1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:03,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to Hot to Money. I'm Joel, I am Matt, 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 1: and today we're answering your listener questions. Yeah, buddy, and 3 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: this is episode ten. I just saw that which sounds 4 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: like sounds like it's time for a mid morning break. 5 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,400 Speaker 1: You know you hear ten forty five. That's when that's 6 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:35,160 Speaker 1: when the folks used to step out of the office 7 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: to go for a smoke break. Oh back in another 8 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:40,280 Speaker 1: mad Men era. Well, I mean I'm even thinking about 9 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 1: my first corporate job out of college. Oh really, yeah, 10 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: working out at an ad agency. Like a few ladies 11 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: would always got to your desk at nine and ten 12 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: forty five was the time. It was felt allow. I 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 1: guess so, because they would always come by and kind 14 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: of tap on the door, and one of the other 15 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: ladies would go, what's funny did you ever you eat? Well, 16 00:00:58,720 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: you can share what you want to share of one 17 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 1: of my kelbergers. I used to smoke a little bit. Yeah, 18 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: I was gonna ask did you take did you would 19 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: you take smoke breaks? No? Twenty years ago? No, like 20 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: way back, I wouldn't do it at work. That one 21 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: felt one I didn't want to smell at work, and 22 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: then two it also just these ladies did not care. 23 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,320 Speaker 1: They didn't care. Yeah, but my buddy, Uh, the increased 24 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: productivity that nicotine can provide, does that offset the time 25 00:01:19,480 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: that smokers take? So maybe it's a wash. I was 26 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: wondering that because I have some friends who are doing 27 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: the nicotine gum. Are there the kids listening to this podcast? 28 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: We do not endorse using nicotine. Yeah, but I have 29 00:01:30,560 --> 00:01:34,559 Speaker 1: specifically smoked, specifically smoking, but who are getting more into 30 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: like the the pouches and there's like dissolvable uh, nicotine substances, pouches, 31 00:01:39,800 --> 00:01:42,720 Speaker 1: the gum. From a productivity standpoint, I think it does 32 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:45,119 Speaker 1: help them focus at work. I'm crazy. I don't want 33 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 1: to be beholden to any substance. No, that's the kind 34 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: of except for a little bit of craft beer, except 35 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: for coffee. But yeah, I guess that's from that standpoint, 36 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 1: I'm gonna and it just it gets expensive. Yeah, it's 37 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: like one more thing that I can just not have 38 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: to worry about on the rig. I was gonna say 39 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,600 Speaker 1: that one of my uh, I was working as a 40 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 1: graphic designer. One of my co designers, Brian, him and 41 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: I we would always get annoyed because they're taking like 42 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: multiple breaks a day, and it's like, you know what, 43 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: at least once a week you and I should roll 44 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: in here with our pipes because we're like it was 45 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,639 Speaker 1: kind of hip to smoke a pipe back then, and 46 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:21,560 Speaker 1: so once a week we'd go and like sit for 47 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: thirty forty five minutes for a quote unquote smoke break 48 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:27,520 Speaker 1: and have like philosophical conversations. Put all your smoke breaks 49 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 1: into one long one. Yeah, I mean that being said, 50 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 1: they're down there for like ten, twelve, thirteen minutes, So 51 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: I don't know, I believe it, but uh what we 52 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: are way off, Tanjia, dude, this is an ask how 53 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 1: the Money episode, and maybe we will actually get to 54 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: some listener questions. Like a listener is looking to avoid 55 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: getting tripped up paying credit card interest. He wants like 56 00:02:48,919 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 1: all of the good that you can receive from a 57 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: credit card without any of the bad. We're going to 58 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,400 Speaker 1: talk about the best time to get a he lock. 59 00:02:56,040 --> 00:02:59,959 Speaker 1: This listener she's contemplating a renovation, so that plays into 60 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 1: to what our answer is going to be. Another listener 61 00:03:02,400 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 1: he's thinking about how solar how getting solar panels might 62 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: aid in his ability to retire sooner. So yeah, we'll 63 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: get to those plus a couple more during today's episode. 64 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: There we go, and we will avoid any additional smoking 65 00:03:16,960 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: talk or any other vices that folks might participate. Try 66 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: to avoid it. Although we are going to drink a 67 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: craft beer on this episode. This one's we do. It's 68 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:26,320 Speaker 1: complicated being a wizard. We'll give our thoughts on this 69 00:03:26,360 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 1: one at the end of the episode. Real quick, Matt, 70 00:03:28,120 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: I wanted to speA can of smoking a pipe. It's 71 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,799 Speaker 1: complicated wizards, right, like Gandalf. Well, I went to the 72 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 1: thrift store recently that's near my house that I hadn't 73 00:03:36,200 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: been to before. There's one that's like super close to 74 00:03:38,480 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: my house, but then there's one that's a little further away. 75 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: I went to the one that's a little further away 76 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 1: because some people had said that's the best thrift store 77 00:03:43,840 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 1: in town. I was like, okay, I'll check it out. 78 00:03:45,720 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: Was it and it was great? It was a really 79 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 1: good thrift story. Was it? Which one is that? It's 80 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: called City Thrift? Oh? Yeah? Is that a Is that 81 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 1: a national chain of either stores? Don't think it is 82 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: like good Will. It seems like a smaller one like 83 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 1: it America's Thrift and good will are bigger. I haven't 84 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: seen any other city thrift locations of this particular one, 85 00:04:02,880 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 1: but there probably are. But the reason I went there 86 00:04:06,320 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: was because sadly we have a funeral to attend this weekend, 87 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: and my little dude, he we needed to get him 88 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:15,160 Speaker 1: like a sports coat. And I was like, man, how 89 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: much is a sports go gonna cost my buying it 90 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 1: brand new? And how often is he actually gonna wear 91 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 1: this thing? Probably never again, And so that's the time 92 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: when the thrift storm makes most sense. Oh yeah, right, 93 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: totally agree, And so we got him a great one. 94 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: It was either five or six dollars, I don't remember, 95 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:32,320 Speaker 1: but it doesn't matter five or six bucks. It's the 96 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 1: same thing, so good, so much cheaper. He was so 97 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 1: pumped and going to like J Crew for kindergartener's. Yes, 98 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:41,919 Speaker 1: we basically got him a whole funeral outfit. He already 99 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: had like some dark pants that were good there, but 100 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,080 Speaker 1: we got him a shirt, some dark shoes and then 101 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 1: that and the whole total walking out got a dressed 102 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:52,320 Speaker 1: for my daughter was like twenty six dollars for everything 103 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 1: all in the guy. I even got myself a new 104 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: tie because I used tie I guess it's all used 105 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: there for two dollars and nine cents. Hey, that's not 106 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:01,839 Speaker 1: always the case, actually, because sometimes you'll find stuff with 107 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: tags on it, things that have never ever been worn before. 108 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: That always blows my mind. The shoes we looked like 109 00:05:07,160 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: they've been worn once. Probably they probably had been. Yeah, 110 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,239 Speaker 1: honestly so, which is kind of crazy. So don't forget 111 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 1: about the thirst source. The other thing that I saw 112 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: there was just a ton of Halloween costumes. I was like, 113 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:20,039 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, that's surprising. Yeah, there were a lot, 114 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: like multiple racks of Halloween costs. I wonder if they 115 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: if they like hang onto them in the back and 116 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: then they pull them outs. Oh, probably at the beginning 117 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: of October, because I would think that you would see 118 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:34,200 Speaker 1: more Halloween costumes after Halloween, or like at the beginning 119 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: of the year when folks are kind of cleaning out 120 00:05:36,040 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 1: the house a little bit. They're like, Oh, I'm gonna 121 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: hang onto this because I'm gonna wear it again, and 122 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:41,600 Speaker 1: then January rolls around They're like, I'm not gonna wear 123 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 1: this again, right, let's put this on the donate pile. 124 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: But that would be a smart thing to do. It 125 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: sounds like a free market sort of innovative, capitalistic maneuver 126 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 1: that this city was it city thrift, city thrift. I 127 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:56,960 Speaker 1: want to look it up. Yeah, check just word of 128 00:05:57,000 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 1: the lies. If your local thrift store has solid Halloween 129 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: costume options, it's probably worth checking out if you want 130 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: to get something kind of much cheaper, actually made, not 131 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: not homemade, not homespun. You like the homemade costume. We 132 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,320 Speaker 1: do some homemade stuff, but it just depends on what 133 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: the kids have going on. You want to just reuse 134 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 1: costumes from prior years, assuming no one like I just 135 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: how many times have I worn my Turtles costume? Have 136 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 1: you done the costume recently? Over the past couple of 137 00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: years when when the kids were younger, we dressed up 138 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: more with them. Do the themed family? Maybe I'll bring 139 00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 1: it back this year. I'll be Michaelangelo. Got to do 140 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: the new Michaelangelo TMNT. How do you create a costume 141 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,119 Speaker 1: that looks like that graphic novel? I don't know. Style. 