1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt. 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Today we're discussing more stimmy money in FT investing and 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: booking summer travel. Now, so you're calling it stimmy money? 4 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:32,520 Speaker 1: Are you the only one doing this? Everybody's calling everyone stimmies. 5 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: Where stimmy is st I think I don't like it 6 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: because it makes me think of steiny, which is like 7 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: the opposite of what a stimulus check what you would 8 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: want it to do, right, like, like you wanted to 9 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:46,960 Speaker 1: stimulate the economy, you wanted to to grow things, and 10 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:49,120 Speaker 1: instead it makes me think of steiny, which is like, 11 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: I mean that means to like hold something back, right, 12 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: like to keep something from growing. So I feel like 13 00:00:53,600 --> 00:00:56,680 Speaker 1: that word kind of has some cognitive dissonance going on. 14 00:00:56,760 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: For the stimmy money is going to do the absolute 15 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,560 Speaker 1: opposite of stimy and growth. It's going well, we'll see, 16 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 1: because I mean, I guess we'll get into a little 17 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,800 Speaker 1: bit later on. But that's the that's the big question 18 00:01:07,840 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: that that folks are wondering. But we're not necessarily going 19 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:12,760 Speaker 1: to dive into the politics of it. But dude, real quick, 20 00:01:12,760 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: I wanted to ask you. You know, we often talk 21 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: about kurb alerts things we fight on the side of 22 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: the road. Would you wear a pair of shoes that 23 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: you saw on the side of the road for you yourself? 24 00:01:22,040 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 1: And the reason I asked this is because I know 25 00:01:24,400 --> 00:01:26,480 Speaker 1: you've picked up the pair of cleats before for your daughter, 26 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: but I don't know if your daughter has ever warned 27 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 1: those shoes, but she has really okay, because there's super 28 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:34,200 Speaker 1: into it. Right when we first got them, we don't 29 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: really they don't actually play soccer in a league or 30 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 1: anything like, just like slade the slide of the shoes 31 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: on and run around there running so fast. We slowly 32 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: we played in play in the front yard and take 33 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,559 Speaker 1: the ball around. And so they put them on. Then okay. 34 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: So the reason I ask is because check it out. 35 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: Oh you have some new Nike heats. There was like 36 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: exactly like your old ones. I found these jokers on 37 00:01:50,720 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: the side of the road. I was riding my bike 38 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:54,440 Speaker 1: and I saw some a Nike box and I was like, 39 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: let's take a look. Let's take a little look. See 40 00:01:56,840 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 1: it was your size too, and it was my size. 41 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: And so I mean virtually you have I've worn these 42 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: for two weeks now and you have not noticed because 43 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,640 Speaker 1: they look exactly like my old onsertler, like an updated 44 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 1: version of my old shoe. But they just look a 45 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:09,680 Speaker 1: lot cleaner, a lot nicer than not all ripped up 46 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: or anything like that. But I felt a little bit 47 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:13,639 Speaker 1: weird because this is like this, this is one step 48 00:02:13,919 --> 00:02:17,640 Speaker 1: more personal than say, finding a d humidifier, you know, 49 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 1: on the side of the road, or you know, I 50 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: don't know, like a box fan something something like that. 51 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: Like this is something that I've got on my body, 52 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: you know, Like, okay, so would you go a step further? 53 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: Would you wear underwear that you found shut up? Of 54 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,160 Speaker 1: course not. But shoes at least there's a layer between 55 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: you and the shoes here. Yeah, really nice to look clean, 56 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: and and they seem very clean. I mean it was 57 00:02:36,880 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: from a neighbor. It's not somebody I know, but like, 58 00:02:38,760 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 1: you know, I ride by their house and I'll wave, 59 00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,359 Speaker 1: so they seem like friendly folks. Uh, you know, but 60 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,400 Speaker 1: I guess that doesn't necessarily mean they're hygienic. But I 61 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:47,760 Speaker 1: felt a little bit weird about it. But in the 62 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,839 Speaker 1: end I realized I don't really care. I wear socks, uh, 63 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: And I could have kind of hit it with some 64 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:54,519 Speaker 1: my sauce prey and I didn't even do that because 65 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: I had enough faith in my neighbor. One thing people 66 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,800 Speaker 1: do have to be careful about when it is there's 67 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: something free on the curb. One time a friend she 68 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:05,799 Speaker 1: brought home a chair and had bed bugs in it. Yeah, 69 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: it was a nice chair, it looked good, but you 70 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: gotta be careful because bed bugs are the worst. Like that. 71 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: The bedbug infestation is really really hard to get rid of. 72 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: It kind of sounds like if your house gets lice, 73 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:18,800 Speaker 1: you know, because like when you get lies, you have 74 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:20,480 Speaker 1: to go through all these steps. Thought worse. I think 75 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: that bugs, yeah, because it's not like just your own 76 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: head that you can. You have to kind of, you know, 77 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: use special tramp people and you got to get like 78 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: your whole house looked at. I don't know, I've never 79 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:30,839 Speaker 1: we've never had to deal with bed bugs, but yeah, 80 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,200 Speaker 1: I'm definitely gonna make sure to peek in the little corners. 