1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,640 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt, 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: and today we are answering your listener questions, Yes, Joel, 3 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: by listener questions, like we do on every Ask HDM episode. 4 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: A couple that we're gonna cover on this episode are 5 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: pet insurance. You know, that's something that more and more 6 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: folks are having to ask themselves, like should I have 7 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: pet insurance for my cat or for my dogs? So 8 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:41,479 Speaker 1: we're gonna we're gonna dive into that because it's expensive, 9 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,280 Speaker 1: but also so our healthcare costs if you don't have 10 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:45,159 Speaker 1: pet insurance. So where do we land on that. We'll 11 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:46,560 Speaker 1: get to that in a little bit. And we're also 12 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: going to answer a question about how to reduce the 13 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: minimum monthly payments on student loans, So we're gonna talk 14 00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: about a couple of ways to do that, as well 15 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 1: as three other great questions, and we'll get to all 16 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: those questions here in a little bit. Yeah, a lot 17 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: of good questions on this episode. As usual, Man are listeners. 18 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,080 Speaker 1: They're smart, and they've got just really intelligent money questions 19 00:01:04,080 --> 00:01:06,600 Speaker 1: and they've got really big decisions that they're making. And 20 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: I'm just glad that we can play a part in 21 00:01:09,000 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: kind of helping them make a make a wise decision, 22 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: and they're just relatable as well too. I mean, there's 23 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: things that people are asking and I'm like, man, that's 24 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: just something that I know I've had in the back 25 00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: of my mind, but I haven't quite put my finger 26 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: on it, right. And so you know, when we get 27 00:01:21,920 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: those questions sent to us via email, it's a wonderful 28 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 1: way for us to answer those questions but hopefully provide 29 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: some value to you, all of our listeners out there. Yeah, 30 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:31,759 Speaker 1: so when when you have that question in the future 31 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: or maybe even right now, it can help you at 32 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: the same time, and Matt, before we start tackling these questions, 33 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:38,679 Speaker 1: I think it's just kind of funny, like towards the 34 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: end of last year, you were doing a lot of 35 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: work for for us, because as this podcast has grown, 36 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: we've had some bigger decisions we've had to make, and 37 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 1: you in particular, we're kind of trying to help us 38 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: figure out how we do payroll for this new small 39 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: business that we've got essentially here. Yeah, you're talking about 40 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: those small business growing pains, right. It's a good problem 41 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 1: to have. It's it's kind of I mean, we don't 42 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 1: talk about the actual show as a sort of a 43 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: little side hustle and now an official business, we don't 44 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 1: do that often. But we've talked a little bit about 45 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: corporate structures before, and you know, I like how escorps 46 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:10,399 Speaker 1: are great, and now that we're more official, man, yeah, 47 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: we need to get set up on payroll doing things 48 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,280 Speaker 1: like that. And this is a discussion you and I 49 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 1: had where I said, I'm basically happy to do payroll, 50 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: and I'm very interested in doing it myself, not using 51 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: one of the software programs that are out there, which 52 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 1: is funny because these software programs have gotten so much 53 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 1: better recently. There's some great companies out there making it 54 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 1: so easy for small businesses to do payroll and to 55 00:02:30,560 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 1: provide small business for one case and stuff like that. 56 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: If you run your own small business, it's only gotten 57 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 1: a million times easier in the last five years, exactly. 