142 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 1: That's the big question, because you're gonna look like Michael 143 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: Angelo from like the eighties throwback. He looks say soft 144 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: and plushy. I was gonna say one other way that 145 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: three store when it really shines is when you have 146 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: a preteen who doesn't totally understand her own style yet 147 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: and is trying out different things, trying different looks. How 148 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 1: much more affordable is it to do it there than 149 00:07:00,360 --> 00:07:02,479 Speaker 1: items new, and when they may not, you know, they 150 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: might wear them like twice, right, and then it's just like, oh, yeah, 151 00:07:04,960 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 1: I don't really like that anymore. She came home the 152 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: other day with bootcut jeans, which is something we had 153 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: talked about recently. She's like, what's something from when y'all 154 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 1: were younger. I guess we're talking specifically about style that 155 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 1: we don't do anymore. And I was just like, well, 156 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: I just think called boot cut jeans. Although bootcut jeans 157 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:22,920 Speaker 1: are kind of back to like cut the size of 158 00:07:22,920 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: our job. 159 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 2: You know. 160 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:25,000 Speaker 1: I explained that to her. I was just like, we 161 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: used to even do that to make it even wider, 162 00:07:27,440 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: said that they would fit over your tennis shoes, and 163 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,480 Speaker 1: she's like, no way. I was like, yeah, that's how 164 00:07:30,480 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: we used to do it back twenty years ago. Take 165 00:07:33,320 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: me back to thirty years two thousand and two, Yeah 166 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: is when, Yeah, I think it was the last time 167 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: I had some bootcuts nice anyway. Yeah, Threet starves for 168 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: the wind, don't sleep on the thirft store. All right, 169 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: let's get to your questions. If you have a money question, 170 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:48,000 Speaker 1: go to how to money dot com slash ask. It's 171 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: pretty simple to record the voice memo on the app 172 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 1: of your phone send it over our way. Hopefully we 173 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: can take your question next week on the show. Now 174 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: let's get to a question specifically about paying off a 175 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: credit card doing it in the smartest way possible. 176 00:08:00,320 --> 00:08:02,880 Speaker 3: Hey, Matt and Joel, this has been from Grand Rapids. 177 00:08:03,040 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 3: Thanks so much for all that you're doing with the podcast. 178 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 3: Been following along for about six years now and your 179 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:09,440 Speaker 3: resource has been a huge part of my journey. 180 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 4: Already. Quick question for you guys. 181 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:15,720 Speaker 3: So I use a Capital one Venture card and I 182 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 3: treat it like a debit card. I paid off in 183 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,520 Speaker 3: full and just enjoy the rewards and the fraud protection 184 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 3: from it. 185 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 4: My question is about auto pay. 186 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,600 Speaker 3: So for years I've had it set to autopay the 187 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 3: statement balance, which is really the only thing that they 188 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 3: kind of offer within Capital One. But since the current 189 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 3: balance is usually higher than the statement balance, I often 190 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 3: end up making a manual payment for the current balance 191 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,640 Speaker 3: and then canceling the auto pay, so it doesn't double pay. 192 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 3: I'm not even sure if Capital one would allow that, 193 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,120 Speaker 3: but it's yeah. I think I do it mostly out 194 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 3: of fear and trying to avoid interests. So my question 195 00:08:50,960 --> 00:08:53,679 Speaker 3: is am I overthinking this? If I just let the 196 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,839 Speaker 3: auto pay handle the statement balance, does it ensure that 197 00:08:56,880 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 3: it'll never be charged interest? Or do I need to 198 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 3: manually pay the current balance each time to truly avoid interest? 199 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 4: If so, is there a way to automatically do that. 200 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 3: In Capital One that I'm not aware of, because it 201 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:13,160 Speaker 3: appears that only the statement balance is the allowed thing 202 00:09:13,200 --> 00:09:15,800 Speaker 3: to choose for auto pay. So yeah, I'd love to 203 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 3: know if the statement balance autopay option is enough or 204 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 3: if I'm right to worry about the difference between statement 205 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 3: and current balance. 206 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 4: So thanks a ton for you to help. Guys really 207 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 4: appreciate the sh All. 208 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: Right, Ben, short answer, it is enough, but that doesn't 209 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 1: mean that you shouldn't be worrying about it. There's other 210 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,079 Speaker 1: things to think about here, so we want you to 211 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:35,360 Speaker 1: worry constantly. Ben, don't be stressed, but we do want 212 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: you to to think about it. I do love, though, 213 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,480 Speaker 1: that you are using your credit card like a debit card. 214 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: You know he's got a general healthy skepticism towards his 215 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: credit card, which I think is a It's a good, 216 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:50,840 Speaker 1: healthy approach, and that is warranted because half the folks 217 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: who use their credit cards, they don't treat their credit 218 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: cards with care. They're not paying attention because they find 219 00:09:56,480 --> 00:10:00,280 Speaker 1: themselves in recurring credit card debt. And so having the 220 00:10:00,320 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: attitude Ben that you have is going to be what 221 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: keeps you in the fifty percent of folks who use 222 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: their credit cards well. And he specifically outlined the benefits there. 223 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,559 Speaker 1: I talked about the fraud protection, the rewards that makes 224 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: using credit cards wisely so worth it. Yeah, I agree. 225 00:10:14,600 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: We call them the Golden Rules of plastic on our 226 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:19,160 Speaker 1: website at how toomoney dot com. If you're interested in 227 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: kind of reading up what when it's okay to use 228 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: a credit card? We're okay with credit cards, but only 229 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,840 Speaker 1: if you use them this smart way. And Matt, most 230 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:29,920 Speaker 1: folks they know about their rewards, the two percent cash 231 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,439 Speaker 1: back right, or the travel rewards that you can get 232 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: from using a credit card. But I think most people 233 00:10:34,200 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: don't understand the value of fraud protection that credit cards 234 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: can provide. And I love the Bend highlighted that. So 235 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,520 Speaker 1: just real quick. I wanted to just mention credit cards. 236 00:10:43,559 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: They come with superior legal protections against fraud so that 237 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: you aren't liable if you lose your credit card and 238 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: someone else uses it as if they were you. So 239 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: you drop it on the pavement, someone else picks up 240 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,600 Speaker 1: and they're like, ooh goodie, I'm going to Aldi. They're 241 00:10:56,600 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: probably going somewhere else to spend even more money, but 242 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to Aldi. You get my groceries on the thing, Well, 243 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:04,120 Speaker 1: that Aldi trip is not on you, whereas if someone 244 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:08,079 Speaker 1: used your debit card, you are either if you don't 245 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: catch it in time, you could be on the hook 246 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: for some or all of that expense. And you're also 247 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: trying to call your own money back as opposed to 248 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,959 Speaker 1: with a credit card you are. You're not out the money. 249 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: It hasn't left your accountant. So it is just another 250 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: reason that we like credit cards as a method of 251 00:11:23,559 --> 00:11:25,960 Speaker 1: payment if you can use them in a healthy way. Yeah. 252 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 1: By the way, one of the reasons you don't go 253 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: to Aldie uh to use somebody else's card is because 254 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: they've got the camera set up. Now, Yeah, they got 255 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: the on the self checkout. It's like a high def 256 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:37,520 Speaker 1: really nice picture of your face as you're there scanning 257 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:40,640 Speaker 1: your you get caught. Yeah, but you're talking about the 258 00:11:40,640 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 1: front protection. This is actually something I don't think i've uh, 259 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,680 Speaker 1: I haven't shared this yet on the show. I have 260 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 1: previously mentioned a car rental company that did not hold 261 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 1: my car rental reservation that I had made, so we 262 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: won't get into all that. And so they had canceled 263 00:11:55,679 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 1: the uh that reservation and I, you know, rebooked with 264 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: a different provider and they said, all right, you know 265 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:04,920 Speaker 1: you can cancel and that will show back up on 266 00:12:04,960 --> 00:12:07,079 Speaker 1: your your I did the paid in full in order 267 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:09,600 Speaker 1: to get the biggest discount at the time. That will 268 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: show back up on your card in like three to 269 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: five business days. Guess what never happened. They never refunded me. 270 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: They never credited me the amount, dude. And so it 271 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,120 Speaker 1: was like two weeks later that I remembered and I 272 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: checked my statement. It still wasn't there. So I guess 273 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: what I did hopped on there. And at this point 274 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,480 Speaker 1: in time, there's no way that I was gonna like 275 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,280 Speaker 1: I'm sure I could have reached out to them and 276 00:12:31,280 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: been like, hey, guys, how come this is a giant company. 