1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,800 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I'm Matt, 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: and today we are answering your listener questions. That's right, Joel, 3 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:28,320 Speaker 1: this is a listener question Monday episode and ask How 4 00:00:28,320 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: the Money episode. And we've got by great questions today, 5 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:33,920 Speaker 1: including a listener who send in his own frugal or 6 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 1: cheap I'm actually really excited to talk about that one here. 7 00:00:36,760 --> 00:00:39,480 Speaker 1: In a second, We've got another one from a couple 8 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,800 Speaker 1: who is talking about how to go about combining their finances. 9 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: And we also have another question about balanced transfer credit cards. 10 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,800 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to tackling those three plus a couple 11 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:52,159 Speaker 1: of others. But first I wanted to I wanted to 12 00:00:52,159 --> 00:00:54,800 Speaker 1: share a little story with you. Holy story time with Matt, 13 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: my favorite segment of the song. So in the past, 14 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,680 Speaker 1: we we've we've made out of writing checks before checks. 15 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: They're kind of going the way of the Dodo. And 16 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 1: literally last night I wrote a check and I'll explain 17 00:01:06,319 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: to you the story of how that happened. Uh, So 18 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,000 Speaker 1: basically a long story short. I'm not going to dive 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: into all the details for Kate's sake, but she got 20 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: a ticket. Uh and it's a ticket that you know 21 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: like that, we couldn't contest it, like we just had 22 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,360 Speaker 1: to pay it. Right some sitting down last night getting 23 00:01:20,400 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 1: ready to pay some bills, I pull up the site 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: to pay that ticket, to pay that bill, and the 25 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: credit card processing fee was twelve dollars like sometimes sometimes 26 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,040 Speaker 1: with the percentage then it was it was way more 27 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:35,880 Speaker 1: than it should have been. Just I'll just say that 28 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 1: it was not representative of even if I would have 29 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 1: gotten been able to get like massive cash back. I 30 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 1: did all the math, trust, but wouldn't cover it. Definitely 31 00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:45,280 Speaker 1: would not have covered it. And just the principle of 32 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: paying that much money for it to be a little 33 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: more convenient, I could not believe it. And uh, I 34 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: was looking over the form that I got in the mail, 35 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 1: and I saw and really fine print towards the bottom 36 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: is said that you could also mail in a paper check. Uh. 37 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 1: And there were no additional ease except for the price 38 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: of a stamp associated with that and the envelope. Yeah, exactly, 39 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: well then, and even the envelope came with it. Uh. 40 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 1: And so I wanted to mention that because again we 41 00:02:09,880 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: will often scoff at the idea of paper checks. I 42 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:14,360 Speaker 1: think there's a lot of folks out there who may 43 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: have only ever written a couple of checks in their 44 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: entire life. But this is a good argument for keeping 45 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: some checks on hand. It's not like we're saying that 46 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 1: you should never write a single check again. You should 47 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: just take your check book and rip it up or 48 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,080 Speaker 1: burn it or anything like that. This was a great 49 00:02:27,120 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 1: example of why keeping just your checkbook on hand, even 50 00:02:29,720 --> 00:02:31,639 Speaker 1: though you may not use it all that often, could 51 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: save you real money. Because I'm not gonna lie, I 52 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,519 Speaker 1: was tempted to say, you know what, like, I'm just 53 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: gonna pay it and not worry about it. It's just 54 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,160 Speaker 1: gonna eat the cost, so I cannot think about it. 55 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:43,079 Speaker 1: But the principle of it just kept gnawing at me, 56 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: and I was just like, there's no way that I 57 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:47,480 Speaker 1: can live with myself if I were to actually pay that. 58 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: So I opened the drawer, pulled out the check, wrote it, 59 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: and it's in the mail as of today. There you go. Well, 60 00:02:52,120 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: I'm with you on that usage of checks. I have 61 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: some in the drawer. The bank that I do most 62 00:02:56,400 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: of my banking with they provide free checks, and ten 63 00:02:59,639 --> 00:03:01,239 Speaker 1: years ago, oh that seems like an awesome benefit, And 64 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: now it's like, oh man, I almost never have to 65 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: actually order checks because, like you, I'm probably writing one 66 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: maybe two checks a year, Like one check book is 67 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: good for ten years, is what it feels like, exactly exactly. 68 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: But it is nice to have them on hand just 69 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: in case. And if it means being able to avoid 70 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: some frustrating fee, then I would say, yeah, break at 71 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: your checkbook, make it happen. It's old bucks. That's the 72 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,640 Speaker 1: cost of a next beer. That's right, exactly speaking which 73 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 1: on today's episode, we're drinking a Bell's Too Hearted. This 74 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:31,240 Speaker 1: is an American I p A and a big thanks 75 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: to our friend Chris who works for Bells, who donated 76 00:03:34,639 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: these beers to the show. Thanks to Bells, they make 77 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: great beer. So we're looking forward to having this classic 78 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: on the show. Classic. Indeed, give our thoughts on it 79 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: at the end of the episode. Classic like a check book, 80 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: old school but a little more old school, still reliable, fantastic. 81 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 1: All right, Well, uh let's get onto the listener questions. 82 00:03:52,400 --> 00:03:54,600 Speaker 1: Matt for anybody out there who is listening, and they're like, 83 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: I've got a question, money question. I love Matt and 84 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: Jolts to tackle. We would love to hear it and 85 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: You can submit your uhouln' at how to money dot 86 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: com and there are super simple instructions for how to 87 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: submit your question for us to take on an upcoming 88 00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: episode at how to money dot com slash ask. But 89 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: let's get to the first one, and this one is 90 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: that frugal or cheap question that Matt mentioned. Hey guys, 91 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: Matt here from Phoenix, Arizona, just had a quick frugal 92 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: or cheap for you guys that I'd like to get 93 00:04:21,240 --> 00:04:24,280 Speaker 1: your opinions on. Last week, I was in a Target 94 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: store with my daughter who was twelve, and we remember 95 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,800 Speaker 1: that she needed a new bike helmet, so we went 96 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 1: and found the bike helmets. We found one in her size. 97 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 1: They didn't have a huge selection, but we found one 98 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: that had a color that she liked. It was teal 99 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: and pink and it was thirty two dollars. As we 100 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,839 Speaker 1: were leaving, we noticed that there was a clearance section 101 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,120 Speaker 1: there on the end cap, and the exact same helmet 102 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,839 Speaker 1: with a different color was on clearance. It was eleven dollars. 103 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: The difference was it was pink instead of teal and pink. 104 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: She was not super thrilled about the pink helmet, so 105 00:04:57,600 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: I had to debate with her for about ten minutes, 106 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:02,080 Speaker 1: going over things like the two helmets are the same, 107 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: They're just different colors. One of them isn't safer than 108 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,039 Speaker 1: the other one, are better than the other one. They're 109 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: literally literally exactly the same. Uh. And we're going to 110 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,719 Speaker 1: get the eleven dollar one unless you want to pay 111 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: the difference between two helmets. You're welcome to do that. Um. 112 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 1: Like I said, took about ten minutes. Finally got her 113 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:20,880 Speaker 1: to agree to the eleven dollar one, even though she 114 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: was not super thrilled about it. Um. Anyway, just wondering 115 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,240 Speaker 1: do you think I was being frugal or cheap in 116 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:30,920 Speaker 1: that situation? Anyway, Thanks for the show. Take care all right, Matt, 117 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: This is an easier frugal or cheap, I would say, 118 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: than buying a getting a used helmets. I was like, 119 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: what are you going to compare this, because that would 120 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: be that'd be one of those questions where you know 121 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: you're probably and you're gonna end up being cheap. You're 122 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: being a little cheap. But let's get to mass question first. 