Investments and Money Efficiency

Hour 1: HSAs access is growing. Also, dollar stores are in trouble for regularly overcharging customers. Ask HTM: Paul wants to know if he should pay off his mortgage or invest instead. Target date funds are getting more complex and less appealing. Ask HTM: Mary wants to know about more efficient w…

"Gamblification" Is Getting Worse

Hour 2: Many real estate investors are finding themselves in a tight spot right now as market conditions soften. Ask HTM: Rajet might need to move back to India to take care of his parents. How should he prepare financially? The gamblification of America is getting worse, including supposed '100% c…

What did the Black Friday/Cyber Monday trends look like? Also, be aware of store return policies!

Ask HTM: Max wants to know how much of a down payment to put down when buying a home. Trump accounts are here! Matt and Joel parse the details about how to get the free $1k and whether these accounts make sense for other families.  Ask HTM: Question about antics he experienced when buying a car.

Are some homeowners 'trapped' in their homes!? A recent NYT article makes it sound like that. But it's hogwash.

Ask HTM: Casey wants to prepare for his family now that he has a child with a disability. What is the poverty line in America? It's certainly not $140k the way some folks might make you think! Ask HTM: A HTM listener wants to know if annuities are a good investment product or not.

The Challenges of High-End Credit Cards

It's getting harder to take advantage of high-end credit cards. Know the hurdles to earning rewards before you sign up for a card with an exorbitant annual fee! Ask HTM: Tim wants to know about the ethical nature of filing a claim for a new roof when it's not truly damaged.  Tariff rollbacks on pop…

Sock for Your iPhone?!

Apple has launched a new 'sock' to store your phone. It costs $230! Joel & Matt talk about ridiculous overpriced items.  Ask HTM: Steve is worried about AI's impact on his small business. Should he change his investments?  Electric vehicles are losing their luster. And prices remain high on EVs. Ru…

Lunch Is Expensive!

How To Money Hour 2 (11/09) - Eating out for lunch is expensive! Eat leftovers instead, folks. Ask HTM: A Facebook poster wants to know if paying off his mortgage will harm his credit score. Ads are everywhere these days! They're getting incredibly annoying. Matt has a tip for avoiding ads on socia…

Cars Aren't Cheap Anymore

How To Money Hour 1 (11/09) - Cars aren't cheap anymore, far from it, but Americans are making them cost quite a bit more because of their idiotic financing moves. A HTM listener has a question about open enrollment and how to choose his healthcare plan wisely. Also, what's going on with the job ma…

The State of the Craft Beer Industry & More!

Joel and Matt discuss the state of the craft beer industry. And offer a little economic analysis for why craft breweries aren't thriving in 2025. HTM listener Morgan contributed too much to her 401k. It's a good problem to have, but it's still a bit of a problem. Plus, Credit card churning is pop…

Joel Ran His First Marathon!

Joel just ran his first marathon, but it's amazing how much money people are spending on what has been such a simple hobby! HTM listener Katie has a question about how to calculate her savings rate. Plus, the more money you have, the harder it gets to manage. Also, a HTM listener wants to use a r…