277 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:36,360 Speaker 1: They had already treated me incredibly poorly. So I went 278 00:12:36,400 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: over onto the credit card on the online portal, flagged 279 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,120 Speaker 1: that charge and it just had a nice option there. 280 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:46,480 Speaker 1: As one of the reasons it was the fact that, oh, 281 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:48,440 Speaker 1: this is something that had been canceled. It's not like 282 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:51,000 Speaker 1: it didn't I feel like it used to say, please 283 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:54,199 Speaker 1: reach out to the business first, but they're just like, oh, 284 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: did you was this a charge that should have been 285 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,960 Speaker 1: canceled or refunded? And I was like yes, and they're like, cool, 286 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 1: we got your back. Be in touch, and they immediately 287 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: credited my account by that nine hundred bucks. Yeah. And 288 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,720 Speaker 1: then it took them like over a month, I want 289 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: to say, almost two months of them evidently reaching out 290 00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:15,199 Speaker 1: to budget to see if they would be able to 291 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,640 Speaker 1: be able to provide the money anyway. The temporary credit 292 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:19,960 Speaker 1: was there that entire time, and I wasn't not that 293 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: money until they officially got it back. And of course 294 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:24,800 Speaker 1: I didn't really care because in my mind it was 295 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:27,120 Speaker 1: all it was already back in my account. But for 296 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: them to have done that for me, it was wonderful. 297 00:13:29,960 --> 00:13:33,880 Speaker 1: That's so great. It's an undervalued characteristic that credit cards offer. Yeah, 298 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:35,439 Speaker 1: it's not often that you have to put it to use. 299 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 1: But man, I'm certainly glad that I was able to 300 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:39,960 Speaker 1: do that then, as opposed to being forced to have 301 00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: to manually claw back my own money. Where had I 302 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 1: put that on a debit card? For sure, you also 303 00:13:46,640 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: can get great rental car insurance through your credit card 304 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:51,920 Speaker 1: as well, if you use the right credit card. That's true. 305 00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,760 Speaker 1: Let's talk about statement balances versus current balances. That's really 306 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:58,080 Speaker 1: the heart of Ben's question here. He says, really which 307 00:13:58,080 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: one makes sense, and he's going through the manual way 308 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,240 Speaker 1: to pay the current balance instead of just the statement balance. Well, 309 00:14:04,320 --> 00:14:06,719 Speaker 1: your credit card billing cycle, it closes it basically the 310 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,120 Speaker 1: same time every month, and then you are responsible for 311 00:14:09,160 --> 00:14:11,560 Speaker 1: paying that balance by the d date, and if you do, 312 00:14:12,160 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: you're avoiding the most nefarious feature of credit cards, paying 313 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: those high interest rates, which have of course gotten worse 314 00:14:19,200 --> 00:14:22,200 Speaker 1: in recent months. And so auto paying the statement balance 315 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:23,840 Speaker 1: is a great way to go, and it makes the 316 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: most sense for most folks because as long as you 317 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: get the money sitting in your bank account, it's this 318 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: seamless transaction happening behind the scenes that you don't have 319 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,680 Speaker 1: to worry about. And we don't. I don't know if 320 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: a credit card issue issu're math that allows you to 321 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: auto pay your current balance as opposed to the statement balance. 322 00:14:39,800 --> 00:14:41,800 Speaker 1: I don't think it's the thing, probably because the current 323 00:14:41,840 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 1: balance is always changing multiple times a day for many people, 324 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: so still paying that statement balance, it's good enough for 325 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,600 Speaker 1: most folks and they really shouldn't need to go any 326 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: further or pay that current balance like Ben is keen 327 00:14:55,560 --> 00:14:58,520 Speaker 1: to do. Yeah, yeah, you can't choose minimum balance, but 328 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: we wouldn't recommend you do that. That's the wrong option. 329 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:04,040 Speaker 1: I think Ben's just worried that something's going to happen 330 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,160 Speaker 1: and he's going to be charged interest, which is why 331 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: he is manually going in there. He's paying that current 332 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:11,680 Speaker 1: balance each month. You don't need to do that. You 333 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: will avoid the downsides of credit card if you allow 334 00:15:14,640 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: that audit pay to go through. But that being said, 335 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: there are some perks to taking your approach as well. 336 00:15:20,960 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: And one of the benefits here is that you're giving 337 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:27,560 Speaker 1: a potential boost to your credit score. So that balance 338 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: being reported to the credit bureaus is going to be smaller, 339 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:34,520 Speaker 1: which lowers your credit utilization rate, which increases your score 340 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:37,520 Speaker 1: over time. So if your score is just okay, and 341 00:15:37,560 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: this is something that you're trying to focus on increasing, 342 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,160 Speaker 1: then this can be an effective tactic to essentially keep 343 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,320 Speaker 1: that running, that revolving balance to a minimum. So I 344 00:15:46,400 --> 00:15:49,240 Speaker 1: normally pay the statement balance Matt and just kind of 345 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,160 Speaker 1: have it, let it automatically be paid every single month 346 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,120 Speaker 1: unless I make a really big purchase. Yeah, because when 347 00:15:56,120 --> 00:15:58,000 Speaker 1: I make a really big purchase, that's when I'm like, oh, 348 00:15:58,080 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: what was your latest really big purchase job. I'm trying 349 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: remember what it was. You were talking thousands of dollars there, right, 350 00:16:02,800 --> 00:16:04,880 Speaker 1: Like if you're like, oh, like if you're booking a trip, 351 00:16:04,920 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: perhaps booking a trip maybe so maybe a bunch of 352 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: flights or something like that, or a car rental. If 353 00:16:10,040 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: there's something that is like a little bit out of 354 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:14,240 Speaker 1: the ordinary and I don't want it to impact that 355 00:16:14,320 --> 00:16:18,080 Speaker 1: credit credit utilization ratio, I will just manually go in 356 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 1: there and it's you know, I probably don't need to 357 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 1: And is it really gonna impact my score all that much? 358 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:24,920 Speaker 1: Probably not. And even if it does impact it by 359 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:27,560 Speaker 1: a few points, will it bounce back pretty quickly? Yeah? Probably, 360 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:30,600 Speaker 1: but little I don't like towing the line though, Yeah, 361 00:16:30,600 --> 00:16:32,320 Speaker 1: I don't like even getting close, you know, you just 362 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: I just like to make sure that I'm not gonna, yeah, 363 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:36,800 Speaker 1: gonna go anywhere near that line. J'all bounce in there, 364 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: pay it off real quick, get or done with. I 365 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 1: think there's also something powerful about taking things off autopilot, 366 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: and there's something really great about autopiloting certain things in 367 00:16:47,600 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: our lives. But a lot of people opt for auto 368 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: pay and then they don't ever look at their credit 369 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 1: card statements, so they're just not regularly being confronted by 370 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: their spending habits. And you know, maybe they consistently have 371 00:16:58,720 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: enough money in the bank to cover their statement balance 372 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: to be able to pay that off on time and 373 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: in full without having to worry about whether or not 374 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: they can pay it or it's going to impact their 375 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 1: credit score. Maybe their credit card limit is so high 376 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: that they're not even getting anywhere close to that territory, 377 00:17:15,840 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: and so they're like, yeah, statement balance done, I don't 378 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,880 Speaker 1: have to even think about it. They are avoiding maybe 379 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: the worst parts of credit cards, interest in late payments. 380 00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:26,480 Speaker 1: But if those people were to log in and were 381 00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: to be confronted with their spending on a monthly basis, 382 00:17:29,280 --> 00:17:32,080 Speaker 1: if they were to look at the actual transactions and 383 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: then they were to manually, I think, pay that credit 384 00:17:34,960 --> 00:17:37,159 Speaker 1: card bill instead of just letting it auto pay. I 385 00:17:37,160 --> 00:17:39,080 Speaker 1: think maybe for some folks it would wake them up 386 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 1: just some of the spending choices that they're making that 387 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:44,639 Speaker 1: aren't in their best interests. And so, yeah, do you 388 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:47,600 Speaker 1: need to manually log in and feel the pain viscerally 389 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 1: in order to be a smart credit card user? No, 390 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: but it could be a helpful psychological trick. I think 391 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:56,119 Speaker 1: for some folks to go in there every now and 392 00:17:56,160 --> 00:17:59,239 Speaker 1: again more often than they currently are. And I do 393 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:01,880 Speaker 1: think that it could to some positive benefits. Totally. Yeah, 394 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 1: and I don't I don't think this is quite what 395 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:06,159 Speaker 1: Ben's doing. But he's mentioning going in there and canceling 396 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: the like the auto draft, the auto payment that's that's scheduled. 397 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,400 Speaker 1: Hopefully he's not completely unscheduling it and then like rescheduling 398 00:18:14,440 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: it or something like that. I think he's just going 399 00:18:15,760 --> 00:18:18,960 Speaker 1: in there for that particular payment. But essentially he's got 400 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:20,520 Speaker 1: it there as like a safety net, I think, right, 401 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:22,800 Speaker 1: so just in case he does, you know, if it 402 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,800 Speaker 1: slips his mind, that it will get taken care of. 403 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: But I think for a lot of folks, it is 404 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 1: a good safety mechanism to have that autopay on in 405 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:34,159 Speaker 1: case you forget or things get busy, maybe just slips 406 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,160 Speaker 1: your mind and you don't close out that month. And 407 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: for that reason now it's I would recommend keep that 408 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:41,959 Speaker 1: keep that autopay on. I guess that's the thing that 409 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: worries me. If he's going in there and manually paying 410 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,320 Speaker 1: and he takes off auto pay and he forgets to 411 00:18:47,359 --> 00:18:50,280 Speaker 1: manually pay, I think he's canceling that particular one because 412 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,119 Speaker 1: like the way it's set up, it's it feels. I 413 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:54,800 Speaker 1: think it's just I don't so I don't personally do autopay. 