1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,520 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I and 2 00:00:02,640 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Matt's and today or discussing getting paid to vaccinate, generous 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:08,360 Speaker 1: return policies, and the best jobs to pay over a 4 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: hundred thousand dollars. And that's right, Joel, this is our 5 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: Friday Flight episode. And before we get to our sampling 6 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: of news stories that we came across this week that 7 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,599 Speaker 1: we thought were interesting, I wanted to talk about coffee. 8 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,640 Speaker 1: So you do like coffee? I do. I also like coffee. 9 00:00:40,680 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: Dude who doesn't like coffee? You know, It's just like 10 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: one of those things. It's like, like do you like air? 11 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: It's like, yeah, of course I do. Uh So this 12 00:00:46,159 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: past Wednesday we talked about some of the big money 13 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: moves that we can make in our lives that a 14 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 1: lot of people are probably overlooking, right, We kind of 15 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: discounted a lot of those smaller money moves that you 16 00:00:55,200 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: can make, like skipping out on the you know, the 17 00:00:57,280 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: avocad of toasts. We we kind of pointed at out 18 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: coffee as well. And the thing is, by the way, 19 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: I saw a brilliant tweet something like how Elon Musk 20 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: got so rich he didn't drink those forty four billion 21 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: lattes or something like that. So it just kind of 22 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:14,320 Speaker 1: discounting the idea that you actually get rich by like, oh, yeah, 23 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:18,200 Speaker 1: that's that's exactly how you And now look at lunch money. Yes, 24 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: but well, I mean, of course you can save a 25 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: little bit of money, right, like you can save some 26 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: money here there. But if you want to make a 27 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: big impact in your life, like you gotta do something else. 28 00:01:25,280 --> 00:01:27,680 Speaker 1: You gotta look at some of the big ticket items. 29 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 1: And so this is another argument in favor of spending 30 00:01:30,480 --> 00:01:33,559 Speaker 1: money on the coffee, right, Okay, And so for years 31 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: now we've been drinking the Audi coffee. It's been perfectly 32 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:38,959 Speaker 1: fine for us. But for whatever reason, lately, Katon I've 33 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: just kind of been like, you know, this doesn't really 34 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: taste all that great, like something more out of life. Yeah. 35 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: I don't know what it is. I don't know if 36 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: it's just the kind we're getting, or if it was 37 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: inconsistent or what. And so the next time that Kate 38 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:52,720 Speaker 1: was at the International Farmers Market here in Atlanta, she 39 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: picked up a pound of an Ethiopian blend. Uh, and 40 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: we've been enjoying that recently, and dang, it's really good. 41 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: We're really in joying it. But then again, I also 42 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: wonder is it in my head? Because up until now 43 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: we've really enjoyed the Audi coffee, right, I mean, we've 44 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:08,400 Speaker 1: got the burg grinder, we've got our technique down. We 45 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: you know, measure the water and the temperature, and we 46 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: do all that kind of stuff. We're kind of coffee snobs, 47 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: but we do it with cheap coffee. But now that 48 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,160 Speaker 1: I'm spending twice as much on coffee, now it should 49 00:02:21,160 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: have double the flavor, right, And like I get the 50 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: real sort of moral of the story here that I 51 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: wanted to share is that, you know, if there's something 52 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,880 Speaker 1: that you value, uh, spend money on it. Right. If 53 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:33,079 Speaker 1: there's something like coffee that you're gonna touch every day, 54 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:35,240 Speaker 1: like maybe you're really into your coffee, your morning coffee 55 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: ritual that you do every single day. Right, if it's 56 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: something that you value, don't swept the small stuff, you know, 57 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: instead focus on those larger things like we talked about 58 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: on Wednesday's episode. Uh in particular, when these dude, these 59 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: are these smaller expenses that have like an outsized impact 60 00:02:49,080 --> 00:02:50,800 Speaker 1: on on how we view life. We get a lot 61 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 1: of value from these things in relation to the amount 62 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,720 Speaker 1: of money that we could spend on them. And so 63 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,240 Speaker 1: for a lot of people that you know, that might 64 00:02:57,280 --> 00:02:59,080 Speaker 1: be coffee. But I guess I want to encourage folks 65 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: to think through what it is in their life that 66 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: they really, you know, find a lot of pleasure and 67 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: that that gives them a lot of joy, and make 68 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: sure that those aren't things that you're you're cutting from 69 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:10,360 Speaker 1: your life to to where it feels like you're just 70 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: not having any more fun, right, Yeah, And I think 71 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,640 Speaker 1: you're right, there's like a huge difference between you going 72 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: from you know, five dollar pound coffee at all the 73 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: ten dollar pound coffee. That's one small leap, but a 74 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 1: big leap is getting coffee out every single day exactly. 