123 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: I love that he and his family they're prioritizing biking, 124 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,200 Speaker 1: that of course is going to pay dividends for years 125 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: to come in so many different areas of your life. 126 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:58,039 Speaker 1: And so yeah, your health as you bike more is 127 00:05:58,080 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: something that gets it gets you moving and off the couch. 128 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 1: Your relationships, not only to each other as a family, 129 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: going on family bike rides together which I did last night, 130 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: to the playground with my kiddos. It was delightful. Those 131 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,599 Speaker 1: are the kind of things that help foster and build relationships. 132 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: They create just a lot of fun memories for you 133 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: and your daughter. And it's also just the relationships you 134 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 1: foster by getting out in your own neighborhood, seeing your neighbors, 135 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: seeing people in the front yard, stopping those chance encounters 136 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: to have a conversation. It's really it's it's tough, almost 137 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,239 Speaker 1: impossible to beat all of the good things that biking 138 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: has to offer. So first I just want to say 139 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:35,560 Speaker 1: mattness family. They're on the right track, trying to make 140 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: this just like a regular part of their lives. Oh yeah, 141 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: not to misson all the money that you can save 142 00:06:39,240 --> 00:06:41,359 Speaker 1: by not having to pay for wear and tear on 143 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: a vehicle, paying for gas, which is I mean expensive 144 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 1: as ever these days. Just this morning, drop the kids 145 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: off at school, that is one less trip that I 146 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: have to fund with a trip to the gas station. 147 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:53,599 Speaker 1: But Matt, let's kind of get to your question. And 148 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 1: you know, I think whether it's frugal or cheap sort 149 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: of come down to a few different things. Um. First 150 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: of all, one question you can ask is whether or 151 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:01,920 Speaker 1: not you're spending your own money on this helmet, and 152 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: you know, in your case you are, And so like, 153 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: I do totally get the disappointment that a kid feels 154 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: when they've picked something out that they love and then 155 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: the parent maybe odds for the the cheaper alternative that 156 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: maybe may not be quite as appealing to the kiddo. 157 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 1: But if the parents are the ones who are paying 158 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: for it, uh, and as long as you are talking 159 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 1: to her about the decision that you're making, then I 160 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,520 Speaker 1: think that this is one reason to say that this 161 00:07:24,600 --> 00:07:27,360 Speaker 1: is definitely a frugal move, uh, not the cheap move, 162 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:29,240 Speaker 1: because in the end, parents are the ones who are 163 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: calmed the shots here. Yeah, I agree, And I think 164 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: you're right Mat to point out the fact that he 165 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: communicated well with his daughter about it. I think if 166 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: you just said no, that's it, Like we're getting the 167 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: cheaper one. Let's get out of here. And she's left 168 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: there trying to process emotionally what happened, Like she thought 169 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: that they had picked out this bike helmet and now 170 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 1: she's like, I gotta go with this other one. And 171 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 1: but the fact that you were able to really walk 172 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,480 Speaker 1: her through it and explain it to her and take 173 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,720 Speaker 1: the time, I feel like that's actually the perfect uh 174 00:07:55,920 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: place to teach a money lesson, a finance lesson about 175 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: the value of money and the trade offs that we 176 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: all have to make with the money that we earn, 177 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: even though it can be hard as a parent to 178 00:08:06,120 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: teach right in the middle of that emotional moments. But 179 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: the main reason that it's frugal and not cheap is 180 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,480 Speaker 1: also that you offered her the option to contribute her 181 00:08:14,520 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: own money to make up for the gap in price, 182 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: and that didn't seem to interest her, which and she 183 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,200 Speaker 1: felt passionately about buying the helmet based on the color 184 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: alone and spending an extra twenty bucks or whatever the 185 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: difference was. Exactly that's the perfect opportunity for her to 186 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,080 Speaker 1: use the money that she's made and to make that 187 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: a priority. And it sounds like she made a wise 188 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:35,600 Speaker 1: choice to by not opting to do that, and by 189 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: taking a slightly inferior color. Um. But yeah, I think 190 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: these are the kind of teaching moments that parents need 191 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 1: to use in order to help their kids understand personal finances, 192 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,559 Speaker 1: better understand the trade offs that have to be made, 193 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: because you know, they're the finite resource that money is 194 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: in all of our lives. Yeah. The other thing too, 195 00:08:55,800 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: is that there was such a difference than price, right 196 00:08:57,920 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: between the helmets that was on clearance and the one 197 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:02,240 Speaker 1: that was in the colors that she wanted. Like, I 198 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: know that when we teach lessons they should be based 199 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,199 Speaker 1: on principles, but the fact that this helmet that was 200 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,760 Speaker 1: on clearance, that it was over twenty dollars more affordable, 201 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: just makes this another reason that I think, Matt, that 202 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,920 Speaker 1: you made the frugal choice, because I'll be honest, there 203 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: are times when I might be tempted to kind of 204 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: just let something slide, like if it was only a 205 00:09:18,559 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: couple of bucks of difference, right, But this was an 206 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:23,520 Speaker 1: instance where you know you made the right decision for 207 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 1: multiple reasons. It was the right reason from a principal standpoint, 208 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: but also to like that was real money that was 209 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: on the line, and again, your ability to talk through 210 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,240 Speaker 1: that with her. Um. I think it's is super important, right, 211 00:09:34,280 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 1: I mean, and there's just the whole consumption side of 212 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 1: things too, because oftentimes the way we decide that something 213 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: has or doesn't have value is oftentimes based on price. 