How to Money

This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I consider renting out a furnished spare room, and do I go about to vet possible roommates? 2 - How diversified are index funds? 3 - Can I use funds from a car loan to pay off some high interest credit card debt? 4 - When should I transition my side hustle to a legit small business and how do I start deducting my expenses come tax season? 5 - Should I invest in my 403b with pre-tax or post-tax dollars? And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ During this episode we enjoyed a Farmhouse Pale Ale by Oxbow Brewing Co - a big thanks to our friends there at the brewery! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Merry Christmas and happy holidays! In the midst of all the festivities, now is a good time to ask ourselves: “Buying new stuff makes us happy, right?” Well if you have a need that is now being met, there is certainly some value that item is now providing. But value isn’t the same as happiness. Hedonic adaptation, or the hedonic treadmill, helps us understand the effect of consumption. Coming to grips with that can help us end unhealthy cycles of mindless consumerism and set us on a path to a healthier way of thinking about money, spending, and saving for the future. Listen to the full episode to learn how hedonic adaptation can be terrible, how it can actually be a good thing, and then finally to learn how to hack it and truly control how happy you really are. During this episode we enjoyed a Mangifera Flux by Marz Community Brewing- a huge thanks to our buddy Andrew for bringing this beer all the way back from Chicago. And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Our guest today is Keith Schroeder who began working in the backwoods of Wisconsin on a family farm fixing silo unloaders- not the kind of job most of us had growing up! But his passionate distaste for that work led him to file tax returns on the side and that hustle led to Keith being able to retire at age 22 however he didn’t stay retired for long. His tax preparation business exploded into a full on accounting firm where at his busiest, he was serving over 2,000 clients. He started his own blog in 2016 called The Wealthy Accountant to inspire people to “live life well” and also help them not screw up their taxes. In this episode we’ll cover Keith’s thoughts on the best tax advantaged retirement accounts, whether your side business should really be a hobby, and some important considerations as you begin to get your 2019 tax forms together! During this episode we enjoyed an Alpha Abstraction Vol. 9 by Wild Leap which you can learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

How we pay for things has a LOT of implications. Chances are whether you use “cash, debit, or credit” is more a result of habit than a thoughtful approach to your spending. “I use my check card because that’s just what I do- and it’s easy!”. But it’s important to note that some payment methods are more secure than others, while others provide better rewards, peace of mind, or might even cause you to spend less of your money. So how do you know whether you should be pulling out your debit or credit card? Or should you stick to using cash? We’ll discuss the pros and cons and why how you pay is so important. During this episode we enjoyed an Oro Negro by Jackie O's Brewery- a big thanks to Art, Mackenzie, and all of our friends there at the brewery! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should we go with a cash out mortgage refinance in order to pay off student loans? 2 - Can I contribute to a self employed retirement account while also contributing to my employer sponsored plan? 3 - What does it take to be a HUD landlord and how do I balance community renovation with gentrification? 4 - We have a lot of available credit through our credit cards, but we never use it. Should we keep those cards open or close those accounts? 5 - Considering the stock market is hot and a correction is imminent, is dollar cost averaging or lump sum investing a better approach for me? And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ During this episode we enjoyed an Ogee by Jackie O's Brewery - a big thanks to Art, Mackenzie, and all of our friends there at the brewery! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Fees are a major pain and they’ve worked their way into so many different industries! We recently talked about travel lodging and discussed the annoyance of the countless fees that might get tacked on: resort fees are some of the most confusing, but parking and WiFi fees abound too! With fees becoming so prevalent across our financial lives, we need to be aware of how and when we encounter them so we can be vigilant and intentional to avoid them whenever possible. While we understand and will readily admit that certain services and products have a cost, we really don’t like it when those fees are hidden until the last minute or when companies go about adding them in an underhanded way. During this episode we enjoyed a Bourbon Barrel Dark Apparition by Jackie O's Brewery- a big thanks to Art, Mackenzie, and all of our friends there at the brewery! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

On average, we lose 3 hours of productivity every single day due to distractions! There are countless ways that we’re distracted in our lives today, and these distractions are keeping us from doing the things we truly need to do. MAYBE YOU’RE CURRENTLY DISTRACTED RIGHT NOW. It is very easy to allow ourselves to be constantly barraged by notifications, social media, or by email and these distractions are keeping us from being good friends and family members at home, and they’re keeping us from being productive and engaged at work. This is why we’re stoked to be talking with distraction expert Curt Steinhorst today. Curt wrote the book Can I Have Your Attention? Inspiring Better Work Habits, Focusing Your Team, and Getting Stuff Done in the Constantly Connected Workplace. We often talk about ways to save money but today’s conversation will focus on how we can do a better job earning money by focusing our attention on what matters most. During this episode we enjoyed a Quatrefoil by Jackie O's Brewery- a big thanks to Art, Mackenzie, and all of our friends there at the brewery! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