75 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,359 Speaker 1: And so yeah, I think especially if there are things 76 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: that you can do at your house, whether like I 77 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: don't know, for my wife, getting a little bit nicer 78 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,200 Speaker 1: shampoo is really important to her. And really what does 79 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,560 Speaker 1: that actually cost us? I mean the bottle maybe cost 80 00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 1: I don't know, twelve fourteen dollars versus of like, so 81 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: it's like ten bucks more what maybe a month or 82 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: every two months, it's probably every two months something like that. Yeah, 83 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: And and so when you think about it like that 84 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: it's pretty minuscule, but it makes a big difference in 85 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 1: her life. And so I think, just like your coffee thing, 86 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:55,320 Speaker 1: if there are small ways that you can turn up 87 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 1: the dial on things that that you touch every day, 88 00:03:57,560 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: that they're gonna make a big difference in how you 89 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: feel about being able to cut back on some of 90 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: the big items. I think sometimes being able to upgrade 91 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: on the little stuff can can give you the gusto 92 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: to be able to continue to hack at the big stuff. Yeah, 93 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: it makes it feel like that we live in a 94 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: luxurious household. We've got the twelve dollar shampoo, not the 95 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: nine stuff. Yeah, it's it's those small tweaks. I feel 96 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 1: like it can affect us throughout the day even you know, 97 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: like if you're waking up and you're and you're really 98 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 1: mad at the fact that you're drinking the coffee that's 99 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,719 Speaker 1: only three dollars a pound, I feel like it shouldn't 100 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 1: influence how you view the rest of your day. But 101 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:30,880 Speaker 1: if it is, you know, maybe it's worth spending an 102 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:34,200 Speaker 1: extra ten, maybe fifteen bucks for the entire month in 103 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: order to have something that you're really excited to brew 104 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: every single morning, you know, for me. Maybe it's maybe 105 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: it's coffee. I don't know. I might end up going 106 00:04:39,880 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: back to the audi stuff. For Emily, your wife, it's 107 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: the shampoo. What is it for you? What's your little thing? 108 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: This isn't what your craft beer equivalent, because we spend 109 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 1: decent money on on craft beer. But do what do 110 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: you feel like is your your small thing that has 111 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,920 Speaker 1: an outsized impact on how it is that you maybe 112 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 1: view the world. Okay, I'll tell you what I want 113 00:04:56,920 --> 00:04:59,200 Speaker 1: it to be, but it's not right now, probably because 114 00:04:59,200 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: of COVID years, we've had like the best breakfast spot 115 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: in the world, you know, in the neighborhood where we live. 116 00:05:04,640 --> 00:05:06,920 Speaker 1: I know exactly what you're about to say, and like, 117 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: I honestly it's my goal to eat there at least 118 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 1: once a week. I want that to be kind of like, ah, 119 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: I want to be like a normal Yeah. I wanted 120 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: to be my cheers and um and so yeah, that 121 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:17,240 Speaker 1: that's something I'm looking forward to doing, like to making 122 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 1: that like a regular thing, whether it's with my wife 123 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: or my kids or just with a friend. Even maybe 124 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:24,839 Speaker 1: maybe if you're roll in there with a newspaper, you know, 125 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: like sit down. I feel like that's pretty class school. Yeah, 126 00:05:28,080 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: but that's like the thing that that I want to 127 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: be kind of my regular thing. Like how expensive is 128 00:05:31,800 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: it really to add in a ten twelve dollar breakfast, 129 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:35,800 Speaker 1: you know, once a week. Well I can tell you 130 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: how expensive that between dollars a month in your budget. 131 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: But but for me, that would move the needle in 132 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 1: a big way. And um, that was actually my goal 133 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:44,880 Speaker 1: last year. That was one of my just I don't 134 00:05:44,880 --> 00:05:46,920 Speaker 1: really make goals and resolutions, but that was like one 135 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 1: of two. And and uh that just kind of fell 136 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: apart because of COVID and um, and yeah, I'm hoping 137 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,680 Speaker 1: that in one is the vaccine rollouts continue, um, that 138 00:05:55,839 --> 00:05:57,920 Speaker 1: I will be able to to make that a regular thing. 139 00:05:57,960 --> 00:05:59,800 Speaker 1: That's gonna that's something that's gonna move the needle for me. 140 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,200 Speaker 1: Love it man. Yeah, if folks are wondering, it's homegrown. 141 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 1: Uh here in Atlanta. It's a nice little breakfast spot. 142 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,280 Speaker 1: I wonder if they have if they sell gift cards. Oh, 143 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: maybe they do, because if so, that would be great 144 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 1: way to support them. Now, maybe it's a small way 145 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: to help them to stay afloat. Until you can't get 146 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: in there, you don't have to go in like twice 147 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: a week though, to make up for it. What's hey, 148 00:06:17,240 --> 00:06:19,039 Speaker 1: you don't have to twist my arm. But all right, 149 00:06:19,120 --> 00:06:20,960 Speaker 1: let's get on to the Friday flight Matt stories. We've 150 00:06:21,000 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: on interesting this week, by the way, speaking of a 151 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:26,880 Speaker 1: COVID vaccine, people getting paid to get vaccinated against COVID? 