answers. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
May 04, 2020•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Most American adults are eligible for government relief checks of $1,200, but many are still waiting for their money — plus the usual advice about what to do with a windfall doesn’t apply in a crisis. Sean and Liz discuss how to find out where your payment is and put it to the best use. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373. And visit www.nerdwallet.com/podcast for more info on this episode.
Apr 27, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Don’t stop with your closets. Spring cleaning your finances can be just as satisfying, not to mention more lucrative. Whip your budget into shape, check your credit and make sure your investments are on track. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Apr 20, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast You were expecting a tax refund — but wound up owing money. Changing tax laws and the gig economy mean many taxpayers who traditionally got money back are now having to pay. Sean and Liz help a reader navigate paying a tax bill, as well as steps for avoiding a tax bill next year. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Apr 13, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast The economic stimulus package gave millions of student loan borrowers some important breaks, but people are confused about what they are and what they have to do. Sean and Liz get the scoop from student loan nerd Ryan Lane. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Apr 06, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Nauseating drops in the stock market can be hard to endure, but most of us should try to do just that -- and even invest more, if we can. If you need the money within five years or you’re losing sleep, though, you might need to get at least some of your portfolio to safer ground. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Apr 02, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast The coronavirus pandemic has scrambled people’s travel plans and their budgets. Here are the most important things to know now about emergency funds, spending plans and travel in the coming months. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Mar 30, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast Mortgage rates dropped and then soared, making life difficult for people who wanted to refinance and buy homes. Mortgage and real estate Nerd Holden Lewis explains why that happened and what the future may bring. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Mar 26, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast The economic impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVD-19 disease it causes is likely to be profound. Sean and Liz discuss how to cope with the potential financial fallout. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Mar 23, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Unexpected credit scores drops are the worst -- especially when you’re trying to do everything right. Sean and Liz dig into the details of how credit scores work to help a reader whose scores dived seemingly without reason. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Mar 16, 2020•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Many first-time home buyers wonder how to save for a down payment and where to put the money while they’re saving. Sean and Liz talk to mortgage and real estate authority Holden Lewis about the options. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Mar 09, 2020•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Want to get the most points from your travel credit card, but don't know where to start? We've got you covered. In this episode, Sean and Liz talk with travel Nerd Sara Rathner, who offers up her insider tips about how to get the most points from your travel. And if you want to become a savvy traveler but don't care about travel credit cards, we've got tips for you, too. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Mar 02, 2020•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Roth conversions can give you a big tax advantage in retirement, but they're not right for everyone. Sean and Liz talk with retirement Nerd Andrea Coombes to help you figure out if you could come out ahead with a Roth conversion. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Feb 24, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast A spending fast can help you save money — fast! The idea is to hit the pause button on non-essential spending for a set period, usually a month. Sean and Liz are veterans of spending fasts and have some tips for how they work, what to watch out for and staying motivated. As always, send us your money questions! As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Feb 17, 2020•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Should you invest or pay off debt? This question can get especially tricky when you’re talking about investing in your company’s stock versus paying down your student loans. Sean and Liz help a listener who wants to know if she should exercise her stock options or focus on paying her $90,000 student loan debt. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Feb 10, 2020•12 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yours? Mine? Ours? Managing your money as a couple can be stressful, and there’s no one right way to do it. Sean and Liz offer some strategies for figuring out what will work best for both of you. As always, send us your money questions! Email podcast@nerdwallet.com or call or text the NerdHotline at 901-730-6373.
Feb 03, 2020•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast We'll be back in a couple weeks. In the meantime, here's how you can use these winter months to rack up the credit card points to fund your summer travel. And be sure to send us your money questions! Call or text the Nerd Hotline at 901-730-6373, or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.
Jan 20, 2020•11 min•Transcript available on Metacast We'll be back in a few weeks, so here's an episode from our archives that can help you tackle your holiday debt. In the meantime, send us your money questions! Call or text the Nerd Hotline at 901-730-6373, or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Talk to you soon!
Jan 06, 2020•13 min•Transcript available on Metacast Thanks for a great 2019! We're taking a little holiday break but will be back in 2020 with loads of new episodes for you. In the meantime, send us your money questions! Text or call our Nerd Hotline at 901-730-6373, or email us at podcast@nerdwallet.com.
Dec 30, 2019•2 min•Transcript available on Metacast New Year’s money resolutions are common, sure. But keeping them is a whole different story. In this episode, Sean talks with Nerd Kim Palmer about the best tips that can help you actually achieve your money goals in the new year.
Dec 16, 2019•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Holiday travel can be expensive — especially if you’re traveling with family. But you have options to make the cost more manageable. In this episode, Sean talks with travel Nerd Sara Rathner about how you can save on family holiday travel costs.
Dec 02, 2019•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Black Friday might seem like the best time to get the biggest deals of the holiday shopping season. But is the shopping extravaganza all it’s made out to be? The answer: Sometimes. In this episode we give you the tips to get the best holiday shopping deals, including when and where to shop.
Nov 18, 2019•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast You can make money just by putting your cash into the right account. Which account to choose depends on a few factors, though. In this episode, Sean talks with investing Nerd Arielle O’Shea about the best ways to make money off of cash you have sitting in a bank account.
Nov 04, 2019•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Think you’re finally ready to buy a home? Here’s how to know how much house you can afford with your budget, what you might need for a down payment, and how to think about the emotional aspect of homebuying.
Oct 21, 2019•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
