Money Girl

Laura explains what happens when you make a late payment, how your credit is affected, and gives tips to minimize the potential damage. Plus, she answers a question from a long-time Money Girl Podcast listener who’s wondering what to do about an account that accidentally became delinquent. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2lzjZZG Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

Knowing where and how to invest money can be confusing and a little scary. Laura answers 3 questions from Money Girl Podcast listeners that will give you smart tips for setting financial priorities, leveraging retirement accounts, and knowing when it’s a good idea to use “robo-advisors” to make more money. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2iYdWNq Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...

If you started the New Year with some extra credit card debt, you might be feeling anxious if you can't pay it off in full. Instead of getting stressed, follow Laura's 5 steps to get out of post-holiday debt faster so you take control of your finances and move in the right direction. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2jiDEcb Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com. Hosted on...

Laura interviews David Pogue, author of the new book, Pogue’s Basics: Money – Essential Tips and Shortcuts (That No One Bothers to Tell You) About Beating the System. You'll take away easy ways to outsmart retailers, leverage savings programs, and keep more of your hard-earned money, no matter how much or little you have. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2i8iVJb Hosted on Acast. See ac...

Laura gives 7 tips to pay off your student loans the cheapest ways possible. She also interviews a couple who graduated with $600,000 of student loan debt after graduating from dental and law school. Find out their experiences, missteps, and tips for dealing with loans, having a repayment plan, and getting a great education for less. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2hHGM3S Get the Mon...

Not sure what a trust is or who really needs one? (By the way, they're not just for wealthy people!) Laura interviews Jules Haas, an attorney with more than 30 years of experience. They break down a heavy topic with simple language and examples. Find out the difference between a will and a trust, common estate planning mistakes you should avoid, considerations for couples who are not married, key...

If you’re eager to move into your dream home, preparing your credit for a mortgage approvall should definitely be on your agenda. Laura gives 6 tips for building credit before you apply for a mortgage, so you get a loan that costs as little as possible. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/1sUoe1c Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No matter if you’re celebrating or protesting Donald Trump's victory for the White House, in this post I’ll cover 6 key areas where the President-elect could change your personal finances. You'll get solid advice to manage your money no matter what’s around the corner. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2f5zjpc Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Homeowners insurance takes a bite out of your budget when you own a home. Laura covers 10 facts you should know about home insurance so you get the most out of it, fully understand the coverage, and pay less. Get the Money Girl book at http://MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2g0TpmF Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Managing one or more Health Savings Accounts can seem complicated. Laura answers a listener question about what do to when you end up with more than one HSA. Find out how these special accounts save money, the rules for using them, who can have one, and where to open one up. Get the Money Girl book at http://www. MoneyGirlBook.com. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2f9iZqI Hosted on Aca...

Laura interviews Tom Meyer to discuss really needs a financial advisor. Find out when it's the right time to hire a financial professional, how much money you should have, where to find one, how they're paid, and how to know you've found someone who's the best fit for your situation. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2dWzUxP Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honor of National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, Laura gives you 7 tips to stay connected with family and friends on social media as safely as possible so ordinary details you share won't be used by cyber thieves to hurt your personal finances. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2drUJRq Get the Money Girl book at http://www. MoneyGirlBook.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

Tired of dealing with your cable company and paying sky high bills? Then it’s time to finally cut the cable TV cord and save money. In this expert interview we cover details like how much you can save, pros and cons, setup costs, watching sports, best devices and streaming services, and the first steps to get started. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2db6KWV Hosted on Acast. See acast....

Laura answers a listener question and explains what happens when a friend, family member, or spouse leaves you an IRA. There are 5 important rules you should know to avoid costly mistakes that could trigger huge tax penalties with an inherited IRA. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2dkK9wf Get the Money Girl book at http://moneygirlbook.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...

No matter your current stage in life, there are easy ways to improve your personal finances. Laura covers 3 simple actions to take today to create more financial security, increase your options, have more peace of mind, and get closer to accomplishing your financial goals. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2chr34N Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stop making investing so complicated! All you need are these fundamentals to build a huge amount of wealth. Laura gives you the truth about how to start investing and which investments to choose. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/1L5cYRZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want a great wardrobe but don't want to spend a fortune building it? Laura gives men and women 8 smart tips to spend less on clothes and build a better wardrobe at the same time. You’ll learn how to create a wardrobe strategy, know what’s a good deal, find deeper discounts, and understand how to care for what you buy the right way so it lasts longer. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2b...

Not really sure how to manage money as a new couple? It can be tricky, but Laura gives solid advice for how to know what's right for your situation. Use these 6 tips to avoid potential disagreements and create a great financial life together. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2bsApyo Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura interviews Stan Corey, a divorce expert and author of a new book,The Divorce Dance. They talk about different types of divorce proceedings, financial mistakes to avoid, how to divide up assets the right way, how to get divorced when you don't have much money to pay for it, and more. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2bvvbla Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

Laura explains how 401k employer matching works and answers a listener question about what to do when your company doesn't match your retirement contributions. Find out if it still makes sense to invest in a 401k with no matching funds to boost your account. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2b7pY1S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s great to have bonus income, but the net amount can be surprisingly less than you expect. Laura explains the bonus tax rate and different types of income that get singled out for special tax withholding. Plus find out how getting a bonus also affects contributions to workplace retirement accounts like a 401k or 403b. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2btQNMy Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Not only is having good credit a requirement for getting loans and credit cards, especially at competitive interest rates, but it affects other parts of your financial life--even if you never take out a loan. Laura answers 4 questions from readers and podcast listeners about how to monitor, repair, and build credit for life. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2aqxMNd Hosted on Acast. See...

Not sure if you should cancel a credit card? Laura answers a listener question and gives you 5 questions to ask that will help you know whether closing a credit card will barely affect your credit scores or end up hurting your finances. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/2a4wGr4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura interviews David Carlson, author of the new book Hustle Away Debt. If you're ready to tackle debt or just have more security, starting a side hustle can be a financial lifeline. Find out the main types to consider, even if your 9 to 5 job leaves you with little time to spare. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/29IKsha Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura answers a listener question about how to cut taxes when selling a home. Find out what the capital gains tax is, how it's figured, and 6 tips to legally sell your home tax free. Read the full transcript here: http://bit.ly/28NRkVZ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.