Episodes

Tax time will be here before you know it...like in a few short weeks. Don't panic though because there are so many great resources to help you out and save you time and money, like MyFreeTaxes. If you make under $66,000, you can file a free Federal and State tax return in a matter of minutes. If that doesn't help the stress melt away, I don't know what will. On This Podcast Episode: I'm chatting all things MyFreeTaxes with Laura Scherler, United Way’s Director of Financial Stability and Success. Whether you're a new filer or and old pro, MyFreeTaxes is such a great resource to use. We chat about:Who can use MyFreeTaxes and what makes them differentWho can you go to when you need help filing your taxesWhat's the difference between a deduction and a creditWhat paperwork do you need to get startedHow can you get your refund in the mail ASAP Links Mentioned:MyFreeTaxesLocal free tax help Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Ev…

Traveling internationally is exciting but can certainly be expensive to keep up on Instagram and stay connected to your friends on your current cellular plan. Like super expensive. Jefferson Graham from USA Today's podcast, Talking Tech, is covering the details you need to know to travel around the world and avoid the sting from an expensive cell bill when you return home. Your wallet will most definitely thank you. On This Podcast Episode: I'm catching up with Jefferson Graham from USA Today's Talking Tech podcast on the latest tech trends, the cell phone carrier that you need to have to save a ton of cash and the coolest tech trends from the Consumer Electronics Show. Even Alexa contributed on this podcast episode. Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast. Also, please leave an honest r…

Did you know that in 2016 women were paid just 80% of what their male counterparts make? For the same job! There's a lot of dialogue right now about the treatment of women in the workforce and it's bringing a lot of issues that have been hidden for years out into the open. For women listeners, we've got to learn how to win the pay gap and earn what we're worth, and for the male listeners, you've gotta understand the struggle that we face to make a decent living.  On This Podcast Episode: On of my favorite podcast guests and negotiation expert, Jacqueline Twillie, is sharing her tips to battle the wage gap and earn what you're worth. We're rebooting this episode from last year since the topic, and the content, are even more appropriate for the place we find ourselves in this year.  If you've ever wanted to know how to become a master at negotiation (and you should), Jacqueline is sharing tips that will help you score a bigger salary and more benefits from the job you currently h…

Inspired by a listener question from Brandon, the answer to the question, "Is an MBA worth the investment," might surprise you. While student loan debt currently sits around $1.4 trillion dollars in the U.S., the thought of tacking on more debt might not seem like a great idea...unless it actually is. Our guest on this podcast episode provides some great food for thought to help you figure out if graduate school is worth the investment. On This Podcast Episode: Alex Grodnik, MBA, fellow millennial podcaster from Wall Street Oasis, and co-founder of a new fintech startup, Payclub, shares his story to graduate school and how that one decision has shaped so much of his career story. Whether you're deciding to go to graduate school or not, Alex is sharing some great life lessons about finding your passion and what it takes to chase after it. Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjo…

Contemporary country singer Tyler Williams might be one of the busiest dudes around - singer/songwriter, NASCAR driver, actor, author - yep, he has his irons in a lot of fires these days. For a guy, so busy and so driven, you’d never guess that at a young age he caught a bad case of stage fright almost thwarted his entire multi-career path. On This Podcast Episode: Even with so much on this young singer’s plate, he still found time to write and record a new album which drops January 26. We caught up with Tyler Williams at his home in Atlanta as he talked about his bout with stage fright, how karaoke changed his singing career and how proud he is of his new album Good for Me. Links Mentioned:Tyler WilliamsI Have a Voice bookAXS Article Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please share it on social media using the hashtag #millennialmoneypodcast. Also, plea…

If you’ve filed your taxes before, or if you're a business owner ,you certainly love all those tax deductions. Why? They help reduce your taxable income and can potentially bump into a lower tax bracket on occasion. BUT…some of those tax deductions we used to love are now gone – they flew out the window on January 1, and who knows if there ever coming back. On This Podcast Episode:Get an understanding of why tax deductions are so popularI'll discuss what homeowners and future homeowners need to knowWe loved personal exemptions, why did they go awayLearn what job related deductions have gone awayIf you pay or receive alimony payments it's all changed (FYI - For spouses who divorce before 2019, these rules will not affect them, but spouses who divorce after Jan. 1, 2019, the new rules will apply. For divorces that happen before Dec. 31, 2018, spouses who receive alimony payments will need to pay taxes on it and spouses who pay alimony will be able to deduct it.) Links Mentioned:Po…

Don’t you just love it when you travel to a place that you’ve always wanted to explore and all the stars align and the place is as cool, as welcoming, and even more interesting than you thought? That’s exactly how we experienced Austin recently. On This Podcast Episode: For many years Austin has been known as one of the music capitols in the world and of course Texas barbecue is king around these parts. But, the one ingredient that makes this Texas capitol city so special, are all the friendly and diverse folks that have created the awesome Austin of today. While we were in town we sat down with some of those local friendly’s to get their side of this very cool and growing city. Join as we talk with our friend Casey about ever-expanding food scene, our new friend Shelly about her hidden gem of a boutique hotel and our local band friends Transit Method take us around some of the best places to catch music in Austin. My co-host for the podcast is my husband, Jeff Game, a travel, …

If you've ever wondered what you should be doing each month with your finances, I've got a podcast episode for you. I've compiled a list of the top things you should be thinking about each month to help you make smart money moves throughout the year. This is just a guide - so make sure you make it your own and focus on the steps each month that are right for your own situation. It's your year to rock your finances - I'm just sayin'. On This Podcast Episode: I'm taking it month by month to lay out a money to do list to keep you focused and your bank account soaring.Jan – How are you doing? This is a month to check in on your financial goals – have you set new ones?Feb – Getting your tax stuff together is the name of the game because tax day is April 17.March – Time to double check your retirement contributions + invest your tax return somewhere good.April – Save and shred any documents you don't need after filing your return and create a master money list with every account numbe…

Does this podcast episode resonate with you? I can't tell you how many times I'm asked this question and the answer is always more complicated than you might think - but, it always end up with a yes. There are lots of things to hide from your partner - your secret mac and cheese addiction and the fact that you really don't like to work out. However, when it comes to debt, honesty is the name of the game. (I promise you it's not that scary). On This Podcast Episode: A recent question to the podcast prompted this episode, but I have a feeling a lot of the listeners are wondering the same question. On this episode we're tackling this question and I'm offering guidance on why you should always talk about debt.Learn how to figure out the right time (and way) to talk about debtUnderstand why disclosing debt is super duper importantFind out how to set boundaries with your partner around debtTake a listen to my own story about talking about debt in a relationshipHave a lightbulb moment …

As we talked about in a recent travel episode, Austin is one of the hottest cities to travel in 2018 and might just be getting a lot more awesome-er (it’s a word) when the “Urban Oasis” that is the brand spanking new Fairmont Austin opens later this year. Located smack dab in the middle of downtown, this brand-new gem of a hotel is a great addition to the expanding Austin skyline. On This Podcast Episode: Our good friend, Director of Communications for the Fairmont Austin, Casey Barks gave Jeff, my co-host, and me a behind the scenes tour of their brand-new property. This Texas-sized hotel will now be the largest Fairmont which towers 37 stories high and holds 1,048 rooms, with five of the most anticipated restaurants opening in 2018, including a food hall. Ready to check in? Links Mentioned:Fairmont AustinThe DriskillKimpton Hotel Van Zandt Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. Every listen means so much to us. If you’ve …

With millions of people making a financially themed resolution for 2018 - pay off that debt and save more are the two top resolutions - and recent Fed rate hikes expected to cost credit card users an extra $7.4 billion in interest this year (YIKES), the personal-finance website WalletHub today released a pair of reports that will help you save more in the new year: 2018’s Best Credit Cards as well as the latest Credit Card Landscape Report. On This Podcast Episode: To tackle any big financial challenge like paying off debt it's going to take a game plan and some plain ole' commitment. However, that doesn't mean that you should focus on paying off all the debt all at once - in fact, that can lead to burnout and frustration. On this podcast episode, I'm chatting with Jill Gonzalez, analyst from WalletHub about some of their recent findings in their Credit Card Landscape report, and how those findings can help you in 2018 be smart and strategic in paying off your debt.  Links …

It’s a new year, the holidays are over, you're settling into 2018, but you are itching to get far, far away and experience an amazing getaway...and maybe travel some place you have never been before. We recently gave you some of the best budget travel destinations, well this time we are tackling those unique and cool travel destinations of 2018. On This Podcast Episode: On this episode, my co-host Jeff and I are dishing about all those destinations that you should start saving now to explore this year. How about an island where Alexander Hamilton was born? An American iconic city turning 300 years old? How about finding Luke Skywalkers home from the Last Jedi movie? We have it all this and more on this week’s Travel Tuesday episode and Where Everyone is Traveling in 2018! Get your bags packed and your bank account ready. Links Mentioned:Exit FestivalLuke Skywalker’s HomeVisit DetroitFairmont AustinAloft DetroitSquare Nine Hotel BelgradeFour Seasons NevisAirbnb NevisAirbn…