214 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: And I think for her starting to go down that 215 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,400 Speaker 1: path of explaining to her that, like, you know, this 216 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:51,199 Speaker 1: helmet isn't any worse or any better than the other one. 217 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: The colors are just different, and just explaining basically just 218 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: get her getting her to think through the fact that 219 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: just because something is more or less expensive doesn't make 220 00:09:59,640 --> 00:10:03,640 Speaker 1: it uh inferior or superior product, because that's what marketers 221 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:05,719 Speaker 1: want us to believe. That's what I advertising does, right, 222 00:10:05,760 --> 00:10:08,480 Speaker 1: Like you've got the new shiny thing. And again, it 223 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:10,680 Speaker 1: was probably in the section of the aisle where it 224 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: was organized neatly well lit, compared to the end of 225 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: the aisle. Maybe on the back side of It's kind 226 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: of like in the armpit section of Target, you know, 227 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:20,520 Speaker 1: like where where things are all disheveled, half the products 228 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: are kind of on the ground. Um, And so you 229 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: could perceive that those are inferior products. But in this 230 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: case that was not true. Yeah, And I think you're 231 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:30,840 Speaker 1: right at the price difference matters because twenty dollars versus 232 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: two dollars is a big difference. Like if it was 233 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,600 Speaker 1: a two dollar difference and it was me and my daughter, 234 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: I'd be and she was like, but my dad, I 235 00:10:36,640 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: like that, I like this color better. I would either 236 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 1: ask her to pay the two bucks or I would 237 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: just pay it myself because it's two bucks. But when 238 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:47,160 Speaker 1: it's difference, when it's like it costs over more than more, 239 00:10:47,480 --> 00:10:50,080 Speaker 1: that's the perfect reason to point out a price describancy 240 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:52,640 Speaker 1: that's in that large and and just like going back 241 00:10:52,640 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: to you paying that ticket, it's like, if it was 242 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: a two dollar fee, I probably would have eaten it. 243 00:10:57,160 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: You would have eaten it. But when it's a twelve 244 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: dollar fee, it's like, Nope, nope, that too much. If 245 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: there's a breaking us exactly yeah, and the other thing too. 246 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: I think even being willing to like I may have 247 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:07,000 Speaker 1: been willing to split the difference with her, right, And 248 00:11:07,040 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: so if she was just like, hey, okay, there's a 249 00:11:08,760 --> 00:11:11,640 Speaker 1: twenty dollar difference here, but this time it's only eleven bucks, 250 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,559 Speaker 1: you were willing to spend thirty dollars. You know, if 251 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: like a kid had that kind of negotiating negotiation skills. 252 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:19,280 Speaker 1: I'd be like, Okay, well that's that's pretty good argument, 253 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:20,840 Speaker 1: good point. But I think I may have been willing 254 00:11:20,880 --> 00:11:22,559 Speaker 1: to be like, hey, I'll split the difference with you. 255 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:25,200 Speaker 1: I will pitch in tin Bucks if you pitch into 256 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: an extra tin Bucks and get us from that eleven 257 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: dollar helmet to the thirty one dollar helmet or whatever. 258 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,080 Speaker 1: But basically, I guess maybe that's the part of it 259 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 1: that's on my mind is the fact that he was 260 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:37,480 Speaker 1: willing originally to buy the thirty dollar you know, plus helmet, 261 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 1: and so maybe a good way to kind of land 262 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: the lesson and kind of like really bring it home 263 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:43,679 Speaker 1: is if he took that extra money that he obviously had, 264 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: he was willing to spend that on a helmet, but 265 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,160 Speaker 1: then put that money towards something else, uh, to where 266 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: his daughter could see, hey, there are trade offs, just 267 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: like you said, Joel, Right, so instead of putting this 268 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,719 Speaker 1: toward that helmet that you wanted, maybe he would buy 269 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: a snack in the checkoutline, or maybe once they get 270 00:11:57,400 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: home and put you know, and went for a bike ride, 271 00:11:59,240 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 1: maybe they go and get ice cream, but something where 272 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:03,440 Speaker 1: he can be like, look, the reason that we're doing 273 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: this is because we got the more affordable helmet. Isn't 274 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: this great? Right? And she's like, nah, one of the 275 00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: helmet that would have been better. Well, I mean whatever 276 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:14,160 Speaker 1: it takes though to to connect the fact that there 277 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:15,959 Speaker 1: are trade offs and there are other things that you 278 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,760 Speaker 1: can do with that money, Because if she doesn't get 279 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,600 Speaker 1: to realize that saved money, that's where I think the 280 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,560 Speaker 1: disconnection happened. And that might be the instance where she's like, Dad, 281 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: you're so cheap, you're not being show or you're able 282 00:12:27,280 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: to max out your roth IRA this year because you 283 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: didn't buy that helmet. But now, and I gotta say, like, 284 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: this is the exact kind of thing that my parents 285 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: did when I was a kid, Like I always loved 286 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: Nike basketball shoes that usually uh a star player had 287 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: just released. Matt Scottie Pippen shoes were the best shoes 288 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:45,880 Speaker 1: when I was in middle school, at least according to 289 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: those middle school tastes that I no longer have. But 290 00:12:48,280 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: my parents they just one they didn't have the money 291 00:12:50,920 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: to pay for those shoes. They budgeted an amount that 292 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: they really had to stick to for myself and my sisters. 293 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: When it came to like our footwear. And even if 294 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,520 Speaker 1: they did have the money, I don't think they would 295 00:13:01,520 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: have bought me the fancies shoes on the block. I 296 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:06,320 Speaker 1: just don't think that they would have allowed that to happen. 297 00:13:06,360 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: I think they had other principal reasons to avoid spending 298 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: hifty dollars on a pair of shoes, which I completely 299 00:13:12,440 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: agree with. But that allows the parent and you're like, oh, 300 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 1: I totally, But that meant that I had to make 301 00:13:17,320 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 1: a choice similar to Math's daughter, and like that I 302 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:22,559 Speaker 1: want those shoes enough to spend my own birthday and 303 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: Christmas money on them. Like that was a big, big 304 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:29,120 Speaker 1: choice for me as a little dude with limited funds, 305 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 1: and every once in a while I did. I distinctly 306 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:34,040 Speaker 1: remember getting this one pair when I was a kid, 307 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:36,280 Speaker 1: and they were great. But I also was like, I 308 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: can't do this every year, and every kid h at 309 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:39,559 Speaker 1: my school or a lot of the kids in my 310 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: school have these fancy shoes. But I've got I've got 311 00:13:41,600 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 1: this one pair, and I'm gonna like make them last 312 00:13:44,280 --> 00:13:46,679 Speaker 1: as long as I can. But most of the time 313 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: I just had to realize I couldn't afford the fancy shoes. 314 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:50,679 Speaker 1: It just wasn't possible I had there were other things 315 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: I wanted to buy, there were other trade offs, and 316 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: I think that is a good lesson actually, And ultimately, 317 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:58,199 Speaker 1: it's tough to let your kid down in the moment. 318 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,560 Speaker 1: They're hard lessons to teach sometimes, but they're the right 319 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: lessons in the end. And it does take a little 320 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 1: bit of heartbreak on occasion or just emotional difficulty to 321 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: wait through those things. But that's what parenting is all about, 322 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 1: and teaching the right lessons isn't always easy. Going back 323 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: to your your shoes, your sneakers example, I could totally 324 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: picture you as like a middle school kid and somebody 325 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:18,520 Speaker 1: like kind of scuss your shoe a little bit with 326 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: some dirt and you like, lick your thumb, get down there, 327 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 1: like it off you like, I'll come on, man, there's 328 00:14:23,160 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 1: a brand new But no, I couldn't agree with you more. 329 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:27,440 Speaker 1: And Matt, I hope we got you pointed in the 330 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: right direction. We think that you made the right decision. 331 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: But it comes down to how we go about teaching 332 00:14:32,400 --> 00:14:35,240 Speaker 1: our kids these lessons and making sure that they understand 333 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 1: our heart behind what it is that we're making them 334 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: do or not do, and the rules that we're imposing 335 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: on them. All right, that's just our first question. We've 336 00:14:42,720 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 1: got a couple more that we're gonna get to right 337 00:14:44,240 --> 00:14:48,360 Speaker 1: after the break, including one about maxing out retirement accounts. 338 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: We'll get to that one plus that relationship question right 339 00:14:50,760 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 1: after this. Are we're back and let's keep taking listener questions. 