Dollars & Sense

You earned that refund — now it’s time to make it count. In this episode of Dollars and Sense , we dive into the surprising psychology behind why tax refunds feel like a bonus, even though it’s your own money coming back to you. We’ll break down what most people actually do with their refunds (spoiler: it’s not always the smartest move), why it feels so tempting to splurge, and how you can use you...

Raising financially smart kids doesn’t happen by accident—it takes intention, everyday conversations, and a few creative approaches. In this episode of Dollars and Sense, host Scott is joined by two moms, Kandy and Annie, to talk about how they’re helping their kids build real-world money skills early on. From teaching the value of saving to navigating the “wants vs. needs” conversation, this epis...

In this episode, we did something completely different—we invited ChatGPT as our podcast guest! Scott and ChatGPT teamed up to tackle one of the biggest challenges many of us face: managing our finances. We put AI to the test with a financial experiment to see if it could really fix our budget and help us save money. From analyzing our spending habits to building a customized budget plan, ChatGPT...

The Truth About Building a Custom Home | Dollars & Sense Podcast 🏡 Ever wondered what it really takes to build a custom home? In this episode of Dollars & Sense , we sit down with Jordan Mattila, owner of 47 North Custom Homes , HAPO’s Mortgage Origination Manager Rob Lindsay , and HAPO’s Commercial Construction Specialist Jaime Devore to break down the process from start to finish. Each...

💰 Love & Money: Mastering Couples’ Finances Without Breaking the Bank (or Each Other!) 💑 Money and relationships—two things that can make or break a partnership. Studies show that nearly half of couples argue about money , making it one of the biggest stressors in relationships. But what if managing finances together didn’t have to feel like a battlefield? In this episode, we dive deep into...

🏈 The Super Bowl Isn’t Just a Game—It’s an Economic Powerhouse! 💰 From $7 million commercials to 1.4 billion chicken wings, the Super Bowl is one of the biggest financial events of the year. In this episode, Scott is joined by Jeff and Jeremy from HAPO to break down the economics of the Super Bowl—who’s spending, who’s winning, and just how much money is flying around on game day. 🔹 What We Cov...

💸 Ever wonder where all your money goes? You’re not alone! In this episode, our host Scott sits down with certified financial coach Marcelo from HAPO to tackle the topic of budgeting. Together, they break down why budgeting matters and how to make it work for YOU. From understanding why most budgets fail to exploring different methods like the 50/30/20 rule, zero-based budgeting, and cash envelop...

In this episode of Dollars and Sense , we dive into the powerful yet often overlooked role credit unions play in shaping policy and building stronger communities. With a new legislative session underway in Washington State, we explore how credit unions are advocating for financial education in schools, protecting their members’ interests against potential new taxes, and navigating critical issues...

Side Hustles: Passion vs. Pragmatism – Which Approach Wins? In this episode, we brought in three dynamic entrepreneurs to talk about all things side hustle—from starting small to turning your hustle into a full-time business. With their diverse experiences and unique perspectives, this conversation is packed with inspiration, strategy, and practical advice for anyone looking to level up their fina...

In this episode, we dive into the world of online shopping trends and how they’re reshaping our spending habits—often in ways we don’t realize. From ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ services like Klarna and Affirm to one-click buys on Amazon, we examine the psychology behind these conveniences and their potential pitfalls. We’ll also explore the rise of subscription models, social media shops, and tempting fr...

Scott is joined by a couple of top real estate agents from the Tri-Cities Area, Vicki Monteagudo and Laura Harris-Hodges. The two give us some unique insights into trends in the housing market and talk about how important it can be to have a professional help you navigate the world of buying and selling real estate.

On this episode, Scott is joined by Nolan and Carter from HAPO's Finance department. They talk about the basic steps that everyone should make to secure their financial foundation.  These steps can help ensure that you are all setup to handle the bumps in the road and are in a good position to make future moves to start to develop more wealth.

Scott is joined by HAPO's Fraud Manager Jen and Detective Sam Grant from the Richland Police Department. We take the time to look into the current fraud trends happening via SMS messaging, as well as other fraud basics and how to go about protecting yourself. Blog Post:  HAPO Community Credit Union - Blog - Financial Education

On this episode of Dollars & Sense, Levi and Todd with HAPO Community Credit Union's Consumer Lending department join Scott to talk about a major part of Credit Union philosophy and business.  We get a chance to dispel some myths about how much credit to utilize in order to maintain a good Credit Score, how making payments impacts that score, and what exactly goes into a Credit Mix.  We a...

Scott is joined by Britany and Carol, two of HAPO's Mortgage Loan Officers. They talk about the current landscape of the mortgage and real estate world. Some advice on navigating the current rates, as well as reasons you might have to make a move. They also talk about ways you can access the equity without needing to do a full Refinance and lose out on a lower rate you may have secured previo...

Scott talks with Karyn from HAPO Commercial Services, Maria from Washington Small Business Development Center, and Ana from Craft3 about what it takes to start up your own small business.  We all know it takes more than just an idea for a product or service, but we'll jump into the weeds about all the things you might not have considered.  Business Plans, Start-up Capitol, what it takes to ge...

On this episode, Scott is joined by Tony, Teresa, and Domingo.  All 3 are Certified Credit Union Financial Coaches who have a number of personal and member stories about real life debt scenarios.  We discuss how to avoid these scenarios, as well as ways out of them if you didn't take those precautions.

Our favorite Fraud Prevention specialist, Jen, joins the podcast again to discuss another hot topic: Online Marketplaces. These marketplaces, like Facebook, eBay, or Craigslist, provide ample opportunities for fraudsters. We go over some methods of helping to keep yourself safe and protected when buying and selling items using these Person-to-Person marketplaces. Methods like public spaces, cash t...

In honor of January being Human Trafficking Awareness Month, we got Tricia MacFarlan into the studio to discuss Human Trafficking and the impact that has on individuals, psychologically, financially, and otherwise. Resource Blog: https://hapo.org/services/tools-resources/blog/Post?postID=cd5d5bbe-c3ff-68be-bdb6-ff0000eccc20

We continue our conversation with Jana Kay and Ricky from Washington State University Tri-Cities Financial Aid department. We continue the discussion with topics like 529 Savings accounts, Non-Resident Programs, FAFSA, Loans vs Grants, and Motivations to get those applications in for those potential support programs. Read the companion Blog post with resource links here: HAPO Community Credit Unio...

Jana Kay and Ricky from Washington State University Tri-Cities Financial Aid Department join us to talk in depth about the value of a degree, and more importantly how to pay for it.  We talk about Federal, State, and Private assistance programs, Grants vs Loans, and all the other factors you probably didn't consider when it comes to funding you or your child's higher education. Read the...

Tawney and Susie from HAPO's Asset Recovery team join Scott in the studio to demystify the topic of Collections. We discuss some real-life stories of how people can end up in collections, the best practices for anyone who finds themselves in that situation, and some preventative tools you should consider if you'd like to stay out of collections.

Part 2 of our episode about Budgeting and Account Types and Structures. We talk more about how you can utilize accounts and other tools, like direct deposit, to help support your budgeting plans.

Sebrina and Stephanie join us on the Podcast in the first part of a two-part episode.  We talk about budgeting and the purpose behind budgeting, and also account types and account structures that can assist you in maintaining your budget, and helping to facilitate the lifestyle you want!

Our fraud expert, Jen Kasparek, returns to the podcast with new information about how scams are evolving. We discuss one scam in particular that has been around for ages: The Grandparent Scam. We talk about how this scam works, and how it has changed with advances in technology, and how it is still evolving. Then we discuss how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from scams like these.