Let's talk about a "tough" money subject  – security and fraud prevention. It's on everyone's mind, even though our cashless society is pretty convenient for us all. The payments innovation landscape is rapidly broadening to encompass innovation ranging from mobile payments to biometrics (as exhibited by Apple’s recent announcement) and even voice-activated payments – but the question remains, can you trust these new technologies for payments? On This Podcast Episode: I'm going straight to the expert, Joe Daly (COO, Paysafe Payments Processing, North America), to find out how you can stay save in this cashless society. On this episode we're talking about topics that we're all trying to figure out including:Cashless Future – Millennials are the driving force behind a cashless society, but you expect high-performance and security from your alternative payment options before you completely abandon traditional payment methods. How can you balance that? Convenience Above All – In 2018, …

This year makes a new year with new tax laws. There's been a lot of talk in the media and online about proposed changes but few understand the changes that actually did make it into the new tax law. Not to worry, we've got the very talented and knowledgeable Jill Schlesinger, host of the Better Off Podcast and Jill On Money radio show (you might also recognize Jill from CBS This Morning and The CBS Evening News). On This Podcast Episode: Jill Schlesinger and I are demystifying the new tax bill and what you need to know going into this year to prepare your bank account for those changes. We'll discuss:We discuss the changes with the refundable child care tax creditWhat you need to know about HELOC loans and their current loss of deductionHow a higher standard deduction could lead to more cash in your bank accountWhat should you do as a freelancer or self employed business owner to position yourself for tax seasonSome tips for everyone for how to grow your wealth as a result of the…

After spending years covering the diverse Los Angles food scene for several prominent publications, food writer Katherine Spiers decided to dip her toe into the growing world of podcasting by launching her own show. Now, her top-rated Smart Mouth podcast is one of the best shows out there talking all about food with such expert guests as Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and legendary French chef Jacques Pepin. On This Podcast Episode: I recently chatted with food writer and podcaster Katherine Spiers about how avocado toast invaded LA, whiskey drinking and storytelling with travel aficionado Anthony Bourdain and how Actor/Entrepreneur Danny Trejo ate in prison many years ago. Katherine also shared her wisdom as a fellow podcaster and a few entrepreneurial lessons she's learned along the way. Thanks for Tuning In: Hey Listeners! We want to get to know you better! “Millennial Money” is competing with other shows to get the most responses to a quick…

One of the top money resolutions in 2018 is to get rid of that debt that keeps you locked up from achieving so many of your goals – and in particular that massive student loan debt. I’ve heard it from many of the listeners over the month of December that nothing would make you happier than to roll out of 2018 with a lot less – if not zero - student loan debt. I hear you! On This Podcast Episode: If we’re going to be more empowered in 2018 then we’ve got to make up our minds to do just that. Sure, you're still going to get stressed out and worried about your student loans, or any debt, but maybe if we all encourage each other…we can create a movement of us all breaking up with our student loan debt this year. The good news is that you don’t need a lot of fancy techniques to break up with your student loans – just the commitment to approach those loans with a little strategy.Did you know you could make extra payments to your student loanWhat about making lump sum payments with you…

It's a new year and that means it's time to get to planning new adventures for 2018. Your bank account might need a rest from the all the holiday spending so we've come up with a list of places to travel to this year that will keep your budget happy and your bank account even happier.  On This Podcast Episode: We're featuring 12 places to travel to in 2018 that are focused on keeping your budget in check while still having some amazing experiences while traveling. Remember to also have a great travel credit card in your wallet to boost all those amazing rewards that you can use as dollars towards your trips this year. One of my favs is still the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card. Travel with us to:EstoniaMontrealRaleighPeruAgentinaHoustonUnited Kingdomand more... Thanks for Tuning In: Hey Listeners! We want to get to know you better! “Millennial Money” is competing with other shows to get the most responses to a quick survey. It only takes a few minutes of your time and you can d…

It's 2018...can you believe it?! There's no better time than the new year to find your focus on what you want to achieve this year and what you want your life to look like. Whether you're still detoxing from a wild night last night or just relaxing on the couch for the last few moments of holiday break, this podcast is jam packed with great inspiration for a healthy and wealthy 2018. Hey Listeners! We want to get to know you better! “Millennial Money” is competing with other shows to get the most responses to a quick survey. It only takes a few minutes of your time and you can do it straight from your smartphone. Help us out and support the show by going to wondery.com/SURVEY and filling it out. That’s wondery.com/SURVEY”  On This Podcast Episode:We're doing a deep dive into 8 money resolutions (and a ton of tiny steps) for 2018Find what your focus is for the new year and how you can attack your goalsPinpoint what money steps you're working on for JanuaryGet ready to make 2018 yo…