340 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: This one comes from a listener in California who just 341 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: got married. Hey, Joelan Matt, This is Jad I'm from 342 00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:12,680 Speaker 1: Chino Hills, California. I've been listening to you guys for 343 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: a couple of months now, and it's been a great 344 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:18,720 Speaker 1: experience so far, and I've learned so much. So I'm 345 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:21,680 Speaker 1: just curious to know what your guys experiences were like 346 00:15:21,880 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: at the first few months after marriage, when you're trying 347 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 1: to update your W four and trying to figure out 348 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 1: income and that situation. So, my husband and I recently 349 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: got married, and we both have student loan debt, and 350 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: I am the only one earning right now. He is 351 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: still finishing his doctorate program and will be accumulating about 352 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:52,400 Speaker 1: three dollars worth of debt. I have about sixty dollars left, 353 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 1: and so whenever we get into a conversation about combining 354 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:01,200 Speaker 1: income and combining debt, it gets a little bit it difficult. 355 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 1: So I'm just curious to know what your guys experience 356 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,240 Speaker 1: were like. Any input will be appreciated. Thank you so 357 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,760 Speaker 1: much for taking the time. Have a great day, Hey dad, 358 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: We are so glad that you are learning some stuff. 359 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: After listening to Joel and I blab on for a 360 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: few months now, people walk away from this podcast and 361 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: I haven't learned a darn thing. That means we failed. 362 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 1: I means we're not doing our job. But we appreciate 363 00:16:25,880 --> 00:16:28,920 Speaker 1: you listening. Uh. And let's talk about those first few 364 00:16:28,920 --> 00:16:31,480 Speaker 1: months after marriage. By the way, congrats on and getting married. 365 00:16:31,640 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: But let's get personal here for a little bit, because, 366 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,120 Speaker 1: and I'm not gonna lie, this first couple of marriage 367 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: years are lovely in many respects, but there's also a 368 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:46,120 Speaker 1: massive learning curve on not just the financial front, but 369 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 1: in many other areas of life. And one of the 370 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 1: biggest things that you're trying to figure out, of course, 371 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:53,240 Speaker 1: is how to handle your money together. Uh. And I 372 00:16:53,240 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: think too, you know, the later in life that you 373 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: get married, the harder it can be too mesh on 374 00:16:58,120 --> 00:16:59,960 Speaker 1: this front when it comes to your money. That's why 375 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:02,440 Speaker 1: a lot of couples to actually keep their finances separates. 376 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: But that actually is not the route that either Joel 377 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: took with his wife Emily or that I took with 378 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: my wife Kate. Yeah, we we decided, we believed, we 379 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: thought that for our marriage the best thing was to 380 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,280 Speaker 1: combine finances. And like Matt said, we realize that's not 381 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: the route that everyone takes. That's not the best route 382 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: necessarily for everyone. Uh. Not everyone believes or thinks the 383 00:17:22,040 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: way we do about this, But we will offer our thoughts, 384 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:28,200 Speaker 1: a couple of thoughts that might come across as potentially 385 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: more traditional. You can call us old school. That's okay. 386 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,920 Speaker 1: But when you're combining lives, which is what marriage is, 387 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: you're really are saying like, hey, we're we're all in together. 388 00:17:39,080 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: We're also fans of combining finances. When you're deciding to 389 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:46,880 Speaker 1: do life together, you should do finances together. Uh and 390 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:49,520 Speaker 1: so Yeah, the later in life you're getting married, the 391 00:17:49,560 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 1: more difficult it is to do. Like Matt said, if 392 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: you're forty three and you've been flying solo for twenty 393 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: years and you have massively established career, I get the 394 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 1: reticence to combine everything, right, Like it's a little bit 395 00:18:01,400 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: different combining it twenty six versus forty six, and especially 396 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:07,679 Speaker 1: if you're in completely different financial stratust heres. But I 397 00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: gotta say I believe that things change in a big 398 00:18:09,800 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: way once you're married. You're no longer two separate entities. 399 00:18:12,760 --> 00:18:16,480 Speaker 1: You really have gone all in together, um in on 400 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,399 Speaker 1: each other. And it's not to say that you can't 401 00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:22,320 Speaker 1: both have separate interests or anything like that, But when 402 00:18:22,320 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: it comes to the big things, you're unified. You're attempting 403 00:18:25,680 --> 00:18:28,840 Speaker 1: to work through things together as a unit. And I 404 00:18:28,840 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: think that this means combining everything is the best way 405 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,240 Speaker 1: to go for most people. Everything from assets to liabilities, 406 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:38,359 Speaker 1: income that you're making, to the debt that your husband's 407 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: accruing while he's still in school, those are all things 408 00:18:41,720 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: now that I would say you you're holding common Yeah, totally. 409 00:18:44,800 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: I mean jad I think it might even be helpful too, 410 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,480 Speaker 1: if instead of viewing it as your student loans and 411 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 1: his student loans, that you just simply think of them 412 00:18:52,920 --> 00:18:55,640 Speaker 1: as like your collective debt that you both owe together. 413 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 1: You know, like a lot of Southerners say, you just 414 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: call it like y'all's a debt. That's what's down there 415 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,920 Speaker 1: in Georgia, say, and then you know when the time 416 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,439 Speaker 1: comes that your husband is contributing to the household income 417 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: like that is also the collective income of your family. 418 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,719 Speaker 1: It's not going to be his income, it's your income 419 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 1: as well. And so, of course, I mean money, it's 420 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:15,920 Speaker 1: really important. But when you really take a step back 421 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:18,840 Speaker 1: here and you look at your relationship overall, money should 422 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,480 Speaker 1: be a relatively small part of this big picture. You know, 423 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:25,560 Speaker 1: we feel that there are more central aspects of a relationship, 424 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:28,280 Speaker 1: like your commitment to each other, that are more important 425 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: to focus on now and then hopefully over time the 426 00:19:31,560 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: money differences that you have that that that those things 427 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:36,880 Speaker 1: can be worked out. But right now, if you only 428 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:39,280 Speaker 1: focus on the difficult conversation of just what to do 429 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,320 Speaker 1: with your money and this one specific way, I'm afraid 430 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:45,719 Speaker 1: that like you'd only be addressing one specific aspect of 431 00:19:45,720 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: your relationship instead of getting down to the core of 432 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:50,440 Speaker 1: what it is that we want you to focus on. Yeah, 433 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,359 Speaker 1: I mean, I think these money commos, especially Matt you 434 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,640 Speaker 1: mentioned the early years of marriage being tough. They are 435 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:57,360 Speaker 1: tough and getting on the same page on a whole 436 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,919 Speaker 1: host of things. As you've now, like attempting to attempt 437 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: to to combine lives, like it's not going to be easy, 438 00:20:01,920 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: and it takes a lot of conversations, some trial and 439 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: error to get on the same page. You have to 440 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,200 Speaker 1: work together, you have to try to find common ground. 