Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

Paula Pant of Afford Anything shares her experience traveling the world for the price of a Honda. Episode 576: Travel the World for the Price of a Honda by Paula Pant of Afford Anything (Traveling Cheap & Frugal Living). Paula Pant is the founder of the award-winning website AffordAnything.com and a writer and speaker specializing in money, business, and real estate investing. She is a real estate...

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents shares 8 items to sell around your home for extra money. Episode 575: 8 Items to Sell Around Your Home for Extra Money by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense Of Cents (Extra Money & Income). Michelle Schroeder-Gardner created Making Sense of Cents in order to help improve her own finances. With diligence, she was able to pay off $38,000 in...

Marc Chernoff of Marc and Angel shares 11 practical ways to spend your money. Episode 574: 11 Practical Ways to Spend Your Money by Marc Chernoff of Marc and Angel Hack Life (Spending Wisely & Debt). Marc and Angel Chernoff are professional coaches, full-time students of life, admirers of the human spirit, and have been recognized by Forbes as having “one of the most popular personal development b...

Chris Reining shares why you're doing it wrong if you work your whole life. Episode 573: If You Work Your Whole Life You're Doing It Wrong by Chris Reining (Mini-Retirements & Retiring Early). Chris Reining is a thirty-something guy who provides resources to help manage your money and career to become financially free. His own path to financial freedom has had ups and downs, which is what he write...

Holly Johnson with Get Rich Slowly shares why your budget isn't working and what to do about it. Episode 572: Your Budget Isn't Working. Here's Why by Holly Johnson with Get Rich Slowly (Saving Money & Budgeting). J.D. Roth has been reading and writing about personal finance for a decade. Today he’s financially independent, but ten years ago, his money life was a disaster, with over $35,000 in con...

Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist shares how the love of money gets in the way of all facets of life. Episode 571: On Loving Money by Joshua Becker of Becoming Minimalist (Minimalism and Understanding Important Things in Life). Joshua Becker and his family decided to live with fewer possessions after a conversation with his neighbor in 2008. As a result, they found a better way to live, centere...

Kate Northrup with PT Money shares how to lighten your debt load immediately without making a single payment. Episode 570: How to Lighten Your Debt Load Immediately Without Making a Single Payment by Kate Northrup with PT Money. PTMoney.com is about helping you make extra money, save more money, and spend your money wisely--all in an effort to help you fix your finances so you can build the life y...

Cait Flanders shares how she's handled life and critical illness insurance. Episode 569: I'm Going to Die One Day! Better Plan Now by Cait Flanders (Life Insurance & Critical Illness). Cait Flanders started her site to document her debt repayment journey. After paying it off, she adopted a minimalist lifestyle, tossed 75% of her stuff, and is currently doing a two-year shopping ban. She shares sto...

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich shares how to use psychology against yourself to save money. Episode 568: The A La Carte Method: Use Psychology Against Yourself to Save Money by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich. Ramit wants to use money to say YES. He knew there was a better way to live a rich life—if we could use psychology to focus on what actually works. Not just for person...

William Cowie with Budgets Are Sexy shares personal stories and asks what YOU will leave the next generation. Episode 567: What Will You Leave the Next Generation by William Cowie with Budgets Are Sexy (Financial Planning). J. Money is a 6’1, hyperactive, rock a ‘hawk who loves drinking beer, blaring hip-hop, talking about money, and now playing with his two adorable baby boys. He tracked his expe...

Mrs. Money Mustache guest posts with advice on eliminating your dependence on foreign (and domestic) clothing. Episode 566: Eliminate Your Dependence on Foreign (and Domestic) Clothing by Mrs. Money Mustache (Saving Money & Simple Living). Mr. Money Mustache is a thirty-something retiree who now writes about how we can all live a frugal, yet awesome, life of leisure. He and his wife studied engine...

Jacob Lund Fisker of Early Retirement Extreme shares the difference between price and value. Episode 565: Price and Value by Jacob Lund Fisker of Early Retirement Extreme (Financial Independence & Retirement). Jacob Lund Fisker was a nuclear astrophysicist who retired at 33 with what he believes to be enough savings to last the rest of his life — even if he never works again. His "claim to fame" i...

Kalen Bruce of Money Mini Blog shares 5 categories you need in your budget that you may be missing. Episode 564: 5 Categories You Need in Your Budget That May Be Missing by Kalen Bruce of MoneyMiniBlog (Budgeting for Success). Kalen Bruce is the founder of MoneyMiniBlog. His story is simple… he and his wife were $24,000 in debt and became a student of finances to get out. They are now debt-free an...