Why is the word millionaire so powerful? It seems to be the only goal that most of us actively strive for, but the funny thing is we aren't sure what exactly happens when we reach that coveted million dollar mark. We're bringing back this best of episode to inspire you to embrace some of these habits for the new year. There are so many habits you should cultivate but we're going to talk about my favorite 7 habits of future millionaires. Being a millionaire isn't so much about the dollar amount in your bank as it is about positive habits that will shape your thinking as you strive towards your money goals. On This Podcast Episode: I'm dishing about the 7 habits of future millionaires and just why these little habits are so important to being successful. There are countless articles and books out there about the practical tips to becoming a millionaire - saving a certain percentage, getting good raises at work, having no debt, paying cash, etc. While these tips are fantastic, they …

We're sharing another best of episode featuring one of our favorites from 2017. Journalist Lily Clayton Hansen captures people’s lives through storytelling and photography, with soul-revealing depth and artistic charm in her book, “Word of Mouth, Nashville Conversations.” Talking with some of Nashville’s coolest artists, chefs, musicians, and dreamers. Through her journey as a journalist, she's found her calling and unleashed her genius in more ways than one. I first discovered her really awesome black and white book on a trip to Nashville a couple years ago, and really loved the concept and loved Lily’s story as well. On This Podcast Episode:We'll chat with Lily about her journey to finding her callingDish about her move from Chicago to NashvilleTalk about what's up next for her (hint, new books) Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. If you have any comments or questions about today’s episode, please let us know your thought…

All personal finance experts can agree on one thing – starting to save early will almost always help you reach your lifestyle goals quicker and with more ease than those who wait longer. When you think about your savings there are two ways you can save - the crockpot style or the microwave style. Inspired by a recent industry article in Financial Planning Magazine, thinking about a crockpot for your savings strategy makes pretty good sense. With any crockpot recipe, the idea is simple. You gather all your ingredients ahead of time, throw them into the crockpot, turn it on low and slow for 6-8 hours, and then you have an almost always perfect meal sure to wow anyone. When you crockpot your savings you're using the same methodology. You're saving little by little over time with consistency so whenever you reach the age you would like to quit working, you're investments and savings have spent some time "cooking together." On This Podcast Episode:We'll chat about the crockpot method…

Traveling as a couple can be dangerous territory. Fraught with arguments over silly things like who forgot the toothpaste, can lead to a trip that just plain isn't a ton of fun. You might even find yourself a bit stressed out this holiday season traveling with your loved one (we hope not after this episode)! We've found that traveling, and surviving traveling, as a couple takes some effort. Might seem like obvious trips are commonly overlooked when you're in a new place. You've spent some time to save for your trip so it's important that you enjoy it. On This Podcast Episode:Learn what we think is the most important tip to survive traveling as a coupleWhy we say each person needs a jobWhat to do with your Passports and MoneyHow to budget your trip so you are flexible and stay within your meansHear some funny stories from our own travel experiences as a couple Thanks for Tuning In: Thanks for tuning in to listen to this episode of Millennial Money. If you have any comments or …

To celebrate the holiday season we're featuring Best Of episodes all week long from some of the most popular podcast this year. It takes some work to spend $2 million a month like Johnny Depp has been the last few years. I mean, come on, that does take some work to do that (but I'd love the chance to try, right). You don't need to have Johnny Depp's bank account though to let yourself get carried away with your budget and spending. I'm often asked the question, "Why should I do this budget thing anyway?" Well, what is it that you want to achieve - buy a house, start a family, move to France, travel to the Bahamas? What is it that you're playing for? You see, even Johnny Depp's financial advisors started to waive some caution flags in front of him when his spending got carried away. When this happens, it's time to dial in and budget for your life, not your bank account. On This Podcast Episode:We'll chat about the ridiculousness of Johnny Depp's spendingHow you can visualize yo…

During the holidays it's very easy to get wrapped up in all the gift buying and gift getting. Some of us save the whole year just to afford a great holiday season with family and friends. However, sometimes the best gifts actually don't cost a thing (well, no more than the price of a stamp). Say what? On This Podcast Episode: Hannah Brencher found herself unhappy while living in NYC and battling depression. So she decided to write love letters to anyone that would read them in hopes of cheering them up (and perhaps herself). What she uncovered was an amazing movement turned into business around the simple, yet powerful, concept of sending More Love Letters.Hannah's sharing her story and journey in creating a business and a movement helping to change many people's livesHear her share why this message is so powerful in today's environmentUnlock ways you help others this holiday season without having to spend moneyBe inspired to take a leap of faith going into the New YearCheck out …