441 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: You have to push through the difficulty and not say 442 00:20:11,720 --> 00:20:14,159 Speaker 1: that's too tough a topic, We're just never going to 443 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:16,679 Speaker 1: get on the same page. There's still a lot of 444 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: hope that you can get on the same page, even 445 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:21,399 Speaker 1: on a topic like money. And I would suggest to 446 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:25,159 Speaker 1: sometimes having a third party including them in those conversations 447 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:29,119 Speaker 1: can be helpful. Probably not like your mom, like you 448 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: don't want the mother in law to be the third 449 00:20:30,760 --> 00:20:33,360 Speaker 1: party in that combo, but it could be a trusted 450 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:36,199 Speaker 1: older couple that you guys have bonded with, that you 451 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:38,200 Speaker 1: have a lot of respect for and you think they 452 00:20:38,240 --> 00:20:40,919 Speaker 1: do things the way or their marriage looks kind of 453 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: like you want your marriage to look like that. Incorporating 454 00:20:43,680 --> 00:20:46,320 Speaker 1: them and asking them some of these questions and helping 455 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,320 Speaker 1: letting them help guide you when it comes to a 456 00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: lot of things, but money could be one of them 457 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: that could be helpful. It might even be honestly, like 458 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 1: a marriage therapist that could be that that might be 459 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: the right person to turn to as well. Um, but 460 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,280 Speaker 1: I think it's not always easy, and it's fine to 461 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: start slow, like you don't have to get on the 462 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: same page overnight. But we would say having one account 463 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 1: that you both put money into for mutual bills while 464 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: at least for the time being, keeping something separate while 465 00:21:15,200 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: you're both adjusting it can make sense and you might 466 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 1: always keep that arrangement, but you might decide over time 467 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: to combine everything together as the years move on. Just 468 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: don't neglect to have those hard conversations because they're hard. Uh, 469 00:21:28,520 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: they are conversations that need to happen, and pushing through 470 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:35,440 Speaker 1: those hard things actually leads to I think, better pastures 471 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:37,600 Speaker 1: when it comes to what your marriage looks like. And 472 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:41,520 Speaker 1: we don't often offer relationship advice here, but jad you 473 00:21:41,520 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: ask for our opinions, and this is Yeah, this is 474 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: what we have done, and this is what we believe, 475 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,679 Speaker 1: at least for us. And so that's one of the 476 00:21:48,680 --> 00:21:51,600 Speaker 1: many opinions that you can gather as you seek to 477 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,160 Speaker 1: have a healthy relationship with your husband. Jill. Our next 478 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: question comes from a listener who seems to be doing 479 00:21:57,400 --> 00:21:59,920 Speaker 1: a pretty good job with his money, but he does 480 00:22:00,240 --> 00:22:02,080 Speaker 1: want to make sure that he's focusing on the rights 481 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:06,719 Speaker 1: retirement vehicle. Let's hear that question. Hey Mann, Joe Jason 482 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: returning with a question on retirement. I'm forty five, my 483 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:14,480 Speaker 1: wife is forty four, and we have seven four thousand 484 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: dollars in retirement at this point. Two fifty nine thousand 485 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,520 Speaker 1: is in a ESOP account through my employer, and the 486 00:22:22,600 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: other food is in my four oh one k question 487 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: is money gear number two match four oh one k, 488 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:36,360 Speaker 1: and my question is versus maxing your four oh one 489 00:22:36,400 --> 00:22:41,840 Speaker 1: k uh. My employer matches cents on the dollar for 490 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 1: the first three thousand dollars and fifty cents on the 491 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: dollar for the next two thousand dollars. So my question 492 00:22:50,119 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 1: is regarding your thoughts on maxing it versus matching it? 493 00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:59,560 Speaker 1: Should I only match it and move the other money 494 00:22:59,680 --> 00:23:05,600 Speaker 1: to a roth ira A. Thanks and I appreciate your feedback. 495 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: All right, Matt, I know where I'm going. If I 496 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:12,879 Speaker 1: need twenty bucks, I'm going I'm gonna ask Jason for money. Jason, 497 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:15,160 Speaker 1: you your rushing, dude, You really are. You're you're you're 498 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: doing great with your money, and yeah, I'm I'm not 499 00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: sure if you care, but you're well above average when 500 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: it comes to how much money you've sucked away at 501 00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,360 Speaker 1: your age, And so this just gives you a plethora 502 00:23:26,440 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: of options, like being able to choose how much you 503 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:31,919 Speaker 1: want to work sooner rather than later, being able to 504 00:23:32,000 --> 00:23:35,359 Speaker 1: quit all together in the near future if you wanted 505 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,399 Speaker 1: to in all likelihood, and so, yeah, depending on what 506 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,159 Speaker 1: your expenses look like. Here's the thing, you might not 507 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 1: actually need to prioritize maxing out your four wing K contributions. 508 00:23:45,560 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: But that just really comes down to your personal goals. 509 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:50,080 Speaker 1: And so there's definitely gonna have to be when you're 510 00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:53,080 Speaker 1: deciding how much more do I continue to stock away? 511 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,639 Speaker 1: A lot of that answer is going to come down to, well, 512 00:23:56,760 --> 00:23:59,159 Speaker 1: what do you want the next fifteen years of your 513 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,680 Speaker 1: life to to Like, it depends on what your personal 514 00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,600 Speaker 1: goals are. It depends where you want to retire, because 515 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: there's a big difference, Uh, if you're gonna retire in 516 00:24:06,480 --> 00:24:11,440 Speaker 1: San Francisco VERSUS Memphis, Tennessee or Thailand or Thailand. Yeah, 517 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:13,639 Speaker 1: but Jason, let's let's talk about money gear number two. 518 00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: You talked about the money gears, so let's kind of 519 00:24:15,359 --> 00:24:18,960 Speaker 1: use that framework here. Getting the match is the minimum 520 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:21,000 Speaker 1: that you want to be hitting for all the folks 521 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:22,639 Speaker 1: out there who are listening who may not have heard 522 00:24:22,840 --> 00:24:25,119 Speaker 1: us talk about the money gears before. Uh. And so 523 00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: that's why it is so early on within our money gears, 524 00:24:27,960 --> 00:24:30,800 Speaker 1: getting that full match that your employer offers should be 525 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:34,440 Speaker 1: a major priority for everyone pretty early on. Some call 526 00:24:34,520 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: it free money, others will call it, you know, part 527 00:24:36,920 --> 00:24:39,840 Speaker 1: of your benefits package that you should be taking advantage of. 528 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: But no matter how you refer to it, it's an 529 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 1: incredibly helpful wealth building tool that you you can't afford 530 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:48,399 Speaker 1: to leave on the table. Uh. And honestly, it's going 531 00:24:48,440 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: to be the best most guaranteed return on your money, 532 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:54,239 Speaker 1: uh that you'll ever realize. And so you're already doing that. 533 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: But now you're talking about whether you should continue to 534 00:24:56,640 --> 00:24:58,439 Speaker 1: fund that four O n K or if you should 535 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:02,399 Speaker 1: instead move on to other tax advantage accounts. But before 536 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:04,760 Speaker 1: we kind of talk about those, you kind of skipped 537 00:25:04,800 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 1: over money gears number three and four. And so we're 538 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: gonna assume that you do not have any high indest 539 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:11,120 Speaker 1: rate debt. We're gonna assume that you have a fully 540 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:14,040 Speaker 1: funded emergency fund, and then we will progress onto money 541 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:15,720 Speaker 1: gear number five. Let's do it. Let's do it. Money 542 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:18,440 Speaker 1: your number five. And when it comes to the order 543 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:22,399 Speaker 1: of operations, Jason, what I'd say is contribute enough to 544 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:25,080 Speaker 1: get the full match that you're entitled to, like Matt said, 545 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 1: no matter what. But after that, I'd put as much 546 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:31,879 Speaker 1: money as I possibly could into your wrath ira A 547 00:25:32,440 --> 00:25:35,360 Speaker 1: with a goal to max that out if at all possible. 548 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:37,399 Speaker 1: So if you can hit the match and then max 549 00:25:37,400 --> 00:25:41,680 Speaker 1: out your wrath, which the contribution limits are six thousand 550 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: dollars a year, if you are under the income threshold, 551 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: that's where you should go next. And so the reason 552 00:25:47,840 --> 00:25:49,880 Speaker 1: I would say to go with the roth IRA is 553 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:52,879 Speaker 1: that it gives you some tax diversification because you'll be 554 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,480 Speaker 1: starting to create pre and post tax buckets and that 555 00:25:55,560 --> 00:25:57,840 Speaker 1: just gives you a whole lot more flexibility to dial 556 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:00,320 Speaker 1: in your tax rate decades down the road when you're 557 00:26:00,359 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 1: starting to live off of the retirement funds that you've accrued. 