Frugality is a cornerstone of personal finance advice: cut back, spend less, reduce waste. And for the average American drowning in debt, that’s often solid advice. But money isn’t meant to just sit there untouched—it’s also meant to be spent, experienced, and enjoyed. In fact, even the money you save is really just deferred spending. And let’s face it: money isn’t easy to come by. We work hard for every dollar we earn. So maybe the answer isn’t simply spending less. Maybe it’s spending with more intention. Our guest today wants you to worry less about money, and he argues that the path there isn’t endless deprivation—it’s changing the way you think about spending altogether. Jesse Mecham is a best-selling author and founder of YNAB, the beloved budgeting app that’s helped millions take control of their finances. Today we discuss his brand new book, Never Worry About Money Again, and dive into concepts like: Financial worries are a low grade hum Money as an expression of self Why Jesse believes we should love money Aligning money with life goals and values Influence of interior work and self-awareness Practical tips for simplifying money systems Kids as a status symbol What it means to be a “rec league” family And much more! Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big money mistakes usually come from doing the “smart” thing too soon. We break down listener decisions that look simple on the surface, but could cost you thousands if you get the timing wrong… from where to park a home-sale windfall, to whether a refi is actually worth it, to why stock-picking advice from family can be a trap, and more! 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! If you’re sitting on cash you’ll need soon, debating whether to become a landlord, or wondering if your mortgage rate is low enough to justify another refinance, we give you the clearest path forward. We also tackle the hidden risk in chasing returns with individual stocks and ETFs, and explain why boring, liquid, diversified choices usually win when the clock is ticking. You’ll discover:1 - Home purchase: Why a high-yield savings account or money market fund is usually the right move for short-term home-buying cash.2 - Refi: How to think about refinancing through payback period instead of obsessing over the interest-rate drop.3 - Investing tips: The difference between broad index funds and narrow ETFs, and why that matters for risk4 - Helping others: Paying it forward for others to achieve financial freedom5 - Financial safety net: When a HELOC can be a backup and why a reverse mortgage is a very different beast. 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 Bear Hug IPA by Market Brewing… thank you David S for sending this one our way! 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.

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: Grocery slowdown Cashback for groceries Premium credit card trap FUNFLATION Are you willing to take the bus? Money morons More credit card debt than investments Dwindling Social Security Changing homeowner expectations Ripoff mortgages DIY upgrades  for home insurance discounts Skipping the security deposit The price of water   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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot packed into your 20s. You’re getting an education — formal or otherwise. You’re figuring out what you believe about work, money, relationships, success, and who you want to become. Sure, that process doesn’t stop at 30, but your 20s are especially formative. And there’s no shortage of advice aimed at young adults. Commencement speeches. Career gurus. Personal finance influencers. But a lot of it misses the deeper question of what actually matters. And in a world full of noise, it’s getting harder to separate wisdom from status signaling. Today we’re joined by Jack Raines. He’s a young guy who made some pretty countercultural choices — walking away from prestigious jobs, big paychecks, and conventional definitions of success to build a life on his own terms. His new book, Young Money, is part memoir, part guidebook for the generation coming behind him and today we discuss: Embracing risk in your 20s Balancing financial responsibility and enjoyment Avoiding mindless toil Recognizing meaningful work FIRE as a mental illness Different goals for different life stages Why Jack believes “Am I having fun” is the most important question And much more!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join our first ever video podcast as we explore the latest in personal finance, technology, and lifestyle, sharing insights and practical tips to improve your financial well-being and enjoy life to the max! Today we get into: Our summer travel highlights and money-saving tips Apple's new devices and price hikes explained The rising cost of healthcare and how to manage it Entertainment on a budget: movies, ice cream, and more The industry of sports betting and its financial impact Listener questions and summer sabbatical reflections The future of technology and personal finance Practical tips for family finances and investments And a lot more ridiculousness!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: YouTube: You thought you’d never see it… the How To Money channel over on YouTube - SUBSCRIBE! Cashback credit cards: 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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Searing your steak as a way to ‘lock in the juices’ is something we’ve heard folks recommend for years! Get that grill hot as blazes, toss on your steak, and reap the juicy medium-rare rewards. But even though there might be a kernel of truth here, culinary scientists tell us that it’s not actually the best method. It turns out that the reverse sear is the better way to do it! Similarly, there are phrases and ideas in the personal finance space that get preached as though they’re the gospel truth. And there are a number of reasons why certain bits of advice stick with us- maybe it intuitively makes sense or perhaps it’s packaged well and is just flat-out catchy. We’re all looking for guidance and shortcuts but that doesn’t necessarily mean that these sayings are sage advice. So today we call out some of the biggest culprits on the show and share how you should be thinking about your money.   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 an Uplifted Scottish Ale by Talisman Brewing- thanks Andy for donating this one to the pod! 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.

