How to Money

There are a host of reasons why renting a place instead of buying might be a great idea for you (we even dedicated an entire episode to the topic!). But when it comes to renting and entering into a lease agreement with a landlord, you want to make sure that you’re prepared and taking the proper steps to protect yourself. Listen as we cover everything from Wall Street landlords to negotiating leases to the low cost of renters insurance. During this episode we both enjoyed a Russell Kelly...

What kind of life do you really want to lead? Does consumption and stuff dictate your life more than you’d like? It is so important to examine your own life to discover the small changes you can make right now to give you more freedom to do the things that truly matter most to you. For this interview, we sat down with Chris and Cristi from Life Opted Out to talk about how and why they chose to leave a life they loved in NYC for a much simpler, more affordable life traveling the country in...

US households owe a total of $420 billion in credit card debt so it’s no surprise that everyone is looking for an easy solution. Debt consolidation (and debt settlement) companies offer a quick fix but they often cost you a lot, wreck your credit score, and they may even completely scam you without performing any of the promised work. Rather than consolidation and settlement companies, consider the sure route- ‘manually’ consolidating your own debt and, if needed, utilizing loan companies...

Do you feel comfortable with the expectations of your job and the number of hours you work? Or do you sense impending burnout with the constant demands and grueling schedule required of you? This week's $Pro, Tanja Hester, is here to talk about how to begin making your job a smaller part of your life. Her first step to achieve this is saving up just enough money to shift that power imbalance that you may feel with your boss, and give you confidence and bargaining power. We will also cover...

Even though the federal government published a report that determined the average cost of raising a child from birth to age 18 is $233,000- that doesn’t mean you HAVE to spend that much! When calculating how much YOU will spend on a child, start by asking yourself: what are my current expenses? Because really the best indicator of how much you’ll spend on your kids is how much money you are already spending on yourself. The cost of children will be an extension of your values and what you’re...

It's always encouraging to be reminded that the hard work you're putting in and the sacrifices you're making now can mean a much smoother ride in the future when it comes to your personal finances. Our $Pro this week, Doc G, is here to discuss the compounding effects of extra work, saving, and investing early on. Even if you're not so young, this episode is a call to get started now- not next month or next year- get your money in order today! During this episode we each enjoyed an...

Nearly 80% of Americans wouldn’t be able to pay their bills if they missed a paycheck. When you’re used to living paycheck to paycheck, the idea of setting aside some extra money is almost laughable. How do you even consider setting financial goals when every dollar you make is already going somewhere necessary? In this episode we talk through how to choose to set goals regardless of your financial situation. The goal of an emergency fund for some breathing room and financial cushion is the...

Rampant consumerism and consumption is becoming the norm, and this is partly due to the fact that it is so easy to make purchases online. $Pro Katy Wolk-Stanley is challenging that notion by refusing to buy new stuff, and instead, she’s prioritizing her goals and values when it comes to consumption. Free piles of stuff on the sidewalk and your local Buy Nothing group can be great, but they’re not the only way to drastically cut back. Listen as we’re challenged by Katy and as we seek to save...

Working hard for money isn't a foreign concept, but working hard to receive good customer service often is- we so rarely advocate for ourselves! The first step when you're looking for great customer service is to be sure to do business with a reputable company. After that, there are plenty of additional elements to consider to not only save you money, but allow you to walk away from a transaction completely satisfied and raving about how great of an experience you had when you needed...

The cost of college is higher than ever. On average, students today are paying 213% more to go to college than their parents paid 30 years ago (and that includes adjustment for inflation!). $Pro Cody Berman is with us this week to discuss finding smart and creative ways to cut college costs, so that graduates can launch their professional careers unhampered by massive student loans. So whether you're in school, considering going back, or have kids - listen to hear some advice on ways to cut...

People don’t invest in the stock market because of a perceived ‘risk’- their minds immediately jump back to the Great Recession or even the Great Depression. And then from that position of fear, they decide their money is better left in a nice and familiar savings account- except this is an instance where slow and steady doesn’t win the race. It turns out that one of the biggests, actual risks to your money is not investing at all, in an attempt to avoid ‘risk’ from the stock market. Listen...

Do you have federal student loans? Are you wondering if you have any refinancing options? There is a lot to consider in a refinance beyond the advertised interest rate, and this week’s $Pro, Meagan Landress, will help us wade through it all. We also spend a large part of this episode answering specific student loan related questions from the How to Money Facebook group. During this episode we each enjoyed a Can Can (red wine barrel-aged) by Westbrook Brewing Co which you can learn all about...

The difference between scoring a home vs. missing out can be incredibly small- and a lot of it comes down to your offer. There are lots of little things that can help your offer stand out and make the buying process move along smoothly. However, since most of us only buy a home once or twice in our lifetime, not knowing or forgetting a step can cost us a place we really want or cause us to make unwise decisions. Listen as we cover some important steps in the home buying process and how you...

Over 45 million Americans are saddled with over 1.5 trillion in student loan debt- this is a nationwide epidemic! With such a massive burden, how do you even begin repaying your student loans? Our $Pro this week, student loan expert Meagan Landress, is here to shed some light on the many different student loan repayment programs and how to choose the plan that best fits your financial situation and goals. At the end of this episode we answer some specific student loan related questions from...

Buying a house will likely be the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make, so it’s no surprise that it can be an intimidating process. But this is the very same reason you should be a well informed buyer- so much money is on the line! Today we’re covering several steps everyone needs to take before purchasing to make sure that you’re getting the best deal possible on a house that you love. During this episode we enjoyed an Ink Imperial Stout by Rhinegeist Brewery which you can learn all...

The fact is that everyone wants to travel, but nobody wants to pay more than they need to for airfare. Who doesn’t want a deal?! Our $Pro today is Scott of Scott’s Cheap Flights, and he’s going to explain how we’ve been going about booking our vacations all wrong. It’s time to turn the way we plan for trips completely upside down! Listen as we discuss ways to save money when booking airfare. During this episode we enjoyed a Penguin Blonde Stout by Rhinegeist Brewery which you can learn all...

Weddings are expensive, but they don’t have to be! Spend your money on the things that truly matter to you and your fiancé and let the rest go. Cutting out elements that don’t mean much to you, however traditional or expected, will save you a ton. Once you’ve decided on your most important elements and it is time to spend some serious money, do it wisely! Listen as we cover a variety of ways to plan a beautiful and meaningful wedding, without going broke. During this episode we enjoyed a...

Networking is one of those things you may not think is necessary- until it’s too late. Our $Pro this week, Jordan Harbinger, is here to explain how vital it is to network now, even if you’re an introvert or if you’ve felt smarmy about it in the past. What’s important is that you’re genuine and interested in helping others now, before you need help yourself! Listen as we hear from Jordan and then break it all down to provide some specific and actionable tips. During this episode we enjoyed a...

Since personal finance is not taught in most public schools, the job falls squarely on parents and caretakers. Hopefully this means we are intentionally teaching our children through lessons and examples in order to shape their perceptions of money. Listen as we cover the foundational money principles that we feel will have the biggest impact on the way our kids view money. During this episode we enjoyed a Peanut Brother by Great Notion Brewing which you can find and learn all about on...

You don’t have to be a millionaire to be a successful real estate investor. Chad Carson, our $Pro this week, is here to explain how even a small, effective real estate portfolio can lead to reaching your financial goals in a short period of time. He illustrates this with an example of a couple reaching financial independence with only five properties, not hundreds! Having greater financial freedom and flexibility with your time will be the natural outcome of focusing on your goals, and...