81 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: Have ever picked up a nice, nice little chair on 82 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: the side of the right. Pray you never have to 83 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: deal with them, because her experience was awful. So that 84 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:41,280 Speaker 1: all right, Well, it's Friday flight time, Matt. But before 85 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,000 Speaker 1: we get into the stories that we found interesting this 86 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: week that pertained to people's personal finances. Really quickly, we 87 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,320 Speaker 1: wanted to announce that we're doing another book giveaway. Yeah, 88 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 1: it's time to raid How the Money's bookshelf. We're giving 89 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 1: away a bunch of books this week. All you have 90 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 1: to do is head over to Apple Podcasts or wherever 91 00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: you listen to podcasts, leave us a solid rating and review, 92 00:03:58,720 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: and then email us at how to Money pot at 93 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,440 Speaker 1: gmail dot com. Do that before Wednesday, March seventeenth, at 94 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 1: noon Eastern time, and you'll be entered into this book 95 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: giveaway where we'll be sending a bunch of books to 96 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,400 Speaker 1: four lucky listeners from people that we've had on the 97 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:15,320 Speaker 1: show before. And these don't have to be new reviews either. 98 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: By the way, I hate that when a company I 99 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: love is like only for new new, uh new users, 100 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: and I'm like, well, what about me, first signed customers only? Yeah, 101 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: I've been loyal for a long time, so we went 102 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: to reward loyalty for sure, exactly. So Yeah, if you 103 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: can just take a screenshot of your old review and 104 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: send us an email, you're welcome to you just sending 105 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:32,960 Speaker 1: us your screen name, because I mean, for the most part, 106 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: we trust you, and we'll go back and check when 107 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:37,000 Speaker 1: when we do do the random drawing and whatnot. But 108 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: but yeah, we just want to make sure that we're 109 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: reaching out to those folks who have been around for 110 00:04:40,400 --> 00:04:42,360 Speaker 1: a while, not just those new listeners out there who 111 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:44,800 Speaker 1: are leaving their review for the first time. And by 112 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,239 Speaker 1: the way, these are books that that Joel himself has 113 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: held and like poured over the pages and so that 114 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: you know you're you're owning a piece of history. Basically, 115 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:54,679 Speaker 1: they're used books, is what what ma saying. Well, okay, 116 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: some of them are ones that we've read, but some 117 00:04:56,320 --> 00:04:58,040 Speaker 1: of them are extra copies that we have and they 118 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: literally have never been cracked, cracked open. Some of these 119 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: are actually brand new as well. Will you write a 120 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: little note in there on the on the cover, I 121 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: didn't write a book, I don't feel I don't think so. 122 00:05:08,120 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: But they're really like, honestly, these have been some great guests. 123 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: They've been brought some really incredible knowledge and the books 124 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: pack even more. Some of the books that we're gonna 125 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: be sending out at the Middlemost Home by Joshua Becker, 126 00:05:17,760 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: that was a fun episode when we talked with him. 127 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 1: Blue Collar Cash by Ken Rusk, Money Hacks by Lisa 128 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:25,720 Speaker 1: Rowan Um just just so much good financial information some 129 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:27,960 Speaker 1: of these books, and we're happy to to send them 130 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: to listeners who can grab that information and keep running 131 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:32,920 Speaker 1: with it. So, m dude, what I loved about the 132 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,280 Speaker 1: last weok, you mentioned so money Hacks that was Lisa 133 00:05:35,320 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 1: Rohan's book, right, is that each of her little hacks 134 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,159 Speaker 1: are really short and so like, I love the idea 135 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 1: of having like a toilet read So I mean, let's 136 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:44,839 Speaker 1: be honest, most folks they pull out their foot, they 137 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 1: sit down, they pull out their phone, and they just 138 00:05:46,880 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: burn a bunch of time. What if instead you just 139 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:52,119 Speaker 1: pulled out money Hacks and uh have some financial knowledge 140 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:54,520 Speaker 1: dropped on you. That's that's what we're all about. And yeah, 141 00:05:54,520 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: hopefully you can be the lucky winner and have that 142 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: book yourself. Yeah, we got twelve total book we're gonna 143 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:02,960 Speaker 1: send out, So don't forget to enter how to Money 144 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 1: pod at gmail dot com and send us that an 145 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,320 Speaker 1: email by March seventeenth at noon. That's right, all right, 146 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,320 Speaker 1: Let's let's keep moving along, Joe. Let's get to the news, 147 00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 1: and the big news of the week is the new 148 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: COVID relief bill. It passed the Senate at the end 149 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 1: of last week. In the House past the legislation on Tuesday. 150 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: It has now been signed into law by President Biden. 151 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: And this massive spinning bill means that many of you 152 00:06:23,560 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: out there are are getting another stimulus payment from the government. 