152 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: Is that a thing now? Kind of Actually it is. 153 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,880 Speaker 1: And there have been talks about the government incentivizing people 154 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: to get shots um and pay them money to do so, 155 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,679 Speaker 1: or even private companies are they going to pay workers 156 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,040 Speaker 1: to go get a vaccine in order to get the 157 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: population of our country vaccinating more quickly. Well, the first 158 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: signs of people being paid to to get vaccinated are 159 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 1: out there now. It turns out, Matt. The first company 160 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,680 Speaker 1: that at least I've seen doing this Dollar General. Yeah, 161 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: workers at Dollar General are going to be paid for 162 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 1: four hours worth of work just to go and get vaccinated. 163 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 1: So I think that's kind of cool. It's a move 164 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: in the right direction and efforts to get a high 165 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:01,200 Speaker 1: level of people in our count the vaccinating quickly. Yeah, 166 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: and it's actually good that they are paying for four 167 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:05,679 Speaker 1: hours with the work. Is actually a neighbor posted recently 168 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,840 Speaker 1: that they went and got their first vaccine shot at 169 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: the Bends Are Big Stadium here in Atlanta. And she 170 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: said it did take about four hours, all right, She 171 00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 1: was out the door at one thirty. It wasn't until 172 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:18,760 Speaker 1: after five that she got back. But uh, hopefully those 173 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: things ramp up soon. But I do think this is 174 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: a good tactic though, to pay individuals. You know, a 175 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: little extra cash in your pocket could be um, you know, 176 00:07:24,880 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: the perfect motivation to make things happen. And it makes 177 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 1: sense too from a business standpoint, like if you are 178 00:07:29,880 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: Dollar General, this makes a ton of sense because having 179 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: more vaccinated workers means higher levels of safety and productivity 180 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: for everyone. You don't how folks got sick. You have 181 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: stuff happening, the store is open. Uh. And this is 182 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:42,920 Speaker 1: good too, obviously for the general public who shops in 183 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: those stores. I think this is a great carrot to 184 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,480 Speaker 1: dangle in front of the employees. Were YouTube own your 185 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: own business, Yeah, no doubt. All right, let's talk another 186 00:07:51,120 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: story we saw this week. The price of cell phone 187 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: planes has dropped precipitously over the last decade. It turns 188 00:07:56,600 --> 00:07:59,600 Speaker 1: out the average cost of a monthly service on a 189 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: cellphone plan has dropped by average of according to the 190 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: Tax Foundation. Yet still the average cell phone bill is 191 00:08:06,840 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: over one a month, which was stunning to me, Like 192 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: I would have had seventy or eighty bucks a month, 193 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: but over a hundred dollars a month per person for 194 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: a cell phone bill every month. And and that's partly too, 195 00:08:19,760 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: the Tax Foundation found because taxes have skyrocketed on many 196 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,640 Speaker 1: cell phone plans in the same time period, which has 197 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:29,000 Speaker 1: muted some of the savings that people were starting to see. Uh. 198 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,720 Speaker 1: It turns out the taxes, fees, and searcharges makeup over 199 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:34,360 Speaker 1: of the average bill, which is kind of crazy. It's 200 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 1: a big old cut man. So what should folks do 201 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:39,400 Speaker 1: about it? You could stick with your current you know, 202 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: cellphone company and hope that they gradually lower your bill, 203 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:43,679 Speaker 1: you know, in the coming years, which they might do. 204 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: As the space has gotten more competitive some of the 205 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: big names they've had to respond and they've had to 206 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:51,079 Speaker 1: lower the prices to compete. Man. But the best thing 207 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: to do is to actively shop for a new wireless 208 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:57,080 Speaker 1: provider that offers lower rates, uh and very similar service. 209 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: We talked about m v n o s, which are 210 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: virtual network operators. We talked about them a good bit 211 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: so you know, we're not gonna hang out on this 212 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:06,959 Speaker 1: point for for too long, but you can check out 213 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: an article that Jill wrote over at how to money 214 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 1: dot com about the best low cost wireless providers that 215 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,240 Speaker 1: can definitely be a way that you can save money 216 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:18,000 Speaker 1: every month. Yeah, don't be a statistic. Don't be the 217 00:09:18,040 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: person spending way too much on on cell phones bucks Man. 218 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: That's terrible, hunter bucks Man. A lot of our listeners 219 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,280 Speaker 1: are are doing the monthly cell phone thing for fifteen 220 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 1: to twenty max like thirty bucks a month, um. And 221 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:29,800 Speaker 1: I see it in our Facebook group all the time, 222 00:09:29,840 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: people chatting about saving big money on their cell phone bill. Um. 223 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: You and I've been doing that for a long time too. 224 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: So I still think back to several years ago when 225 00:09:36,480 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: we had like ten people on our friends and Family 226 00:09:38,520 --> 00:09:41,440 Speaker 1: plan and for that first year, Man, what we we 227 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:43,320 Speaker 1: got our our plan down to like six dollars and 228 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: fifty cents per person? It was I'm pretty sure man, 229 00:09:46,559 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: it was really low. We I think we jumped on 230 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: some sort of promotion that they had going on. We 231 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: had maxed out all of our spots, so the price 232 00:09:53,080 --> 00:09:54,760 Speaker 1: was super low, and that you were working some sort 233 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,560 Speaker 1: of employee discount as well. That's right, that's right, like 234 00:09:57,600 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 1: all those things combined. Uh, there was nobody else in 235 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:03,280 Speaker 1: the entire country paying as little as we were for 236 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:06,000 Speaker 1: cell phone service. And back then, I'm sure the average 237 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:08,760 Speaker 1: plan was like bucks. And I know we're paying under 238 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,160 Speaker 1: tin bucks per line, which was amazing. We we had 239 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,319 Speaker 1: a deal back then. It was a lot of work. 240 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 1: Only it doesn't exist anymore, but it was pretty sweet, 241 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,080 Speaker 1: well lasted. I'm happy with fifteen bucks a months. Yeah, 242 00:10:18,120 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: me too, Right now, me too? With no work. I'll 243 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: take it all. Right, Let's get to some more stories. 244 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 1: Some of the bigger retailers now are handling returns a 245 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: bit differently these days. The Wall Street Journal published an 246 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,160 Speaker 1: article detailing how Walmart in Amazon or letting you keep 247 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,440 Speaker 1: certain items that you're trying to return and giving you 248 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,520 Speaker 1: money back at the same time. This is typically not 249 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: the case for everything you order, but but for cheaper 250 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,480 Speaker 1: items um specifically that are kind of cost prohibitive to 251 00:10:43,520 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: ship back to the retailer. I can provide some anecdotal 252 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,960 Speaker 1: evidence here, Matt, because over the holidays we had this 253 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 1: happened within Amazon return that we attempted. We had ordered 254 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: some like star neon Christmas light. It was like thirteen 255 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: bucks or something like that. We attempted to return it 256 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: and they gave us our money back and they were like, 257 00:11:00,120 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: but keep the item anyway, And so I think we 258 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 1: ended up giving that to my mother in law family's 259 00:11:05,200 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 1: mom and it looked great in her army. I think 260 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,439 Speaker 1: I read that it costs like around ten dollars on 261 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:13,800 Speaker 1: average to process a return, and so I guess any 262 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: if you're close to that, they're just like, it's not 263 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:17,680 Speaker 1: even worth it, just hang onto it. I would have 264 00:11:17,720 --> 00:11:18,839 Speaker 1: liked to have seen it up in the r V 265 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,520 Speaker 1: though I'm sure it was cute. It looked good, But yeah, 266 00:11:21,559 --> 00:11:24,120 Speaker 1: I mean returns, they're gonna remain I think a major 267 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:26,959 Speaker 1: problem for online retailers, costing them a lot of money. 268 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,280 Speaker 1: You know, uh, given the story we just cover, that's 269 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: pretty obvious. Giving away products were free, Like, that's not 270 00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:35,840 Speaker 1: gonna be a great recipe for for business success. And 271 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,840 Speaker 1: on top of that, man roughly thirty of items ordered 272 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:42,320 Speaker 1: online are returns, and so online retailers have their work 273 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 1: cut out for them to bring those numbers lower. In 274 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:47,840 Speaker 1: addition to that, to another compounding effect is that sixty 275 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: of customers are what's called bracketing, Is that so it's 276 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: actually it's it's a photography term. And uh so, typically 277 00:11:55,200 --> 00:11:58,200 Speaker 1: when you bracket, when you take pictures, it takes like 278 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,480 Speaker 1: three shots and they're different exposures, and so you have 279 00:12:01,480 --> 00:12:04,240 Speaker 1: one that's slightly under exposed, you have one at exposure, 280 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:06,720 Speaker 1: and then you take one slightly over exposure. Back in 281 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 1: the film days, it was a way to make sure 282 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,520 Speaker 1: that you nailed the shot regardless of your settings, like 283 00:12:11,559 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: sports photographers and wildlife photographers would brack it. But now 284 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 1: you can apply it to shopping and so that's where 285 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 1: customers will intentionally buy multiple items in different sizes and colors, 286 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:25,320 Speaker 1: try them on, and then return the rest. You know, 287 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: it makes sense that this is happening more because going 288 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 1: into a store to try things on, that's certainly become 289 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 1: less appealing, and folks have gotten used to the ease 290 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: of ordering from home. Yeah, and great for the customer, right, 291 00:12:35,840 --> 00:12:38,520 Speaker 1: it feels nice, but at the same time really awful 292 00:12:38,559 --> 00:12:41,040 Speaker 1: for the retailer who's having to process tons of returns 293 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,280 Speaker 1: that and that gets pretty costly for them. Yeah, it's 294 00:12:43,320 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: I mean, it's bad in multiple ways though, honestly, Yeah, yeah, right, Yeah, 295 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 1: because some retailers are suggesting that you donate items who 296 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: didn't work for you, uh, that they don't want back, right, 297 00:12:51,480 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: the items that they're telling you to keep, they're just 298 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,760 Speaker 1: asking you to donate it somewhere. And if you attempt 299 00:12:55,760 --> 00:12:57,599 Speaker 1: to return and are told to keep it, Matt and 300 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 1: I we would suggest don't trash it donated or or 301 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 1: your local buy nothing group. Maybe somebody there um is 302 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: going to be interested in that. That That could be the 303 00:13:04,640 --> 00:13:07,080 Speaker 1: perfect place to toss it up for grabs. Also too, 304 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: it's just important to note be careful what you order 305 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,080 Speaker 1: because doing this thing bracketing um and now I know 306 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: exactly why it's called that. Thank you Matt for the explanation, 307 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,760 Speaker 1: But it contributes to to landfill waste in a big way. 308 00:13:19,200 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: And it can be nice from a consumer perspective, but 309 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:24,600 Speaker 1: it's not great for the environment. And so in particular. Actually, 310 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:26,800 Speaker 1: one thing you can do if you do like to 311 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 1: order multiple things, try them on at home and then 312 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: make the return is if you can drop it off 313 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: back in an actual physical retail location, that is going 314 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 1: to cut down on the costs of the return for 315 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:39,760 Speaker 1: the retailer. UM. And so that's one way at least 316 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,320 Speaker 1: to kind of maybe make something that's kind of bad 317 00:13:42,400 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: not as bad. Yeah, let's let's talk about cars. Uh. 318 00:13:45,120 --> 00:13:47,840 Speaker 1: It turns out this weekend is the time to buy 319 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,680 Speaker 1: used cars, and this is according to data from I 320 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,760 Speaker 1: see cars dot com. You're going car shopping this weekend? 321 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:55,640 Speaker 1: I am not. We're going to keep our van until 322 00:13:55,679 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 1: we drive it into the ground. Literally, I don't think. 323 00:13:58,040 --> 00:13:59,800 Speaker 1: I mean the next vehicle we own maybe being a 324 00:13:59,840 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: le vehicle, but it's also gonna have to, you know, 325 00:14:02,080 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: drive like a thousand miles. I don't know the rate 326 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: you're going. You might get something that's got like wings 327 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: and stuff and it starts flying off in this guy. 328 00:14:08,120 --> 00:14:11,599 Speaker 1: We'll see. Uh. So MLK JR Day weekend this is 329 00:14:11,640 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: the time when used car prices are at their best. 330 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: And that's probably because more trade in vehicles hit the 331 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:18,600 Speaker 1: market at the end of the year and finally make 332 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,640 Speaker 1: their way into the for sale market right about now. 333 00:14:20,920 --> 00:14:23,600 Speaker 1: And also you're more likely to pay a lower price 334 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,120 Speaker 1: when buying a car during the week as opposed to 335 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: on a Saturday or Sunday. So literally on Monday, uh, 336 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: that should be when when you can score the absolute 337 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:34,000 Speaker 1: best deal. Uh. You know it's not a massive difference, 338 00:14:34,000 --> 00:14:36,640 Speaker 1: but it does make sense. Uh, car lots are busier 339 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 1: on the weekends and and so there's there's less of 340 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:40,680 Speaker 1: a need to be flexible on price. So if you 341 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 1: were planning to maybe purchase a used vehicle this weekend, 342 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: look to Monday for the best deal. Yeah, that's the 343 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: best thing I've heard about Mondays in quite a while, Matts. 344 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: Thanks for that. By the way, to on the car note, 345 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,000 Speaker 1: CarMax actually just announced that they've extended the length of 346 00:14:54,040 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: their money back guarantee that they offer when you buy 347 00:14:56,520 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: a used car. CarMax sells more used cars in nation 348 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: and why than any other retailer, by the way, but 349 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:05,440 Speaker 1: now when you buy something via CarMax, you have thirty 350 00:15:05,480 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: full days to decide whether or not you like the 351 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: car that you've purchased. You can put up to fifteen 352 00:15:10,160 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: hundred miles on that bad boy and still take it 353 00:15:13,400 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 1: back for a full refund. Yeah. So, I mean you 354 00:15:16,600 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: can take your camera off roading like and do a 355 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: bunch of stuff and then take it back and be like, 356 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: not for me roading, but just drive it somewhere for 357 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:26,680 Speaker 1: a really long time. But you can do yes, you 358 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: can do that and and for literally a month, which 359 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: is pretty cool. That obviously gives them a leg up 360 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,600 Speaker 1: on Carbona, who who has a seven day no questions 361 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: asked return policy, which is still solid, but it's not 362 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: nearly as compelling now as the CarMax money back guarantee. UM, 363 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: so that's cool too, that you know when you're deciding 364 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,240 Speaker 1: where you want to buy from. Uh, CarMax and Carbona 365 00:15:44,320 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: are two good choices if you're in particular, if you're 366 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: avoiding buying directly from an individual, which is typically where 367 00:15:49,720 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: you get the best deal. But now with CarMax, you 368 00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: have a long time to kind of get used to 369 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: the car and get it checked out by a mechanic 370 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,760 Speaker 1: and see whether you actually like it or not before 371 00:15:57,840 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: deciding that you're all in and you're gonna keep it. 372 00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: Years ago, man, the four mile window that Carvona had, 373 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: I thought that was great, but fift miles is kind 374 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:07,840 Speaker 1: of ridiculous. I looked it up on on Google Maps. 375 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,480 Speaker 1: That means you could drive from Atlanta to Chicago and 376 00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: back and still have miles on the odometer to potentially 377 00:16:14,240 --> 00:16:17,440 Speaker 1: make a return if you were that kind of person. Yeah, 378 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: I mean, I guess that's why they're doing it because 379 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: they know that people probably aren't actually going to do that. 380 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 1: That would probably put you in the category of being cheap. 