Popcorn Finance

HEY!!!!! So it's been a minute (which might be a slight understatement) and I've returned with a gift for you all! Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@popcornfinance.com  Send me a message at ⁠PopcornFinance.com/Voicemail⁠  Call 707-200-8259 Connect with me ⁠Instagram⁠ |⁠ YouTube⁠ |⁠ TikTok⁠  Thank you for listening to today’s episode! Help support the show by leaving...

The Oscars are just a few days away, so grab a bag of popcorn and join me & Trashwire Editor Alexis Gentry as we hand out some of our own awards and highlight some of the movies that we loved from 2024. Connect with Alexis Instagram | Website | Tiktok Previous movie episodes you should checkout Top 3 Movies of 2024: Ep 482 2024 mid-year movie breakdown: Ep. 457, Ep.458 Best and Worst Movies of 202...

What exactly the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? What do they do? Why do they matter? I'm answering these questions ad more this week in a special brand new type of Popcorn Finance episode! Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@popcornfinance.com Send me a message at PopcornFinance.co...

Are you all set for tax season this year? With the tax deadline just around the corner, CPA Keila Hill-Trawick is back on the show with some last-minute tips to help you get organized and make this tax season a little less stressful.   Connect with Keila Website | Instagram | The Build to Enough Podcast Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit...

I know that I can't be the only one feeling stressed out a month and a half into 2025. Appreciate the patience from all of you as I get back into our regular rotation here on Popcorn Finance. Today I just wanted to give you all a quick update on what's been going on and share a couple of new ideas I'm working on for the future of the podcast. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - Popc...

What if your money problems aren’t really about money at all? We’ve talked about the connection between money and emotions on this show before, but today we’re diving even deeper. Today’s guest is Jessica Moorhouse—host of the More Money podcast and author of the brand-new book Everything But Money: The Hidden Barriers Between You and Financial Freedom. Jessica joins me to talk about her book, how...

I'm horrible at setting goals so I asked my friend and former This Is Awkward co-host, Allison, to sit down with me and help me figure out what money goal I wanted to try and hit this year. Connect with Allison Website | Instagram | Twitter | Podcast Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@po...

What was your favorite movie of 2024? I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up the year than by inviting Trashwire Editor and Movie Critic Alexis Gentry back to the show to share our top movies of 2024. Months have passed since our mid-year movie review, so let’s see if any of our picks have changed! Listen to our 2024 mid-year movie breakdown: Ep. 457, Ep.458 Best and Worst Movies of 2023: Par...

Is it too early to be thinking about tax season? We’re nearing the end of 2024, which means tax season is right around the corner. To help you stay ahead of the chaos, I’ve invited Keila Hill-Trawick, CPA and founder of Little Fish Accounting, back on the show to share her top tax prep tips that you can start using now to make the process smoother and less stressful when April rolls around. Connec...

How can I stop mindlessly spending money? Today I’m back with part 2 of my chat with Jen and Jill from The Frugal Friends Podcast! If you missed part 1, we talked about their top tips for spending guilt-free, all from their new book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke. This time, we’re diving into a topic I think a lot of us can relate to: how to stop mindless spending. Jen and Jill share how t...

How do we stop tying our spending choices to our sense of self? With the holidays coming up, it’s easy to overspend and feel guilty later—I know I do. That’s why I’m bringing back Jen and Jill from The Frugal Friends Podcast to discuss their new book, Buy What You Love Without Going Broke. We’re breaking down how to spend without guilt and how to stop letting money define your identity. Other Epis...

Why aren’t mortgage rates dropping alongside interest rates? Last month, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates, but mortgage rates actually went up. One key reason is that mortgage rates aren’t directly tied to those set by the Federal Reserve. Today, we’re taking a closer look at this and exploring why mortgage rates often move independently of the Fed’s rate changes. Episodes Mentioned: Ep....

What are some things that have gotten cheaper over the years despite inflation? Thanksgiving is just a few days away, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who could use a break from work, the news, and everything in between. For this week’s episode, I decided to do something a little different. Over the summer, I worked on a project that involved analyzing years’ worth of inflation data, and I discov...

What’s your biggest fear when it comes to money? I recently came across an article titled The Most Common Money Fears, written by someone I know well—Melanie Lockert, a Brooklyn-based freelance personal finance writer and the author of Dear Debt. Melanie has been on the show before, and I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to invite her back to discuss her article and how our fears can ho...

When the Federal Reserve cut interest rates again so it's time for another episode. The urge to just completely check out this week was very strong, but when I have the opportunity to look at a bunch of numbers and charts I just can't pass it up. Let's learn what is going on in the economy together this week! Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@popcornfinance.com  Sen...

A listener let me know about a political ad that showed up in one of my episodes that I did not sign off on. So what better time than hours before the 2024 election to discuss how our money is always political. Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@popcornfinance.com  Send me a message at PopcornFinance.com/Voicemail  Call 707-200-8259 Connect with me Instagram | Twitte...

Could saving for your kid's college cost them a scholarship? This week we are answering this question that was sent in by a listener with the help of Certified Financial Planner Marguerita Cheng. Connect with Marguerita Cheng Book: More Than Money | Twitter Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to quest...

Can my job help me repay my student loans AND save for retirement? Popcorn Finance listener Alexis sent in a question wanting to know more about a section of the Secure Act 2.0 that allows employers to match student loan repayments just like they do with retirement contributions. I’m breaking down this section of the Secure Act 2.0, explaining how it works, and sharing how you can find out if your...

Inflation is looked pretty stable for September. This episode let's take a look at some of the prices that are looking better and which ones are getting worse. Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@popcornfinance.com  Send me a message at PopcornFinance.com/Voicemail  Call 707-200-8259 Connect with me Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok Thank you for liste...

$27,000 worth of credit card debt consumed my every waking moment for years. Today I'm taking a trip down memory lane and sharing my journey of getting out of credit card debt thanks to a question from Eric. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to questions@popcornfinance.com  Send me a message at Popc...

Interest rates are going down for the first time in over four years. This week I'm breaking down why the Federal Reserve decided now was the time lower interest rates and the latest inflation data showing that things might actually be headed in the right direction. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email...

Can I save for the future while still being able to enjoy my money now? A while ago I got a question from Kurt, a listener who has done an amazing job saving and investing over the years, but now he's asking, "To what end?" Despite having a solid 401(k) balance, Kurt often feels broke and wonders how he can continue working toward his long-term goals while starting to enjoy some of his money now....

How do I figure out how I should be spending my money if I don’t even know what I want my life to look like? In episode 452, I spoke with certified financial planner Shannah Game about navigating comparison traps. One of her biggest tips was to find your "why" and get clear on it. But what if, like me, you have no idea where to start to figure out your "why" when planning for your future? Fortunat...

Why did Japan’s interest rate hike have such a big impact on the U.S. stock market? Earlier this month I discussed the stock market chaos that led to a sharp drop in prices. I mentioned that Japan’s decision to raise interest rates played a part in this, but how? This episode I’m diving into Japan’s long history of deflation and its impact on the U.S. stock market. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Fi...

The latest inflation data is actually looking pretty good. Today we are going to dive into the July 2024 inflation numbers to see if inflation is actually going down. I'm also taking a closer look at a few items that have gotten cheaper over the past couple of years. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit a question to the show? Send an emai...