153 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:28,240 Speaker 1: And we'll do our best to dissect some of the 154 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:31,479 Speaker 1: most important parts of this bill right now. And of course, uh, 155 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,680 Speaker 1: you know, Joe, like you mentioned the stimmies, stammies, not 156 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: the stymies. They are top of mind for most folks. 157 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 1: And so if you are single and you have an 158 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: adjusted gross income of seventy five dollars or less, or 159 00:06:42,279 --> 00:06:44,680 Speaker 1: if you are married finally jointly and have an a 160 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:47,360 Speaker 1: g I of fifty thou dollars or less, you are 161 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: going to be getting checks or a deposit for fourteen 162 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: hundred dollars for each person and so, and that applies 163 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:55,240 Speaker 1: to for kids as well. So for for instance, a 164 00:06:55,279 --> 00:06:58,920 Speaker 1: family of four that qualifies is going to get fifty dollars. 165 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:01,720 Speaker 1: That money is likely to start hitting accounts by the 166 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: end of the month, so keep an eye out for that. Yeah, 167 00:07:03,560 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: and Matt, one of the most important things to talk 168 00:07:05,880 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 1: about when it comes to this stimulus money. And who 169 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: qualifies is you know, you just mentioned the A G I, 170 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: but the I R S is going to look at 171 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: your most recent tax return to determine whether or not 172 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,240 Speaker 1: you qualify for this stimulus money. Um And so I 173 00:07:19,280 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: think it's really important to note that if your income, 174 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: let's say, dropped off a cliff last year, then into 175 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 1: a lot of people, Yeah, you should be looking to 176 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,880 Speaker 1: file your return as quickly as possible if that's now 177 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:34,440 Speaker 1: going to allow you to qualify for this stimulus money 178 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: where you might not have qualified otherwise based on you know, 179 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: your your tax return from twenty nineteen. Basically you might 180 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: be eligible, but you want to make sure that your 181 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: tax return, your most recent tax return, reflects that eligibility 182 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: so that the stimulus money gets into your hands as 183 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,080 Speaker 1: quickly as possible. Yeah, and it's even more important to 184 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,200 Speaker 1: make sure that they have the updated information. Say, if 185 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: you had a kid last year, right, like maybe you've 186 00:07:55,800 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: got one of those pandemic babies, you want to make 187 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: sure that you're not only getting uh, this umulus money 188 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 1: for your child, but also the bill included a child 189 00:08:03,800 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: tax credit that increased from two thousand dollars up to 190 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: three thousand dollars per eligible child, and it's actually gonna 191 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: be thirty six dollars for kids that are five and under. 192 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,560 Speaker 1: And so the same eligibility requirements that are being used 193 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:18,040 Speaker 1: for the stimulus payments apply here as well, so seventy 194 00:08:18,080 --> 00:08:20,880 Speaker 1: five k or less if you're single, fire less if 195 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,119 Speaker 1: you're married. And also not surprising is that the federal 196 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: unemployment benefits were included in the bill, and so they're 197 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: gonna remain at three hundred dollars per week, they're not 198 00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:31,400 Speaker 1: going to increase, but they were extended for another twenty 199 00:08:31,400 --> 00:08:34,439 Speaker 1: five weeks until September six. And uh, you know, we've 200 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,160 Speaker 1: talked on the show before about how those unemployment benefits 201 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 1: they're taxable. You need to make sure to keep an 202 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:40,960 Speaker 1: eye out for that. Hopefully all a lot of folks 203 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: opted to have some of those some of that money withheld, 204 00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: but if you didn't, we've talked about how you need 205 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:46,760 Speaker 1: to make sure that you have that money set aside 206 00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 1: because you're gonna have to pay taxes on that. Well, 207 00:08:48,960 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 1: a provision that was also in the bill made it 208 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: so that the first ten thousand, two hundred dollars of 209 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: your twenty unemployment is going to be tax free. So 210 00:08:57,320 --> 00:08:58,960 Speaker 1: that's gonna be some great news for folks who have 211 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,280 Speaker 1: been uh received some of those unemployment benefits. Yeah, totally, 212 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,240 Speaker 1: another interesting tidbit that was in this bill. And by 213 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: the way, there's a lot in this bill, and there's 214 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:08,080 Speaker 1: a lot that we're not going to cover. We're gonna 215 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: cover all the stuff that pertains most closely to your 216 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:15,160 Speaker 1: personal finances. We're not going to talk about the billion 217 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:17,480 Speaker 1: that was given to restaurants, although that's great, which is good. Yeah, 218 00:09:17,520 --> 00:09:20,120 Speaker 1: that's great. But another interesting piece of this legislation is 219 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:23,160 Speaker 1: that if you've been laid off starting April one, the 220 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,880 Speaker 1: government will pay of your cobra and cobra Matt can 221 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:30,760 Speaker 1: get crazy expensive, as anybody who's been laid off nose 222 00:09:31,240 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: often thousands of dollars because you know, you were used 223 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:36,800 Speaker 1: to paying, you know, maybe a few hundred dollars a 224 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: month for your health care because your employer was subsidizing it, 225 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,000 Speaker 1: and now you're on the hook for typically a hundred 226 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,079 Speaker 1: and two percent of what your employer was paying towards 227 00:09:45,080 --> 00:09:46,880 Speaker 1: your health care. It's important to note, though, that you 228 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: won't be eligible for this free coverage if you left 