381 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: But uh, but it's still pretty amazing that you know, 382 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,920 Speaker 1: you you would have that piece of mind were you 383 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:34,400 Speaker 1: to buy a car from CarMax. I think that's pretty great. 384 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 1: All Right, man, We've got a few more stories that 385 00:16:36,160 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: we're going to get to, including the number one job 386 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,320 Speaker 1: that pays over a hundred thousand dollars. We'll get to 387 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,440 Speaker 1: that story, plus a few others right after this break. 388 00:16:51,560 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: All right, let's keep going. It's Friday flight day and 389 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: there are a lot of financial stories to cover, and 390 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,480 Speaker 1: many of them pertain to your wallet and how you 391 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:01,320 Speaker 1: should proceed with your own personal nances and matt uh, 392 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:03,720 Speaker 1: there's not many of more importance than this to some 393 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: of our listeners out there. Last week, you and I 394 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:08,600 Speaker 1: we we talked about the unfortunate situation that many people 395 00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: who filed with one of the major tax prep services 396 00:17:11,320 --> 00:17:14,280 Speaker 1: found themselves in. They weren't able to receive their stimulus funds, 397 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,679 Speaker 1: no money they were supposed to to get those but 398 00:17:16,840 --> 00:17:20,800 Speaker 1: they couldn't do to a glitch. But fortunately turbo taxation 399 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: are block and Jackson, he would are all working directly 400 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:25,199 Speaker 1: with the I R s in order to fix this 401 00:17:25,240 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: for customers and get that money into their accounts. TurboTax 402 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,439 Speaker 1: actually says that it's been able to deposit millions of 403 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:33,880 Speaker 1: stimulus payments in the customer accounts since last Friday. So 404 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,480 Speaker 1: if you are one of the people who did file 405 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: with one of the big tax prep companies and your 406 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: own stimulus money but you haven't received it yet, we'll 407 00:17:40,520 --> 00:17:42,360 Speaker 1: put some links in the show notes that should help 408 00:17:42,400 --> 00:17:44,960 Speaker 1: you know where to turn how to figure out where 409 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: your stimulus money is at. But that is good news 410 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: for a lot of people who thought they might have 411 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: to wait until they file their taxes and got a return. UM. 412 00:17:52,800 --> 00:17:54,719 Speaker 1: Some of these people won't have to and'll actually get 413 00:17:54,760 --> 00:17:56,920 Speaker 1: their money more quickly. All right, let's move on to 414 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: some career news, Joel. According to US News and World Report, UH, 415 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,680 Speaker 1: they have their list of the best jobs that pay 416 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 1: over a hundred thousand dollars, and it turns out, man, 417 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: that being a little little drum roll, you know, being 418 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:16,280 Speaker 1: a physician's assistant ranks number one UM for the last 419 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: three years. Software developers have been in the top spot, 420 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: but most of the top ranking jobs this year are 421 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,679 Speaker 1: all in the medical field. Uh SO nurse practitioners, physicians, 422 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:29,160 Speaker 1: and uh medical and health service managers made the top 423 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: five as well, and the study took into account you 424 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: know where the jobs will be in the coming decade, 425 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,679 Speaker 1: which is super helpful if you are thinking about the 426 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:39,359 Speaker 1: work that you want to pursue in the coming years. 427 00:18:39,760 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: And there's other benefits to man I think when it 428 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 1: comes to being a p A, right, Like there's the 429 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: obvious financial side of it, Like you're not gonna have 430 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:49,479 Speaker 1: to go hundreds of thousands of dollars into debt, you know, 431 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 1: to become a doctor. Obviously there's less time involved in 432 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:54,879 Speaker 1: becoming a p A over an m D. But being 433 00:18:54,920 --> 00:18:57,080 Speaker 1: a p A, you've got more control of your schedule, 434 00:18:57,160 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 1: you know, like you have the opportunity to like have 435 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:01,679 Speaker 1: an actual life all the A lot of the doctors 436 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,040 Speaker 1: I meet, like it's crazy demanding to be a doctor. 437 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:05,840 Speaker 1: We have a couple of friends who are p A 438 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 1: s uh and they love their work and they're just 439 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: able to like they still have that connection to the patients, 440 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:12,480 Speaker 1: to people, right, and like that's why they like doing 441 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: that type of work. They're able to actually help people, 442 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: and you can still do that when you're a p A. 443 00:19:16,119 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: Like that's like half the time when you go into 444 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:19,560 Speaker 1: the doctor, a lot, a lot of the routine stuff 445 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: is not being taken care of by a doctor. It's 446 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,480 Speaker 1: being taken care of by the p A there that's 447 00:19:24,480 --> 00:19:26,320 Speaker 1: on hand, or a nurse. And so I think these 448 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:28,760 Speaker 1: are all great reasons to consider being a p A 449 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:30,520 Speaker 1: instead of an m D. All Right, I feel like 450 00:19:30,520 --> 00:19:33,320 Speaker 1: you're you're pushing me in that direction. Maybe I should 451 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:34,840 Speaker 1: go a podcaster to p A. What do you think 452 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: I think you'd crush? All right, thanks man? Obviously, Yeah, 453 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: those things don't happen overnight, though, right. You don't get 454 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:42,080 Speaker 1: to be a p A or a doctor without a 455 00:19:42,080 --> 00:19:44,960 Speaker 1: whole