Life Kit: Money

One in 5 Americans struggles with medical bills. Here are things you do to get medical bills reduced — or even forgiven.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

It is possible to get out of debt fast, but it's a gritty marathon to get to a better place. Here's how to keep up the momentum.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If you're in debt, you're not alone. Here's how to make a plan and get yourself out.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

In this special episode, Sam Sanders of NPR's "It's Been A Minute" talks with financial journalist Hannah Seligson and Aminatou Sow from the podcast "Call Your Girlfriend" about why millennials are so financially intertwined with their parents.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Don't let college anxiety rush you into a financial mistake that could haunt you for years. This Life Kit episode lays out the do's and don'ts of paying for college so that you don't have to mortgage your future before you get there. Here's what to remember:- Consider attending community college before transferring to a more expensive four-year school.- Don't let a school's high price deter you — you may only have to pay a fraction of the advertised price.- The FAFSA form is the gatekeeper to most student financial aid, so don't put it off.- Find free money, from federal Pell Grants to college-based aid to scholarships for left-handed tuba players. - If you or your parents have to borrow beyond federal student lending limits, the degree might not be worth the debt.- Relax! You don't have to attend an elite school to be happy.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

You've taken the leap and enrolled in college! But money issues don't end when you accept your financial aid. Paying your way through school can be stressful, but lots of folks have made it work and they have advice for how you, too, can navigate your years in college. Here's what to remember: - Find out what resources your college offers for students — you may have to do some digging.- It's OK to get a job, but try to find one that's related to what you want to do. - Make a budget. And don't miss out on that free food!- When being thrifty isn't enough and you have no more hours for a job, talk to the financial aid office about taking out small federal loans.- Don't be afraid to ask for help.- Take care of yourself. You've made it to college: You belong there!Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Paying off student loans can be a financial nightmare. But if you know how to navigate the system, you can find a payment plan that's more affordable. Plus, if you qualify for loan forgiveness, you might get tens of thousands of dollars of debt wiped out. Here's what to remember:- Download a list of all your federal loans.- If you get an income-driven repayment plan, stay in it!- Don't trust your loan servicer. Do the research, find your payment plan and get it in writing.- Take a personal day or make a date with a friend to tackle student-loan paperwork.- Consider a full frontal assault on your loans to pay them down quickly.- Loan consolidation or refinancing might make sense for you, but might also lead to financial disaster.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If you use credit cards in a intentional way, you can free up some valuable perks. We geek out on strategies to make credit cards work for you.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Don't get caught in a cycle of unnecessary overdraft fees, credit card interest and high-cost loans. A few simple tools can help you hold onto those hard-earned dollars.Here's what to remember:- Automation is your friend. Set your bills on autopay. - Overdraft protection is deceptive. Link your checking account to a savings account to avoid overdraft fees.- Set up a buffer savings account with automatic deposits. - Don't use credit cards for emergency spending.- If you do have an emergency, try asking your employer for your already-earned wages. - Balance transfer checks can help with high-interest debt, but read the fine print.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

To many, it's a dreaded task: making a budget to keep track of money. Guess what? You can do it, and we show you some tools that can help — maybe even make it fun. The founder of the popular budgeting software You Need A Budget tells us how to track your spending.Here's what to remember:- Don't budget just because you should: Set a goal.- Leverage anxiety from a life change and turn it into motivation.- Follow the 50-30-20 method.- Use the power of scarcity.- A roommate is worth 1,000 coffees.- Find the budgeting technique that works for you. Here's a worksheet to get you started: https://bit.ly/2umlqex.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy