How To Money

Anxiety and avoidance are directing the financial lives of far too many Americans. Matt and Joel offer some ideas to remedy that.  Ask HTM: Should you consolidate debt when buying home? Bundling is back! It looks like it might save you money, but think again.  Ask HTM: What to do with your investments when rolling over a retirement account. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on with the job market!? It's certainly not as red-hot as it was. We talk about how to navigate things now. Pus, more Americans are working a side hustle. We have mixed feelings about the benefits of side hustles. HTM dishes on the pros and cons.  Ask HTM: Is it better to pay off a mortgage or put that money towards home improvements? Know your rights in the aftermath of the Crowdstri...

Beware of neobanks. They're not as safe as the best real online banks! Also, more banks are offering big bucks for switching. Is it worth it? Reading the fine print is crucial. Ask HTM: Linda wants to know what to do when her CD maturity date is coming up.  Is it expensive to live a healthy lifestyle? Some will lead you to believe the answer is yes. But don't buy into the marketing hype. Also, is...

Good news - personal finance education is coming to a high school near you in California! These courses go a long way towards delivering a much-needed baseline knowledge for a subject that impacts all of us every single day. Also, should you cohabitate with your girlfriend or boyfriend after just a few months of dating? It could save you money. But it might cost you if you're not careful! There ar...

Chase Bank threatens their customers with higher fees. Time to leave them for a better bank, folks! Checks are going the way of the dodo bird too by the way. Next, we take this question: should you try and buy the house you're renting? Planned obsolescence is a real problem for consumers these days. We highlight a few that are doing things differently! Vanguard is the GOAT when it comes to low fee...

The SAVE plan is in limbo and it is torturous for anyone with a meaningful student loan balance. Next, how much can you save by switching to a different cell phone plan? Answer: $1500 a year. We'll tell you how. We also talk about how to fight for a diminished value payment from the insurance company in the aftermath of a wreck.  Companies that ask you to 'trust them' end up not being incredibly t...

Money avoidance is a real problem in relationships. We offer tips to help you get that crucial conversation started. Plus, there’s a lot we can learn from a Korean savings trend! Does it make sense to cash out a retirement account to pay off credit card debt? Also, companies are increasing automatic contribution amounts for employees. This is great for their financial future! See omnystudio.com/li...

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should you take the bus instead of flying on your next vacation? It could save you a bundle! If you're going on an international trip, check your passport expiration date. And you might be able to update your US passport online these days. Plus, airlines are upselling their customers for everything these days. That's actually a good thing for frugal travelers who are willing to jump through the ho...

Gen Z investors are using astrology and tarot cards to guide their investments. And some 'economists' are predicting stock market DOOM. Don't listen to them! Listener question: How to handle gift cards in your budget? “Spaving” is the new money trend. But we don’t like it at all! Also, what do you need to be cautious of if you’re retiring early? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cash or credit? Turns out it might cost you more to pay with cash these days! Next, how do you know if you should file for bankruptcy? There are often better options for most folks. Is real estate the best investment on the planet? Most Americans think so. The answer is more nuanced. You'll save TONS of money (potentially six figures) by shopping around for a mortgage. Also, if you've got more tha...

How to fight back against high healthcare costs. People are spending more money at restaurants than ever. Our old school advice: eat at home more! Next, we talk about when it makes sense to tap home equity (rarely). Commute times are getting longer but most folks are commuting less often. Also, should you buy a refurbished phone? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you need private equity or alternative investments to build wealth? No way! Most of those 'sexy' investments are actually a distraction. Next, will you receive a tax bill for giving money away as a gift? We cut through the confusion and discuss how gift taxes actually work.  Also, more people are dropping homeowner's insurance. That  might  make sense for you. But it can be an incredibly risky...

Should you ditch brick & mortar banks? We think so! We also talk about whether or not you should pay off your mortgage early. All signs point to "probably not." What should you do if you have an old 401k - leave it be or roll it over elsewhere? Does it make sense to DIY your own target date retirement fund? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When doing a chargeback with your credit card company makes sense. Should you buy a new house or add on to your current one? Why is the American public so pessimistic right now about the economy? We've got a skewed idea of the data, PLUS we've changed the definition of inflation. Also, want to reduce what you pay for rent? We'll tell you how! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's becoming more common to pay for expensive memberships to make friends. But there are free ways to grow your community! How to help your kids handle money well in the digital age. Americans are driving their cars longer. But don't forget about other underrated modes of transportation...like the bike! Then we tackle the topic of simplifying your investment accounts. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Check your beneficiary designations. It’s crucial! Streaming your favorite major league sports is only getting more expensive. Health sharing plans might be able to save you money. Most home improvement projects won’t save you money. Plus, how to reduce childcare costs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beware of costly online investing courses. Has the 401k failed us? How you can you appeal a property tax increase and win! The price of college has skyrocketed, meaning the value of college for many has declined. Perpetual homeowners insurance is a fascinating, but rare, product. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TextNow has a limited amount of data, suitable for using Google Maps and similar apps, but not enough for social media. If you're looking to save money and don't use data-heavy apps, this provider could be a good option for you. Steve asked how he could save up money to start the adoption process. Are you getting ripped off on sales online? Real estate is the best business to get into...   Join th...

"Listen to the podcast to find out which credit cards to get." Invest in businesses based on political beliefs. Madison asked if her employee stock plan is worth it, as it is one of her work perks. Social security is failing!  Join the Facebook group "How to Money" to connect with like-minded people. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Matt Altmix joining the podcast from now on? In the latest episode, they talked about how they met and the name of the podcast before it became "How To Money". The show will still continue to take and answer calls. You can send your questions to Joel at howtomoney.com/ask and follow the instructions on how to submit them. Also, how do you feel when a friend asks you for money to celebrate their...

If you are on Facebook and want to connect with people who share similar interests as you, then you should join the 'How to Money' Facebook group. We discuss various topics related to managing finances, and if you are not familiar with the 4% rule, we explain it in detail to help you understand it better. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joel discusses how as consumers we should be more mindful of how we interact with the massive online retailer, Amazon. Leasing an EV car is a good option due to their current deals, alongside with how fast technology is developing. Joel gets into being against student loan forgiveness as policy. Also, how Frictionless payments are costing us more money. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Joel warns us to be super careful when investing in gold as it’s highly illiquid. Joel also dishes on how one can get international exposure in the stock market. Plus, Senior Director of Partner Relations at Money Mangament International Jackie Boise, joins Joel in an interview where they discuss everything finance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.