Popcorn Finance

In less than a week the stock market lost about 5% of its value in the US. In Japan it saw a drop of over 17%! But what does this all mean and should we be concerned? Today I will walk you through what went down and give you a little context to understand how much this will impact your retirement accounts. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to sub...

What should I prioritize, paying down my debt or building my emergency fund? Years ago, I faced the same dilemma. So to help everyone in the same boat, I’m breaking down the pros and cons of paying down debt versus building an emergency fund so that you can decide what’s the best option for you and your financial goals. -This episode originally aired on 11/1/2021 as #269 Subscribe to the FREE Popc...

Were you a MoviePass subscriber? Alexis Gentry always nails it with her movie picks. So when she told me to watch the new Max documentary "MoviePass, MovieCrash" all about the rise and fall of MoviePass, I had to see it. As a former subscriber, I'm glad I did. Tune in as Alexis and I share all our thoughts about this documentary on today's episode. Listen to these other episodes featuring Alexis:...

What movie can you watch over and over again? Alexis Gentry is back to answer even more of my movie questions! We're sharing some rapid-fire answers to fun questions like first movie crush, most-watched movie of all time, best movie theater experience, and more.  Listen to these other episodes featuring Alexis: Ep. 413: Best and Worst Movies of 2023 - Part 1 Ep. 415: Best and Worst Movies of 2023...

What's your favorite movie from your childhood? Join me and Alexis Gentry, movie critic and editor at Trashwire, as we share our top 3 favorite movies from when we were kids. These are the movies whose lines are still stuck in our heads and have been played so many times that the VHS barely stayed together. Listen to these other episodes featuring Alexis: Ep. 413: Best and Worst Movies of 2023 - P...

Is hustle culture actually setting us back? In our monthly finance segment on NECN, Natalie and I got into the problems that come with the constant grind of hustle culture. We also unpack why it is so important to create your own definition of success that doesn’t revolve around what you earn Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Want to submit a question...

Are streaming services killing movie theaters? Today let’s discuss this theory along with a few others I found in an article from Screen Rant. To help me break things down I’m joined by fellow movie lover and actual movie critic Alexis Gentry. Screen Rant Article: 6 Reasons So Many Movies Are Struggling At The Box Office In 2024 Listen to our 2024 mid-year movie breakdown: Ep. 457 Best and Worst M...

What’s been your favorite movie of the year so far? Back in January, I kicked off the year with Alexis Gentry, movie critic and editor at Trashwire, to break down our favorite movies of 2023. Now that we're halfway through 2024, it felt like a good time to check in and discuss our favorite films of 2024 so far. Listen to our Best and Worst movies of 2023: Part 1, Part 2 Follow me on Letterboxd to...

I just wanted to say thank you to ALL of you for helping me keep Popcorn Finance going for 7 years! 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.com/Voicemail  Call 707-200-8259 Connect with me Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | TikTo...

Do you really need whole life insurance? Life insurance is a good idea for most of us, but paying for it for the rest of your life isn't necessary. Today I answer a question I got in from Jackie who was curious about what the difference was between term life insurance and whole life insurance. Check out Ep #155: How to Find a Financial Planner Podcast - https://pod.fo/e/e5ac Blog Post - https://po...

How connected is the relationship between money and mental health? In Episode 444, licensed social worker and co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast, Jill Sirianni, discussed managing our mental health when it feels like the world is against us. This week, I want to share a bonus segment from that conversation, where Jill explains how our relationship with money impacts our mental health and why qu...

May Inflation data was just released, so let's spend a few minutes catching up on what happened back in April. Plus I'm sharing a few details on a special project that I've been working on. Inflation TikTok Series What is Inflation & Why Does it Even Exist? Inflation's Impact on My Apartment Deflation - What stuff has actually gotten cheaper in my apartment Greedflation Subscribe to the FREE Popco...