58 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:39,239 Speaker 1: And so the question you know that we need to 59 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:40,840 Speaker 1: ask ourself, you want to make it harder by doing 60 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,079 Speaker 1: it yourself exactly. I mean, and obviously we're gonna save 61 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:46,160 Speaker 1: some money every month, but it's not really about the 62 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: money for me. It's about like I'm a nerd right 63 00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:51,880 Speaker 1: anytime we talk about budgets and spreadsheets. I'm the guy 64 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: that I am doing everything on Excel because I want 65 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,880 Speaker 1: to see and I want to feel every single number 66 00:02:56,880 --> 00:02:59,679 Speaker 1: when I reconcile those accounts and when everything balances out, 67 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: I want to feel that when it comes to our 68 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: business as well. And and so for me, I actually 69 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: do gain a certain amount of value and as nerdy 70 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 1: as the sounds, enjoyment out of kind of balancing the 71 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: books and figuring out like how does this actually work? 72 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 1: Like how much do we actually owe the government? Oh? Wow, 73 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: that's more than I thought. It's stuff like that. And 74 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,079 Speaker 1: so the reason to talk about this is that I'm 75 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: not doing this because it's is to save us money. Right. 76 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: I think there's a lot of times that folks they 77 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:27,840 Speaker 1: do things and they're not totally sure why they do it. 78 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 1: Maybe they kind of get lost in the habit of 79 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 1: doing something, and so they ask themselves, well, how much 80 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,320 Speaker 1: I'm actually saving here doing this thing that I don't enjoy. Well, 81 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: if that's you, and if you're in that situation, well, 82 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 1: you know, if it doesn't cost very much, stop doing 83 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 1: the thing that you don't enjoy. Right, But if you 84 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,760 Speaker 1: actually analyze the situation and you and you see that, 85 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: Oh I am gaining some value from this, Oh I'm 86 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: learning something. I think that's a case where you're not 87 00:03:50,480 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: being cheap, and you're right. Like a lot of times 88 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 1: we say, am I being frugal or am I being cheap? 89 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: If you're only looking at the dollars and cents, this 90 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: could be an instance where maybe we're being cheap. But 91 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 1: for me, I see this as a way that I'm 92 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:04,040 Speaker 1: able to learn something new, challenge myself a little bit, 93 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: really understand the process, and you know what, down the road, 94 00:04:07,600 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: we might end up going with one of those softwares 95 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: because I might not really enjoy the whole process of 96 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: of doing payroll. Yeah yeah, man. A couple of months ago, 97 00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: we did an episode about the future of small business 98 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: and we talked about how technology is helping small businesses 99 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 1: thrive in a way that you hear the naysayers. You 100 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: see the headlines and it seems like small businesses are 101 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 1: doomed and that technology is only benefiting the biggest businesses 102 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: around us. But that's just not true. And in particular, 103 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: when we look at services like payroll service, it used 104 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:38,560 Speaker 1: to be really, really prohibitively expensive for a small business 105 00:04:38,600 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: to set up payroll. And now they are these companies 106 00:04:40,760 --> 00:04:43,600 Speaker 1: that are doing a really good job serving small businesses 107 00:04:44,000 --> 00:04:46,599 Speaker 1: for just so little money. And a couple of our favorites. 108 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 1: We really like quick Books, and we like Gusto, and 109 00:04:50,480 --> 00:04:52,719 Speaker 1: maybe it's gousta Us how I like to say, And 110 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: like you said, we might end up going with somebody 111 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: like Gusto. Uh, We're not sure. It depends on how 112 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: this plays out and how difficult it is for you 113 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: actually do it. But I'm willing to give it a shot. 114 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: But I love that you're willing to give it a shot. 115 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 1: And you know what, if you like it, that's cool, 116 00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:06,200 Speaker 1: and it saves us, you know, not a ton of money, 117 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: but a little bit. And in either way, I think 118 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 1: even if we do sign up with a service like 119 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: you know what questions to ask and you know, you'll 120 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 1: know more about it, you'll have your head around it, 121 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: just like I think, you know, when we talk about 122 00:05:17,160 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: hiring a financial advisor, we're not typically huge fans of 123 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,720 Speaker 1: people hiring a financial advisor. But either way, whether you 124 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 1: hire one or you do it yourself, there is a 125 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:28,720 Speaker 1: lot of research you need to do there. You need 126 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: to be informed, you need to know what questions to 127 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,360 Speaker 1: ask a financial advisor, you