414 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: I like living life on the edge. Ben I uh, 415 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: So you put a calendar reminder to go in every 416 00:18:58,800 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: single month and May at the end of the month, 417 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 1: I go in there and I close out the month 418 00:19:03,280 --> 00:19:06,920 Speaker 1: with my different cards, and I schedule the payment. Don't 419 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: even I don't actually make the payment, but I schedule 420 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,720 Speaker 1: it based on the current balance of the previous calendar month. 421 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,840 Speaker 1: And because I don't like being partnered with my money 422 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:16,679 Speaker 1: sooner than I have to do, I'll always schedule it 423 00:19:16,680 --> 00:19:20,400 Speaker 1: for one day before when it's actually due, which maximizes 424 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:22,080 Speaker 1: that the time that that money is sitting in my 425 00:19:22,119 --> 00:19:24,439 Speaker 1: own account earning that interest. Baby, there you go. Yeah, 426 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:27,439 Speaker 1: so yeah, I guess Ben, really, yeah, you don't have 427 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: to change your habits. And if this is working for you, 428 00:19:29,880 --> 00:19:32,360 Speaker 1: go for it. And maybe this is just creating more 429 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,320 Speaker 1: insight to your money and it's kind of fueling that 430 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:38,359 Speaker 1: drive to make progress with your finances, to spend less 431 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,199 Speaker 1: and to save more. That's great. But also know that 432 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:45,080 Speaker 1: you can choose that statement balance option if you want 433 00:19:45,119 --> 00:19:47,760 Speaker 1: to make your life a little simpler, and you'll be 434 00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 1: okay if you do that too. All Right, we got 435 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,399 Speaker 1: more to get to on this episode, including how do 436 00:19:52,520 --> 00:19:55,160 Speaker 1: you convince your parents to make better financial decisions. We'll 437 00:19:55,200 --> 00:20:05,560 Speaker 1: discuss that and more right after this. We are back 438 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: from the break and we will get to that relational 439 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 1: money question here in a second. But Joel, let's first 440 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:14,160 Speaker 1: hear from a listener who is wanting to make sure 441 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: that she is nailing the timing when it comes to 442 00:20:18,280 --> 00:20:19,440 Speaker 1: applying for helock. 443 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:23,120 Speaker 2: Hey, Matt, Joel, this is current from upstate New York. 444 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,399 Speaker 2: I have a question about the right time to get 445 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 2: a heelock. Here's my situation. I am fairly confident that 446 00:20:29,280 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 2: I'm going to be laid off from my job sometime 447 00:20:31,960 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 2: in the next three to five months, but no worries 448 00:20:34,800 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 2: about that. We're very lucky. My family is in money 449 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:41,200 Speaker 2: gear seven, and honestly, I have been thinking about leaving 450 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 2: my job for a couple of years now, but I 451 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:45,800 Speaker 2: was never able to go through it, So it's probably 452 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,399 Speaker 2: going to be a really good thing for me. The 453 00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:50,600 Speaker 2: thing is, my wife and I have been noodling with 454 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,159 Speaker 2: the idea of a significant home renovation. We have no 455 00:20:54,280 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 2: immediate or specific plans, but it's something we'll probably want 456 00:20:57,840 --> 00:21:00,399 Speaker 2: to do sometime in the next five or ten year years. 457 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:03,879 Speaker 2: Right now, I have a high income at my job, 458 00:21:04,200 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 2: and after I'm laid off, I don't anticipate getting another job. 459 00:21:07,880 --> 00:21:09,720 Speaker 2: We have two young kids at home, so I'll be 460 00:21:09,760 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 2: focused on them and running the household. My wife will 461 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:15,400 Speaker 2: likely go back to work, mostly for the health insurance, 462 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,920 Speaker 2: but her income will be significantly less than mine is now. 463 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 2: So would it make sense to get a heelock now 464 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 2: while my income is still high? Or am I overthinking 465 00:21:25,640 --> 00:21:28,680 Speaker 2: it since our future renovation plans are still so fuzzy. 466 00:21:29,320 --> 00:21:31,320 Speaker 2: I just don't want to lose out on good financing 467 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:34,879 Speaker 2: opportunities once our W two income drops. But it seems 468 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:37,680 Speaker 2: a little silly to fuss over a home renovation project 469 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 2: that may not ever even happen. So I'm kind of 470 00:21:40,080 --> 00:21:42,960 Speaker 2: leaning toward doing nothing now. But I'm very curious for 471 00:21:43,040 --> 00:21:43,600 Speaker 2: your thoughts. 472 00:21:43,800 --> 00:21:45,320 Speaker 4: Thanks very much, Matt. 473 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: It's very rare that you hear someone say I'm probably 474 00:21:48,560 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 1: going to get laid off in a few months, but no, biggie, 475 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 1: someone who's in such great spirits. That is the power 476 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: I think of financial responsibility over a long period of time, 477 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: which Karin and her partner have obviously, oh yeah, taking 478 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,280 Speaker 1: a heart like they have taken a lot of steps. 479 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:04,960 Speaker 1: They're in money year seven, so they have a lot 480 00:22:05,000 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: of options to say, yeah, I'll probably get laid off 481 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: and it'll be okay, and actually we're gonna have less 482 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:12,360 Speaker 1: income coming in, but we can still afford a renovation. 483 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 1: We'll figure it out. Yeah. I mean, clearly they've done 484 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 1: a lot of work to get to the point yeah, 485 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: that they're at. So like she was also, she was 486 00:22:19,200 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: just like, I didn't really like that job anyway. It's 487 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: like already something that she was thinking about. And so 488 00:22:24,560 --> 00:22:26,840 Speaker 1: I think it's yeah, again, she's just in an amazing 489 00:22:26,920 --> 00:22:29,960 Speaker 1: position to be able to have the financial standing to 490 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:33,359 Speaker 1: take that traditionally very bad news and get stride. Well, 491 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: if you don't love your job and you're kind of 492 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:37,600 Speaker 1: ready to leave, but you can kind of see the 493 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: storm clouds on the horizon, getting laid off is the 494 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,960 Speaker 1: best way to go oftentimes because you're able to negotiate 495 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:47,200 Speaker 1: a severance package on the way out the door, Whereas 496 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:49,960 Speaker 1: if you just leave of your own volition, you're just like, well, 497 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:51,719 Speaker 1: all right, see yah, yeah, and then they're like, well, 498 00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: we're going to lay you off next month, but okay, sure, 499 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:56,200 Speaker 1: if you want to go now, that's great. So maybe 500 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: waiting a little bit longer is the perfect way to 501 00:22:58,560 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: do this. And the Sam Dogan who writes at Financial Samurai, 502 00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 1: he's written about this extensively, the concept of engineering and 503 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,600 Speaker 1: negotiating a layoff. His situation was a little unique working 504 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 1: in Silicon Valley, but still I think there's some stuff 505 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: that we can extrapolate as individuals when it comes to 506 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: trying to negotiate leaving our employer if we're so inclined. 507 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,760 Speaker 1: And obviously Krinn is in the financial position to be 508 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: able to do this well, that's right. We're big fans 509 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:28,959 Speaker 1: of helocks by the way home equity line of credit, 510 00:23:29,440 --> 00:23:33,000 Speaker 1: but similar to credit cards, I'm only for it if 511 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:35,479 Speaker 1: you use them properly, and generally speaking, I would love 512 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:38,080 Speaker 1: to see many more homeowners out there having access to 513 00:23:38,119 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: a helock but opting not to use it. Not unlike 514 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 1: how we use the credit that's available to us via 515 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,399 Speaker 1: our cards. It can almost like function as like a 516 00:23:46,440 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 1: backup emergency fund of sorts. Certainly having one is no 517 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: excuse to not have gone through the money gears and 518 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: actually amassed a decent chunk of savings, and with a 519 00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,080 Speaker 1: big chunk of savings on hand and hopefully roth ira 520 00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:02,080 Speaker 1: contribution that you could potentially draw on were you to, 521 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:03,960 Speaker 1: you know, were you to be in a pinch, you 522 00:24:04,080 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: never have to actually tap that helock for emergency purposes. 523 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:12,000 Speaker 1: But still, since having access to one costs you essentially nothing, 524 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:15,000 Speaker 1: I think Karin raises a just a good point as to, 525 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,879 Speaker 1: you know, why not, like, why not pursue this product? Well, 526 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,880 Speaker 1: I think the reason why the helock makes more sense 527 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 1: to have than so many other financial products is because 528 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,520 Speaker 1: you're not paying interest on it unless you actually tap that, 529 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: so it's like get the helock. You don't actually pay 530 00:24:29,400 --> 00:24:32,560 Speaker 1: typically any closing costs or pay any money to open 531 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:34,879 Speaker 1: the helock, and then if you never take any of 532 00:24:34,920 --> 00:24:37,399 Speaker 1: the money out, you do it just fine. You just 533 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,920 Speaker 1: had it there as a just in case account and 534 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:42,320 Speaker 1: hopefully you never have to use it. But Karin does 535 00:24:42,400 --> 00:24:44,879 Speaker 1: want to tap her helock, which is also fine, and 536 00:24:45,160 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: doing a home renovation, that's a reasonable use of that product. 