Paula Pant of Afford Anything shares why being yourself is a disruptive act. Episode 563: Why Being Yourself is a Disruptive Act by Paula Pant of Afford Anything (Rejecting External Influences). Paula Pant is the founder of the award-winning website AffordAnything.com and a writer and speaker specializing in money, business, and real estate investing. She is a real estate investor, as the owner of...

Sam of Financial Samurai shares his thoughts on a mortgage as a forced savings account to build wealth. Episode 562: Mortgage as a Forced Savings Account to Build Wealth by Sam Dogen of Financial Samurai (Real Estate Investing). Sam Dogen's net worth took a beating in 2009 as the world was falling apart. He thought it would be a good idea to start a personal finance site to help himself and others...

Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of Making Sense of Cents shares why lifestyle inflation happens and how to think about it. Episode 561: Lifestyle Inflation - But I'm Not Upset by Michelle Schroeder-Gardner of MakingSenseOfCents.com (Personal Finance). Michelle Schroeder-Gardner created Making Sense of Cents in order to help improve her own finances. With diligence, she was able to pay off $38,000 in st...

Cait Flanders shares how slowing down can positively affect your finances. Episode 560: The Importance of Slowing Down by Cait Flanders (Debt & Intentional Consumerism). Cait Flanders started her site to document her debt repayment journey. After paying it off, she adopted a minimalist lifestyle, tossed 75% of her stuff, and is currently doing a two-year shopping ban. She shares stories and lesson...

Kristin Wong of The Wild Wong shares how she and her husband got on the same page financially. This is Part 2 of 2. Episode 559: [Part 2] Money and Relationships: How We Got on the Same Page by Kristin Wong of TheWildWong (Dating & Financial Planning). Kristin Wong is a freelance writer and journalist who writes for Lifehacker, Mentalfloss, and New York Magazine. She frequently covers travel, pers...

Kristin Wong of The Wild Wong shares how she and her husband got on the same page financially. This is Part 1 of 2. Episode 558: [Part 1] Money and Relationships: How We Got on the Same Page by Kristin Wong (Marriage & Finances). Kristin Wong is a freelance writer and journalist who writes for Lifehacker, Mentalfloss, and New York Magazine. She frequently covers travel, personal finance, and human...

Courtney Carver of Be More With Less shares 10 ways to redefine your purchase process. Episode 557: 10 Ways to Redefine Your Purchase Process by Courtney Carver of Be More With Less (Simple Living & Minimalism). Courtney Carver was stopped in her tracks with a scary MS diagnosis after decades of debt, discontent, and trying to do it all. She had to slow down, prioritize her health, and figure out...

Chris Reining shares 7 lessons about money and life. Episode 556: 7 Lessons About Money and Life by Chris Reining (Investing Success & Early Retirement). Chris Reining is a thirty-something guy who provides resources to help manage your money and career to become financially free. His own path to financial freedom has had ups and downs, which is what he writes about on his site. He's been featured...

Gary Ashton with Get Rich Slowly shares 5 ways to a lower mortgage payment. Episode 555: 5 Ways to a Lower Mortgage Payment According to a Realtor by Gary Ashton with Get Rich Slowly (Cost of Home Ownership). J.D. Roth has been reading and writing about personal finance for a decade. Today he’s financially independent, but ten years ago, his money life was a disaster, with over $35,000 in consumer...

Philip Taylor of PT Money answers the question: should I pay cash or finance a car? Episode 554: Pay Cash or Finance a Car by Philip Taylor of PT Money (Auto Financing & Saving Money). PTMoney.com is about helping you make extra money, save more money, and spend your money wisely--all in an effort to help you fix your finances so you can build the life you want. It was started by Philip Taylor, a...

Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich addresses the debate of paying for your children's education. Episode 553: Will I Pay For My Children's Education by Ramit Sethi of I Will Teach You to be Rich (Cost of College, Scholarships & Help Financially). Ramit wants to use money to say YES. He knew there was a better way to live a rich life—if we could use psychology to focus on what actually work...

Corey with Budgets Are Sexy shares why a million dollars should be laughed at. Episode 552: Why a Million Dollars Should Be Laughed At by Corey with Budgets Are Sexy (Cash Flow Investing & Financial Freedom). J. Money is a 6’1, hyperactive, rock a ‘hawk who loves drinking beer, blaring hip-hop, talking about money, and now playing with his two adorable baby boys. He tracked his expenses for 3 mont...