229 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 1: your job voluntarily or if you qualify for a new 230 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:56,240 Speaker 1: employer based plan before September. Also, there's money in this 231 00:09:56,280 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: bill to increase subsidies for many getting healthcare Under the 232 00:10:00,520 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: a c A. The premiums were sky high for many 233 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:04,960 Speaker 1: folks looking to get coverage on the exchange, and this 234 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 1: new bill is at least for the next two years, 235 00:10:07,559 --> 00:10:09,559 Speaker 1: going to lower the cost for a whole lot more 236 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: people than were previously eligible for subsidies for healthcare. Yeah, 237 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:15,520 Speaker 1: and we'll make sure to link to some stories in 238 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 1: our show notes where you can find all the details 239 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:19,440 Speaker 1: of the bill if there are some other aspects of 240 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:21,160 Speaker 1: it that you might be curious about. But we're gonna 241 00:10:21,160 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: move on. Let's talk about travel. We we We got 242 00:10:23,880 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 1: an email from our friends Scott over at Scott's Cheap 243 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,960 Speaker 1: Flights this week and he had some great advice that 244 00:10:29,000 --> 00:10:32,239 Speaker 1: we that we really wanted to relay on the show today. 245 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,520 Speaker 1: If you are thinking that you might be for some 246 00:10:34,559 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: travel this summer, booking before the end of March is 247 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 1: going to give you some really important flexibility. Uh. And 248 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 1: that's because during the pandemic, the airlines did away with 249 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 1: change fees on all flights. But some of those changes 250 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:51,320 Speaker 1: weren't permanent, they're gonna sunset, uh, including changing a basic 251 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,079 Speaker 1: economy fair and so those are the cheapest flights that 252 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: you can find. So of course you know how the 253 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,760 Speaker 1: money listeners are likely gonna want those tickets. Of course 254 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:00,560 Speaker 1: we do. We're with the basic on I mean, man, 255 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:04,600 Speaker 1: that's that's how I like to fly business class even myself, 256 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: and the Basic Economy gets a little cramped. But you 257 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: know what, I'm willing to put up with the pain 258 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,079 Speaker 1: to save the money, uh, and also to change fees 259 00:11:11,240 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: before the pandemic could run into the hundreds of dollars. 260 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 1: Like they weren't cheap, it's expensive and plus you'd have 261 00:11:16,600 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: to pay the difference in airfare. Often if if the 262 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,319 Speaker 1: price was more expensive, it was a major money maker 263 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 1: for the airlines and a big source of frustration for travelers. 264 00:11:24,320 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: So if you're interested, um yet tentative, maybe about summer travel, 265 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 1: book before March is over, so you'll still have access 266 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: to be able to change that flight without paying a fee. 267 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:37,000 Speaker 1: Plus summer flights are still pretty cheap right now, You'll 268 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 1: still have to pay the fair difference if the fair 269 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: is higher on the flight you're wanting to switch to. 270 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:43,680 Speaker 1: If you do decide once you book that you're going 271 00:11:43,720 --> 00:11:46,680 Speaker 1: to need to go another time. But the best change 272 00:11:46,679 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: fee protections are essentially expiring at the end of this 273 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: month and expect prices to rise to so now it's 274 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: actually probably the perfect time to start booking air travel. 275 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,880 Speaker 1: That is right, And we also wanted to talk about, uh, 276 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: not just e bikes, but like electric cars, basically the 277 00:12:02,120 --> 00:12:05,679 Speaker 1: rise of E everything. We feel like it's essentially upon us. Man. 278 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: The New York Times reported recently that e bike sales 279 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: were up over a hundred and fifty percent last year. 280 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 1: I mean, regular bikes sore too, but just not nearly 281 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: to the extent of electric bikes. But what's interesting is 282 00:12:17,160 --> 00:12:19,559 Speaker 1: that we're starting to see some infrastructure changes right. I know, 283 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 1: near us, we've got this amazing protected bike lanes with 284 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:25,160 Speaker 1: these massive planners where we're gonna be protected from you know, 285 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,200 Speaker 1: from cars driving by one of my daughters and I 286 00:12:27,200 --> 00:12:30,080 Speaker 1: we read on that yesterday. But it's not just bike 287 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:32,719 Speaker 1: infrastructure as well. Man, things are changing when it comes 288 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,720 Speaker 1: to electric vehicles. The city of Pedaluma in California, they 289 00:12:35,720 --> 00:12:38,680 Speaker 1: banned the building of any new gas stations from from 290 00:12:38,679 --> 00:12:41,560 Speaker 1: here on out recently, which is fascinating, you know, it's 291 00:12:41,600 --> 00:12:43,440 Speaker 1: interesting to see kind of the changes that are taking 292 00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:45,920 Speaker 1: place within the world we live in. Yeah, the only 293 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:48,160 Speaker 1: thing I knew about Pedaluma before this was that that's 294 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: where logginguses. That's right, they make really good beer. But 295 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: many of the major automakers are going to stop producing 296 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: gas vehicles altogether as well by thirty five, although they 297 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,959 Speaker 1: plan to get there by twenty thirty and so it's 298 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: just it's kind of interesting, you know. We wanted to 299 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: mention that because it's it's crazy how quickly it seems 300 00:13:05,559 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: that the electrification shift is happening. And we're not totally 301 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: sure of the full ramifications of that and how that 302 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: pertains to our personal finances, but we're definitely gonna keep 303 