How can we avoid the comparison trap when it comes to our finances? In today’s episode Shannah Game, host of Everyone’s Talkin’ Money podcast, and Certified Financial Planner is on the show to discuss how we can avoid getting stuck in a comparison trap and how to find what we truly want for our lives. -This episode originally aired on 1/17/2023 as #361 Connect with Today's Guest - Shannah Everyone...

Ever wish you could turn back the clock to share financial wisdom with your younger self in hopes that it would put you on the right financial path? My guest today is Ashley Feinstein Gerstley, author of Financial Adulting and founder of The Fiscal Femme, and we're discussing all the things we wish we knew about finances before we stepped out into financial adulthood. In this episode, we discuss H...

Is it possible to make travel more affordable in 2024? The world has opened up significantly since 2020, and people are eager to travel again. But how attainable is it to go on trips nowadays? If you’d love to travel more but are unsure if your budget allows for it, I have traveler extraordinaire and all-around savvy adventurer, Bianca Alba on the show to talk about how to make traveling a bigger...

Is achieving financial freedom really as simple as it seems? In today’s episode, I’m sharing Part 2 of Haley and Justin’s story. They walk us through the rest of their personal finance story after receiving a life-altering lawsuit settlement and the hard lessons they learned along the way. Moreover, how they managed to get their finances back on track and how they’re trying to help others avoid th...

An afternoon of Bluey delayed this episode, but I figured it's better late than never! Today's lets talk about the Federal Reserve and their decision to keep interest rates right were they are... at least for now. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance Want to submit a question to the show? Send an...

What would you do if you inherited $600,000 in your 20s? I’d like to say that I would’ve been responsible if I got that amount of money in my 20s, but in all honesty, I probably would’ve saved a little and spent a lot. That's exactly what happened to Haley and Justin Brown-Woods when they inherited $600,000 from a grandparent. They didn't just spend it all—they racked up a ton of credit card debt...

You've probably noticed that I took a couple of weeks off from Popcorn Finance News, but this week I'm back at it, and I have more than one number to share! Three weeks ago, the Labor Bureau released inflation data from March, and I've been going over those numbers ever since. So today, I'll share the most interesting pieces of information I found after analyzing five years' worth of inflation dat...

What were conversations surrounding money like when you were a kid? Many of us grapple with financial fears, whether it's a scarcity mindset or simply not knowing how to handle money, largely due to the lack of financial education in our childhoods. That's why I invited Naseema McElroy, host of the Financially Intentional Podcast, to join me on the show today. She's here to discuss her three-accou...

Is money wreaking havoc on your mental health? Money affects all aspects of our lives, so it shouldn’t be surprising that it can directly impact our mental health. That's why on today’s show, I wanted to continue the conversation about money and mental health with the help of Jill Sirianni, one-half of The Frugal Friends podcast and a licensed clinical social worker. Jill shares insights on how we...

Should I be investing in a HSA instead of a 401(k)? Last week, we tackled some HSA questions from a listener. Today Andrew Giancola, host of The Personal Finance Podcast, is back to dive into the finer details of HSAs, including how to access your money and how he uses one for retirement. Part 1: Ep. 441 Connect with Andrew Instagram | Website | The Personal Finance Podcast | Youtube Subscribe to...

There is a cap on how much in taxes the Federal Government can take from your paycheck and it is not as high as you think. Plus, you should use this episode as a reminder to check in on those CDs you opened last year. You might find a drop in your interest rate. We’ll discuss this and more in today’s episode of Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 37% This is the highest Federal tax bracket......

What is an HSA and do I need one? A listener wrote in with some great HSA questions including whether or not they are a good option for retirement. Andrew Giancola, host of The Personal Finance Podcast, is joining me to breakdown all things HSAs! Connect with Andrew Instagram | Website | The Personal Finance Podcast | Youtube Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/N...

Did you know that over 65% of tax filers get a refund? Have you started spring cleaning your bank account? We’ll discuss this and more in today’s episode of Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 65% About 65% of tax filers received a tax refund in 2023. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter - PopcornFinance.com/Newsletter Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance Want...