know, before you walk in 128 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 1: the door. Hiring someone else doesn't let you off the 129 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: hook and give you the ability to neglect knowing some 130 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 1: of the things you need to know about money, finances, 131 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: and investing. So yeah, I think of it in the 132 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: same way. You're gonna learn something invaluable, even if you're 133 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:47,600 Speaker 1: not like doing the payroll by hand for us for 134 00:05:47,720 --> 00:05:49,359 Speaker 1: the long term and we and we do move on. 135 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 1: It's it's not a bad thing for you to know 136 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 1: more about by next quarter. I might want to just 137 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: hit that easy button because I got other stuff I 138 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 1: want to do, like ride my bike or something, right 139 00:05:57,680 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: right exactly? Yeah, alright, Well, Joel, you want to introduce 140 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: the beer that we're gonna have this episode, sure, Matt, Yeah, 141 00:06:02,360 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: Today on the show, we're drinking Toppling Goliath Brewing Companies 142 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:08,479 Speaker 1: King Sue. It's a double I p A and listener 143 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:11,280 Speaker 1: Joe sent this one our way. This beer has quite 144 00:06:11,320 --> 00:06:13,520 Speaker 1: a reputation. It's got some really sick can art with 145 00:06:13,560 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: like a t Rex on the front. So yeah, I'm 146 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: really excited to have this one on the show with 147 00:06:17,200 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: you today, my friend. Yeah, this is one of those 148 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 1: beers that people seek after. So I am honored to 149 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: be able to enjoy one of these with you, buddy, 150 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: and we're gonna yeah, we'll give our thoughts on this 151 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,280 Speaker 1: beer at the end of the episode. All right, let's 152 00:06:27,279 --> 00:06:29,480 Speaker 1: get to our listening questions. And just a quick note 153 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:31,960 Speaker 1: for anybody who wants to submit a question for us 154 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,960 Speaker 1: to use on the show. Well, there are simple instructions 155 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: for you to create an audio question and send it 156 00:06:37,160 --> 00:06:39,919 Speaker 1: our way at how to money dot com slash ask 157 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 1: and our first one is really interesting one about buying 158 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: a car or renting one. Gentlemen, this is Jim from IMPO, California. 159 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:50,280 Speaker 1: I've been doing my research and i'd like your take 160 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,200 Speaker 1: on this. My family of four owns one car Ford 161 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: Focus with less than forty thousand miles. Our boys are 162 00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: still small at ages five and six. We can meet 163 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 1: solely by bike around town with them on cargo bikes. 164 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: The Ford is used for out of town trips with 165 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 1: few in town exceptions. It's paid for and cheap to own. However, 166 00:07:11,760 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: our family is outgrowing the Focus. We take road trips 167 00:07:14,920 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 1: a few times each year for various bicycle adventures, camping, backpacking, 168 00:07:19,520 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: and so on. The Ford is just too small for 169 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: four people with all our bikes and gear. My question 170 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 1: is would it be more financially advantageous to rent what 171 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 1: we need for each trip for a week up to 172 00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:35,600 Speaker 1: the three weeks we travel, which could be anywhere from 173 00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:38,840 Speaker 1: a thousand miles to as many as five thousand miles 174 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,040 Speaker 1: for a single trip, or by a used late model 175 00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 1: for example super out back. The focus is cheap to 176 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: own in all areas when compared to buying a new 177 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:54,280 Speaker 1: to US use larger vehicle. If we rented an suv 178 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: or minivan for various road trips, we would keep the 179 00:07:57,360 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 1: focus for short, local inner city travel. I like Ford 180 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:05,080 Speaker 1: you hearing your thoughts and thanks for the show every week. Jim, 181 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 1: that's a great question. I love kind of starting off 182 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 1: with a listener who also shares our love for cargo bikes. 