PennyWise: Personal Finance & Travel Tips

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Professor Anthony Dukes to discuss whether it makes sense to join a warehouse club in search of savings amidst inflated prices at supermarkets, department stores, gas stations and pretty much everywhere else. Anthony is the Robert E. Brooker Chair in Marketing at the USC Marshall School of Business, Co-Director of the school’s Init...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by airline industry expert Blaise Waguespack to discuss what’s next for budget travelers in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ collapse. Blaise is a professor at Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, focusing on airline marketing and service quality measurement. He and John discuss the remaining budget airline options, mone...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by guest Stacie Rihl to discuss how to go about buying your first home. Stacie hosts the “Your First Home” podcast and helps connect first-time homebuyers with the right real estate agents. She has also worked as both a real estate agent and a loan officer for a mortgage company, so she’s the perfect person to coach us thr...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by guest Brian Bastin to discuss how to buy a car without breaking the bank. Brian spent 14 years as a general manager and minority operating partner of Mercedes-Benz of Palm Beach, and he is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Program Director at Keiser University’s Flagship Campus, where he teaches automotive management and...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Nancy McGehee, a professor of hospitality and tourism management at Virginia Tech. John and Nancy discuss how to save money on summer travel, from when to book to what common mistakes you should avoid making. If you want to travel this summer but you’re working with a tight budget, these tips and tricks could make the differenc...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Michael Lynn, a professor of consumer behavior and marketing at the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, an expert on tipping, and author of the new book “The Psychology of Tipping: Scientific Insights for Services Customers, Workers, and Managers.” John and Dr. Lynn discuss how tipping has expanded over the years and...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dan Ariely, a professor of business administration at Duke University, a founding member of the Center for Advanced Hindsight, the co-founder of several companies, and the author of several books including “Dollars and Sense: How We Misthink Money and How to Spend Smarter.” John and Dan talk about what people can do to save h...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Phil Lempert, aka the “Supermarket Guru.” Phil is a longtime industry analyst, the former food trends editor for the Today show, and author of books such as Healthy, Wealthy & Wise. John and Phil discuss what consumers can do to save money on groceries without sacrificing nutrition or making life miserable.  More on...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Mohammad Niamat Elahee, a professor of International Business at Quinnipiac University. John and Dr. Elahee discuss what consumers should expect from gas prices in the coming weeks and months, as well as ways listeners can save at the pump. With everything going on in the world, this information will definitely come in handy. &n...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by Dr. Luke Erickson, a Personal Finance Extension Specialist at the University of Idaho and President of the Idaho Financial Literacy Coalition. John and Dr. Erickson discuss some underrated ways people can build credit history, along with some common misconceptions about the credit building process and the real-world value of having a goo...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Brett House, a Professor of Economics at Columbia Business School, talk about how a 10% cap on credit card interest rates would affect consumers and the economy. John and Brett discuss the winners and losers of a 10% rate cap, along with other ways to address affordability concerns.  More on this episode from WalletHub:  Credit Ca...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Lauren Weatherford, an associate professor at West Virginia University Extension, talk about how to get through Valentine’s Day without overspending…or putting your relationship in jeopardy. John and Lauren discuss the best ways to celebrate on a budget, how to cost-effectively impress your significant other, and major mistakes...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Professor Jeffry Haber of Iona University discuss how to go about choosing the right credit card to apply for. John and Jeffry cover what different types of applicants should look for, what pitfalls to avoid, and the best offers to apply for in 2026. John also breaks down WalletHub’s editors picks. More on this episode from WalletHub:...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Professor Nicole Hickson discuss how to get your money right in 2026. Whether you’re making a financial New Year’s resolution or just determined to make 2026 more prosperous than the past, there are steps you can take to improve your financial performance, save more money, reduce stress, and afford to treat yourself once in a wh...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Dr. Jessica G. Zeiss from Ball State University discuss the best ways to go about getting a credit card. It might seem like a simple topic, but there’s a lot more that goes into choosing the right credit card and actually getting approved than most people realize. John and Dr. Zeiss cover the process of getting a credit card from star...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Luke Powers discuss the latest trends in charitable giving, how listeners can make the biggest impact with their contributions, and strategies for avoiding scams. With the burden of inflation, high debt levels, and an uncertain job market, many people feel like they can’t afford to give back, and charitable organizations are strugglin...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Adam McCann discuss the dangers of so-called “deferred interest” and how to avoid becoming a victim this holiday shopping season and beyond. John and Adam explain what deferred interest is and how it works, detail when you’re likely to encounter it, and provide tips for how to deal with it, plus ideas for safer alternative...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses the importance of having an emergency fund and how to build one with Adam McCann, a personal finance writer with WalletHub who is an expert on credit cards and budgeting. John and Adam define what an emergency fund actually is, explore the risks that come with not having one, and provide practical tips for saving more, funding different sav...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses money-saving holiday shopping tips with Chip Lupo, a personal finance writer with WalletHub who is an expert on credit cards and budgeting. They discuss the holiday shopping forecast and the things people can do to maximize their merriment without putting their financial plan in jeopardy. You can even get a few pointers for whipping up holi...

In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan breaks down the keys to successful budgeting with Milvionne Chery, a budget expert and personal finance writer with WalletHub. They discuss the most important steps for budgeters to take, what's holding people back the most, what people can do to keep things simple, options for more advanced techniques, and more.  More on this episode from Walle...

In this episode of PennyWise, host Nat Cardona engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Chip Lupo, a writer and analyst for WalletHub, as they explore the evolving landscape of tipping in America. With 75% of Americans feeling that tipping has spiraled out of control, they dive deep into the cultural implications and the new norms surrounding gratuity in various service sectors. Chip shares...

In this episode of PennyWise, host Nat Cardona is joined by NerdWallet personal finance expert Kim Palmer to tackle the dual challenge many American couples face: financing a wedding while pursuing homeownership. As costs continue to rise, they discuss practical do's and don'ts that can help newly engaged couples navigate these financial hurdles effectively. Listeners will learn about the shifting...

In this insightful episode of PennyWise, host Nat Cardona sits down with WalletHub's financial expert, Adam McCann, to tackle a common question: how much should you budget for clothing in 2025? As clothing prices continue to rise, Adam breaks down the average annual spending on apparel, revealing that households typically spend around $1,945 on clothing each year. However, he emphasizes that this...

In this episode of PennyWise, host Nat Cardona teams up with tax expert John Kiernan, Managing Editor at WalletHub. John shares essential last-minute tax tips for the 2025 filing season. As the deadline approaches, they emphasize the importance of filing a return regardless of your ability to pay, explaining the significant penalties associated with failing to file. Listeners will learn about the...

In this episode of PennyWise, host Nat Cardona engages with WalletHub's personal finance writer, Milvionne Chery Copeland, to explore the innovative world of AI budgeting tools. As artificial intelligence continues to permeate our daily lives, Milvionne explains how these tools can revolutionize the way we manage our finances. Listeners will learn about the benefits of using AI to automatical...