How to Money

There is so much more to handling your finances and investing well, than just knowing the correct information. Oftentimes we’re blind to the factors all around us, including our own tendencies and biases which can have a much bigger impact on how well we money. Willpower is limited and context matters way more than we might think. That’s why we're pumped to sit down with Dr. Daniel Crosby- he is a psychologist and behavioral finance expert who helps folks understand the intersection of their minds and their money. Daniel is a NYT bestselling author on behavioral finance, and his latest book The Behavioral Investor, looks at the psychology, physiology, and sociology of financial decision making. By the end of this episode, you’ll have a better understanding of what steps you need to take in order to be a successful investor. During this episode we both enjoyed a Hoplanta by Atlanta Brewing Co which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to Daniel himself, for not only showing up talking with us in person, but for donating these beers to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review over in Apple Podcasts - that's how you can enter to win a copy of Daniel's latest book The Behavioral Investor. Once you leave that review, just shoot us an email at howtomoneypod@gmail.com with your screen or user name and you'll be set! Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Anyone who has heard of the different warehouse clubs like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s has also heard that they’re a great place to save you money. But are they? With the proliferation of discount grocery stores and the ability to easily find a great deal on pretty much any product online, some are questioning whether the annual membership fees are worth it. Have a listen as we break down a bunch of the benefits, but also some of the drawbacks associated with warehouse clubs. During this episode we both enjoyed a Buffalo Soldier by UTOG Brewing Co which you can find on Untappd. Another big thanks to Andy 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Having just started my career, how much should I have in my emergency fund? 2 - Should I still move forward with my credit freeze? 3 - My insurance agent is recommending an insurance policy with a cash value. Should I consider it? 4 - Should we get a variable or fixed rate mortgage for our first home purchase? 5 - How do I keep my car insurance rates down after getting in a wreck? 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 Killer Grove by Talisman Brewing Co which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to Andy 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

How much are you paying to invest in your 401k or IRA? You might see fees as an unavoidable cost of investing, but even a 1% fee could easily cost you more than a half million dollars over your investing lifetime. Fees not only erode how much money you have to invest now, but they lessen the amount of money that is compounding in your account year after year- the impact is twofold! Listen as we discuss the different types of fees, how to look for them, and then where to go in order to avoid fees altogether. During this episode we both enjoyed a Bent De Garde by Braindead Brewing which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to Jerrod and our friends out there in Dallas 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Pretty much everyone we know would love to have more hours in their day- more time to spend with friends and family, more time to read or exercise (or any time), or even some extra hours to work on that side hustle you’ve been thinking about. We are really excited to have time management expert Laura Vanderkam on the podcast as she helps people spend more time on what matters, and less on what doesn’t. We discuss her latest book, Juliet’s School of Possibilities where she says that “Expectations are infinite, time is finite, you are always choosing, choose well.” In this conversation we dive into ways to be more efficient at work, how we should be thinking about our time at home while we’re ‘off the clock’, and some tips on how we can better manage distractions. During this episode we both enjoyed an Infinity Bloom by Newgrass Brewing Co. which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to Mano and Pop (Matt’s in-laws) 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

How much are you spending on your car? Aside from housing, Americans spend more money on cars and transportation costs than any other category, accounting for 14% of the average budget. That’s $9,000 annually according to the US Consumer Expenditure Survey but it could be a lot less! Luckily, some cars cost WAY less than others to purchase and maintain, and in this episode we make some car recommendations for frugal folks. During this episode we enjoyed a Bitter by FORM Fermentery and Blendery which you can find on Untappd. Another big thanks to Adam 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Is it possible to create a side hustle using the different grocery or exercise apps that promise to pay? 2 - Should I diversify and have more than one Roth IRA account? 3 - As a highschool teacher preparing my students for the real world, what personal finance topics should I be sure to include? 4 - What are the best methods for accepting rent? 5 - What are some ways to cut the cost of cosmetics? 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 Form to Table by FORM Fermentery and Blendery which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to Adam 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Every month we waste a lot of money on utility bills that could be back in our pockets if we would only be more intentional about making our homes more energy efficient. Not only could we save more money now, but there is massive potential for what that money could grow into if we invested it every month - don’t forget the rule of 173! Regardless of whether you’re renting an apartment or living in your own house, listen as we discuss lots of different ways that you can cut your water, gas, and electric bills. Recurring monthly expenses have a huge impact on your ability to save for the future! During this episode we enjoyed a Challenge Series 11 by Bear Republic Brewing which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to our friends at Bear Republic 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Is it possible to pay down $200,000 of debt while living in a big city, and still find enjoyment in everyday life? Yes! In this episode we’re lucky enough to sit down with Kiersten and Julien Saunders who blog at RichAndRegular.com where they document their journey to financial independence. During this episode we hear from Kiersten and Julien about the unique struggles of African Americans in the corporate world, how they stayed motivated to pay down debt, their approach to effective budgeting, and how Julien’s background as a professional chef keeps their monthly expenses down. During this episode we all shared a beer- The Last Blockbuster by 10 Barrel Brewing which you can find on Untappd. A huge thanks to our friend Scott out in Bend, Or for donating this beer to the show! And it’s incredibly appropriate that he sent this one to us as he just finished up his documentary on financial independence titled Playing With Fire, be sure to check it out as the Saunders are featured! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

What is the best way to pay down debt? Americans are in tremendous amounts of debt (think over 400 billion on just credit cards alone)! Not only is this debt keeping folks from reaching their financial goals, but it’s also taking a toll on the mental health of borrowers. Knowing the best strategy to get out of this debt is a big deal and could be the difference between living paycheck to paycheck or achieving financial freedom. Listen as we cover both approaches so you can decide which is better for you: the debt snowball (popularized by Dave Ramsey) and the debt avalanche (also known as debt stacking). During this episode we enjoyed a Maple Vanilla Copra Kai by Southern Grist Brewing which you can find on Untappd. Another big thanks to Jamie and friends up there in Nashville 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - What’s the difference between annuities and life insurance? 2 - Ways to improve my credit score after a chapter 7 bankruptcy? 3 - Robo advisors: are they too good to be true? 4 - Should I open a college savings account for my toddler? 5 - What kind of equipment do you use to record the podcast? 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 Bio-Rhythm by Southern Grist Brewing which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to Jamie and friends up there in Nashville 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

We think it’s a great decision for almost everyone to invest in a Roth IRA. Second only to an employer matched 401k, a Roth IRA is very often the best retirement savings vehicle due to tax advantages and flexibility within that account. Listen as we cover some of the reasons we’re huge fans of the Roth IRA. During this episode we enjoyed a Superior BarleyLime by tripelroot - a big thanks to Heather for donating this delicious beer to the show! And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

It’s time to dispel the myth that you need to have a huge salary, or that you need to work and save for decades, in order to eventually retire. This week we’re excited to hear from Jillian Johnsrud as she shares with us how she became financially independent at the age of 32, despite her and her husband never making more than 60k a year. We cover how they paid cash for their first house, how they continue to save and invest with 5 kids at home, as well as the importance of their "quit list" as they seek to live an intentional and adventure filled life. During this episode we enjoyed an Official IPA by Bell’s Brewery- a big thanks to our friends at Bell’s 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

For most people car and home insurance policies are expected, necessary costs of owning those things. Because we automatically set up these policies, we tend to forget to continually shop them around- which may mean we’re significantly overpaying! Loyalty with a particular insurer doesn’t save you money over the years so continually shopping your provider is one of the best ways to get your rates down. Listen as we cover several other ways to save big on car and home insurance, plus we answer the question: When should I even use my insurance?! During this episode we both enjoyed a Uroboros Stout by Anthem Brewing which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to Sy in Oklahoma City 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

This week on the pod we’re answering your questions! 1 - Where should I keep money that I’m saving for a down payment for real estate? 2 - Should I be investing in my retirement while I still have student loan debt? 3 - When should I consider selling my clunker and buying a ‘new’ car? 4 - Is wrapping your car in ads a legit way to make money? 5 - What are some ways to save money while on the road touring with my band? 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 both enjoyed a Forgotten Lake Blueberry Ale by Lake of the Woods Brewing which you can find on Untappd. A big thanks to David in Keswick, Ontario 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, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts- we’d love to hear from you. Best friends out! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com