Ask HTM - Cashback vs Travel Points, Letting a Brokerage Cook, and the Right Way to buy a First Home #952
whatshot 9 snips
Mar 3, 2025
Listeners dive into the debate of cashback versus travel points, exploring which rewards suit different lifestyles. They tackle whether to let investments grow in a brokerage account or pay down a mortgage. Homebuyers receive guidance on key factors like size and location for their first apartment. A discussion about the practicality of credit locks with major bureaus provides valuable financial insights. Plus, there’s a fun hack involving Costco and Instacart, ensuring listeners leave with more than just numbers!
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Out-of-State Car Savings
Joel's friend Scott saved thousands on a car by buying it out-of-state after hearing advice on the podcast.
This strategy involves researching prices nationally and traveling to purchase.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Choosing the Right Card
Choose cashback cards for simplicity or travel cards for potentially higher rewards.
Consider your travel habits, flexibility, and willingness to learn the points systems.
insights INSIGHT
Travel Points vs. Cashback
Travel card points aren't always equal to cashback; their value depends on usage.
Optimizing points through partners yields better value than converting them to cash.
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Let’s dive into the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide over at HowToMoney.com/ask . Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!
1 - Cash back or travel points credit card… aren’t the rewards basically the same?
2 - Should I continue to let my investments in my taxable brokerage account continue to grow or should I focus on my mortgage?
3 - What factors like size and location should we consider when buying our first apartment?
4 - Does it make sense to pay for a credit lock with the 3 major credit bureaus?
5 - Can you help me understand Joel’s Costco Instacart hack?
Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. Start here.
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Find the best credit card for you with our new credit card tool!
Massively reduce your cell phone bill each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.
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