558 00:26:03,520 --> 00:26:06,199 Speaker 1: And my parents they're like on the verge of complete 559 00:26:06,200 --> 00:26:08,720 Speaker 1: retirement soon and we're talking about that, and just the 560 00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,960 Speaker 1: fact that they have almost equivalent buckets of pre and 561 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: post tax money very nice. Yeah, it just gives them 562 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:18,240 Speaker 1: a whole lot of flexibility in what they want their 563 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:20,639 Speaker 1: tax rate to be. They basically get to choose their 564 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: own adventure on that and I think it is a 565 00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: nice place to be to at least have some pre 566 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 1: tax some post tax to pull from when you get 567 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 1: that age. Yeah, we definitely like having that diversity. Maybe 568 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:30,840 Speaker 1: you can refer to this money gear as maybe like 569 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:33,359 Speaker 1: money gear five A, And if that's the case, then 570 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:36,480 Speaker 1: five B would be like after you know, if you 571 00:26:36,520 --> 00:26:38,840 Speaker 1: do max out that roth IRA and then you still 572 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:41,000 Speaker 1: have money left over, then go back to your four 573 00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:44,280 Speaker 1: own K and then start funneling even more dollars beyond 574 00:26:44,359 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: that match level in there. So at that point you'd 575 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:50,320 Speaker 1: be moving from match to max. And like we mentioned 576 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:51,840 Speaker 1: at the beginning of our answer, you know that, like 577 00:26:51,840 --> 00:26:54,520 Speaker 1: there's a decent reason for you to not invest every 578 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: single dollar you possibly can. You've already built up an 579 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: excellent nest egg and it's okay to choose to incorporate 580 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:05,680 Speaker 1: some more of those dollars into your life now, trying 581 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:08,160 Speaker 1: to maybe strike a balance of investing for the future 582 00:27:08,440 --> 00:27:10,760 Speaker 1: and living your life to the fullest today, make sure 583 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 1: that you don't neglect your craft be your equivalent. You know, 584 00:27:13,280 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: we're not trying to dissuade you from the awesome investing 585 00:27:15,880 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 1: moves that you're making. We just want you to make 586 00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,480 Speaker 1: sure that you are thinking about, you know, what life 587 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 1: looks like now, making sure that you've got some food 588 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: for thoughts. We don't want you to over prioritize investing 589 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: for the long term because, as we all know, we're 590 00:27:28,520 --> 00:27:31,080 Speaker 1: not guaranteed tomorrow, and so you've got to find that 591 00:27:31,080 --> 00:27:33,880 Speaker 1: balance between doing things and here and now and also 592 00:27:33,960 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: doing things for the long term. Yeah, that balance so 593 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:39,399 Speaker 1: hard to find. But it sounds like Jason has already 594 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: done an awesome job with his retirement savings, and so 595 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:44,640 Speaker 1: there's a lot of whittle room. There are a lot 596 00:27:44,680 --> 00:27:47,080 Speaker 1: of options open to him. So Jason, best of luck 597 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:49,800 Speaker 1: getting at least the match and then moving on investing 598 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:52,280 Speaker 1: more from there. But Matt, we've got a couple more 599 00:27:52,359 --> 00:27:55,640 Speaker 1: questions to go to, including someone who is in retirement 600 00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,000 Speaker 1: and they're wondering, well, how do I now start to 601 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:00,760 Speaker 1: pull those funds out. We'll get to question and it 602 00:28:00,800 --> 00:28:03,480 Speaker 1: involves starting to claim social security. We'll get to that 603 00:28:03,600 --> 00:28:14,879 Speaker 1: right after this break. We are back from the break 604 00:28:15,040 --> 00:28:16,720 Speaker 1: and we're gonna take a question here in a second 605 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:20,159 Speaker 1: about credit card balance transfers. But before we get to 606 00:28:20,200 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 1: that one, let's take this question about retirement. Hi, Joel 607 00:28:24,320 --> 00:28:27,400 Speaker 1: and Matt, this is Sandy from Massachusetts. I'm a longtime 608 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: listener and I love your podcast. My question has to 609 00:28:31,320 --> 00:28:35,399 Speaker 1: do with retirement, not for myself, but for an older 610 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,480 Speaker 1: sibling who is looking to retire sometime in the next 611 00:28:38,520 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 1: three to four years. We seem to have some debate 612 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:47,040 Speaker 1: about what he should tap first and in which order. 613 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:52,160 Speaker 1: In this case, he is questioning whether he should wait 614 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: to file for Social Security until he gets a little 615 00:28:55,600 --> 00:28:59,840 Speaker 1: closer to age seventy two and in the meantime with 616 00:29:00,120 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: draw four oh one K funds to support his lifestyle. 617 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:08,080 Speaker 1: Other people in my family suggests he should file for 618 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: Social Security when he's sixty eight and hold off on 619 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:14,400 Speaker 1: tapping his four oh one K. So what is the 620 00:29:14,440 --> 00:29:19,000 Speaker 1: conventional wisdom on which things you should access first when 621 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:23,120 Speaker 1: you finally make a decision to retire. Should you prioritize 622 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: withdrawing money from say a brokerage account first, or from 623 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,000 Speaker 1: a four oh one K or from a roth ira? 624 00:29:30,680 --> 00:29:33,240 Speaker 1: And how do you feel about where social Security fits 625 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 1: in all of this. I know this is a pretty 626 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:38,480 Speaker 1: big topic, but any advice you have would be appreciated. 627 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 1: Thank you. All right, Sandy, I appreciate your question. And Matt, 628 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: let's get let's get ready with this one. It's actually 629 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 1: something that I've been thinking about quite a bit because 630 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: my parents are facing this exact same question about how 631 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:55,080 Speaker 1: and when to pull money for retirement, and so I 632 00:29:55,080 --> 00:29:57,120 Speaker 1: don't know, let's go and wig in on my family 633 00:29:57,120 --> 00:29:59,640 Speaker 1: dispute and Sandy's family dispute at the same time, to 634 00:29:59,680 --> 00:30:02,320 Speaker 1: do it two birds of the ones down and waiting 635 00:30:02,360 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 1: to take Social Security. That is something that is it's 636 00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: really really important when it comes to how you think 637 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:13,640 Speaker 1: about income in retirement. Waiting as long as you can 638 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: to take Social Security is almost always the best way 639 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: to maximize that income in retirements. I say almost always, 640 00:30:20,560 --> 00:30:23,520 Speaker 1: because there are some circumstances where it does make sense 641 00:30:23,520 --> 00:30:26,479 Speaker 1: to take money earlier. For instance, married couples, they might 642 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:29,480 Speaker 1: decide to start collecting one social Security payment early and 643 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 1: then delay taking the Social Security for the higher earning spouse. 644 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 1: Or you might decide that because of the state of 645 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:38,200 Speaker 1: your health, waiting to take Social Security doesn't really make 646 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:40,960 Speaker 1: sense for you. You Yeah, you don't want to wait 647 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,000 Speaker 1: until your age seventy because you want to be able 648 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:46,400 Speaker 1: to quit work now and you're not quite sure that 649 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:48,640 Speaker 1: your health is going to be around for you, and 650 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: you're not going to be around potentially into your nineties. 651 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:54,720 Speaker 1: And basically, if that provides enough income and gives you 652 00:30:54,800 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: the lifestyle choices you want, then we would say go 653 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: in that direction. But this doesn't seem to be the 654 00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,240 Speaker 1: case for Sandy's brother. And Sandy, You're you're asking about 655 00:31:02,240 --> 00:31:05,680 Speaker 1: pulling the right levers to maximize retirement income, which is 656 00:31:06,000 --> 00:31:08,600 Speaker 1: a nerdy conversation. We like to have soles to our 657 00:31:08,640 --> 00:31:11,160 Speaker 1: best to help your family thread that metal. You know. Also, 658 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:13,760 Speaker 1: I wanted to say that Sandy, she mentioned age seventy 659 00:31:13,800 --> 00:31:16,840 Speaker 1: two pasand to your brother doesn't need to wait that long. 660 00:31:17,160 --> 00:31:19,360 Speaker 1: Age seventy that is the time that he should pull 661 00:31:19,360 --> 00:31:22,640 Speaker 1: the trigger in order to receive the maximum benefit possible 662 00:31:22,720 --> 00:31:26,280 Speaker 1: from Social Security. Don't wait any longer, because the benefit 663 00:31:26,280 --> 00:31:29,560 Speaker 1: actually won't get any bigger if he does. The thing 664 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:32,040 Speaker 1: about waiting until age seventy two opt in is that 665 00:31:32,200 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 1: a retiree receives an additional eight percent a year in 666 00:31:34,720 --> 00:31:37,880 Speaker 1: benefit if they continue to delay. So not only will 667 00:31:37,960 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 1: your Social Security check be instantly bigger, but all those 668 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 1: costs of living adjustments will be based on that higher 669 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 1: amount as well. And so just yeah, I mean just 670 00:31:47,200 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: kind of take a step back, ask yourself, like, where 671 00:31:49,080 --> 00:31:52,080 Speaker 1: else can you get a guaranteed eight percent return these days? 672 00:31:52,760 --> 00:31:55,280 Speaker 1: Virtually nowhere? And you know, when you look at the 673 00:31:55,320 --> 00:31:59,440 Speaker 1: longevity likelihood people hitting that retirement age, there's a really 674 00:31:59,440 --> 00:32:03,000 Speaker 1: good chance that you actually are going to come out ahead. Yeah, 675 00:32:03,080 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 1: So deciding to take Social Security benefits starting at age 676 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:10,320 Speaker 1: seventy is ideal if it's best for your situation, and 677 00:32:10,480 --> 00:32:13,800 Speaker 1: even if it means exceeding the four percent rule for 678 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: a few years so that he can delay taking Social Security, 679 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,440 Speaker 1: we think that's a solid move. And for our listeners 680 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 1: who are like, what's the four percent rule, understandable question. 