How To Money

Sports gambling is becoming a pervasive problem. Many young men are finding themselves addicted and in serious financial trouble. Ask HTM: Anna wants to get her 529 contributions right, ensuring she gets the max state tax deduction she's eligible for.  Social Security is the most valuable asset that most Americans have. That's not good! We want HTM listeners to invest effectively enough that their...

Does hard work still pay off in the good ol' USA? Most Americans don't think so!  Ask HTM: John wants to know if he should keep his condo as an investment or sell it instead. Stocks are at-all time highs...and record-high valuations. Should that impact how you invest!? Ask HTM: Jennifer wants to know about ABLE accounts and how to use one effectively. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Customer loyalty sounds like a good thing...but it could cost you. Ask HTM: Mike wants to pay off $50k of credit card debt. You might want to start setting airfare alerts for holiday travel. Ask HTM: Nicole wants to know about investing in real estate online. Is it a good idea?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is more education always a good thing, leading to better pay? Nope. New information reveals that many job skills certificates are a total waste of your time and money. Ask HTM: Bryant is 25 and wants to know how he and his wife should be investing. More Americans are opting to use debit cards instead of credit cards right now. But the major problem for budgets is that spending isn't going down! As...

Some parents are investing lots of money on behalf of their young kids. Surprisingly, we don't love hearing that! Ask HTM: Stephen wants to know if premiums go up on homeowners insurance when you file a claim. Politics is driving economic beliefs and investment strategy for far too many Americans. It's ok to care about politics, but don't let it sway how much or where you decide to invest! Ask HTM...

School is back! Matt and Joel talk about how to save money on school supplies and lunches.  Ask HTM: Wendy wants to know if she needs a financial advisor to help her out. Is work/life balance really possible if you're pursuing financial independence? Some might say it's not. Some sacrifices are required, but we think you can still strike a solid balance. Ask HTM: Joel talks about his battle for cu...

Alternative investment companies tout that you can "invest like the 1%!" Sadly, many are losing money hand over fist. Ask HTM: Question about borrowing money for a car and how that impacts a credit score. Older Americans are renting in greater numbers. That's not necessarily a bad thing!  Ask HTM: Katie wants to know if Social Security will be there for her when she reaches retirement age. See omn...

Joel's battle with Peloton's silly fees. Also, the housing market has slowed dramatically. Where do things go from here?  Ask HTM: A parent wants to know if they should be investing in their kids 529 plan...or if it's overrated. In a policy reversal, medical debt is going to start impacting credit reports again soon. Ask HTM: Listener wants to know if he should pay off his credit card debt with a...

Hertz is using AI to assess damage to its cars. And customers aren't happy about it. HTM tells you how to protect yourself!  Ask HTM: Quay wants to know how to handle an inheritance wisely. Hybrid work is no longer the norm. And more folks are finding themselves working at all hours of the day and night. That's not good! Ask HTM: Carm wants to know why his credit union is offering him free life in...

Joel talks about his dishwasher arbitrage play. Also, does the Moody's credit downgrade matter? Ask HTM: Cheryl inherited some money and wants to know the wisest way to proceed with extra money in hand. Some high school juniors are getting $70k job offers. It reinforces the reality that there's a dearth skilled labor right now. Ask HTM: Buddy wants to know if it's ok to buy a floor model mattress....

More gas stations are charging extra if you pay with a credit card. Beware! Ask HTM: What should you do if you overfund a Roth IRA!? Americans believe that real estate and gold are the best investments in existence. But the numbers reveal that there's an even better way to invest. Ask HTM: Rebecca wants to know if she should buy an extended warranty with her new car. It's expensive! See omnystudio...

One person's trash is another person's treasure. Recent college grads are abandoning really nice stuff! It could be a pickers paradise. Ask HTM: Should you rent a car when going on an epic road trip? Third party apps are collecting data on us. Could that be contributing to the rise of insurance premiums? Ask HTM: What are the logistics of combining finances as newlyweds?  See omnystudio.com/listen...

Even God would get fired as an active investor. So what makes you think you can be highly successful over time investing in single stocks!? Ask HTM: Jessica wants to know if she should pay for daycare with a credit card - even if it costs extra to do so. Used cars are starting to go up in value again. And Cyber Truck owners are finding that their value collapses within the first year of ownership....

