Ask HTM - Student Loans vs Investing, Best Cell Service While Abroad, & the Role of Faith in Our Finances #976
Apr 28, 2025
Listener questions bring lively discussions on balancing student loans and investments. The hosts explore how faith influences financial choices, recommending stewardship over ownership. They also tackle the impact of loaning money to friends and its role in credit building. Tips for choosing the best cell service while traveling internationally are shared, alongside advice on strategic mortgage payments versus investing. With humor and personal anecdotes, it’s a vibrant mix of finance and everyday life.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Invest Rather Than Rush Student Loan Payoff
Prioritize investing over accelerating payoff on low-interest private student loans.
Keep investing diligently unless you must pay off loans to avoid spending the money impulsively.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Joel's Early Loan Payoff Regret
Joel rushed to pay off his student loan early despite a low 1.875% interest rate.
He later regretted it, realizing funds could have earned more in the market over time.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
You Can't Personally Report Loans
Individuals cannot report personal loans to credit bureaus to build credit for others.
Use third-party services like Self or Zillow for official credit reporting purposes.
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Let’s kick off 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 - How should I strike the balance between paying off my student loans versus investing?
2 - Since I loan money to friends, can I report their on-time payments to help them build their credit?
3 - What is the role of faith in your lives and how does it pertain to handling your personal finances?
4 - Should I use my company stock vests to pay extra towards my mortgage?
5 - I’m planning to travel internationally so what cell phone provider should I go with?
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.
Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
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.
During this episode we enjoyed a Birdie Putt by Six Bridges Brewing! And please help us to spread the word by letting friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular listener, and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to change the conversation around personal finance and get more people doing smart things with their money!
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