537 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,159 Speaker 1: We would say that it's why not go for a 538 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 1: helock if you have a plan to pay it off 539 00:24:54,920 --> 00:24:57,520 Speaker 1: in a reasonable amount of time. We would ideally want 540 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 1: you to be able to pay it off within five years, 541 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:02,720 Speaker 1: but that's the longest timeline that we want you to 542 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:05,280 Speaker 1: consider if you're taking out money on a helock. Otherwise 543 00:25:05,280 --> 00:25:07,720 Speaker 1: you're taking on too much risk. And so good news 544 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:09,919 Speaker 1: is rates are likely to go down on your heelock 545 00:25:10,119 --> 00:25:14,199 Speaker 1: over the coming months and maybe years, making it easier 546 00:25:14,200 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 1: to pay off over time. But the real question is here, 547 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:20,000 Speaker 1: when should she take the helock out? And we would 548 00:25:20,000 --> 00:25:23,480 Speaker 1: say do it now, and that is because while you're 549 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,320 Speaker 1: gainfully employed, you're likely to get the best terms you've got. 550 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:30,200 Speaker 1: If you lost your job next week, credit unions and 551 00:25:30,240 --> 00:25:31,920 Speaker 1: banks they might tell you to take a hike. Hey, 552 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:33,879 Speaker 1: guess what, you don't have enough income to justify us 553 00:25:33,960 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 1: giving you this loan, even though you might not need 554 00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:37,439 Speaker 1: it for five or ten years. Like, they're not going 555 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:38,800 Speaker 1: to listen to that. They're going to look at what's 556 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:40,800 Speaker 1: currently going on with your finances, and if you don't 557 00:25:40,800 --> 00:25:43,320 Speaker 1: have a paycheck coming in, they might turn you away. 558 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:46,920 Speaker 1: Some lenders will underwrite based on assets, but many won't. 559 00:25:46,960 --> 00:25:49,480 Speaker 1: So I just say, don't risk it, because you could 560 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,239 Speaker 1: find yourself in a position where you want access to 561 00:25:52,920 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 1: some of your home equity and you don't have it. 562 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: Why not while the sun is shining open the account. 563 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:00,680 Speaker 1: It makes you think, am out of a friend who 564 00:26:00,760 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 1: just lost his job and he's trying to close on 565 00:26:03,240 --> 00:26:06,359 Speaker 1: a house, and it just throws all of the just 566 00:26:06,400 --> 00:26:09,160 Speaker 1: a ton of wrenches into the gears of his ability 567 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:12,160 Speaker 1: to do this. And so yeah, while you have the job, 568 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:16,320 Speaker 1: established this account, and then you can always choose to 569 00:26:16,720 --> 00:26:19,600 Speaker 1: not use it because Corin's prudent here when it comes 570 00:26:19,640 --> 00:26:21,800 Speaker 1: to finance, so she's not gonna screw this up totally. Yeah, 571 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: there's no real downside to getting the loan now and 572 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:26,879 Speaker 1: not using it, even if you don't actually use it 573 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:28,879 Speaker 1: for the renovation, you know, she says, well, what's the 574 00:26:28,880 --> 00:26:31,760 Speaker 1: point and fussing with this If this isn't a renovation 575 00:26:31,840 --> 00:26:34,880 Speaker 1: that actually takes place, well, there's not really much downside, 576 00:26:34,880 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 1: So go ahead and get it, even though even if 577 00:26:37,720 --> 00:26:40,639 Speaker 1: the home renovation isn't something that you that you end 578 00:26:40,760 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: up doing. Now, on that note, I love how flexible 579 00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: you are with this potential home renovation because you said, 580 00:26:46,400 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: like that this might be something that happens a decade 581 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 1: down the line, or maybe even not, like not at all, 582 00:26:52,680 --> 00:26:54,360 Speaker 1: Like that's a lot of wiggle room, and a lot 583 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: can happen in that sort of time frame, including saving 584 00:26:58,040 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: up a bunch of money to pay for this renovation 585 00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: with Yeah, so you know, while I think it makes 586 00:27:02,280 --> 00:27:04,159 Speaker 1: sense to go ahead and get a helock now for 587 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:06,520 Speaker 1: the other reasons we mentioned, just know that you might 588 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:09,879 Speaker 1: be able to completely avoid tapping it, or maybe you 589 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:11,959 Speaker 1: just need it for a small amount of the remaining 590 00:27:11,960 --> 00:27:14,440 Speaker 1: balance of the of the reno because you thought, all right, 591 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 1: we were able to save up the vast majority of it. 592 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:17,640 Speaker 4: But then you. 593 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:19,439 Speaker 1: Said, oh, you know what, let's go ahead, let's go 594 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:21,680 Speaker 1: with the nicer, the nicer tile. Oh, let's go ahead 595 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: and add this as well, and you end up spending 596 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 1: maybe a little bit more and you're thinking, all right, 597 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:27,840 Speaker 1: we'll shoot it actually did pay off to get the 598 00:27:27,880 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: helocky next we have twenty extra grain right now. Oh wait, 599 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:31,760 Speaker 1: we have the heelock Oh wait, we do, and we 600 00:27:31,760 --> 00:27:33,720 Speaker 1: can pay that junck off in you know, nine to 601 00:27:33,720 --> 00:27:36,360 Speaker 1: twelve months something like that exactly. So I think that 602 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,919 Speaker 1: that's a wise move. And just again that timeframe is 603 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,680 Speaker 1: it's great that you've got so much flexibility there too, 604 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:46,320 Speaker 1: because I will say, as adults, like I think are like, 605 00:27:46,359 --> 00:27:48,159 Speaker 1: we know our typical needs and what it is that 606 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:50,960 Speaker 1: we're looking for if we're looking to renovate a home. 607 00:27:50,960 --> 00:27:53,720 Speaker 1: But when you have kids, do kids relative to adults, 608 00:27:53,800 --> 00:27:56,760 Speaker 1: kids are very dynamic as far as their interests, the 609 00:27:56,840 --> 00:27:59,480 Speaker 1: kind of space is that they're looking for, or like 610 00:27:59,520 --> 00:28:01,720 Speaker 1: the kind of hobbies it might be be interested in. 611 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 1: And that doesn't even account for possibly moving for schools, 612 00:28:06,080 --> 00:28:09,000 Speaker 1: right Like, as adults, I don't know, when I was younger, 613 00:28:09,040 --> 00:28:11,360 Speaker 1: I didn't consider it at all the school district other 614 00:28:11,400 --> 00:28:13,720 Speaker 1: than like, oh yeah, this is just generally speaking a 615 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: good school district, so I know that that's probably good 616 00:28:16,440 --> 00:28:18,520 Speaker 1: for home values, but there are other considerations that go 617 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:20,720 Speaker 1: into that when you actually have a kid who you 618 00:28:20,800 --> 00:28:23,199 Speaker 1: are putting in a particular school, and where it is 619 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: you live has a large impact on the type of 620 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:27,040 Speaker 1: school that you're in, So that could be something that 621 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,359 Speaker 1: ends up happening down the road as well. 622 00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 4: Kurrent. 623 00:28:29,880 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 1: So, like you said, this might be a renovation that 624 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,600 Speaker 1: happens in a couple of years, or it might never happen. 625 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: But having the option to be able to tap that 626 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:41,680 Speaker 1: helock for various reasons, I think is a good idea. 627 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:44,400 Speaker 1: And man, just briefly, maybe we should mention shopping for 628 00:28:44,440 --> 00:28:48,120 Speaker 1: a helock, get quotes at different lenders, and a credit union, 629 00:28:48,160 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: a local credit union might be your best bet, but 630 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:52,440 Speaker 1: chop around get a few different quotes. You can typically 631 00:28:52,440 --> 00:28:54,959 Speaker 1: do that from the comfort of your home online, just 632 00:28:55,360 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: going to a few different websites for lenders near you. 633 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:01,400 Speaker 1: And because that's that's important too, that's we talk about 634 00:29:01,440 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: that when we're talking about financing a home, getting a mortgage. 635 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 1: But the same is true with he rates and fees 636 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: are going to differ by different lenders, So yeah, make 637 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: sure you do your due diligence on the front end. 638 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:15,880 Speaker 1: There let's get to another question. This one is from 639 00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: a listener who thinks that solar power might help him 640 00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:21,960 Speaker 1: retire sooner. I'm at in Joel. 641 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 5: My name is Jacob, and I'm calling from Western Pennsylvania. 642 00:29:24,600 --> 00:29:25,680 Speaker 4: I'm fifty one years old. 643 00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:27,600 Speaker 5: I make about two hundred thousand a year. I have 644 00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:32,240 Speaker 5: roughly one point five million saved for retirement, plus one 645 00:29:32,320 --> 00:29:35,080 Speaker 5: hundred and fifty in high yield savings. I still have 646 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,440 Speaker 5: about three hundred thousand left of my mortgage, but it's 647 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,720 Speaker 5: a low interest rate, so I'm not paying it off early. 648 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,160 Speaker 5: I'd like to retire in the next five to fifteen years, 649 00:29:43,200 --> 00:29:46,959 Speaker 5: depending on a lot of different things. Here's my question. 650 00:29:47,120 --> 00:29:49,480 Speaker 5: Our electric bill runs about four hundred dollars a month. 651 00:29:50,520 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 5: Solar contractors say a solar system to cover ninety percent 652 00:29:54,560 --> 00:29:57,720 Speaker 5: of our usage would cost about seventy thousand dollars. After 653 00:29:57,760 --> 00:29:59,760 Speaker 5: the federal tax credit, my net cost would be about 654 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 5: fifty with a break even around eleven years, not including 655 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:08,400 Speaker 5: the opportunity cost of investing the fifty thousand. If I 656 00:30:08,440 --> 00:30:11,400 Speaker 5: financed the project, to break even stretches closer to twenty years, 657 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 5: but my monthly payment would stay the same as it 658 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:18,040 Speaker 5: is right now. So in the big picture, I think 659 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,160 Speaker 5: I would still be winning on on that trade off. 660 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 5: I'm also considering trying to self gsee the project, which 661 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:29,840 Speaker 5: is not something that I know much about, but I 662 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:31,720 Speaker 5: think I could handle it and that would save me 663 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 5: ten to fifteen thousand dollars on the total cost. My 664 00:30:35,880 --> 00:30:38,240 Speaker 5: question is, should I spend the fifty thousand of cash 665 00:30:38,320 --> 00:30:42,840 Speaker 5: now to control expenses later in my retirement. Should I 666 00:30:42,880 --> 00:30:46,080 Speaker 5: keep the money invested and just absorb the higher utility costs, 667 00:30:46,280 --> 00:30:49,200 Speaker 5: or should I take the extra risk of self g 668 00:30:49,320 --> 00:30:51,600 Speaker 5: seing to make the numbers look a little bit better. 