Life Kit: Money

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

We help you understand whether you need an adviser, and if you do want one, how to find someone who will act in your best interest.Here's what to remember:- Many people don't need to pay for financial advice.- Use a "fee-only" adviser, not a "fee-based" adviser.- Consider low-cost options like robo-advisers or Vanguard.- You might need to break up with your adviser — but you can still be friends. - Two online resources can help you find an adviser: NAPFA and Kent on Money.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Investing doesn't have to be hard. We explain how to grow a nice nest egg and avoid that four-letter word that starts with F ... fees. Here's what to remember:- Don't pick your own stocks. - Don't sell stocks if the market crashes.- Diversify your portfolio. - Don't pay too much in fees.- Invest in index funds, not actively managed funds.- Rebalance your portfolio every year — then leave it alone.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

If you're not good at saving money, it's not your fault: Humans are hard-wired to focus on the present. But there's a way to beat evolution and build for your future. Here's what to remember: - Make savings automatic.- Save, even if you have student loans.- Participate in your employer's matching plan.- Reward yourself for saving.- Envision your future self.- Start saving young.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy