How to Money

Some of the most important financial decisions we make are done infrequently. So because of that we feel a little rusty every time we perform that task. Buying a car is one of those infrequent decisions that can oftentimes blindside us if we’re not prepared. On one hand this can be an exciting time, but on the other it can be really nerve-wracking since the average person buys a car every six years. That’s plenty of time to forget how to do it by the next time you need to buy a car. And that problem is compounded by the fact that we’ve seen a huge shift over the past 18 months in pricing and purchasing dynamics. Supply chain issues have led to much higher prices! Since so much is at stake, it’s crucial that you take the proper steps to make sure you’re going about buying a car the right way.

During this episode we enjoyed a Pothole City Rocky Road Stout by Pipeworks 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!

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Most folks have no problem spending their money. I hate to say it, but shopping is basically an American pastime! It certainly drives production as data shows that consumption is responsible for 2⁄3 of our economy. But not everyone indulges in retail therapy- hopefully the majority of listeners to the podcast are less likely to mindlessly spend. And there’s a certain subset of folks who actually struggle with the opposite problem: they mindlessly save. We frequently discuss Financial Independence Retire Early, and we’re excited to be joined by a recovering member of the FIRE movement, Gwen Merz. Gwen has been a part of the community for years. She’s the creator behind the blog Fiery Millennials and was recently featured in multiple Business Insider articles. And now she’s working on a book documenting her FIRE journey!- here’s a quote from her book proposal: “Supersavers will improve the quality of their lives by shedding maladaptive behaviors and emotions...”. It turns out that the habits that lead to more savings and investments, may not be the same ones that lead to happy and fulfilling lives. Listen as we discuss Gwen’s introduction to FIRE, how far she pushed her savings rate, a failed attempt at investing in real estate, her spending experiments, 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.

During this episode we enjoyed a Georgia On My Mind Wholesome Wave Collab by Piedmont 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.

We have a really inspiring interview today that will encourage anyone who is looking to change their life by paying down debt. Jen Smith is a personal finance expert and she has the experience to back it up. Jen and her husband paid off $78,000 of debt in less than two years making well under 6-figures. She's been featured in Kiplinger, U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, and she's co-host of the Frugal Friends podcast and blogs over at ModernFrugality.com. Getting out of debt and frugality go hand in hand, so we spend some time talking about why frugality is so important and what it means to be frugal. We also cover some of Jen’s favorite tactics and strategies that she used in order to become debt free.

During this episode we each enjoyed a cold brewed coffee since we recorded this episode in the morning (back with craft beer on Wednesday)! And as we have ramped up the podcast with an additional Friday episode every week, we could really use your help to spread the word- let friends and family know about How to Money! Hit the share button, subscribe if you’re not already a regular, 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 in these difficult times!

Best friends out!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today our $Pro, Paula Pant, is going to reframe what it means to be an investor - does investing some money make you an actual investor? And what role should your emotions play when it comes to investing? Paula has broken the shackles of paycheck-dependence and has been sharing her expertise and experience with others on her wildly popular site AffordAnything.com, where she has given a TON of thought to how we should approach personal finance. In this episode, Paula specifically covers 3 pitfalls when it comes to how we think about investing our money: investing vs. being an investor, the natural human tendency of ‘resulting’, and sequence of returns risk. First we will hear from our $Pro and then we unpack her information together!

During this episode we enjoyed a Freshly Picked Citra by Southern Swells Brewing Co which you can find and learn all about on Untappd. A big thanks to Kate from Southern Swells for donating this delicious beer! 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!

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We talk a lot about real estate investing on the show. However, if that’s not your thing then don’t worry about real estate- it is not necessary to build wealth. Just be sure that you’re investing somewhere, in something, and it’s so important that you invest in what you know! In this episode we cover some alternative ways to invest your money, as a way to get you thinking creatively and strategically when it comes to investing so that you can earn over 10% while feeling more fulfilled at the same time. Listen to the full episode to get inspired! However, if you find that you don’t currently have the time or ability to take on these alternative methods, at the very least you can start with traditional investing which you can easily learn all about in Episode 9: Retirement Investing is Simpler than You Think.

And at the beginning of this episode we each enjoyed a Plank’d by Avery Brewing Company which you can find and learn all about on Untappd. A massive thanks to Avery for donating this massive beer and supporting the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and review us in Apple Podcasts, Castbox, or wherever you get your podcasts!

For specific links and additional information about this episode, head over to our site: HowToMoney.com . Best friends out!

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