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: an eye on that for sure. Yeah, and we mentioned 304 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:18,160 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks ago the potential for an ebike 305 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:20,560 Speaker 1: tax credit. We're keeping our eyes on that. If that happens, 306 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: I mean, e bike sales are gonna soar even more so. 307 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:26,840 Speaker 1: Also to uh M, i T recently released some numbers 308 00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 1: on electric vehicle affordability. The lower costs of maintenance and 309 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: charging being cheaper than gas, especially as gas prices are rising, 310 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:37,120 Speaker 1: makes many electric vehicle models a better buy even with 311 00:13:37,200 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: a higher initial price tag. But this doesn't mean that 312 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:42,760 Speaker 1: everything is getting more affordable on that front. Porsche just 313 00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: released a pair of ridiculously over priced ebikes. Won the 314 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,520 Speaker 1: cost over ten thousand dollars. Matt, I'm guessing, uh, you're 315 00:13:48,559 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: not in the market for that anytime soon. I think 316 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,839 Speaker 1: your wife picked one of those. Dang it. I don't 317 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:54,520 Speaker 1: know what I'm gonna do about that. Hopefully I can 318 00:13:54,559 --> 00:13:57,679 Speaker 1: still return it, but uh, just important to note that 319 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 1: make sure you're spending your dollars wisely. There are some 320 00:14:00,920 --> 00:14:04,560 Speaker 1: really great low cost e bike makers out there. Rad 321 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 1: Power Bikes is one, Propeller is another, and Electric L 322 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: E C t R I C is another one. And 323 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: you can get great e bikes in the thousand dollar range. 324 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: You know, even if that tax credit doesn't come to fruition, 325 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: you can still get any bike pretty cheap, and they 326 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: are a game changer for you know, how you can 327 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: get around town. And you know, our family was able 328 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: to even ditch a car by having you know, in 329 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: any bike where we can toss the kids on the backs, right. Yeah, 330 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: and you know, there are more affordable electric bikes out 331 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:29,640 Speaker 1: there as well, Like you can have hop on Amazon 332 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 1: and there are tons of i mean electric bikes like 333 00:14:33,520 --> 00:14:36,400 Speaker 1: in the five you know, starting out like five bucks. Uh, 334 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,360 Speaker 1: like you can even get them under that thousand dollar mark. However, 335 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: you may not always want to go for the cheapest 336 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: bike out there like that. That that might be an 337 00:14:42,960 --> 00:14:45,200 Speaker 1: instance of you, you know, going cheap and well, you know, 338 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 1: while attempting to be frugal, and then you've you've got 339 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: an electric bike that maybe only last a year or 340 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: so before it kind of craps out on you. Yeah, yeah, 341 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: you definitely go with somebody that it's been well reviewed. 342 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:55,360 Speaker 1: And and I think we've mentioned this before, but there's 343 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: a website in the YouTube channel electric bike review dot 344 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: com and uh, that guy Core, he does amazing reviews 345 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: of electric bikes. So find one that's got good reviews, 346 00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: especially by an independent reviewer like him, you know, don't 347 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 1: just uh yeah, go with the cheapest one on Amazon. 348 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:11,720 Speaker 1: It's like this one has like a few thousand positive reviews. 349 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: It's like and we've talked about this on the show 350 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,160 Speaker 1: before too, but like how many of those reviews are fake? 351 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:19,120 Speaker 1: You know, like trying to crack down, but it's difficult 352 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: when you've got all these manufacturers shipping over really cheaply 353 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: made electric bikes, you know, from other countries. So it's 354 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 1: definitely something to keep an eye out for. All Right, 355 00:15:26,640 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 1: we're gonna take a quick rate, but after the break 356 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: we're going to dive into n f T S non 357 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 1: fungible tokens. You've seen it in the news, But what 358 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,840 Speaker 1: does it mean for for you? Is that something that 359 00:15:34,880 --> 00:15:36,560 Speaker 1: you should get involved with? And so we'll get to 360 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:48,320 Speaker 1: that right after this. Alright, we're back and uh, this 361 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: is the Friday flight. We're talking all the news and 362 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 1: how it pertains to your personal finances. And there's been 363 00:15:53,160 --> 00:15:55,080 Speaker 1: a lot of news this week, Matt that that we 364 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: gotta cover and uh, you know, now we're gonna talk 365 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: about n f T s and this falls under are 366 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:03,240 Speaker 1: ludicrous headline of the week. There was a Verge headline 367 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: that read the brands are at it again. Taco Bell 368 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: is hopping on the n f T train. The subheadline 369 00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:11,720 Speaker 1: was why buy real tacos when you could buy a 370 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:13,320 Speaker 1: gift of a taco? Is a gift for Jeff I 371 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 1: always I never know it's gift every single time gift 372 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 1: hear some people say it's Jeff, and I'm like, that's 373 00:16:18,120 --> 00:16:20,880 Speaker 1: a butter to me, Jeff like this, people can just 374 00:16:20,960 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: move to Canada Like it's not Jeff, it's a gift. 375 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,160 Speaker 1: All right, Well, let's talk about n f T s. 376 00:16:26,200 --> 00:16:28,480 Speaker 1: I mean, of course, you know, being fully honest, the 377 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: n f T thing is getting a little out of control. 