183 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:12,280 Speaker 1: Map yea cargo bikes. I think it's been too long 184 00:08:12,320 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: since we've talked about how much we love not just bikes, 185 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: but cargo bikes, especially especially when you're hauling your kids 186 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: around like Jim is like we are. They could be 187 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:21,240 Speaker 1: a lot of fun and they can also save you 188 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: a lot of money. I think one of the reasons 189 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: that Jim's car has so few miles on it is 190 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: because he's using his cargo bikes so danger he said, 191 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: under forty thousand miles on hicle. That is phenomenal. Yeah, 192 00:08:32,640 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 1: it's pretty pretty great. By the way, Jim's audio was 193 00:08:34,559 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: so good I had to email him back and ask like, 194 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 1: why is your audio so ridiculously clear? And it's because 195 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:40,760 Speaker 1: he has his own podcast, by the way, he said. 196 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: And it's called the Trailer Junkies Podcast. So if you're 197 00:08:43,160 --> 00:08:45,600 Speaker 1: super into film, check out Jim's podcast. Well, Joel, you 198 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,840 Speaker 1: and I we both uh, we both have little kids. 199 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: What's the last movie you saw in the theater? Frozen two? 200 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:54,400 Speaker 1: Same here? Man, Oh my gosh, I can't remember the 201 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,160 Speaker 1: last adult movie I saw, but I definitely remember Frozen too. Yeah. Well, man, 202 00:08:58,160 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: back to cargo bikes for a second as well. If 203 00:08:59,679 --> 00:09:02,000 Speaker 1: you've never seen a cargo bike, just picture a bike 204 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:04,560 Speaker 1: kind of stretched out and there's just room either on 205 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:06,680 Speaker 1: the back or in the front of the handlebars where 206 00:09:06,679 --> 00:09:10,079 Speaker 1: you can haul kids or cargo, you know, grocery stuff 207 00:09:10,120 --> 00:09:12,400 Speaker 1: like that. But Jim, you know, we're lucky enough here 208 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: in Atlanta that that Joel and I are both able 209 00:09:15,000 --> 00:09:18,120 Speaker 1: to bike for the vast majority of our intown trips. 210 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:21,080 Speaker 1: And your question specifically is a great question because this 211 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,040 Speaker 1: isn't something that folks often consider renting a car for. 212 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: You know, you said, these two to three trips, this 213 00:09:27,080 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: can be an awesome money saver instead of buying a 214 00:09:30,880 --> 00:09:34,440 Speaker 1: new ish car and then having the associated payments the 215 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: insurance to go along with that newer car. I think 216 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: this is an awesome approach to take. So, yeah, let's 217 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,079 Speaker 1: kind of dive individual. Yeah, man, I feel like this 218 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:43,800 Speaker 1: is something that we considered a little bit. When we 219 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 1: bought our new minivan. It was, well, our old minivan. 220 00:09:47,120 --> 00:09:48,880 Speaker 1: It's like, it's a two thousand and six, and it 221 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: was kind of to you guys, Yeah, it was like, 222 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:53,199 Speaker 1: can can the car that we currently have worked for us? 223 00:09:53,240 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: For our we take more in town trips with the kids, 224 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: so it just didn't make sense for us. But if 225 00:09:57,800 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: it was just about long distance trips, we totally would 226 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 1: have considered just doing the rental thing. But for us, 227 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,360 Speaker 1: it just didn't work out. And I kind of want 228 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: to suggest exactly that for Jim looking at a car 229 00:10:07,440 --> 00:10:09,800 Speaker 1: that is not just a couple of years old, but 230 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: is a good bit older than that. I think if 231 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: you're buying just a slightly older car and ditching the focus, well, 232 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: you're going to run into the problem of of spending 233 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: too much money for a car that you don't necessarily 234 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: need all that often. And it stinks to have something 235 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: that is often just sitting in the driveway that's depreciating 236 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: in value so much everything is cheaper about this decision. 237 00:10:31,679 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: It totally makes sense that you would want to upgrade 238 00:10:33,679 --> 00:10:36,320 Speaker 1: and get a newer vehicle, but I think if you 239 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:39,640 Speaker 1: can stick to a or older then that's going to 240 00:10:39,720 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: be the sweet spot for you to actually buy the 241 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: new vehicle and not have to rent a car every 242 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: time you go out of town. And basically it allows 243 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: you to put money towards the things that you do value, 244 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: like those camping trips, like going on even more excursions 245 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:55,160 Speaker 1: as a family, or bikes or another bike. Yeah, it 246 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: allows you to kind of make those decisions if you 247 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,439 Speaker 1: don't have a fifteen or twenty dollar are that's just 248 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: kind of sitting there and quickly losing its value. Yeah, 249 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 1: I love that, Jill, And I mean and even going 250 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 1: back further than something that's just a few years old, right, 251 00:11:08,240 --> 00:11:10,480 Speaker 1: Like I mean, you guys have a No. Six. I 252 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:12,719 Speaker 1: think looking at vehicles that are at least ten years 253 00:11:12,760 --> 00:11:15,840 Speaker 1: old like that also allows you to take advantage of 254 