Nobody likes to be late to a party – the good snacks and drinks are gone, you’ve missed out on some inside jokes, and other friends may have already dipped out! It’s a bummer to feel like you’re out of the loop, because once you finally do learn about something important, like investing for your future, you’re in the disadvantaged position of having to make up for lost time. And I think that’s how a lot of folks feel when they first learn about FIRE, Financial Independence Retire early, “Sure, I’d be able to retire early too if I had heard about this 30 years ago!” But we’re here to tell you that it’s not too late, and our guest Jackie Cummings Koski is living proof that you didn’t have to start investing in your 20s in order to reach FIRE. Having only woken up to handling her finances responsibly at the age of 38, it only took her around a decade to call it quits (earning less than $100k/year), proving that you can achieve financial freedom even as a late comer. Jackie is a CFP, the author of the recently published FIRE for Dummies, and she’s also the co-host of the podcast Catching Up to FI which is going to be our theme for this episode – getting caught up with your investments!   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 Pretty Bird by Gate City 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.

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 are some drawbacks of the SAVE Plan for high-income earners? (***note: we didn't mention the federal judge pause to certain aspects of the SAVE Plan as that news broke after we recorded this episode!) 2 - Is tax loss harvesting and sector specific investing enough of a benefit to pay for a financial advisor? 3 - How can I tap my Roth 401k in order to pay off some credit card debt? 4 - Does it make sense to purchase a home if it means paying less than my rent?   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 classic: Duchesse de Bourgogne by Brouwerij Verhaeghe! 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.

What do Michelle Obama and Novak Djokovic have in common? Well at the very least they’ve both enjoyed meals by today’s guest, Frankie Celenza. And if you think about it, whether you’ve lived in the White House, or you’re the number one tennis player in the world, or if you’re just scraping by on a meager income, there is nothing more elemental than our need to eat food. We’re all united by the fact that we get hungry! And while some folks might like to splurge when it comes to meals, the rest of us are looking for ways to cut those costs so we can reach other financial goals. Frankie is a Daytime Emmy award winning culinary host and his show, Struggle Meals, is all about getting the most bang for your buck in the kitchen, both for your wallet and time savings. He is truly a professional in the kitchen and today we talk about buying seasonally, how to be more efficient while we cook, canned vs frozen veggies, redefining what it means to ‘cook’, and of course some of his favorite meals that are affordable and easy to prepare.   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 Fluffy Cow Hazy IPA by Gruner Brothers- thanks for donating this one to the show Katie! 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.

Ray Shefska and Zach Shefska, the dynamic duo behind CarEdge, offer savvy insights into car buying. They discuss how pandemic-induced supply chain issues have changed the auto market and share negotiation tips to get the best deal. Learn about crucial timing for purchases, the real impact of fees, and the importance of focusing on the out-the-door price instead of monthly payments. They even delve into the benefits of being flexible with vehicle options and navigating the complexities of warranties.

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 way to have an impactful and fun money meeting with my partner? 2 - Mortgage rates and home prices are keeping me from diversifying my portfolio – should I invest in REITs instead? 3 - Should I pay off my mortgage or renovate my home? 4 - Is it worth letting an insurance company track my driving in order to reduce my premium? 5 - Re-shopping a rental car to save massive amounts of money!   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 Bike Tour, which is a Helles Lager by Creature Comforts! 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: putting rent on your credit card, the cheapest way to travel, online passport renewals, avoiding upsells, open-jaw flights, HOA hell, rising costs of home ownership, syndicated real estate investing, astrological investing, AI investing, the bubble of all bubbles, “spaving” your way to riches, the free trial trap, & schlepping ‘n shopping.   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.

“Who wants to be a millionaire?!” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it in the age of crypto, memestocks, and general inflation where everything costs way more than a few years ago. But t’s still a laudable goal that many folks should be working towards, and our guest today believes that anyone can become rich. Of course it doesn’t happen overnight but Brian Preston lays out a nine-step system for building wealth with the money you already have, in his new book Millionaire Mission. It’s a practical guide that will teach you how to level-up your finances, while simultaneously worrying less about money by focusing on what really matters to you. Millionaire Mission will do more than help you optimize your army of dollar bills - it will motivate you to be the best version of your financial self. We discuss everything from working as a UGA bus driver in college, to the messy middle stage of life when we have so many competing financial goals, to when it makes sense to hire a financial advisor, and plenty more in this convo today!   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 thoroughly enjoyed a Savannah Banana Beer by Service 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.

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 - Which of my parents’ debts will I be on the hook for once they (inevitably) pass away? 2 - As a longtime FIRE adherent, how can I switch from a saver to spender mindset? 3 - How should I factor gift cards into my budget in order to accurately reflect my spending? 4 - What are some of the hidden costs of early retirement that I should be accounting for?   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 thoroughly enjoyed a Community Connection by Creature Comforts and Dancing Gnome! 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: refurb iPhone fail, public library win?, reverse ATMS, king credit card, the best investment on the planet, mortgage rate disparities, the medical industrial complex, rich restaurants, super-commuters, time is money, teen (e-bike) drivers, and the best high mileage cars.   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.

This is the episode for everyone out there who doesn’t want to work a soul crushing 9-5 job, specifically the kind of job where you’re being told what you can and can’t do, by someone else. This is an episode about entrepreneurship and starting your own business! Which even that phrase is potentially problematic, because what do some folks think of when they hear “launching a business”? Maybe they’re thinking of shows like Shark Tank, or of different rounds of funding, or proposing a business plan – and while that is how some businesses begin, the vast majority of small business owners won’t be running Fortune 500 companies nor will they be featured on the next episode of How I Built This. But those endeavoring individuals do have a great idea for a new product, or a way they can serve people who are willing to pay. And our guest today, Ciera Rogers, is here to share how she started her business: Babes, which is a women’s wear line that has been worn by the likes of Kim Kardashian and praised by Beyonce. Ciera recounts her journey in her new book “The Outsider Advantage” which comes out June 18th, how at the end of the day it’s all about solving problems, how she still is frugal at heart, and plenty more during today’s episode.   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 Svitle by Obolon Brewery! 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.