lot of work and yes, some medical debt as well. Um, 456 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: these jobs require years of education, getting advanced degrees. But 457 00:19:48,600 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 1: I feel like Matthew's list can be helpful if your 458 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:55,399 Speaker 1: interests and the opportunity to earn significantly more overlap. It 459 00:19:55,480 --> 00:19:57,960 Speaker 1: can't just be going after it for the money. It 460 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,520 Speaker 1: has to be something you're already interested in or good at. 461 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,440 Speaker 1: I think too. But also too, it's important to remember 462 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:07,120 Speaker 1: that earning more doesn't always require an advanced degree. I'm 463 00:20:07,160 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: just thinking back to our conversation with Ken Rusk Matt 464 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 1: about blue collar work, and it was so enlightening and 465 00:20:12,119 --> 00:20:14,600 Speaker 1: helpful for anyone who's interested in working with their hands 466 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:16,919 Speaker 1: but at the same time upping their income. And I 467 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:19,960 Speaker 1: think that is something that is even more readily available 468 00:20:20,000 --> 00:20:22,879 Speaker 1: to millions and millions of people out there. That was 469 00:20:22,920 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 1: episode to seventy seven, by the way, we'll link to 470 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,160 Speaker 1: that in the show notes. But yeah, pivoting to earn 471 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:30,000 Speaker 1: more doesn't always have to include going back to school, 472 00:20:30,359 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: that's right, Okay, If somehow you haven't noticed, home prices 473 00:20:33,720 --> 00:20:36,480 Speaker 1: have been skyrocketing over the past decade. I was living 474 00:20:36,480 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 1: in a hole for the past ten years, so I 475 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: didn't notice. I think even if you're living in the hole, 476 00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:41,080 Speaker 1: you would have seen the value of that hole go 477 00:20:41,160 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 1: up and value. But this has made housing affordability due 478 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,520 Speaker 1: to a real issue in our country. And so while 479 00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:49,680 Speaker 1: there are many things that that Cannon probably should be 480 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:52,560 Speaker 1: done to make housing more affordable for for folks, one 481 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: of the ways to drive prices down is to create 482 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: more housing density. UH. An influx of available units means 483 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:04,440 Speaker 1: lower price, but sometimes density can completely change the look 484 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:06,679 Speaker 1: and the feel of a neighborhood, and that can be 485 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:08,800 Speaker 1: hard for the residents who currently live there. There's gonna 486 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: be a lot of not in my backyard going on, 487 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: right But that's what makes a d US so great. Basically, 488 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,960 Speaker 1: the argument for a d uses. Yes, please in my backyard. 489 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:22,200 Speaker 1: Uh in The Washington Post reports that they're becoming legal 490 00:21:22,520 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 1: in more cities all across the country, and of course, 491 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:28,440 Speaker 1: a d U stand for accessory dwelling units. But yeah, 492 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,160 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of talk about these out west 493 00:21:30,200 --> 00:21:31,680 Speaker 1: as well. I think it was last year that Los 494 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: Angeles passed a law that allowed for a d U 495 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: S in and around the l A area. And it's 496 00:21:36,480 --> 00:21:38,879 Speaker 1: even something that you consider recently, dude, Yeah, something I 497 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:40,560 Speaker 1: still want to do at some point in time. I 498 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,520 Speaker 1: just haven't done it yet, not right now. No, but 499 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:43,960 Speaker 1: we have been talking about a d U s on 500 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: the show for a while. Other basically tiny homes in 501 00:21:46,520 --> 00:21:48,840 Speaker 1: your backyard. You might have heard of them called granny flats, 502 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: garage apartments, or carriage houses. There's a bunch of different names, 503 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:55,720 Speaker 1: but now the predominant term, the legal term, I guess, 504 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,159 Speaker 1: is a d USE and the legalization of a d 505 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 1: u S, which allows many people to essentially build that 506 00:22:00,760 --> 00:22:02,679 Speaker 1: tiny home in their backyard and rent it out, is 507 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:06,040 Speaker 1: starting to create that density without changing the face of 508 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:09,080 Speaker 1: the neighborhood that it gets built in, without making too 509 00:22:09,160 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: drastic of a change, right, and companies are are springing 510 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 1: up that specialized in building these backyard homes too, which 511 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:18,680 Speaker 1: is cool to see, like little entrepreneurs who who specialized 512 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:21,240 Speaker 1: specifically in a d u S. By the way, for 513 00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:23,520 Speaker 1: our listeners out there who own a home, it can 514 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,639 Speaker 1: also generate some real income. So check and see if 515 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:28,840 Speaker 1: a to use are legal where you live and if 516 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: you can build one. I think it makes sense, Matt 517 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: for a lot of people to run the numbers. It 518 00:22:32,680 --> 00:22:34,320 Speaker 1: just really could be the perfect way to dip your 519 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: toes into rental real estate for the first time. It's 520 00:22:37,320 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: um a little less expensive, a little less daunting. Also, 521 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:42,560 Speaker 1: you feel like you can keep an eye on your 522 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:46,160 Speaker 1: property because it's literally in your backyard. So if it's 523 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 1: possible where you live, I think it makes sense for 524 00:22:48,080 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 1: a whole lot of people to consider it. Yeah, I 525 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:51,399 Speaker 1: mean and again this past Monesday we talked about some 526 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 1: of these bigger money moves that you can make dude, 527 00:22:53,320 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: being able to offset your housing costs, uh, would be 528 00:22:56,000 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: a