How to Money

In a thought-provoking conversation, Dana Miranda, a Certified Educator in Personal Finance and author of "You Don't Need A Budget," challenges the traditional budgeting mindset. She advocates for flexible financial strategies that prioritize empowerment over restriction, suggesting alternatives like the 'money map.' The discussion tackles the relationship between work, fulfillment, and finance, critiques systemic inequalities, and explores personal financial agency. Dana reimagines the way we think about spending, debt, and emotional well-being in personal finance.

Listener questions spark engaging discussions on financing a car versus paying cash, and how 529 college savings plans can impact financial aid eligibility. The hosts explore the balance between the emotional and practical sides of financial decisions and delve into the evolving world of home security. They provide insights on comparing retirement plans and navigating sensitive family finance conversations, all while keeping it light-hearted and relatable!

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: Joel’s price match win, egregious store card rates, brick & mortar shopping, physical catalog resurgence, generous happy people, Robinhood x Daffy, thermostat tug of war, too many toys, toilet scrubbing over bank account peeking, student loan servicer mess, Amazon Music audiobooks, & unassuming entrepreneurship hubs.   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. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. 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.   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. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Egan, Director of Behavioral Finance at Betterment, shares key insights on the psychology behind financial decisions. He explains why despite simple wealth-building principles, many still struggle to become millionaires. Egan emphasizes the dual role of behavioral science in managing temptations and setting achievable financial goals. The conversation also touches on the impact of technology in personal finance and the balance between rational investment strategies and emotional insights. A refreshing discussion on ‘Coast Fire’ and practical budgeting tips rounds out the chat.

Listener questions kick off lively discussions, diving into retirement payment choices between lump sums and monthly pensions. The hosts offer personal investing insights and explore smart strategies for home down payments. Investing in the S&P 500 is examined, alongside the tax implications of pension options. They emphasize the importance of making intentional financial decisions while enjoying a unique breakfast beer. The episode blends practical advice with engaging stories, making complex financial matters more accessible.

Dive into car stereo hacks and the benefits of auto-IRAs for retirement savings. Discover the fluctuating world of travel discounts, including 'Travel Tuesday' deals and the controversy surrounding Spirit Airlines and skip lagging. Navigate the potential pitfalls of sports betting on personal finance, and learn about shrinkflation’s impact on shopping habits. Explore the rise of secondhand gifting and the joys of thoughtful presents that resonate with individual tastes. Get ready for practical insights to enhance your financial journey!

Isn’t there a universal metric we can use in order to compare one charity to another? Not according to our guest today who says that we have to use the head AND the heart to determine what organizations we’re going to support. And when it comes to our motivation to give, I think it could be easy to dismiss our own efforts as just a tiny drop in the bucket. Maybe you’re giving when prompted at the checkout register, so it’s five bucks on occasion. Or maybe you are a little more disciplined or systematic about it and you give away a certain percentage of your income – but then you make recurring donations that you basically forget about. Out of sight, out of mind… but that’s not how we want you to give away your money. We want you to get the most bang for your buck! And here to help us to learn how to do that is Phil Buchanan, the president of the Center for Effective Philanthropy. He’s also the author of the book, Giving Done Right, where he emphasizes the importance of thoughtful and mission-driven giving. He has a podcast by the same name and he’s all about providing data-driven insights to help us maximize our personal impact. We talk about the limitations of effective altruism, focusing on local communities, the historical impact of philanthropy, and more!   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. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. 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. Don’t be cheap and forego getting a life insurance policy. Compare rates with Policygenius.   During this episode we enjoyed a Farina by Halfway Crooks Beer! 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!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 - What’s the best no-restrictions account where I can save money for my baby for any purpose? 2 - How do I tap funds in my Roth 401k if I’m looking to retire early? 3 - Do I need a special type of insurance as a first-time landlord and where should I look for a good leas? 4 - I’d like to use my severance to buy a used car, but I’m considering a new car since it’s not that much more…   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. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. 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 Turbodog by Abita 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!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s financial news and what it means for your personal finances. There are a lot of headlines out there, but we boil them down to specific takeaways that will allow you to kick off the weekend informed and help you to get ahead with your money. In this episode we explain some relevant and helpful stories like: direct home sales, content to rent, defund the HOA, affordable manufactured homes, mi casa es su casa, $50 million in TGI Friday bucks, 1900% in BTC gains, flood-damaged cars, and ripped jeans for a premium.   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. Join a thriving community of fellow money in the HTM Facebook group. 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.   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. Have an awesome weekend!   Best friends out!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dave Meyer joins the conversation as a long-time real estate investor and Head of Real Estate at BiggerPockets. He shares insights on the current housing market and predicts its future, emphasizing that opportunities still exist in value-add real estate. The discussion includes strategies for navigating rentals versus buying, the importance of self-management for new investors, and how to assess misleading statistics on foreclosures. Dave also highlights the significance of aligning investments with personal goals amid market fluctuations.