Enjoy a recent convo Joel had with Paco de Leon over at the Weird Finance podcast as they discuss how investing in relationships impacts your finances!



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!

Enjoy a recent convo Joel had with Paco de Leon over at the Weird Finance podcast as they discuss how investing in relationships impacts your finances!
 
Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Knowing your ‘money gear’ is a crucial part of your personal finance journey. <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/start-here/">Start here.</a> </li>
<li aria-level="1">Sign up for the weekly <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/newsletter/">HTM newsletter</a>. It’s fun, free, &amp; practical.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Join a thriving community of fellow money in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1623670287732189">HTM Facebook group.</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Find the best credit card for you with our new <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/creditcardtool">credit card tool</a>!</li>
<li aria-level="1">Massively reduce your <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/choosing-the-best-cheap-cell-phone-plan/">cell phone bill</a> each month by switching to a discount provider like Mint Mobile.</li>
</ul>
 
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 <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-money/id1337718773?mt=2">give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts</a> 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!

Best friends Joel and Matt are the co-hosts of How to Money which is all about providing the knowledge & tools that normal folks need to thrive in areas like debt payoff, DIY investing, and crucial money tricks that will provide continuous help along your journey. We believe that access to unbiased and jargon-free personal finance guidance is more necessary than ever before. When you handle your money in a purposeful, thoughtful way that works for your lifestyle, you can really start living a rich life.

How to Money

Weird Finance Bonus w/ Paco de Leon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/44db735a-da09-4219-81af-b0de01561ba4/transcript

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week’s best 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:
Stocks at all-time highs
Bag fees and fuel surcharges
Surging HOA fees
This old house
Spending those tax refunds
You’re owed some money (Unclaimed.org & MissingMoney.com)
Don’t be a victim
Degree doubts
Free degrees
Upper-middle class ascendency
Tough times for rideshare
Life insurance in the back of a Lyft (better -> Life Insurance: A Step By Step Guide)

 

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending.
Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!
Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey.
MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.

 

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!

Time for a Friday Flight- our little sampling of the week&rsquo;s best 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:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.investopedia.com/stock-market-today-dow-jones-s-and-p-500-04152026-11950191">Stocks at all-time highs</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/07/travel/airfare-bag-fees-fuel-surcharges.html?">Bag fees and fuel surcharges</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/housing/housing-affordability-hoa-fees-d02902af?mod=hp_lista_pos3">Surging HOA fees</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.wsj.com/personal-finance/the-typical-u-s-home-is-44-years-oldand-needs-tons-of-work-a1fd89ea?mod=hp_lead_pos10">This old house</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://finance.yahoo.com/personal-finance/taxes/article/rent-debt-and-groceries-how-americans-are-spending-their-tax-refunds-130000704.html?">Spending those tax refunds</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.fool.com/money/banks/articles/heres-what-happens-to-70-billion-of-unclaimed-money-in-the-us/?user_id=66c4bd8c5d78644b3a9ccdeb">You&rsquo;re owed some money</a> (<a href="http://unclaimed.org/">Unclaimed.org</a> &amp; <a href="http://missingmoney.com/">MissingMoney.com</a>)</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2026/04/03/consumer-scam-losses-hit-record-2025/89449005007/">Don&rsquo;t be a victim</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/31/graduate-degree-earnings-study/">Degree doubts</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/02/09/colleges-free-tuition/?">Free degrees</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/more-americans-are-breaking-into-the-upper-middle-class-bf8b7cb2?mod=hp_lead_pos1">Upper-middle class ascendency</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.wsj.com/economy/food-delivery-drivers-gas-prices-321107e6?mod=hp_lead_pos2">Tough times for rideshare</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://thebaffler.com/latest/rise-grind-die-kopstein">Life insurance in the back of a Lyft</a> (better -&gt; <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/how-to-buy-life-insurance/">Life Insurance: A Step By Step Guide</a>)</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Credit card perks: Check out <a href="https://go.nextcard.com/shau19-htmomny">our favorite credit cards</a> that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1623670287732189">HTM Facebook group!</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/newsletter/">HTM newsletter</a>. It&rsquo;s fun, free, &amp; practical.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Money Gears: knowing <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/start-here/">what to do with your money</a> is crucial to your personal finance journey.</li>
<li aria-level="1">MG7: and maybe you&rsquo;re well on your way to financial independence but you&rsquo;re looking for some financial reassurance, that&rsquo;s when heading over to <a href="http://www.howtomoney.com/advisor">HowToMoney.com/Advisor</a> and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
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&rsquo;re not already a regular listener, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-money/id1337718773?mt=2">give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts</a> 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!
&nbsp;
Best friends out!

Friday Flight - Frustrating Fees, Degree Doubts, & Upper-Middle Class Ascendancy #1128

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/4db12b83-610d-4459-8fe1-b42e0140e554/transcript

Let's talk about Social Security. More than music, clothing, or even political views, Social Security might be the single biggest generational fault line in America right now. Boomers are thrilled to finally be collecting on a promise decades in the making while Millennials and Gen Z are quietly wondering if there'll be anything left by the time we get there. And honestly? That concern isn't crazy! Social Security almost certainly isn't going away entirely, but it's probably not going to look exactly the same as it does today either. Mike Piper, CPA and Social Security expert, joins the show today to explore the future of Social Security, optimal claiming strategies, and how to plan for retirement amid uncertain benefits. Specifically covered: 
What happens when the trust fund is gone?!
Downsides of overly conservative financial plans 
Claiming strategies when we’re living longer
Adjusting plans after a health diagnosis
The Open Social Security strategy calculator
Taking opportunity cost into account
Early retirement considerations
Common mistakes with DIY investors
… and plenty more!

Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
Mike Piper: Head over to Mike’s site, Oblivious Investor for his latest writings and Open Social Security for his free open-source strategy calculator.
Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending.
Money Gears: Knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey.
Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!

 

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!

Let's talk about Social Security. More than music, clothing, or even political views, Social Security might be the single biggest generational fault line in America right now. Boomers are thrilled to finally be collecting on a promise decades in the making while Millennials and Gen Z are quietly wondering if there'll be anything left by the time we get there. And honestly? That concern isn't crazy! Social Security almost certainly isn't going away entirely, but it's probably not going to look exactly the same as it does today either. Mike Piper, CPA and Social Security expert, joins the show today to explore the future of Social Security, optimal claiming strategies, and how to plan for retirement amid uncertain benefits. Specifically covered:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">What happens when the trust fund is gone?!</li>
<li aria-level="1">Downsides of overly conservative financial plans&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Claiming strategies when we&rsquo;re living longer</li>
<li aria-level="1">Adjusting plans after a health diagnosis</li>
<li aria-level="1">The Open Social Security strategy calculator</li>
<li aria-level="1">Taking opportunity cost into account</li>
<li aria-level="1">Early retirement considerations</li>
<li aria-level="1">Common mistakes with DIY investors</li>
<li aria-level="1">&hellip; and plenty more!</li>
</ul>
Can&rsquo;t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Mike Piper: Head over to Mike&rsquo;s site, <a href="https://obliviousinvestor.com/">Oblivious Investor</a> for his latest writings and <a href="https://opensocialsecurity.com/">Open Social Security</a> for his free open-source strategy calculator.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Credit card perks: Check out <a href="https://go.nextcard.com/shau19-htmomny">our favorite credit cards</a> that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Money Gears: Knowing <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/start-here/">what to do with your money</a> is crucial to your personal finance journey.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/newsletter/">HTM newsletter</a>. It&rsquo;s fun, free, &amp; practical.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1623670287732189">HTM Facebook group!</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
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&rsquo;re not already a regular listener, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-money/id1337718773?mt=2">give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts</a> 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!
&nbsp;
Best friends out!

Can Millennials Count on Social Security? w/ Mike Piper #1127

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/25773be9-ea1c-4c38-b100-b4040159b004/transcript

We’re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you’d like for us to answer on the show, we’d love for you to submit your own via HowToMoney.com/ask , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!

 

1 - Free Fidelity Funds: Are they the “cheap” option or a great way to get wealthy?!

2 - 3% Cashback: Will paying for a Robinhood Gold membership allow me to get my hands on the Gold credit card?

3 - Rising Insurance Premiums: What’s the deal with opting for higher deductibles for lower premiums?

4 - Social (in)Security: Why don’t lawmakers raise the income cap in order to help keep the trust fund solvent?

5 - PTO Cash-Out: Should I cash-out my paid time off to pay off our house sooner, or actually kick back a little more?

 

Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
Credit card perks: Check out our favorite credit cards that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending.
Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the HTM Facebook group!
Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly HTM newsletter. It’s fun, free, & practical.
Money Gears: knowing what to do with your money is crucial to your personal finance journey.
MG7: and maybe you’re well on your way to financial independence but you’re looking for some financial reassurance, that’s when heading over to HowToMoney.com/Advisor and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.

 

During this episode we enjoyed a Soft Static by Inner Voice! 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!

We&rsquo;re kicking off the week by answering your listener questions! And if you have a question that you&rsquo;d like for us to answer on the show, we&rsquo;d love for you to submit your own via <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/ask/">HowToMoney.com/ask</a> , send us your voice memo. Regardless of how random or bizarre you might think it is, we want to hear it!
&nbsp;
1 - Free Fidelity Funds: Are they the &ldquo;cheap&rdquo; option or a great way to get wealthy?!
2 - 3% Cashback: Will paying for a Robinhood Gold membership allow me to get my hands on the Gold credit card?
3 - Rising Insurance Premiums: What&rsquo;s the deal with opting for higher deductibles for lower premiums?
4 - Social (in)Security: Why don&rsquo;t lawmakers raise the income cap in order to help keep the trust fund solvent?
5 - PTO Cash-Out: Should I cash-out my paid time off to pay off our house sooner, or actually kick back a little more?
&nbsp;
Want more How To Money in your life? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Credit card perks: Check out <a href="https://go.nextcard.com/shau19-htmomny">our favorite credit cards</a> that we use to maximize rewards and optimize our spending.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Other money nerds: Find a thriving community of fellow money nerds by joining the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1623670287732189">HTM Facebook group!</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Newsletter: Sign up for the weekly <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/newsletter/">HTM newsletter</a>. It&rsquo;s fun, free, &amp; practical.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Money Gears: knowing <a href="https://www.howtomoney.com/start-here/">what to do with your money</a> is crucial to your personal finance journey.</li>
<li aria-level="1">MG7: and maybe you&rsquo;re well on your way to financial independence but you&rsquo;re looking for some financial reassurance, that&rsquo;s when heading over to <a href="http://www.howtomoney.com/advisor">HowToMoney.com/Advisor</a> and getting matched with a highly vetted financial advisor makes sense.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
During this episode we enjoyed a Soft Static by Inner Voice! 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&rsquo;re not already a regular listener, and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-money/id1337718773?mt=2">give us a quick review in Apple Podcasts</a> 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!
&nbsp;
Best friends out!

Ask HTM - Free Fidelity Funds, Credit Card Maxxing, & Debating a PTO Cash-Out #1126

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ea95ea88-505b-447f-93b6-b4170132c07c/transcript

Weird Finance Bonus w/ Paco de Leon

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