Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult

It’s one of the scariest times of the year. . . . it’s open enrollment time for health insurance. Every year, we’re all overwhelmed by the options and terminology of our policies, but this year Molly and Matt have full hearts and can’t lose. This year, they are determined to understand their coverage options and whether they should choose a high-deductible plan or one with a high premium. But first, they’re going to figure out what those terms mean in this episode. With the help of KFF Health News’ Julie Rovner, learn about the difference between an FSA and an HSA and what your plan is legally required to cover.    Sources Cited:  Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health - Primary Care Visits Available to Most Uninsured But at a High Price Forbes - How Much Does Health Insurance Cost In 2023? US Department of Healtth and Human Services - About the Affordable Care Act  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Car Talk's Editor-in-Chief Jamie Page Deaton joins to discuss buying a car, including leasing vs. financing, entering a dealership confidently, scoring the best deal, and deciding on extended warranties. Tips include securing lower interest rates with online banks, negotiating at a dealership, and tactics for purchasing a car at a competitive price.

CarTalk Editor-in-Chief Jamie Page Deaton joins Matt and Molly to discuss choosing the right car based on needs and cost. They cover budgeting, fuel-efficient options, latest safety features, and avoiding negative equity in car loans. Explore the shift in car ownership views, tips for responsible car buying, advanced driving systems, comparisons between EVs and hybrids, government support for EV charging networks, and essential adulting tips for car buying.

In our previous episode, we learned all about how to pay and save for college with a 529 savings plan. But a bachelor’s degree program isn’t the only path to take when it comes to higher education. In this special episode of “Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult,” sponsored by EdVest of Wisconsin and the Michigan Education Savings Program, Molly and Matt will explore all of the options people have after graduating high school – and beyond a bachelor’s degree.  With the help of return guests Robin Lott and Jackie James, we’re discussing the value of all types of degrees and certificates with the goal of helping you determine your own personal path. The best part? You can use a 529 savings account to pay for any of them! Sources Cited:   National Center for Education Statistics US Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

College savings experts Robin Lott and Jackie James discuss the importance of starting to save early for higher education. They cover topics such as 529 college savings plans, student loan options, grants, scholarships, and managing leftover funds in a 529 account. The episode emphasizes the benefits of investing in education and preparing financially for future college expenses.

Lucas Hall, Founder of Landlordology, discusses utility bills with Molly and Matt. They cover essential utilities, tips for reducing bills, transferring services when moving, credit checks for opening accounts, managing energy usage, and emergency preparedness. Learn more about saving money on utilities and get a preview of the next episode on saving for college.

Last episode we learned all about how to find and lease an apartment, but in this episode, we’re leveling up with how to buy and finance a home. We’re talking about mortgages, escrow, and HOAs with Vanessa Aragon, a licensed real estate agent in Scottsdale, Arizona. Did you know you could put down less than six percent to buy a home?? (Thanks, Vanessa.) Discover if you’re ready for home-buying – and if your budget is, too. Plus, find out why you really don’t want to skip a home inspection during the buying process.   Sources Cited:  Housing Market Predictions for 2023 from Banke Rate NAR Research Group’s Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report 2022 National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers Best Lenders for FHA Loans in July 2023 from Nerd Wallet See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are a lot of pros and cons to renting an apartment. On one hand, there’s no freer feeling than being able to pick up and move to anywhere your heart desires at the end of your lease. On the other hand – good luck if you want to customize that space with anything more than a paint job…. In this episode of Grown-Up Stuff: How to Adult, we’re talking to New York real estate broker Mark Metzger from the Corcoran Group to learn some tips on how to find an apartment and the terms we need to know to better understand our lease. Plus, discover the best strategies for how to negotiate your lease terms and lock in a lower rent.  Learn about your rights as a renter by checking out your city’s or state’s Department of Housing website:  New York City, NY- https://hcr.ny.gov/division-housing-and-community-renewal  Boston, MA - https://www.boston.gov/departments/housing  Los Angeles, CA - https://housing.lacity.org/  San Francisco, CA - https://sf.gov/topics/housing  Chicago - https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doh.html  Austin, TX - https://www.austintexas.gov/page/tenant-stabilization-and-renters-rights  Minneapolis, MN - https://www.minneapolismn.gov/resident-services/property-housing/    Cited Sources:  2021 Census Data on Renting Changes in New York State Rent Law  City of Boston Rent Stabilization “Portland Voters Reject Rent Control Changes” (H/T NBC News Center: Maine) “Rent Control Versus Rent Stabilization: What it All Means for Landlords” (Forbes) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Learn how to manage your credit like a grown-up with Sara Rathner, a credit card expert at NerdWallet. Discover the benefits of using credit cards for safety, rebuilding credit, and earning rewards. Understand the importance of responsible credit management, monitoring for fraud, and maximizing rewards with strategic card usage.

Watching TikToks of home cleaning and organizing hacks are some of our favorite things to do; it’s like a squeegee for our brains. But how can we apply the lessons of the internet to the way we clean our own homes, and should we? Join us on a cleaning journey with our “TikTok Auntie”  and author of the book, “How to Clean Everything: A Practical, Down to Earth Guide for Anyone Who Doesn’t Know Where to Start,” Ann Russell. Ann tells us the essentials for a home cleaning kit and explains how often we should be tidying our kitchens, bathrooms, and bedsheets without getting overwhelmed by it all. Plus learn how you might be using anti-bacterial sprays wrong. Cited Sources:  Journal of Neuroscience (Via National Library of Medicine): "Interactions of Top-down and bottom-up mechanisms in human visual cortex"  "The Clutter Culture" UCLA's Center on Everday Lives of Families' study of contemporary Suburban America See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.