378 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,040 Speaker 1: It seems like when fast food chains list thirty taco 379 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 1: gifts and they sell out in twenty five minutes. You've 380 00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: likely seen a lot in the press this week too 381 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: about n f t s non fungible tokens. So Matt 382 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: and I want to take a second to briefly explain 383 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: what they are and kind of like what your response 384 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: should be as you're seeing the proliferation of n f 385 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:50,720 Speaker 1: t s basically all over the place. Essentially, n f 386 00:16:50,760 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: t s guarantee the ownership of a digital asset using 387 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: blockchain technology. Once you purchase an n f T, say 388 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:00,440 Speaker 1: you buy one of those sweet Taco bell gifts not 389 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: high on my list, but that exchange lives on the 390 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:06,679 Speaker 1: blockchain forever. It's viewable to to everyone, and there's no 391 00:17:06,720 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: central authority who has controlled over that information, so that 392 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,479 Speaker 1: essentially certifies your ownership that's right. Yeah, I mean, and 393 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: that's one of the benefits of cryptocurrencies as well. Like 394 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,600 Speaker 1: people who are huge proponents of it, like they like 395 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: the fact that has decentralized. They like that there's transparency 396 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:23,600 Speaker 1: that is secure. Right. But when it comes to these 397 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: n f t s, I think like one of the 398 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:27,959 Speaker 1: simplest ways to maybe think about them is as like 399 00:17:28,040 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: digital trading cards. That's a big reason why n f 400 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: t s have taken off in the sports industry. H 401 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: Rob Gronkowski, he's selling n f t s of his 402 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:40,159 Speaker 1: top Super Bowl moments. Uh, you can buy those starting 403 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:44,720 Speaker 1: yesterday at yes Gronk n FT dot com. I got 404 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:49,040 Speaker 1: a bookmark now, So yeah, there are pretty cool cards. 405 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:50,080 Speaker 1: I was looking at them. You know, they've got the 406 00:17:50,119 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: graphics on there and stuff like that. But uh, you know, 407 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,119 Speaker 1: the the n f t s like they're not just 408 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: static cards either, you know, like they're not just pictures 409 00:17:56,960 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: like sometimes their gifts of tacos like we're talking about here, 410 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 1: or like video highlights as well. The NBA's Top Shots 411 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: has been really popular. Uh, and they're basically videos of 412 00:18:06,280 --> 00:18:09,360 Speaker 1: of these great plays in NBA history. They've generated over 413 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,679 Speaker 1: Twitter and thirty million dollars in gross sales, and that 414 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: was even just of a of a couple of weeks ago. 415 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 1: It's probably like double that at this point, probably because 416 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:17,919 Speaker 1: it's a fast moving movement to buy these n f 417 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: T s and invest in that way, and um yeah, 418 00:18:20,400 --> 00:18:23,399 Speaker 1: you can basically turn it any digital asset into an 419 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,199 Speaker 1: n f T. Jack Dorsey has his first tweet up 420 00:18:26,240 --> 00:18:28,359 Speaker 1: for bits and it's currently sitting north of two and 421 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: a half million dollars. The winner of the auction for 422 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: Dorsey's tweet will receive a digital certificate of the tweet. 423 00:18:34,560 --> 00:18:37,479 Speaker 1: It's unique because it's been signed and verified by the creator, 424 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,000 Speaker 1: yet the tweet still lives on the Internet where anybody 425 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: can see it at any time. N f T s 426 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: are there. They're an interesting space and it's something that 427 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 1: we're gonna keep an eye on. Two. But investing in 428 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: these tokens is highly speculative. Right now. The chances that 429 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 1: you're nineen cat n f T will increase in value. 430 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:55,679 Speaker 1: You might purchase that thing. I think it's sold for 431 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,120 Speaker 1: like six K, and you know, a couple of months 432 00:18:58,119 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: from now it might be worth a million dollars. Who know. 433 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:03,400 Speaker 1: But we're waiting into new territory here, and so yeah, 434 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,600 Speaker 1: it does behoove any of our listeners who are like 435 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:08,560 Speaker 1: fascinated by the space, you know, maybe stay fascinated, but 436 00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:10,800 Speaker 1: maybe don't put your money there. Yes, know that it 437 00:19:10,880 --> 00:19:14,120 Speaker 1: is highly speculative at this point. Uh, it almost seems 438 00:19:14,119 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: like there's kind of like a larger problem just around 439 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,040 Speaker 1: how people are viewing investments these days, because you know, 440 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: like outside of the digital realm, Like it seems that 441 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 1: least like quote unquote investments are everywhere, you know, in 442 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,440 Speaker 1: real life, like everything from like easies another limited sneakers 443 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:29,680 Speaker 1: to just original like you know, o G. Cardboard sports 444 00:19:29,680 --> 00:19:32,240 Speaker 1: cards right, like trading cards like those are really hot 445 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: right now. It kind of like takes me back to 446 00:19:34,040 --> 00:19:36,760 Speaker 1: my childhood. I need to go back and kind of 447 00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 1: look at some of those complete sets that you know 448 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: that I got back in eight and ninety. Wants money, 449 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:44,640 Speaker 1: I'm sitting on school cards? Uh, Like Yeah, I saw 450 00:19:44,800 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: Michael Jordan rookie card recently sold for eight hundred thousand dollars. Uh, 451 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,120 Speaker 1: Mickey Mantel baseball card I think broke the all time 452 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,120 Speaker 1: records selling for like over five million dollars. Dude, so crazy. 