681 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,400 Speaker 1: That basically states that in order to make sure that 682 00:32:26,480 --> 00:32:30,600 Speaker 1: you don't outlive the money that you've accumulated to spend 683 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: in retirement, drawing down at most four percent from those 684 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:37,280 Speaker 1: retirement funds every year is the way that you're going 685 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: to basically ensure that you're not going to outlive your money. 686 00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:42,840 Speaker 1: But Sandy, this is actually what I am recommending to 687 00:32:42,880 --> 00:32:46,400 Speaker 1: my parents. When it comes to those other retirement accounts 688 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: in which order you'll pull money from, well, I'm okay 689 00:32:49,240 --> 00:32:51,880 Speaker 1: with them exceeding the four percent rule for a few 690 00:32:51,960 --> 00:32:55,120 Speaker 1: years in order to get that guaranteed eight percent increase 691 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 1: in that Social Security benefit payout. But when it comes 692 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 1: to those other retirement oounts and which order you're gonna 693 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:04,400 Speaker 1: pull money from, it depends a lot on what sort 694 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: of income you have coming in. Basically, you want to 695 00:33:07,320 --> 00:33:10,440 Speaker 1: structure your withdrawals to pay the least amount of tax possible, 696 00:33:10,760 --> 00:33:12,800 Speaker 1: not just in a given year, but over an extended 697 00:33:12,840 --> 00:33:15,960 Speaker 1: period of time. Obviously you're not gonna pay tax on 698 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: roth ira A withdrawals, but if you took those all 699 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 1: at once, you would lose your ability to basically choose 700 00:33:21,640 --> 00:33:24,240 Speaker 1: your own tax rate in the future. So each year 701 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 1: you're gonna want to take some, potentially from each bucket 702 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:30,040 Speaker 1: in order to dial in that perfect tax bill each 703 00:33:30,120 --> 00:33:33,920 Speaker 1: year for a decade or longer. Totally and look closely 704 00:33:33,920 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: to at the tax brackets and base those withdrawal amounts 705 00:33:37,760 --> 00:33:40,520 Speaker 1: in which accounts you take the withdrawals from, on which 706 00:33:40,560 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 1: tax bracket you want to slide into. Uh this, you 707 00:33:43,640 --> 00:33:45,520 Speaker 1: know this might be a little confusing and can get 708 00:33:45,760 --> 00:33:48,120 Speaker 1: a bit complicated. You might even want to pay some 709 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:50,160 Speaker 1: money and spend spend a few hours with a fee 710 00:33:50,240 --> 00:33:55,480 Speaker 1: only financial professional, someone who specializes in this type of maneuver. Uh. 711 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:58,360 Speaker 1: This is something that you can d I Y and 712 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:01,000 Speaker 1: succeed at. And if you're trying to do this yourself, 713 00:34:01,000 --> 00:34:04,000 Speaker 1: and maybe you're looking for more reassurance as to knowing 714 00:34:04,440 --> 00:34:06,840 Speaker 1: all the different specific considerations that you need to keep 715 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,200 Speaker 1: in mind when it comes to your social security, you 716 00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:12,120 Speaker 1: can go to a specific site like maximize my social 717 00:34:12,120 --> 00:34:14,600 Speaker 1: Security dot com. Uh, And that's only going to cost 718 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:17,600 Speaker 1: your brother forty dollars and that's a good way for 719 00:34:17,680 --> 00:34:20,280 Speaker 1: him to consider all of the specifics that the Social 720 00:34:20,280 --> 00:34:24,560 Speaker 1: Security Administration will take into account as they're determining his benefits. 721 00:34:24,840 --> 00:34:26,799 Speaker 1: All right, Sandy, best of luck to you and your 722 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:32,120 Speaker 1: brother as he nears retirement. Congrats to him one, congrats exactly. 723 00:34:32,440 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 1: So all right, well let's get to We got one 724 00:34:34,000 --> 00:34:36,720 Speaker 1: more question in this episode, and this one is about 725 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:40,360 Speaker 1: credit cards. Hi. This is Will from Oakland, California. My 726 00:34:40,480 --> 00:34:45,160 Speaker 1: question is regarding balance transfers. We have a large upcoming 727 00:34:45,400 --> 00:34:50,120 Speaker 1: expense and my thought is to put it all on 728 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:53,560 Speaker 1: a credit card and then pay half of that credit 729 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:57,880 Speaker 1: card balance using savings from the emergency fund, and for 730 00:34:57,920 --> 00:35:01,680 Speaker 1: the other half of that balanced to use a balanced 731 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:06,360 Speaker 1: transfer to spread out those payments over fifteen or eighteen months. 732 00:35:06,400 --> 00:35:08,520 Speaker 1: I'm wondering if you think that is a sound strategy 733 00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:13,400 Speaker 1: and if you can recommend any particular balance transfer cards 734 00:35:13,400 --> 00:35:16,000 Speaker 1: that offer the most favorable terms on the lowest fees. 735 00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:19,360 Speaker 1: Thanks so much, love the show. Bye. Hey, Well, we 736 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,360 Speaker 1: appreciate you listening to the podcast, and thank you for 737 00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:25,359 Speaker 1: sending in your question. It's actually been a minute since 738 00:35:25,360 --> 00:35:27,960 Speaker 1: we've talked about balance transfer credit cards, and so I'm 739 00:35:28,000 --> 00:35:30,960 Speaker 1: excited that you asked this one. And first of all, 740 00:35:31,120 --> 00:35:33,479 Speaker 1: I wanted to address something that you mentioned. You said 741 00:35:33,480 --> 00:35:35,600 Speaker 1: that you're planning to pay for half of this upcoming 742 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: expense with your savings, but you also mentioned that it 743 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:41,120 Speaker 1: would be coming out of your emergency fund. And I 744 00:35:41,160 --> 00:35:43,839 Speaker 1: hate to get nipicky here, You love to get nipicky, Matt, 745 00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,719 Speaker 1: but details are important. Uh, hopefully this was an expense 746 00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:51,480 Speaker 1: that you were able to foresee on the horizon and 747 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:54,720 Speaker 1: you're able to actually work towards this savings goal, because 748 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:58,120 Speaker 1: you know, big expenses like a home repair, medical procedure. 749 00:35:58,160 --> 00:36:01,480 Speaker 1: Even these are are all tie of big ticket items 750 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:03,839 Speaker 1: that we want all the HTM or is out there 751 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: to be proactively working towards and not just completely relying 752 00:36:08,040 --> 00:36:11,280 Speaker 1: on your emergency fund for some of these irregular expenses 753 00:36:11,320 --> 00:36:13,600 Speaker 1: that come up occasionally. Yeah, exactly, we've talked about that. 754 00:36:13,640 --> 00:36:16,680 Speaker 1: We we want emergency funds to be for emergencies and 755 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:19,520 Speaker 1: not for like oops, forgot about that. We want you 756 00:36:19,560 --> 00:36:22,880 Speaker 1: to be regularly budgeting in those those types of items. 757 00:36:22,960 --> 00:36:25,719 Speaker 1: And even if you know that's the kind of thing 758 00:36:25,760 --> 00:36:28,360 Speaker 1: that you only pay for once every two or three years, 759 00:36:28,640 --> 00:36:30,759 Speaker 1: it needs to somehow, you know, be something that you're 760 00:36:30,760 --> 00:36:33,600 Speaker 1: saving for, not just coming out of that fund, because 761 00:36:33,719 --> 00:36:36,000 Speaker 1: that's how it gets depleted more rapidly. Exactly, World Cup 762 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:38,560 Speaker 1: tickets several years from now. I am saving for those 763 00:36:38,840 --> 00:36:41,000 Speaker 1: right now. That's the kind of thing we want a 764 00:36:41,040 --> 00:36:42,480 Speaker 1: lot of folks to be doing with when it comes 765 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,200 Speaker 1: to other expenses as well. Yeah, it's not gonna be 766 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:46,359 Speaker 1: pulled out of your fund. You've been you're saving for it, 767 00:36:46,560 --> 00:36:49,719 Speaker 1: even it's an emergency far in advance. But on the 768 00:36:49,719 --> 00:36:52,439 Speaker 1: other side of the coin, if this actually was something 769 00:36:52,480 --> 00:36:54,720 Speaker 1: that came out of nowhere, then by all means, of course, 770 00:36:54,920 --> 00:36:58,160 Speaker 1: use money out of your emergency funds. Right. These these 771 00:36:58,160 --> 00:37:02,200 Speaker 1: are the kinds of events and unforeseen expenses that emergency 772 00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 1: funds are made for. So to some this might be 773 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:08,040 Speaker 1: an obvious statement. It's something that you generally understand, but 774 00:37:08,080 --> 00:37:10,200 Speaker 1: once you find yourself in the heat of the moment, 775 00:37:10,600 --> 00:37:13,480 Speaker 1: it can be difficult to actually use that money for 776 00:37:13,520 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 1: its intended purpose. We can get so preoccupied in making 777 00:37:17,120 --> 00:37:19,799 Speaker 1: sure that we have the perfect fully funded emergency fund 778 00:37:19,800 --> 00:37:22,000 Speaker 1: in our accounts that were a little gun shy when 779 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:24,279 Speaker 1: it comes to actually using it. We see the same 780 00:37:24,280 --> 00:37:26,920 Speaker 1: thing with our credit scores. We've worked so hard to 781 00:37:26,920 --> 00:37:29,200 Speaker 1: get it boosted into a good range, you know, we've 782 00:37:29,320 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: we've polished it up, and now it looks spotless and 783 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:34,239 Speaker 1: the perfect. It's a perfect credit score sitting on the pedestal. Yeah, 784 00:37:34,320 --> 00:37:36,800 Speaker 1: under the glass jar, don't touch. But at that point 785 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,200 Speaker 1: it's become almost meaningless, right because in the process we 786 00:37:40,239 --> 00:37:41,880 Speaker 1: forget that there's going to come a time when we 787 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:44,520 Speaker 1: need to actually use