669 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,720 Speaker 5: I appreciate, appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks, 670 00:30:55,720 --> 00:30:57,400 Speaker 5: and have a great day. 671 00:30:58,160 --> 00:31:01,880 Speaker 1: All right. So I believe that Jacob has a very 672 00:31:01,880 --> 00:31:05,280 Speaker 1: good chance of retiring in five years. It sounds like 673 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,080 Speaker 1: it based on how much he's got set aside. That 674 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:10,880 Speaker 1: being said, again, we're talking about windows of time here 675 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,160 Speaker 1: and flexibility, like the fact that he's thinking, all right, 676 00:31:13,200 --> 00:31:15,480 Speaker 1: I don't know sometime like in the next five I 677 00:31:15,480 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: don't know, maybe it'll be fifteen years from now. I 678 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 1: think that's pretty clutch when it comes to actually being 679 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:24,200 Speaker 1: able to pull the trigger and retiring. That flexibility have 680 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,760 Speaker 1: an options here, yeah, as opposed to like shooting for 681 00:31:26,800 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: a specific a year and then just realizing, oh, we're 682 00:31:30,360 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: either going to have to alter our lifestyle significantly, which, hey, 683 00:31:34,200 --> 00:31:36,959 Speaker 1: for some people's it's totally worth it, depending on what 684 00:31:37,000 --> 00:31:39,520 Speaker 1: you got going on. Yeah, but I just don't love 685 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:42,240 Speaker 1: the idea of assuming that you'll be able to work 686 00:31:42,600 --> 00:31:45,760 Speaker 1: even longer in order to make more money until you know, 687 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:47,960 Speaker 1: you're just a ripe old age because that's not always 688 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: in the cards for folks. But again, Jacob having the 689 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:53,240 Speaker 1: flexibility to go either way, it just puts them in 690 00:31:53,280 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 1: the catbird seat. Yeah, I like it. I agreed. And Okay, 691 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 1: there's the retirement window that Jacob mentioned, but there's another 692 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,320 Speaker 1: window that we're looking at here specific with Jacob's question, Matt, 693 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:05,200 Speaker 1: and it is the short time that he's going to 694 00:32:05,200 --> 00:32:08,880 Speaker 1: be able to qualify for the tax credit for installing solar. 695 00:32:09,880 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, and the tax credit is not an substantial 696 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:15,360 Speaker 1: amount in this case. It could it could really turn 697 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 1: something that feels like a solid decision into a not 698 00:32:18,200 --> 00:32:21,000 Speaker 1: so great one overnight, like and I mean literally overnight, 699 00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:24,440 Speaker 1: because like January first, if you finish the installation, then 700 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:27,560 Speaker 1: you're screwed. Like you're out of luck. You do not 701 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:30,360 Speaker 1: get the federal tax credits. In his case, I guess 702 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:32,360 Speaker 1: close to twenty thousand dollars because that's what he's saying, right, 703 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 1: is exactly seventy thousand dollars installed, but with the credits, 704 00:32:35,240 --> 00:32:37,600 Speaker 1: he's looking at it closer to fifty. It's holy cow, 705 00:32:37,800 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 1: that's very significant. Kind of like how the EV tax 706 00:32:40,800 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 1: credit went away at the end of last month and 707 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:46,760 Speaker 1: October first, if you bought an EV, like what sucker 708 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,560 Speaker 1: is going in to buy an EV on October first? 709 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,920 Speaker 1: The number nobody has purchased a new EV in that 710 00:32:52,960 --> 00:32:55,400 Speaker 1: at some point six days, I'm curious's who's the first 711 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:58,720 Speaker 1: person who's actually going to buy an EV? Like, who 712 00:32:58,760 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 1: is that person? And push them over the edge. Well, 713 00:33:01,640 --> 00:33:04,200 Speaker 1: if you if you're ultra wealthy, uh, and you don't 714 00:33:04,240 --> 00:33:06,320 Speaker 1: qualify for any other rebase, that's true. If you're if 715 00:33:06,400 --> 00:33:08,600 Speaker 1: your AGI is above a certain threshold, then you're like, 716 00:33:08,720 --> 00:33:10,200 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. It's a good point. I'll just get 717 00:33:10,240 --> 00:33:12,400 Speaker 1: in whatever. That's a good point. But it Joel in 718 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,080 Speaker 1: this case, like you just don't want to wait too long. 719 00:33:14,160 --> 00:33:16,160 Speaker 1: The economics of the project are going to get far 720 00:33:16,200 --> 00:33:19,120 Speaker 1: worse if you wait. So, given the known reality of 721 00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:22,280 Speaker 1: no more solar tax credits starting in twenty twenty six, 722 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: I think pouncing now is really important. Yeah. But he 723 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:28,280 Speaker 1: also mentioned financing, which I don't love because that makes 724 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:33,520 Speaker 1: the numbers much less compelling. Jacob, you'd be paying interest unnecessarily, 725 00:33:33,760 --> 00:33:35,920 Speaker 1: and like you said, the break even timely, it gets 726 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:39,600 Speaker 1: stretched way out. Yes, so that you know. On the 727 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:41,320 Speaker 1: other hand, what he's saying is well, I could invest 728 00:33:41,320 --> 00:33:44,960 Speaker 1: that money instead, but like we're likely talking about interest rates. 729 00:33:45,000 --> 00:33:48,280 Speaker 1: I'm assuming like in like somewhere in the six to 730 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:51,040 Speaker 1: ten percent range, and that's if you have good credit, 731 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: which I'm assuming Jacob does. 732 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:52,600 Speaker 3: So. 733 00:33:53,000 --> 00:33:56,680 Speaker 1: But that being said, the chances of outperforming go down significantly. 734 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: If you're looking to say, oh, well, I got my 735 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:03,960 Speaker 1: money's got to earn more than nine percent in the market. Yeah, 736 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:06,600 Speaker 1: I don't know if I could, But I don't know 737 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:08,680 Speaker 1: if I would count on that, right, That's not gonna 738 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 1: go into my calculation. I'd rather take the guaranteed number, 739 00:34:11,920 --> 00:34:14,239 Speaker 1: which is paying you know, paying cash and not paying 740 00:34:14,239 --> 00:34:16,319 Speaker 1: the nine percent interest, then hoping I earn more in 741 00:34:16,360 --> 00:34:16,720 Speaker 1: the market. 742 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:17,000 Speaker 2: Yeah. 743 00:34:17,120 --> 00:34:18,480 Speaker 1: And on top of that, Jacob's got a lot of 744 00:34:18,520 --> 00:34:22,480 Speaker 1: cash on hand. Man, he's got a good amount in savings, 745 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,880 Speaker 1: and so forking over fifty thousand dollars to do the 746 00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:28,279 Speaker 1: solar project, I don't think that would crush his finances. 747 00:34:28,640 --> 00:34:30,360 Speaker 1: You're still gonna have plenty of cash on hand. He 748 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:32,400 Speaker 1: still currently has a job. He's earning two hundred K, 749 00:34:32,560 --> 00:34:35,920 Speaker 1: so he'd be able to fairly quickly, I think, refill 750 00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:39,320 Speaker 1: the coffers. But it would even once he just pays 751 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:41,799 Speaker 1: for that solar project, he still has six months worth 752 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:45,040 Speaker 1: of income on hand, which is quite a bit. That's significant. Yeah, 753 00:34:45,080 --> 00:34:47,040 Speaker 1: But what it would immediately do, though, of course, is 754 00:34:47,120 --> 00:34:50,680 Speaker 1: lower his monthly bills very nicely moving forward. And so 755 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 1: I think if you are getting hung up on the 756 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:57,319 Speaker 1: investing sort of part of your your calculus here, just 757 00:34:57,360 --> 00:35:00,239 Speaker 1: to remind yourself that you can take the savings that 758 00:35:00,280 --> 00:35:02,560 Speaker 1: you are receiving every single month, essentially what you wouldn't 759 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:03,240 Speaker 1: paid to the utility. 760 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:03,359 Speaker 3: Come. 761 00:35:03,480 --> 00:35:06,239 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you said ninety percent of his overall usage, son, 762 00:35:06,719 --> 00:35:09,959 Speaker 1: of that four hundred dollars every month, plug that straight 763 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,160 Speaker 1: into the market. Man, So you're kind of getting getting 764 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:14,200 Speaker 1: to have your cake and eat it too, agreed, And 765 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 1: financing is better than leasing there's a lot of weird 766 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:19,960 Speaker 1: stuff when it comes to leasing your solar panels, but 767 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:22,360 Speaker 1: it's still not our favorite. And if you try to 768 00:35:22,400 --> 00:35:24,640 Speaker 1: sell that home, by the way in the future while 769 00:35:24,640 --> 00:35:27,160 Speaker 1: still owing money on those solar panels, it could add 770 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:29,680 Speaker 1: unnecessary stress to the situation, especially if you don't have 771 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:32,160 Speaker 1: the cash on hand to pay that loan down in full. 772 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 1: And on another note, which I think is important to 773 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 1: mention here, not only are you going to be saving 774 00:35:37,040 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 1: on your energy bills, but you'll also be adding to 775 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:41,319 Speaker 1: the value of your home. That's something that a lot 776 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:44,839 Speaker 1: of people who install solar they're not really thinking about. 777 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:47,080 Speaker 1: I don't think they're really that at home equity, right 778 00:35:47,080 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 1: in the sense that hey, this, yeah, it's like a 779 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 1: it's a feature, it's a benefit, it's like an amenity 780 00:35:52,000 --> 00:35:54,920 Speaker 1: at a nice hotel. It's a selling point. Yes, absolutely. 781 00:35:55,080 --> 00:35:58,400 Speaker 1: And so if for instance, he installs the solar and 782 00:35:58,440 --> 00:36:01,040 Speaker 1: then he saves, you know, say, roughly four grand a 783 00:36:01,120 --> 00:36:03,200 Speaker 1: year for the next two years, sells eight he saved 784 00:36:03,239 --> 00:36:06,719 Speaker 1: himself eight grand in energy bills, and then he's like, 785 00:36:06,719 --> 00:36:08,239 Speaker 1: oh man, it's time to move on. I got to 786 00:36:08,239 --> 00:36:10,920 Speaker 1: sell this home. Man, I'm such an idiot. Why did 787 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:13,000 Speaker 1: I spend all this money on solar? Well, the truth 788 00:36:13,040 --> 00:36:14,480 Speaker 1: is you're going to get a lot of that money 789 00:36:14,520 --> 00:36:17,600 Speaker 1: back upon resale. So potential buyers are going to be 790 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:20,960 Speaker 1: willing to pay more because of the perpetual energy savings 791 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:24,920 Speaker 1: that having solar on the house provides. Like your investment 792 00:36:25,320 --> 00:36:28,400 Speaker 1: in the energy savings of this house, even if they 793 00:36:28,400 --> 00:36:30,840 Speaker 1: don't accrue to you for decades to come, they'll accrue 794 00:36:30,840 --> 00:36:32,880 Speaker 1: to somebody else and they'll pay you for that. So yeah, 795 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:35,479 Speaker 1: saving money now, it's a big attraction. But it's also 796 00:36:35,719 --> 00:36:38,080 Speaker 1: I think helpful to know that it's a decent investment 797 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:40,160 Speaker 1: in your property too. Yeah, to that extent, I would 798 00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:43,400 Speaker 1: make sure to keep good records to even show and 799 00:36:43,480 --> 00:36:45,359 Speaker 1: to like even demonstrate if and when the time came 800 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:46,839 Speaker 1: for you to sell that house, to say, hey, this 801 00:36:46,880 --> 00:36:49,439 Speaker 1: is where my utilities were, this is where they are now. 802 00:36:49,680 --> 00:36:53,319 Speaker 1: That way, when it comes to someone who's thinking about, oh, 803 00:36:53,360 --> 00:36:55,480 Speaker 1: well another house, just like you're sold for this and 804 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:57,520 Speaker 1: you can say, well, you got a factor in the 805 00:36:57,520 --> 00:36:59,960 Speaker 1: additional savings here that you're going to realize every single month. 806 00:37:00,239 --> 00:37:03,320 Speaker 1: Being able to communicate that effectively I think as clutch 807 00:37:04,400 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 1: and then just chop around with multiple installers. Make sure 808 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:09,880 Speaker 1: specifically though, that they can get the system up and 809 00:37:09,920 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: running before the end of the year, because if not, 810 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:15,200 Speaker 1: if the install completes in twenty twenty six, you can 811 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 1: miss out on those tax credits. I think for that reason, 812 00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:21,440 Speaker 1: I would avoid He mentioned possibly G seeing it himself. 