huge win when it came to a lot of 529 00:22:57,760 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: people's personal finances. Yeah. I think I saw one of 530 00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:02,520 Speaker 1: the at in that article said that the average monthly 531 00:23:02,560 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 1: cost of building an ADU is essentially, you know, a 532 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,479 Speaker 1: thousand dollars a month, and the average monthly rent that 533 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: people are getting from the a d U is between 534 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 1: four hundred dollars. So boom, Yeah, you're talking about a 535 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:16,239 Speaker 1: significant increase to your bottom line every month if you 536 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:18,400 Speaker 1: build one and you are able to manage it. Well, 537 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,720 Speaker 1: I love it man. Uh. Speaking of housing, one of 538 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: the provisions of the relief bill that passed a couple 539 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,880 Speaker 1: of weeks ago was twenty five billion dollars that has 540 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:31,080 Speaker 1: been designated for a rental assistance program. Up to fifteen 541 00:23:31,119 --> 00:23:34,359 Speaker 1: months of your rent could be provided for if you 542 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,840 Speaker 1: can show that you've been financially impacted by COVID, if 543 00:23:36,920 --> 00:23:40,200 Speaker 1: you can show a risk of housing instability, so for example, 544 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,879 Speaker 1: a past due rent notice, and then your household income 545 00:23:43,880 --> 00:23:47,720 Speaker 1: also needs to be at or below of your area's 546 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,800 Speaker 1: median income. And so if this sounds like you you 547 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,320 Speaker 1: may be eligible for some rent assistance. You can check 548 00:23:53,320 --> 00:23:56,560 Speaker 1: out a database compiled by the National Low Income Housing 549 00:23:56,600 --> 00:23:59,920 Speaker 1: Coalition to see if there are already programs in your state, 550 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:02,479 Speaker 1: your area, and regardless too, you can check with your 551 00:24:02,520 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: states housing department to see how it is that you 552 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: can apply. Again, if this sounds like you, you may 553 00:24:07,160 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: be eligible, and so we'll make sure to include those 554 00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:12,400 Speaker 1: links in our show notes. Yeah, that's meaningful monetary support 555 00:24:12,480 --> 00:24:14,359 Speaker 1: for people who are struggling to pay the rent right 556 00:24:14,400 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: now and again, go to our website. We'll have the 557 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:20,719 Speaker 1: links to the National Low Income Housing Coalition and uh, 558 00:24:20,720 --> 00:24:22,800 Speaker 1: the specific programs that you're gonna need to turn to 559 00:24:22,880 --> 00:24:25,080 Speaker 1: in order to tap into those funds that were made 560 00:24:25,080 --> 00:24:28,480 Speaker 1: available in that latest leaf bill, all right, and also 561 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,560 Speaker 1: to a part of the new relief bill were more 562 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: PPP funds, or Paycheck Protection Program funds. And something interesting 563 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 1: mad about the new version of PPP is that funds 564 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:41,679 Speaker 1: are being specifically targeted towards independent restaurants, music venues, and 565 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,480 Speaker 1: nonprofits to basically a lot of the small businesses that 566 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,160 Speaker 1: were severely impacted. And it's just so great to see 567 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: specific relief being applied where the hurt is being felt 568 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: the most. Right now, I know, I've missed live music. 569 00:24:53,960 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: I can't wait to go back to see my first 570 00:24:55,520 --> 00:24:57,480 Speaker 1: show in one of our local music venues, you know. 571 00:24:57,800 --> 00:24:59,960 Speaker 1: And I'm just glad that they're specific money being made 572 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,600 Speaker 1: available uh for them, because they're hurting more than almost 573 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:06,239 Speaker 1: any other business out there right now, right and also too, 574 00:25:06,320 --> 00:25:08,679 Speaker 1: if you're in a solid financial position, look to how 575 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:11,160 Speaker 1: you can play your role in support of these businesses 576 00:25:11,160 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: where you live as well. Matt. You have just challenged 577 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: me to go get a homegrown gift card until I 578 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 1: can go back on a weekly basis. I'm going to 579 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,840 Speaker 1: do that because that is one of my favorite businesses 580 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:22,840 Speaker 1: and it would be a crying shame if it wasn't 581 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:25,040 Speaker 1: there for all of us to enjoy in the future. 582 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:27,480 Speaker 1: You know, it would be a huge bummer for sure. Yeah, 583 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:29,760 Speaker 1: to make sure that you're you're considering the businesses around you, 584 00:25:29,800 --> 00:25:32,240 Speaker 1: in your neighborhood, in your town. They may be eligible 585 00:25:32,280 --> 00:25:33,679 Speaker 1: for some of this money, but let's make sure that 586 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:35,439 Speaker 1: we're we are doing our part as well. Let's make 587 00:25:35,480 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 1: sure we get to the end of this year all 588 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,160 Speaker 1: in a in a great strong financial position. Um well, Joe, 589 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: that's gonna be it for this episode, buddy. Uh, listeners 590 00:25:42,520 --> 00:25:44,200 Speaker 1: can find our show notes up on our website. We'll 591 00:25:44,240 --> 00:25:47,120 Speaker 1: have some of the resources that we mentioned throughout this episode, 592 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:49,159 Speaker 1: and we'll also have links to some of the different 593 00:25:49,200 --> 00:25:51,159 Speaker 1: stories if you want to read those in depth that 594 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:53,240 Speaker 1: we cover today. Yeah, we hope you have a great weekend. 595 00:25:53,320 --> 00:25:55,239 Speaker 1: Hope see back here on Monday, Matt. We've got an 596 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:58,240 Speaker 1: awesome interview lined up with Lisa Rowan. It's all about 597 00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: practical money hacks and there's a bunch that we run 598 00:26:01,200 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: through from her new book, and I guarantee you there's 599 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:05,960 Speaker 1: a bunch that you can implement immediately in order to 600 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:08,439 Speaker 1: save more money. So that's come that's coming up on Monday. 601 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:10,760 Speaker 1: All right, that's gonna do it for this episode though, 602 00:26:10,840 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: until next time, best Friends Out, best Friends Out.