our credit score for what it 788 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:47,239 Speaker 1: was intended for. It's a tool in the same way 789 00:37:47,280 --> 00:37:49,719 Speaker 1: that an emergency fund is, and so let's make sure 790 00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:53,440 Speaker 1: that we keep the same perspective on both. Yep. Yeah, 791 00:37:53,480 --> 00:37:55,480 Speaker 1: so that's all important stuff. Let's go ahead and get 792 00:37:55,520 --> 00:37:58,600 Speaker 1: to like the root of Will's question here, which is 793 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,600 Speaker 1: is using a balance transfer are a good strategy and 794 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:03,759 Speaker 1: I think this would be a good idea for you. 795 00:38:03,840 --> 00:38:06,720 Speaker 1: Well only if you are not already dealing with credit 796 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:09,239 Speaker 1: card debt. You didn't mention that this is the case 797 00:38:09,239 --> 00:38:11,759 Speaker 1: for you, and so hopefully that's not the situation you're in. 798 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:14,040 Speaker 1: But if there's someone out there listening and they've got 799 00:38:14,080 --> 00:38:16,279 Speaker 1: a couple of cards, maybe they're carrying balances on them 800 00:38:16,320 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: months a month, then adding another credit card to the 801 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:22,200 Speaker 1: mix most likely isn't going to solve any problems. Instead, 802 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:24,560 Speaker 1: we you know, we think that that person needs to 803 00:38:24,760 --> 00:38:27,000 Speaker 1: get to the root of the issue, whether that means 804 00:38:27,080 --> 00:38:31,040 Speaker 1: increasing their income or most likely cutting back on their spending. 805 00:38:31,360 --> 00:38:33,799 Speaker 1: And so well, yeah, assuming you don't fall into that boat, 806 00:38:34,000 --> 00:38:35,879 Speaker 1: the only other thing that you want to make sure 807 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:38,160 Speaker 1: is that you are being diligent to pay off that 808 00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:41,200 Speaker 1: balance within the allotted window of time that you have, 809 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:45,360 Speaker 1: whether that's twelve months or eighteen even sometimes twenty one months, 810 00:38:46,000 --> 00:38:48,279 Speaker 1: is what some cards out there are offering. And of 811 00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:51,040 Speaker 1: course that's because that after that period of time, you 812 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:54,239 Speaker 1: will get knocked into the variable interest rate, which you 813 00:38:54,400 --> 00:38:56,400 Speaker 1: do not want to be in for sure, and you 814 00:38:56,480 --> 00:38:58,560 Speaker 1: definitely don't want to get hit with the penalty interest 815 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:02,360 Speaker 1: rate as well, oftentimes is even higher, and so you 816 00:39:02,400 --> 00:39:04,799 Speaker 1: can avoid that by making sure that you make at 817 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:08,280 Speaker 1: the very least your minimum payments every month on time. 818 00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:12,440 Speaker 1: But yeah, another downside to balance transfer credit cards are 819 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:15,600 Speaker 1: the fact that they have balance transfer fees, which are 820 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:18,960 Speaker 1: typically three to five of the amount that you're transferring. 821 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:21,960 Speaker 1: If you haven't been listening long, you might not know that. 822 00:39:22,000 --> 00:39:23,879 Speaker 1: Matt and I we hate fees, but we've already talked 823 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:26,320 Speaker 1: about it on this episode, so you should know. Fees 824 00:39:26,320 --> 00:39:28,880 Speaker 1: are kind of our nemesis. But this is definitely a 825 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:31,840 Speaker 1: big reason to avoid balance transfers if at all possible. 826 00:39:32,080 --> 00:39:35,920 Speaker 1: You know, paying five on a ten transfer, that's a 827 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,239 Speaker 1: lot of money. That's real money right there. Yeah, you 828 00:39:38,239 --> 00:39:40,440 Speaker 1: don't want you doing that, but yeah, if you just 829 00:39:40,520 --> 00:39:43,439 Speaker 1: don't have the money on hand, then fortunately there are 830 00:39:43,560 --> 00:39:47,120 Speaker 1: some cards that don't charge this balance transfer fee. Specifically, 831 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:50,080 Speaker 1: look to your local credit union, as oftentimes you'll find 832 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:53,719 Speaker 1: the best options there, But even a nationwide credit union 833 00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:56,640 Speaker 1: like Navy Federal has an option where you can avoid 834 00:39:56,640 --> 00:39:59,360 Speaker 1: those fees too. We'll link to that specific card in 835 00:39:59,400 --> 00:40:01,960 Speaker 1: our show notes. We also have an updated article on 836 00:40:02,000 --> 00:40:04,600 Speaker 1: how money dot Com for you to find the balance 837 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:07,080 Speaker 1: transfer cards with the best terms, because, like we said, 838 00:40:07,160 --> 00:40:09,440 Speaker 1: the terms can vary and it can make hundreds and 839 00:40:09,520 --> 00:40:11,880 Speaker 1: hundreds of dollars worth of difference. You want to make 840 00:40:11,880 --> 00:40:14,239 Speaker 1: sure you're avoiding fees at every turn. So yeah, we'll 841 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:16,160 Speaker 1: put a link to that article and to that card 842 00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:18,200 Speaker 1: up on our site. Because you want to make sure 843 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:21,040 Speaker 1: you're getting the right product if you are going to 844 00:40:21,040 --> 00:40:23,240 Speaker 1: opt for a balance transfer card of it, like Matt said, 845 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:25,440 Speaker 1: when it comes down to it, cutting your spending to 846 00:40:25,440 --> 00:40:28,600 Speaker 1: make sure that balance transfer cards don't have a place 847 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:31,520 Speaker 1: in your future, is is the best move? Yes? Most definitely. 848 00:40:31,560 --> 00:40:33,960 Speaker 1: All right, that's gonna be for questions, Joe, Let's go 849 00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:35,160 Speaker 1: ahead and get to the beer that you and I 850 00:40:35,239 --> 00:40:39,000 Speaker 1: enjoyed on this episode, which was a Bell's Too Hearted Ale. 851 00:40:39,560 --> 00:40:41,400 Speaker 1: This is an American I p a and I will 852 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:44,000 Speaker 1: go ahead and kick this off. I can't say just 853 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:47,480 Speaker 1: too hard at Ale because it's always been Bell Bell's 854 00:40:47,520 --> 00:40:50,000 Speaker 1: Too Hearted. I don't know if that's just because I 855 00:40:50,000 --> 00:40:52,239 Speaker 1: didn't know of any other Bells beers at the time. 856 00:40:52,680 --> 00:40:54,640 Speaker 1: It's when I when I first came up on this beer, 857 00:40:54,680 --> 00:40:56,759 Speaker 1: I would always call it a Bell's too hearted. And 858 00:40:56,760 --> 00:40:59,320 Speaker 1: so that's a brief history of Matt and his relationship 859 00:40:59,360 --> 00:41:02,040 Speaker 1: to this beer. Yeah. I mean, this beer has been 860 00:41:02,080 --> 00:41:05,640 Speaker 1: around quite a long time, and when it was released, 861 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:08,120 Speaker 1: it was basically like one of the best I pas 862 00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:12,040 Speaker 1: out there because there were so few good beers. It 863 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:14,920 Speaker 1: was back in like the craft beer dark ages, basically 864 00:41:15,000 --> 00:41:17,600 Speaker 1: like it was like Sierra Nevada and or no, like 865 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:20,200 Speaker 1: twenty years ago. The girls in Sierra Nevada have been 866 00:41:20,239 --> 00:41:22,640 Speaker 1: around a really long time and they really kicked off 867 00:41:22,680 --> 00:41:25,680 Speaker 1: the whole craftier revolution. So and I think this is 868 00:41:25,719 --> 00:41:29,600 Speaker 1: still a really solid beer. It has like it's it's 869 00:41:29,600 --> 00:41:32,759 Speaker 1: more of like the piney than the fruity vibes going on. 870 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:35,840 Speaker 1: But I kind of appreciate that. It's it's not a 871 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,560 Speaker 1: style that I gravitate towards as much as I used to, 872 00:41:39,000 --> 00:41:41,000 Speaker 1: but this is still a delicious beer. It's kind of 873 00:41:41,000 --> 00:41:45,040 Speaker 1: got slightly biscuity vibes going on along with the pine 874 00:41:45,360 --> 00:41:47,560 Speaker 1: and so yeah, I don't know, I really I like 875 00:41:47,680 --> 00:41:50,960 Speaker 1: this beer, probably because of the nostalgia, but it's also 876 00:41:51,040 --> 00:41:53,840 Speaker 1: Dude's still tasty. Yes, the nostalgia with this beer is 877 00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:55,880 Speaker 1: incredibly strong. Like I can't drink this beer and not 878 00:41:56,000 --> 00:41:59,319 Speaker 1: think I'm sitting in Soba, which is our local Vietnamese 879 00:41:59,560 --> 00:42:01,560 Speaker 1: dive restaurant if you want to get some fun. It's 880 00:42:01,560 --> 00:42:03,960 Speaker 1: basically like the closest restaurant to us UH in East 881 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:06,839 Speaker 1: Atlanta where you can get some fun and every single time, 882 00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:08,200 Speaker 1: like it makes me think of so many date nights 883 00:42:08,239 --> 00:42:10,080 Speaker 1: when Kate and I would go there. She would get 884 00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:12,080 Speaker 1: a bowl of I would get the thirty one. I 885 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:15,480 Speaker 1: think that's the pork with the rice so good, but 886 00:42:15,560 --> 00:42:17,879 Speaker 1: we would each get a glass of Bells too hard, 887 00:42:17,960 --> 00:42:20,520 Speaker 1: and now you're making me hungry. It's it's such a 888 00:42:20,520 --> 00:42:23,040 Speaker 1: great combination. It's really taking me a bag. But yeah, 889 00:42:23,040 --> 00:42:24,839 Speaker 1: this is a classic beer. You mentioned the pine notes, 890 00:42:24,880 --> 00:42:26,359 Speaker 1: the great fruit notes, I feel like kind of stand 891 00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:28,759 Speaker 1: out with this beer as well, and it led just 892 00:42:28,800 --> 00:42:30,920 Speaker 1: generally speaking to that West Coast I p A style 893 00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:33,200 Speaker 1: that had a lot of those like more great fruit, 894 00:42:33,480 --> 00:42:35,759 Speaker 1: pithy kind of notes that you found in those West 895 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:37,360 Speaker 1: Coast I p A s. But this is a solid, 896 00:42:37,400 --> 00:42:40,880 Speaker 1: well balanced a little bit malty, but mostly happy. Ale 897 00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:44,400 Speaker 1: I am incredibly grateful that Chris donated this one to 898 00:42:44,520 --> 00:42:46,840 Speaker 1: the show. Bells is always going to have a spot 899 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:50,719 Speaker 1: in our our beer fridge, especially when it's empty. There's 900 00:42:50,800 --> 00:42:52,719 Speaker 1: a lot more room in there, but that's gonna be 901 00:42:52,719 --> 00:42:54,759 Speaker 1: it for this episode. Listeners can find our show notes 902 00:42:54,840 --> 00:42:56,479 Speaker 1: up on our website at how the money dot com. 903 00:42:56,719 --> 00:42:58,480 Speaker 1: Will make sure to link to any of the different 904 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:02,360 Speaker 1: resources or wings that we mentioned during this episode, no 905 00:43:02,480 --> 00:43:06,040 Speaker 1: doubt so. Until next time, best Friends Out, Best Friends Out,