813 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 1: I think for that reason, like G seeing it himself 814 00:37:24,760 --> 00:37:27,200 Speaker 1: sounds like he's not super interested in doing it, but 815 00:37:27,239 --> 00:37:29,719 Speaker 1: he's maybe capable. He sounds like a smart guy. I 816 00:37:30,160 --> 00:37:32,600 Speaker 1: would be more likely to say yes if it was 817 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:35,200 Speaker 1: earlier in the year. But because there are going to 818 00:37:35,239 --> 00:37:37,359 Speaker 1: be there's gonna be like a mad rush. I think 819 00:37:37,360 --> 00:37:39,360 Speaker 1: of folks who are trying to get these things done agreed, 820 00:37:39,400 --> 00:37:42,160 Speaker 1: and these installers are going to be booked through like 821 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:44,600 Speaker 1: December thirty first man, And that's one of the things 822 00:37:44,680 --> 00:37:47,560 Speaker 1: you need to prioritize, is like, hey, how like I 823 00:37:47,560 --> 00:37:50,200 Speaker 1: would even interview people who have used the company in 824 00:37:50,239 --> 00:37:52,600 Speaker 1: the past and say do they stick to their timeline? 825 00:37:52,719 --> 00:37:55,440 Speaker 1: Like I would want to similar to interviewing a general 826 00:37:55,480 --> 00:37:57,919 Speaker 1: contractor who's doing other work at your house. I would 827 00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: want to know that they activate, that you do good work, 828 00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:02,480 Speaker 1: that people who have used them are happy with it, 829 00:38:02,840 --> 00:38:04,640 Speaker 1: and that they get it done in the time they 830 00:38:04,680 --> 00:38:06,160 Speaker 1: say they're going to get it done. And because it's 831 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:07,640 Speaker 1: a lot of money on the line, there's a lot 832 00:38:07,680 --> 00:38:09,640 Speaker 1: of money on the line. It's so crucial right now, 833 00:38:10,320 --> 00:38:13,960 Speaker 1: I think, you know, getting this done makes sense g 834 00:38:14,160 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 1: seeing it could delay that process and that could cost 835 00:38:17,200 --> 00:38:18,759 Speaker 1: you more than the savings you might be able to 836 00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:21,960 Speaker 1: realize totally. That could be a cheap move, not a 837 00:38:21,960 --> 00:38:25,000 Speaker 1: frugal moved. Percent Another aspect too, that like you're talking 838 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:28,080 Speaker 1: about the ongoing savings every month being the addition, you know, 839 00:38:28,120 --> 00:38:31,080 Speaker 1: like you got the benefit, the immediate benefit of the 840 00:38:31,200 --> 00:38:32,960 Speaker 1: monthly savings, but then just kind of like the long 841 00:38:33,040 --> 00:38:35,239 Speaker 1: term benefit of like the increase equity in the home. 842 00:38:35,560 --> 00:38:37,800 Speaker 1: There's also like something else, as I was just picturing 843 00:38:37,840 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 1: this on my own home, on my own roof, Like 844 00:38:39,960 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 1: it gets really hot up in the attic and there 845 00:38:42,120 --> 00:38:45,600 Speaker 1: is just a massive increase in your home's ability to 846 00:38:46,280 --> 00:38:49,600 Speaker 1: deflect solar energy that is not just getting sucked into 847 00:38:49,640 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 1: the attic, right And so I was up there recently 848 00:38:51,719 --> 00:38:53,359 Speaker 1: changing out the air filter. I was it's like it 849 00:38:53,400 --> 00:38:56,439 Speaker 1: is so hot up here, and picturing solar panels on there, 850 00:38:56,719 --> 00:38:59,359 Speaker 1: it literally takes the brunt of the solar energy. Not 851 00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:02,000 Speaker 1: only does it create of course electricity with it, but 852 00:39:02,000 --> 00:39:04,840 Speaker 1: it literally shades your home to where it creates this 853 00:39:05,480 --> 00:39:09,200 Speaker 1: energy passive system, which means that you need to use 854 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:11,560 Speaker 1: even less energy to actually cool your homes. What some 855 00:39:11,560 --> 00:39:14,880 Speaker 1: people might it's like a double A double women, it's 856 00:39:14,400 --> 00:39:17,160 Speaker 1: it's what you're gonna say, Well, I was. It's like 857 00:39:17,239 --> 00:39:20,120 Speaker 1: a it's it serves the end goal of what you're 858 00:39:20,120 --> 00:39:22,439 Speaker 1: trying to achieve even more. And I think that that's 859 00:39:22,520 --> 00:39:24,480 Speaker 1: just uh, I don't know how big of a deal 860 00:39:24,520 --> 00:39:26,560 Speaker 1: that is, but you can tell the difference in your house, 861 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:29,200 Speaker 1: you know, like imagine like when the even when the 862 00:39:29,239 --> 00:39:31,920 Speaker 1: external the temperature outside is roughly the same. When it's 863 00:39:31,920 --> 00:39:34,279 Speaker 1: a sunny day, at least at in our house, man 864 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:36,399 Speaker 1: on the second floor, it gets so hot. It can 865 00:39:36,400 --> 00:39:38,840 Speaker 1: get really hot up there, as opposed to a cloudy 866 00:39:38,920 --> 00:39:41,919 Speaker 1: day where you're not getting that direct blast from the sun. 867 00:39:42,000 --> 00:39:45,640 Speaker 1: That's just bacon, the upstairs bacon. The Attics agreed, we 868 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:48,359 Speaker 1: got more questions to get to, Matt, including convincing your 869 00:39:48,360 --> 00:39:51,440 Speaker 1: folks to make better financial decisions and what about the 870 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:54,080 Speaker 1: best cell phone plan for wearables. We'll get to those 871 00:39:54,200 --> 00:40:04,239 Speaker 1: questions right after this m all right, buddy, We are 872 00:40:04,480 --> 00:40:06,480 Speaker 1: back from the break and of course it is now 873 00:40:06,560 --> 00:40:09,319 Speaker 1: time for the Facebook question of the Week, which this 874 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:13,200 Speaker 1: week happens to be from body mcboat face es choir. 875 00:40:13,840 --> 00:40:17,360 Speaker 1: Remember I think that's a real name. So that's like 876 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,959 Speaker 1: the that's like a British boat or submarine or something 877 00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:24,000 Speaker 1: that they didn't online poll for allowed the public to 878 00:40:24,080 --> 00:40:25,880 Speaker 1: name the boat. And this is why we can't have 879 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:28,560 Speaker 1: nice things. I don't think they were expecting this name 880 00:40:28,600 --> 00:40:31,680 Speaker 1: to win, but it did so in Atlanta, so they 881 00:40:32,120 --> 00:40:35,879 Speaker 1: there is a public works project where they drilled underground 882 00:40:36,320 --> 00:40:40,040 Speaker 1: from the river to like a new reservoir, and they 883 00:40:40,040 --> 00:40:43,239 Speaker 1: did something similar and do you remember what ended up 884 00:40:43,320 --> 00:40:45,879 Speaker 1: ended up willing? I ended up winning for the name 885 00:40:45,960 --> 00:40:51,600 Speaker 1: for the drill drill of Mike, so like killer Mike 886 00:40:51,680 --> 00:40:55,359 Speaker 1: from Run the Jewels. But which is a great Yeah, 887 00:40:55,400 --> 00:40:57,279 Speaker 1: it's how awesome is that? I think it's I think 888 00:40:57,280 --> 00:41:01,400 Speaker 1: it's anyway, this is from body mcboat face as TLDR. 889 00:41:01,600 --> 00:41:03,640 Speaker 1: How do I convince my dad not to take out 890 00:41:03,640 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 1: a home equity loan to pay for new air conditioning 891 00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:09,959 Speaker 1: and a new furnace. My parents seventy seven and seventy five. 892 00:41:10,320 --> 00:41:12,520 Speaker 1: They don't have central air in their home, and their 893 00:41:12,560 --> 00:41:15,960 Speaker 1: furnace is legit fifty or sixty years old, which is impressive. 894 00:41:15,960 --> 00:41:17,919 Speaker 1: By the way. It's probably why it still runs, actually, 895 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:19,480 Speaker 1: because it's like it'll make them like they used to. 896 00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:23,040 Speaker 1: They are planning on installing AC and getting a new furnace, 897 00:41:23,040 --> 00:41:24,520 Speaker 1: but they're going to take out a home equity loan 898 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:27,520 Speaker 1: instead of taking some money out of their retirement. Costs 899 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 1: could be fifteen to twenty five thousand dollars. How do 900 00:41:30,719 --> 00:41:32,600 Speaker 1: I convince them that take me out a home equity 901 00:41:32,640 --> 00:41:34,920 Speaker 1: loan on a home I don't think it's paid off 902 00:41:35,000 --> 00:41:37,400 Speaker 1: yet is a horrible idea when interest rates will be 903 00:41:37,440 --> 00:41:40,280 Speaker 1: eight percent or higher. I don't know what their situation 904 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:42,920 Speaker 1: is with their investments and how they have things invested, 905 00:41:42,960 --> 00:41:45,239 Speaker 1: but if you are in stocks, you have had a 906 00:41:45,239 --> 00:41:47,759 Speaker 1: pretty good couple of years. Being retired at seventy seven 907 00:41:47,800 --> 00:41:50,400 Speaker 1: and seventy five. I'm sure my parents are more conservative 908 00:41:50,440 --> 00:41:52,600 Speaker 1: with their money, but they still have to be making 909 00:41:52,600 --> 00:41:55,560 Speaker 1: some money, right. I feel like taking the money out 910 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,040 Speaker 1: of their retirement would still be a much better idea 911 00:41:58,239 --> 00:42:00,640 Speaker 1: in the long run than a home equity How do 912 00:42:00,719 --> 00:42:02,880 Speaker 1: I show them that doing this is a bad idea. 913 00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:06,799 Speaker 1: That is retired postal with a pension social Security and 914 00:42:06,840 --> 00:42:10,040 Speaker 1: he moved his TSP to a private company. Mom's retirement 915 00:42:10,120 --> 00:42:13,879 Speaker 1: income is fairly negligible. Thanks. Yeah, I'm not sure if 916 00:42:13,960 --> 00:42:16,600 Speaker 1: this specific details matter here as much, because I think 917 00:42:16,680 --> 00:42:18,440 Speaker 1: what we want to talk about is sort of the 918 00:42:18,480 --> 00:42:23,600 Speaker 1: relational dynamic that comes with financial advice and other people, yes, 919 00:42:23,719 --> 00:42:26,440 Speaker 1: especially your parents. I think every time you're trying to 920 00:42:26,440 --> 00:42:30,680 Speaker 1: convince friends and family members to make more prudent financial decisions, 921 00:42:30,920 --> 00:42:35,000 Speaker 1: that is often a recipe for relational dysfunction. Typically, inserting 922 00:42:35,040 --> 00:42:39,640 Speaker 1: yourself into that scenario when it's not been asked for 923 00:42:40,160 --> 00:42:43,319 Speaker 1: leads to hurt feelings, right, And so if they come 924 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:46,279 Speaker 1: to you and they sincerely ask you for your advice, well, 925 00:42:46,280 --> 00:42:49,160 Speaker 1: I would be willing to offer my non judgmental input. 926 00:42:49,719 --> 00:42:53,920 Speaker 1: But most folks don't love unsolicited advice. They don't like 927 00:42:53,960 --> 00:42:56,080 Speaker 1: for you to come and tell them what you think 928 00:42:56,080 --> 00:42:58,440 Speaker 1: they should do. And so if you really feel the 929 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:01,200 Speaker 1: need to intervene, I guess maybe the best way to 930 00:43:01,239 --> 00:43:03,240 Speaker 1: go would be to ask a question instead of telling 931 00:43:03,280 --> 00:43:05,160 Speaker 1: them what you would do, or worse, what you think 932 00:43:05,200 --> 00:43:07,200 Speaker 1: they should do, but maybe ask a question like, hey, 933 00:43:07,200 --> 00:43:09,920 Speaker 1: tell me more about this HVAC install and tell me 934 00:43:09,920 --> 00:43:12,319 Speaker 1: more about how you're financing it or I don't know, 935 00:43:12,360 --> 00:43:16,520 Speaker 1: but like maybe curiosity instead of judgment and trying to 936 00:43:16,680 --> 00:43:20,279 Speaker 1: convince them that they should take your advice and not 937 00:43:20,480 --> 00:43:22,600 Speaker 1: go their own way instead of just immediately bringing down 938 00:43:22,600 --> 00:43:25,319 Speaker 1: the hammer. Yeah, be inquisitive. I totally agree. And it's 939 00:43:25,360 --> 00:43:28,240 Speaker 1: not like that your folks are looking to take out 940 00:43:28,400 --> 00:43:31,160 Speaker 1: a payday loan, right or they're not looking to send 941 00:43:31,160 --> 00:43:33,160 Speaker 1: money to a scammer overseas or something like that. If 942 00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,080 Speaker 1: that was the case, I would say, hey, you probably 943 00:43:36,080 --> 00:43:40,839 Speaker 1: do need to seriously intervene in that instance. But taking 944 00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:43,160 Speaker 1: out a helock versus, you know, taking money out of 945 00:43:43,160 --> 00:43:45,680 Speaker 1: the retirement it might not be a bad call. It 946 00:43:45,760 --> 00:43:49,200 Speaker 1: sounds like this expense is a need, not a want, 947 00:43:49,360 --> 00:43:51,840 Speaker 1: So I don't think I would fault them for replacing 948 00:43:51,840 --> 00:43:54,320 Speaker 1: that old unit and upgrading to a full fledged HVAC 949 00:43:54,360 --> 00:43:57,560 Speaker 1: system while they're at it. And I mean, it sounds 950 00:43:57,600 --> 00:44:00,520 Speaker 1: like nobody here has an idea of what they're cash 951 00:44:00,680 --> 00:44:03,399 Speaker 1: situation looks like. But I think there's a good chance 952 00:44:03,400 --> 00:44:05,480 Speaker 1: that I would use some investment dollars at that point 953 00:44:05,800 --> 00:44:07,440 Speaker 1: in my life for an expense like this, but it's 954 00:44:07,440 --> 00:44:10,200 Speaker 1: also not a clearcut situation. Maybe they are in a 955 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:13,960 Speaker 1: cash flow tight sort of situation. They've got things figured 956 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:17,920 Speaker 1: out when you take into account the pension, social Security, 957 00:44:18,000 --> 00:44:19,560 Speaker 1: and so they're just saying, you know what, we're just 958 00:44:19,600 --> 00:44:22,840 Speaker 1: going to keep that on autopilot. We can afford the payments. 