When 99% of American companies are small businesses, it’s no exaggeration to say that these businesses are the backbone of our country. These startups have been responsible for almost all new job creation over the past 3 decades! And not only are small businesses important to our economy but they’re important to us on a personal level as well. These are the storefronts and people who make up our communities and neighborhoods- they’re a part of our identity! However as technology marches on, small businesses also need to adapt and utilize this innovation to continue to reach their customers where and how they want to be reached. We’re going to cover some of our favorite ways that small businesses are able to use technology to stand out in really cool ways and contribute to their local community. During this episode we enjoyed a Double Purple Chroma by Other Half Brewing. Since we recorded this episode live in NYC, we were excited to enjoy a local craft beer from the borough of Brooklyn. And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I close a credit card that has a $40 annual fee? 2 - As a minor with my first job, where should I save and invest my money? 3 - How do I get my spouse on board using one of the budgeting apps? And with those apps are there any security concerns? 4 - I have a chunk of money that I plan to live off of in the coming years- where should I put it? 5 - Should I consider financing a car in order to keep my credit score high? And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ During this episode we enjoyed a Chance IPA by Wild Leap Brew Co which you can learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Before you’re tempted to rush out and pounce on those Black Friday deals: How amazing is it that we live in a world where there are so many ‘free’ things all around us? And how unfortunate it is, that we often don’t even see these ‘free’ resources because we’re so used to purchasing and consumption- we don’t even think to make use of them. Our technology and culture steers us in the direction to spend. Chances are you’re not taking advantage of this ‘free’ stuff and you’re overspending because maybe you haven’t thought about it or there are some things you’re not even aware of yet. Putting these resources to use will make you smarter, save you money, and will overall lead to a healthier and more balanced life. During this episode we enjoyed a Sticky Hands IPA by Block 15 Brewing Company- a big thanks to Dale for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Kristin Wong is passionate about helping people understand money in an accessible way. She started Lifehacker’s personal finance blog called Two Cents and she also authored the book “Get Money” last year - which is a great beginner’s guide to personal finance. She has also been featured in other major publications like Refinery29 and Glamour Magazine and you can currently find her writing in Smarter Living and the NYT. Even though Kristin is not a fan of Costco, we still had a great time talking about how we can gamify our personal finances, tips for being a digital nomad, and salary transparency in the workplace. During this episode we enjoyed a Lundi IPA by Monday Night Brewing- which you can learn all about on Untappd! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

There are times in our lives as consumers, that we’re faced with a decision: even though I can’t afford it, do I buy this thing that I really want? “Ohhh, that new iPhone looks really awesome” or “It would be a ton of fun to take a trip to the mountains next month!”. We often already know that the answer to these questions should be “No, I don’t have the money” because we know it’s not worth going into debt for these types of expenses. But sometimes the answer isn’t always as cut and dried as we’d like it to be. What if, as someone looking to invest in yourself, you’re thinking about taking out some student loans? Or what if you’re considering purchasing a home and you don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars set aside? Occasionally, we find ourselves in these situations where debt might make sense. Listen as we talk through some of those scenarios as well as what else to keep in mind when you’re considering taking on debt. During this episode we enjoyed a Czech Pilsner by yEAST Atlanta Brewers- a big thanks to our beer brewing friend John Francis for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week on the podcast we’re answering your questions! 1 - Should I make additional principal payments on my mortgage? 2 - I want to open a flexible account for my daughters- what should it be? 3 - Would you recommend a foreclosure or pre-foreclosure for us as first-time homebuyers? 4 - What do y’all think about investing in gold and other precious metals? 5 - While shopping for a house, should we take into account the potential rent from house hacking with our friend, as we consider what we can afford? And how about some specific tips for renting to a friend? And if you have a question for us, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask/ During this episode we enjoyed a 6A, which is a New England style saison pale ale by yEAST Atlanta Brewers- a big thanks to our beer brewing friend John Francis for donating this beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

The price of college has gotten so incredibly expensive that we’re wondering if college is even worth it anymore. With the current total outstanding student loan debt totaling over $1.6 trillion, the return on your investment isn’t as obvious as it was decades ago. Now is the time to ask: Is getting a degree from a traditional academic institution the best course going forward? The answer isn’t going to be the same for everyone, but we’ll touch on the important things to consider before you decide to go back to school or as you have that conversation with your high schooler as they weigh college options. During this episode we enjoyed a Mexican Lager by St. Archer- a big thanks to our friends at St. Archer for donating the beers to the show this week! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Our guest on this episode is personal finance writer J.D. Roth who started his blog, Get Rich Slowly in the early days of the internet- back in 2006! It’s grown to be one of the most well-respected personal finance sites around thanks to his honesty, superb writing, and desire to serve his readers. We hear all about J.D.’s history with money, whether politics belong in personal finance, the different stages of financial freedom, as well as the intersection of depression and money. And let’s not forget- we snuck in some conversation about Taylor Swift and J.D.’s lifelong devotion to his hometown soccer team! During this episode we enjoyed a Gold by St. Archer Brewing Co- thanks to our friends at St. Archer for donating these beers to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Help us to spread the word to get more people doing smart things with their money! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com