453 00:19:55,240 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 1: But with with blockchain technology has changed the game. Digital 454 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:00,760 Speaker 1: cards are now hitting the big time, and it seems 455 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,359 Speaker 1: like it's it's something that is becoming even more accessible 456 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: to people. You don't even have to go to the 457 00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: store and buy a pack of cards. It's something that 458 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:08,600 Speaker 1: you can just you know, do on your phone, which 459 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: is crazy. Yeah, and Matt and I it's it's not 460 00:20:10,880 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: really our jam to knock what other people spend their 461 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: money on. Like we all kind of have our craft 462 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:17,919 Speaker 1: beer equivalent. We have the things that we enjoy, you know, 463 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:20,320 Speaker 1: sinking some of our funds in while we're investing and 464 00:20:20,359 --> 00:20:22,520 Speaker 1: saving for the future. But it's important, I think, to 465 00:20:22,520 --> 00:20:25,760 Speaker 1: look back on similar instances of investment in Mania and 466 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:28,919 Speaker 1: we can see what the likely outcome will be for 467 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: a lot of these quote unquote investments. Tulip Mania in 468 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:35,400 Speaker 1: the six hundreds, you know in Amsterdam, where the price 469 00:20:35,440 --> 00:20:39,520 Speaker 1: of tulips drove up quickly and then fell just as quickly. Right, 470 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 1: beanie babies in the nineties, that was a similar instance 471 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: where people were willing to pay hundreds and then thousands 472 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:47,959 Speaker 1: of dollars for certain specific beanie babies, and while they 473 00:20:48,000 --> 00:20:50,920 Speaker 1: waited in long lines, right exactly, and then the price 474 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 1: crashed shortly thereafter, and people had spent tons of money 475 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:56,960 Speaker 1: on something that was cuddly but worthless, you know. And uh, 476 00:20:57,320 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: it's also too okay to like a pair of sneakers 477 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: or to buy basketball cards, even digital ones. But make 478 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: sure that you're buying any n f T mainly because 479 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: it's something you love or because you want to support 480 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 1: that athlete or artist. If you want that Gronkowski super 481 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:12,560 Speaker 1: Bowl moment n f T, that's fine. And to own 482 00:21:12,600 --> 00:21:14,919 Speaker 1: that if you have the money is isn't a problem 483 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:17,440 Speaker 1: in our book. But if you're buying it thinking that 484 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,320 Speaker 1: it's gonna make you rich because it's gonna massively increase 485 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,320 Speaker 1: in value, um, that's where you're gonna want to tread lightly. Yeah, 486 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,399 Speaker 1: you know, like we like this general idea of n 487 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: f T s, right, you know, like the concept of 488 00:21:27,040 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: digital ownership of something that could previously like just be 489 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,440 Speaker 1: copied or passed off as the original. Like that's a 490 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: legit concept. You know, it's a great idea. Uh, it'll 491 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 1: just be interesting to see where non fungible tokens takes us, 492 00:21:38,040 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 1: you know. But like you said, you know that like 493 00:21:39,280 --> 00:21:41,919 Speaker 1: the scary part is when individuals are throwing money at 494 00:21:42,000 --> 00:21:45,359 Speaker 1: quote unquote investments, expecting them to grow quickly, hoping to 495 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: get rich quick when you know, we just have no 496 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:49,840 Speaker 1: idea where things are gonna end up. So right now, 497 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:51,920 Speaker 1: what we'd recommend is to only put money towards n 498 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 1: f T s that you are willing to lose. Yeah, 499 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:55,879 Speaker 1: and I'm sure this isn't gonna be the last time 500 00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: we talked about n f T s DOTA. It's an 501 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:00,920 Speaker 1: interesting space, but Matt, let's move on. And Uh, there 502 00:22:00,920 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: were some good news in the world of credit reporting 503 00:22:03,320 --> 00:22:06,880 Speaker 1: this week. Uh, you can now check your credit reports 504 00:22:06,920 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: every week for free through April of next year. From 505 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,600 Speaker 1: next year, yeah, which is which is great news for 506 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: credit nerds. That was supposed to sunset April of this year. 507 00:22:14,880 --> 00:22:17,040 Speaker 1: It's been extended another year. And we would love to 508 00:22:17,040 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: see this become the norm for people to be able 509 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:20,959 Speaker 1: to check their credit report as often as they like 510 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 1: without paying any money. Um. The inability of consumers to 511 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,680 Speaker 1: have access to the credit dossier that private companies are 512 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,480 Speaker 1: building on us is hopefully becoming a thing of the past, 513 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:33,400 Speaker 1: but at least for now, it's far easier to stay 514 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: on top of what's in your credit report take advantage 515 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 1: of that, you know, check your credit reports. I mean, 516 00:22:38,200 --> 00:22:40,000 Speaker 1: if you're doing it every single week like you're you're 517 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:43,320 Speaker 1: probably maybe a little obsessed, right unless you're actually applying 518 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: for a mortgage or refinance or something like that and 519 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:48,359 Speaker 1: you need to stay on top of it consistently. But 520 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,200 Speaker 1: for the most part, being able to check that every 521 00:22:50,200 --> 00:22:52,080 Speaker 1: week at least is a good thing. Yeah. Actually, the 522 00:22:52,240 --> 00:22:54,080 Speaker 1: free weekly check him in handy for me recently because 523 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,320 Speaker 1: I did. I started receiving texts from a bank that 524 00:22:56,400 --> 00:22:59,200 Speaker 1: I did not open an account with, and initially I thought, Okay, 525 00:22:59,240 --> 00:23:00,879 Speaker 1: it's you know, some to got the wrong number. But 526 00:23:00,920 --> 00:23:02,439 Speaker 1: I kept getting these texts and so it kind of 527 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:03,919 Speaker 1: made me freak out a little bit of a thought. Man, 528 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: I didn't make sure that there's not a fraudulent account 529 00:23:06,600 --> 00:23:08,480 Speaker 1: that had been opened up in my name, logged in 530 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,880 Speaker 1: there and got all three reports. I checked it. Nothing 531 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: but good news there. So yeah, and I would I 532 00:23:13,359 --> 00:23:15,320 Speaker 1: think I would have felt a little. I would have 533 00:23:15,359 --> 00:23:17,560 Speaker 1: been hesitant. I guess if all three weren't free every 534 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:19,480 Speaker 1: week for me to go in there and check all three, 535 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:22,480 Speaker 1: I would have maybe gone into one. Uh. And then yeah, 536 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:24,320 Speaker 1: I would have because before we were only allowed it 537 00:23:24,359 --> 00:23:27,160 Speaker 1: once a year, which I would have definitely pumped the brakes, 538 00:23:27,160 --> 00:23:28,720 Speaker 1: but it was nice to deally go in there get 539 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:30,400 Speaker 1: all three and to be able to know that there 540 00:23:30,440 --> 00:23:33,280 Speaker 1: wasn't anything anything fishy going on. Well, while we're talking 541 00:23:33,320 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: about credit reports, Matt, let's talk about credit cards too. 542 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,240 Speaker 1: We've talked before on the show about the lesser known 543 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: credit card benefits that are out there, features like free 544 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:45,359 Speaker 1: check luggage, free roadside assistance, insurance on your cell phone. 545 00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,400 Speaker 1: But it turns out that more and more of these 546 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 1: benefits are being discontinued. So that was an episode we 547 00:23:51,200 --> 00:23:52,920 Speaker 1: released I don't know, like two and a half years ago, Matt, 548 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:55,119 Speaker 1: and I guarantee you a lot of that information is 549 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: now actually incorrect because credit cards have been changing the 550 00:23:58,600 --> 00:24:00,880 Speaker 1: way they do business. And it started, yeah, a few 551 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 1: years back with Discover, and more card issuers started following suit. 552 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:07,240 Speaker 1: The most recent card to drop some of those perks 553 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 1: my beloved Fidelity Rewards Visa Card. I know, beginning April first, 554 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:15,160 Speaker 1: the collision damage waiver and extended warranty production are no 555 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:17,679 Speaker 1: longer going to be benefits they offer. It's just a 556 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,240 Speaker 1: reminder to, you know, pay attention to the notices that 557 00:24:20,240 --> 00:24:22,240 Speaker 1: are sent to you in the mail from your credit 558 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:25,600 Speaker 1: card company and change your spending accordingly. Right, I'm gonna 559 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:29,640 Speaker 1: use another credit card now to book a rental car. Uh. 560 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 1: No longer will I be using my Fidelity Rewards Visa 561 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:34,560 Speaker 1: for that. Although still a great card, I'm just not 562 00:24:34,560 --> 00:24:37,120 Speaker 1: gonna use it for that specific purpose anymore. Yeah, that's right. Yeah, 563 00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:39,000 Speaker 1: that's a bummer, especially you know the fact that a 564 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 1: lot of cards aren't offering the CDW, right, that collision 565 00:24:41,880 --> 00:24:44,840 Speaker 1: damage waiver, which is you know, it's essentially that free 566 00:24:44,880 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: rental car insurance. You know, like that was a great benefit. 567 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,240 Speaker 1: But you know, like you mentioned, more cards are offering uh, 568 00:24:50,320 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: different benefits, things like that complimentary cell phone insurance. So 569 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:55,159 Speaker 1: like the way that works. You know, when you pay 570 00:24:55,200 --> 00:24:57,159 Speaker 1: your monthly cell phone bill with a card that offers 571 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:00,920 Speaker 1: this benefit, the coverage they offer will oftentime cover most 572 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: forms of damage and theft to your phone. Uh, You'll 573 00:25:04,480 --> 00:25:06,680 Speaker 1: you will have to pay a small deductible maybe around 574 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 1: twenty five or fifty bucks, but then that will cover 575 00:25:09,080 --> 00:25:12,399 Speaker 1: you anywhere from six hundred to sixteen hundred dollars. But 576 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 1: that means that you know, maybe try to avoid buying 577 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:17,040 Speaker 1: the sixteen hundred dollar phone to begin with. I don't 578 00:25:17,040 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 1: know if that's like inlaid with gold, Like that's just 579 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:21,720 Speaker 1: the crazy expensive phone. Uh. They do make some some 580 00:25:21,760 --> 00:25:24,080 Speaker 1: really nice ones that they cost a lot less than that. 581 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: But we'll make sure to link to a couple of 582 00:25:26,040 --> 00:25:28,199 Speaker 1: the cars inner show notes that do offer some of 583 00:25:28,200 --> 00:25:30,639 Speaker 1: that nice cell phone coverage protection. Yeah. I can't imagine 584 00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:33,639 Speaker 1: any of our listeners buying a phone. I guess I 585 00:25:33,640 --> 00:25:36,879 Speaker 1: mean the newer, nicer iPhones are like, which is you're 586 00:25:36,880 --> 00:25:39,439 Speaker 1: getting kind of close with that's pretty expensive. All right, Well, 587 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 1: that's gonna do it for today's episode for folks who 588 00:25:42,119 --> 00:25:43,600 Speaker 1: want the show notes and they want to see the 589 00:25:43,640 --> 00:25:45,760 Speaker 1: links from everything we mentioned today, while those are gonna 590 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 1: be up on our website at howth to money dot com. 591 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:50,560 Speaker 1: Don't forget to enter the Radar Bookshelf giveaway. All you 592 00:25:50,560 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 1: gotta do is send that screenshot of your review or 593 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:55,680 Speaker 1: your user name over to us at how to Money 594 00:25:55,720 --> 00:25:58,120 Speaker 1: pod at gmail dot com and do so by next 595 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,760 Speaker 1: Wednesday afternoon. We'll announce the winners on next Friday show. 596 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,800 Speaker 1: That's right, and we hope everyone has a great weekend. 597 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:04,600 Speaker 1: We will see you back here on Monday. We've got 598 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 1: a great interview lined up. You're gonna hear from Sean mulaney. 599 00:26:07,320 --> 00:26:09,600 Speaker 1: We're gonna dive into taxes and so if that's something 600 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:11,840 Speaker 1: you you haven't taken care of yet, this is gonna 601 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:13,439 Speaker 1: be a great episode for you. And even if you 602 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:15,640 Speaker 1: have filed your taxes, this is gonna be a really 603 00:26:15,680 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 1: important one for for everyone out there. So Joel, that's 604 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:19,320 Speaker 1: gonna be it for this episode. Man. Until next time, 605 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: best Friends Out, Best Friends Out.