959 00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:25,239 Speaker 1: What we don't want to do is draw down on 960 00:44:25,280 --> 00:44:29,879 Speaker 1: any retirement funds unnecessarily. Yeah, yeah, and yeah, maybe they 961 00:44:29,880 --> 00:44:31,680 Speaker 1: know things that you don't. And again this is like 962 00:44:31,719 --> 00:44:34,560 Speaker 1: you're saying that this is not this egregious financial move 963 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:37,600 Speaker 1: where you're like, I have to intervene because they're out 964 00:44:37,600 --> 00:44:40,799 Speaker 1: of their mind. My mom's like watching QBC day in 965 00:44:40,880 --> 00:44:43,320 Speaker 1: day out and has packages showing up ten times a 966 00:44:43,400 --> 00:44:46,319 Speaker 1: day to the doorstep. It's not a problem along those 967 00:44:46,360 --> 00:44:48,919 Speaker 1: lines whereas a kid who of aging parents, you feel 968 00:44:48,960 --> 00:44:50,400 Speaker 1: like you really have to intervene. This is one of 969 00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:54,560 Speaker 1: those things where which own is the most fully optimized 970 00:44:54,719 --> 00:44:57,480 Speaker 1: versus sure not the most fully optimized. And I think 971 00:44:57,520 --> 00:45:00,720 Speaker 1: they're close enough to where you can let your parents 972 00:45:00,760 --> 00:45:02,640 Speaker 1: cut some slack on this and let them do their thing. 973 00:45:02,880 --> 00:45:05,360 Speaker 1: All right, Let's get to a question from Jordan, who says, 974 00:45:05,400 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: looking to find a cheaper phone plan. My wife is 975 00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:10,719 Speaker 1: against Mint because you can't have a line for wearables 976 00:45:10,920 --> 00:45:14,600 Speaker 1: like kids GPS watches. Is there a similarly priced service 977 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:19,160 Speaker 1: that has that option, Matt. We are seeing more wearable 978 00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:22,800 Speaker 1: specific plans, which I like to see, and they're cheaper 979 00:45:22,840 --> 00:45:25,359 Speaker 1: than cell phone specific plans, I think because the cell 980 00:45:25,400 --> 00:45:28,000 Speaker 1: phone companies know that you're not going to use as 981 00:45:28,080 --> 00:45:30,719 Speaker 1: much data on your watch as you would with an 982 00:45:30,719 --> 00:45:34,040 Speaker 1: actual phone. But before we talk about that, it's going 983 00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:37,640 Speaker 1: to stream in video games right on your watch, right exactly, 984 00:45:37,719 --> 00:45:40,239 Speaker 1: probably not streaming a show or a movie. Maybe in 985 00:45:40,280 --> 00:45:42,320 Speaker 1: your watch two years you are, I don't know, yeah, actually, 986 00:45:43,960 --> 00:45:46,600 Speaker 1: but there are like device specific plans I wanted to mention, 987 00:45:46,760 --> 00:45:49,439 Speaker 1: like the gab Watch. Depending on how old your kid 988 00:45:49,719 --> 00:45:52,080 Speaker 1: is and what you want as far as parental protections, 989 00:45:52,120 --> 00:45:55,319 Speaker 1: that might be something you look into. The on the 990 00:45:55,360 --> 00:45:57,520 Speaker 1: gab plans to watch is like typically free, but you 991 00:45:57,600 --> 00:46:00,839 Speaker 1: pay a higher monthly rate and the you know, comes 992 00:46:00,840 --> 00:46:02,920 Speaker 1: out of the box with those more parent friendly features. 993 00:46:03,480 --> 00:46:06,040 Speaker 1: I don't love how expensive it is for what you get, 994 00:46:06,080 --> 00:46:08,680 Speaker 1: but for some parents and even for us for a 995 00:46:08,719 --> 00:46:11,200 Speaker 1: time it worked, it can be worth the trade off. 996 00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:15,000 Speaker 1: So just know that it's Yeah, if you want a 997 00:46:15,040 --> 00:46:18,759 Speaker 1: traditional like Apple or Android watch, you're gonna want to 998 00:46:18,800 --> 00:46:22,040 Speaker 1: go with one of these new fangled wearable specific plans. 999 00:46:22,400 --> 00:46:25,160 Speaker 1: But there are also these like tech companies that have 1000 00:46:25,200 --> 00:46:27,520 Speaker 1: made watches specifically four Kids, and they have their kind 1001 00:46:27,520 --> 00:46:29,640 Speaker 1: of standalone plans that you can out for as well. Yeah, 1002 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:32,400 Speaker 1: it's all in one. It's like an all inclusive resort. You 1003 00:46:32,400 --> 00:46:34,799 Speaker 1: don't have to It's like you can stick with your 1004 00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:36,640 Speaker 1: current cell phone provider, or you can go with the 1005 00:46:36,680 --> 00:46:40,600 Speaker 1: Mint and then operate the wearable outside of that. But 1006 00:46:40,760 --> 00:46:43,719 Speaker 1: if you are looking for something that's kind of that 1007 00:46:43,800 --> 00:46:45,640 Speaker 1: has your cell phone plans, you and your wife, your 1008 00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:50,280 Speaker 1: kid as well US Mobile, it totally rocks. In particular 1009 00:46:50,320 --> 00:46:53,960 Speaker 1: when it comes to the wearable specific plans. Six dollars 1010 00:46:54,040 --> 00:46:58,000 Speaker 1: and fifty cents a month for a smart watch if 1011 00:46:58,000 --> 00:47:00,759 Speaker 1: you pay all all once, if you pay annually, that is, 1012 00:47:01,480 --> 00:47:03,759 Speaker 1: in my opinion, that's a pretty great rate. When it 1013 00:47:03,800 --> 00:47:06,640 Speaker 1: comes to the actual device, I would suggest going used certainly, 1014 00:47:06,719 --> 00:47:09,759 Speaker 1: make sure to get the GPS, get the cellular cellular 1015 00:47:10,000 --> 00:47:12,800 Speaker 1: model of like an Apple Watch for instance. Some of 1016 00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:15,480 Speaker 1: those Apple watches are GPS only and the plus cellular 1017 00:47:15,719 --> 00:47:18,080 Speaker 1: models cost more, but that's the only way you're going 1018 00:47:18,120 --> 00:47:20,000 Speaker 1: to be able to use it standalone. That's right, But 1019 00:47:20,280 --> 00:47:23,080 Speaker 1: US Mobile is our current favorite for most folks in 1020 00:47:23,160 --> 00:47:25,279 Speaker 1: the cell phone and in the smart watch space. I 1021 00:47:25,320 --> 00:47:27,760 Speaker 1: was just talking to a friend and I couldn't believe 1022 00:47:27,800 --> 00:47:31,040 Speaker 1: that they are still with AT and T, a dude 1023 00:47:31,120 --> 00:47:35,480 Speaker 1: like the og original terrible cell phone provider, like they're 1024 00:47:35,520 --> 00:47:37,920 Speaker 1: paying I think over seventy a month for Going back 1025 00:47:37,920 --> 00:47:39,839 Speaker 1: to our last question, I'm sure you didn't obliterate him, 1026 00:47:39,960 --> 00:47:43,759 Speaker 1: but did you make it a helpful, gentle suggestion. I 1027 00:47:43,800 --> 00:47:46,400 Speaker 1: made a very good case as to why US Mobile 1028 00:47:46,400 --> 00:47:48,920 Speaker 1: in particular is so awesome, and I was just explaining 1029 00:47:48,960 --> 00:47:51,879 Speaker 1: to her the benefits and like specifically, I was telling 1030 00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:54,399 Speaker 1: her the best part is that, hey, you can even 1031 00:47:54,440 --> 00:47:56,400 Speaker 1: switch between the different networks. Like that is what's so 1032 00:47:56,440 --> 00:47:58,239 Speaker 1: great about US Mobile, the fact that on AT and 1033 00:47:58,239 --> 00:48:01,040 Speaker 1: T's network you can so with US Mobile. It's called 1034 00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:04,040 Speaker 1: dark Star, So dark Star is AT and T. You 1035 00:48:04,040 --> 00:48:06,800 Speaker 1: can go with WARP so that's the Verizon in VA. No, 1036 00:48:07,000 --> 00:48:09,399 Speaker 1: that's with US Mobile, or if you want to go 1037 00:48:09,680 --> 00:48:13,920 Speaker 1: with light Speed, that's the T Mobile version that they have, 1038 00:48:14,080 --> 00:48:16,399 Speaker 1: and you can switch in the middle of a month. 1039 00:48:16,480 --> 00:48:18,560 Speaker 1: You can switch. Whenever you want to say things aren't 1040 00:48:18,560 --> 00:48:20,279 Speaker 1: working out for you, you can be like, oh, okay, 1041 00:48:20,680 --> 00:48:23,400 Speaker 1: you just log online. I literally did this within the 1042 00:48:23,400 --> 00:48:25,800 Speaker 1: first month of trying US Mobile because I thought AT 1043 00:48:25,880 --> 00:48:27,680 Speaker 1: and T was gonna be the better option and it wasn't. 1044 00:48:27,680 --> 00:48:29,879 Speaker 1: So why I hopped over. I'm sorry I should say 1045 00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:32,320 Speaker 1: I thought that dark Star was gonna be because it 1046 00:48:32,480 --> 00:48:34,239 Speaker 1: was gonna be the best network. It turns out that 1047 00:48:34,280 --> 00:48:36,239 Speaker 1: it wasn't, So I hopped over to WARP and my 1048 00:48:36,320 --> 00:48:39,839 Speaker 1: phone was offline for less than five minutes before it's 1049 00:48:40,000 --> 00:48:42,719 Speaker 1: hopped over, was recognized by the new network, and I 1050 00:48:42,760 --> 00:48:44,840 Speaker 1: was good to go. You can even you can You 1051 00:48:44,880 --> 00:48:48,640 Speaker 1: can even do like a multi network option to where 1052 00:48:48,680 --> 00:48:51,399 Speaker 1: you pay extra, you pay for extra data. Let's say 1053 00:48:51,400 --> 00:48:54,400 Speaker 1: you normally go with WARP, but then you know some 1054 00:48:54,640 --> 00:48:56,040 Speaker 1: you know that, like, oh well, we go off to 1055 00:48:56,080 --> 00:48:58,360 Speaker 1: the cabin. The only network that works up there is 1056 00:48:58,400 --> 00:49:00,920 Speaker 1: T Mobile. You can do that too. You can do 1057 00:49:01,200 --> 00:49:04,520 Speaker 1: data add ons at high speeds with a different network 1058 00:49:04,560 --> 00:49:07,600 Speaker 1: as well, like the network flexibility with the vn O, 1059 00:49:07,680 --> 00:49:10,080 Speaker 1: specifically with US Mobile. Man, it blows my mind. I 1060 00:49:10,080 --> 00:49:12,279 Speaker 1: think it's just like the best thing since slice bread. 1061 00:49:12,320 --> 00:49:14,840 Speaker 1: That's what's so fascinating now in this space is because 1062 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:18,439 Speaker 1: some of these NB and O operators, because of that flexibility, 1063 00:49:18,480 --> 00:49:21,359 Speaker 1: they're better than the traditional guys that advertise all the time, 1064 00:49:21,400 --> 00:49:22,920 Speaker 1: and it's better. Yeah. And I don't know what kind 1065 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:24,920 Speaker 1: of like shady deals they got going on in the 1066 00:49:24,920 --> 00:49:28,959 Speaker 1: background where they are allowed to do this. I don't 1067 00:49:29,040 --> 00:49:32,200 Speaker 1: understand how they have been allowed. Why do they agree 1068 00:49:32,200 --> 00:49:33,960 Speaker 1: to it? Right? Why have the big networks? I don't 1069 00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:35,719 Speaker 1: know this because they've got dirt on them. I think 1070 00:49:35,840 --> 00:49:37,960 Speaker 1: it's sure. It just seems like US Mobile is going 1071 00:49:38,040 --> 00:49:39,239 Speaker 1: to be able to take over the world with the 1072 00:49:39,320 --> 00:49:42,000 Speaker 1: kind of rates and service that they're offering. So yeah, yeah, 1073 00:49:42,040 --> 00:49:44,200 Speaker 1: for Jordan, I think that's the one top shot man, Like, 1074 00:49:44,200 --> 00:49:45,960 Speaker 1: that's where I would go. Everybody else is going to 1075 00:49:45,960 --> 00:49:48,279 Speaker 1: be minimum ten bucks a month for wearable plans. A 1076 00:49:48,280 --> 00:49:50,239 Speaker 1: lot of them are closer to fifteen a month, so 1077 00:49:50,880 --> 00:49:53,840 Speaker 1: less than half of that at US Mobile. All right, Matt, 1078 00:49:54,200 --> 00:49:57,160 Speaker 1: let's get back to the pier before we clock out 1079 00:49:57,280 --> 00:50:01,759 Speaker 1: for today. This we don't actually clim cout, but we 1080 00:50:01,800 --> 00:50:04,360 Speaker 1: should have, like the punch card. That'd be awesome, like 1081 00:50:04,400 --> 00:50:09,560 Speaker 1: Flintstone style. Sometimes you still see them in certain establishments. Yeah, okay, 1082 00:50:09,560 --> 00:50:11,960 Speaker 1: this beer was from Burlington Beer Company. It's called It's 1083 00:50:12,000 --> 00:50:14,239 Speaker 1: Complicated being a Wizard. What were your thoughts on this 1084 00:50:14,320 --> 00:50:17,840 Speaker 1: double ipa? It was pretty tasty, it was bold. It 1085 00:50:17,840 --> 00:50:20,840 Speaker 1: had a certain degree of sweetness going on, which I 1086 00:50:20,960 --> 00:50:23,160 Speaker 1: was thinking about because you're kind of stopped up, could 1087 00:50:23,200 --> 00:50:24,560 Speaker 1: you do you feel like you're able to pick up 1088 00:50:24,600 --> 00:50:27,240 Speaker 1: on all the all the flavors. I think I probably 1089 00:50:27,400 --> 00:50:29,600 Speaker 1: was missing a step, but yeah you did. I don't 1090 00:50:29,600 --> 00:50:31,799 Speaker 1: know bringing my a game, my tasting game. I know 1091 00:50:31,840 --> 00:50:34,560 Speaker 1: when I'm like got a cold or congested, I can't 1092 00:50:34,719 --> 00:50:36,520 Speaker 1: That's like the first thing to go is I can't 1093 00:50:36,520 --> 00:50:41,160 Speaker 1: taste anything, and so food and drink becomes very unattractive 1094 00:50:41,160 --> 00:50:43,719 Speaker 1: to me. I tasted it, and I enjoyed it. I 1095 00:50:43,800 --> 00:50:46,400 Speaker 1: just don't know that I fully enjoyed every element of 1096 00:50:46,400 --> 00:50:47,880 Speaker 1: this beer, because when it tastes like to you and 1097 00:50:47,880 --> 00:50:50,000 Speaker 1: then I'll let you know what you're missing on It 1098 00:50:50,080 --> 00:50:53,920 Speaker 1: tasted like, yeah, semi sweet double ip a with like 1099 00:50:54,719 --> 00:50:58,160 Speaker 1: a nice rep representative of a hazy I PA, but 1100 00:50:58,840 --> 00:51:01,800 Speaker 1: nothing spectacular sticking me out, No notes that I can 1101 00:51:02,760 --> 00:51:04,840 Speaker 1: cling to where I was like, oh man, this was 1102 00:51:04,960 --> 00:51:07,360 Speaker 1: unique in this way. Okay, maybe a little pineapplely vibe. 1103 00:51:07,560 --> 00:51:09,160 Speaker 1: If I was gonna pick no, I think you got 1104 00:51:09,160 --> 00:51:12,279 Speaker 1: most of it. That's probably how I would describe it 1105 00:51:12,280 --> 00:51:14,759 Speaker 1: as well. They don't claim to be hazy, but it 1106 00:51:14,760 --> 00:51:16,719 Speaker 1: poured a little bit hazy, but it didn't have like 1107 00:51:16,800 --> 00:51:19,560 Speaker 1: those sharp, hoppy notes that you get with some of 1108 00:51:19,560 --> 00:51:22,600 Speaker 1: the best New England hazes out there. So it's drink 1109 00:51:22,640 --> 00:51:26,520 Speaker 1: like halfway between just a regular hazy ipa and more 1110 00:51:26,560 --> 00:51:29,719 Speaker 1: of a traditional American double yep. But I'm certainly glad though, 1111 00:51:29,719 --> 00:51:32,000 Speaker 1: that we got to share one of these today, buddy, 1112 00:51:32,120 --> 00:51:34,640 Speaker 1: And that's going to be it for this Ask how 1113 00:51:34,680 --> 00:51:36,480 Speaker 1: to Money episode. You can find our show notes up 1114 00:51:36,480 --> 00:51:39,480 Speaker 1: on the website. Some of the different resources we mentioned 1115 00:51:40,200 --> 00:51:42,480 Speaker 1: during this episode, Like you mentioned the Golden Rules of 1116 00:51:42,560 --> 00:51:44,800 Speaker 1: Credit earlier on, we'll link to that, We'll link to 1117 00:51:46,160 --> 00:51:49,520 Speaker 1: the financial Samurai Engineering. You own your own layoff, you 1118 00:51:49,520 --> 00:51:52,040 Speaker 1: can find all that up in our show notes. But 1119 00:51:52,360 --> 00:51:54,680 Speaker 1: that'll be it. So until next time, Best Friends Out, 1120 00:51:54,840 --> 00:52:05,640 Speaker 1: Best Friends Out.