Dying without the proper documents in place can cost your loved ones a ton of money! The latest research shows that probate can easily take a 3% to 7% bite out of your estate. And this is a topic that’s been on our minds for months since episode 704, when we had our wives on the podcast. We realized that the ladies might have a general idea of what to do if one of us died, but for the most part they would be rudderless since both of us handle the bulk of our finances in both of our families. That’s why we’re pumped to talk with Chanel Reynolds who has been on a mission for the past decade, to help folks do what she wished she’d done, before life takes a detour. Chanel founded GetYourShitTogther.org and she authored the book “What Matters Most”, both dedicated to help folks to prepare to face the inevitable reality of death. We discuss digital hygiene and staying organized with your accounts and passwords, key estate planning documents, using online software vs hiring an attorney, beneficiaries and transfer on death deeds, how to effectively approach conversations with family, funeral preparations, and much more!   Can’t get enough How To Money? Here are some additional ways to get ahead with your personal finances: Cashback credit cards: 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 Megalodon American Imperial Red which was homebrewed by listener Greg- thanks for sharing! 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’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 - How do I go about creating a budget with a highly variable income? 2 - As new parents we want to start saving money into a 529 plan but how much should we aim to invest? 3 - Avoiding capital gains when selling a primary residence? 4 - Should most folks have long term disability insurance? 5 - Taking advantage of “3 paycheck months”!   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 Malpais Stout by La Cumbre Brewing- a big thanks to Bob for donating this one to the pod! 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.

Check out our first ever AMA: an ‘ask me anything’ where we focused on personal questions as opposed to personal finance related content! Typically we’re either interviewing someone in the personal finance space, answering listeners’ money questions, doing a deep dive on a particular topic, or covering the latest personal finance news- but we thought it’d be fun for y’all to get to know us more on a personal level. These are the kinds of topics you might hear us talking about if we were grabbing a bear at a local brewery! So have a listen as we answer questions having to do with how we met, how our faith impacts our finances, other careers we’ve considered, long-term fitness goals, the biggest decisions we’ve ever made, favorite bands or genres, finding work-life balance, where we want to travel, and 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 Double Top by Akademia 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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fundamentals of personal finance aren’t all that complicated- there’s a reason why we came up with the Money Gears: 7 straight forward steps to take with your money. We could probably boil it down even more: spend less than you make, and invest the rest! So while the core principles of growing wealth are fairly simple, then why aren’t more Americans handling their money better? One reason is because we, as individuals, are incredibly complex! And that complexity can lead to a disconnect between what we know we should be doing with our money, and what we actually end up doing. Sometimes we need someone to guide us, which is why we’re excited to talk with Aja Evans. Aja is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 10 years of experience and she works to help people move toward financial wellness by understanding their relationship with money, their money mindset, and how their feelings impact what they do with their money. And today we discuss confronting our money beliefs, social media’s impact on our finances, financial trauma, setting boundaries, and 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 Quality Time by Inner Voice 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!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.