The job market is more tumultuous right now, especially for college graduates. Ask HTM: Wayne wants to know if he should lend his stocks in order to make more money.  More workers are reducing contributions to their workplace retirement accounts because they're worried about the economy. This might be good, but only if you're saving the money you aren't investing! Ask HTM: Collin wants to know abo...

Mocktails are ridiculously expensive these days! Also, Gen Z is reluctant to open a bar tab - that could be sneaky smart. Ask HTM: Caden wants to know if he should get another credit card. We're buying  everything  on Amazon, including clothing. Amazon makes shopping easy, but that frictionless experience could coax you into buying too much stuff! Ask HTM: A listener wants to know if she should re...

One person's trash is another person's treasure. Recent college grads are abandoning really nice stuff! It could be a pickers paradise. Ask HTM: Should you rent a car when going on an epic road trip? Third party apps are collecting data on us. Could that be contributing to the rise of insurance premiums? Ask HTM: What are the logistics of combining finances as newlyweds?  See omnystudio.com/listen...

Even God would get fired as an active investor. So what makes you think you can be highly successful over time investing in single stocks!? Ask HTM: Jessica wants to know if she should pay for daycare with a credit card - even if it costs extra to do so. Used cars are starting to go up in value again. And Cyber Truck owners are finding that their value collapses within the first year of ownership....

Southwest is officially charging for checked bags as of this week. That policy change should cause us all to reconsider our loyalty to a particular airline. Ask HTM: Nate has a frugal vs cheap about buying razors. The big beautiful bill is gonna change things on the tax front in a big way! HSAs, in particular, could get a whole lot better. Ask HTM: Bri wants to know how to choose the right target...

Credit card points are being devalued right and left. Matt and Joel tell you what you need to know to spend the points you've accumulated in an optimized way. Ask HTM: Cade has a question about how to invest beyond his company match. Renting is cheaper than buying basically everywhere right now. And the gap isn't small. Know this: You're not throwing away money when you opt to rent!  Ask HTM: Cass...

Joel talks about his dishwasher arbitrage play. Also, does the Moody's credit downgrade matter? Ask HTM: Cheryl inherited some money and wants to know the wisest way to proceed with extra money in hand. Some high school juniors are getting $70k job offers. It reinforces the reality that there's a dearth skilled labor right now. Ask HTM: Buddy wants to know if it's ok to buy a floor model mattress....

More gas stations are charging extra if you pay with a credit card. Beware! Ask HTM: What should you do if you overfund a Roth IRA!? Americans believe that real estate and gold are the best investments in existence. But the numbers reveal that there's an even better way to invest. Ask HTM: Rebecca wants to know if she should buy an extended warranty with her new car. It's expensive!  See omnystudi...

The trend of cutting the cord continues. But with the proliferation of streaming channels, like ESPN's new $30 a month service, you could be spending more than you used to with cable! Ask HTM: Mary wants to know about funding a Roth IRA for a kiddo. Online car-selling sites are trying to convince folks to sell their used car. Carvana, for instance, is sending emails out to a slew of its customers...

The #1 use case of AI is therapy and companionship. But AI bots are lying to users about having the credentials of a real therapist! We're a little worried about our tech overlords pushing AI on us at every turn. Ask HTM: Yesel wants to know how to invest when she's on sabbatical. Chinese tariffs have been delayed. That's good news. But this is only a temporary trade-war truce. We'll see how thing...

New home and apartment sizes are shrinking in the US. Opting for a smaller abode could be a great move for your finances! Ask HTM: Ben wants to know if you need a credit card to get through life. Target date funds continue to gain steam. They can be a great option for many investors! Ask HTM: David wants to know when to ditch full coverage on his automobiles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

An article about raising your credit score is full of bad info. Matt and Joel pick it apart. Ask HTM: Edward wants advice about going to back to school for a more enjoyable career. People are freaking out about social security and many are opting to snag their benefit sooner than they should. There's a lot to consider before you make that knee jerk response! Ask HTM: Is a Roth or traditional IRA b...