00:11:15,880 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: the maintenance cycles a little bit, right, And so if 255 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: you get a vehicle that's closer to ten years old, 256 00:11:20,360 --> 00:11:22,679 Speaker 1: that's typically when you need to kind of have the 257 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 1: timing belt replaced and or have the timing chain worked on, 258 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,679 Speaker 1: and that's a really expensive thing. And so you know, 259 00:11:28,720 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: you can get an older vehicle for a lot less 260 00:11:30,600 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: money that's running really smooth and can be super dependable. Yeah, 261 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:36,640 Speaker 1: where the previous owner has done a lot of that 262 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: work you needed to be done anyway. And I think though, 263 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: if the decision is between literally buying a couple of 264 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:47,800 Speaker 1: year old vehicle or renting a car the three times 265 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:49,439 Speaker 1: a year you go out of town, I think it's 266 00:11:49,480 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: a slam dunk to rent that suv or van for 267 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,200 Speaker 1: every family trip. It just makes sense. And that's because 268 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:57,080 Speaker 1: depreciation is the biggest cost in car ownership. And so 269 00:11:57,120 --> 00:12:00,160 Speaker 1: if you can avoid that depreciation, keep the folk is 270 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,200 Speaker 1: for your in town trips and then just rent this 271 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: car three times a year, you're gonna save a ton 272 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 1: of money in your budget every single year on car 273 00:12:08,440 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 1: costs by doing that. Yeah, Well, and another thing too 274 00:12:10,840 --> 00:12:12,680 Speaker 1: by renting, man, is that you you don't have that 275 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: stress of having a vehicle that you have to count 276 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: on to get you across the entire southwest, right. And 277 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: on top of that as well, like you have the 278 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:24,560 Speaker 1: option to rent different vehicles where you're able to essentially 279 00:12:24,600 --> 00:12:27,360 Speaker 1: try out some some different makes and models and see 280 00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: which one you really like. Right, Like, you might be 281 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:32,000 Speaker 1: drawn to the out back, like you mentioned the outback 282 00:12:32,400 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 1: because it kind of has this heritage, like this legacy 283 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:37,959 Speaker 1: of adventure, you know, like like folks who are into 284 00:12:37,960 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: the outdoors, like they like outbacks. I like outbacks. But 285 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,520 Speaker 1: like you might find that you actually need a full 286 00:12:43,520 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 1: size suv with your growing family, you know, with all 287 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: your gear and like everybody's got their bikes, maybe even 288 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: multiple bikes, who knows. I see that as another benefit 289 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: of at least for now, renting for a little bit longer, 290 00:12:55,000 --> 00:12:57,439 Speaker 1: as that might allow you to kind of figure out 291 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:00,360 Speaker 1: what vehicle you truly want. Yeah, and I think you 292 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: and I we are on the side typically of driving 293 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:04,960 Speaker 1: older vehicles, not buying the two or three year old model, 294 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:07,880 Speaker 1: but buying a seven or eight or ten year old model, 295 00:13:08,040 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: because that's where the real savings is, because those vehicles 296 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: are almost fully depreciated out and you're not losing massive 297 00:13:13,520 --> 00:13:15,839 Speaker 1: amounts of money every month. And then I think it's 298 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:19,480 Speaker 1: an astute observation by Jim, though, that renting a car 299 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: for those bigger trips as opposed to buying something like 300 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 1: we always think that we need to own the thing 301 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 1: that we use occasionally, and that's just not true. And 302 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: I think Jim's onto something and a lot of us 303 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,400 Speaker 1: could benefit from that observation that we can potentially rent 304 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:34,520 Speaker 1: things that we use sparingly far more frequently in our lives, 305 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:37,720 Speaker 1: as opposed to buying them and having them always and 306 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,959 Speaker 1: then having shelled out the money for it, or potentially, 307 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: in the case of a car, continually shelling out money 308 00:13:43,679 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: for it. So I like where Jim's heads at. And 309 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:48,200 Speaker 1: hopefully he's either going to buy an older car or 310 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:49,760 Speaker 1: be just gonna rent that car when he needs it, 311 00:13:49,840 --> 00:13:52,840 Speaker 1: and he can continue to hang on to focus that 312 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: he has under forty tho miles on. That's kind of 313 00:13:55,480 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 1: a gem in its own sake right there. That's gonna 314 00:13:57,760 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: last quite a while longer. I believe the boys are 315 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,280 Speaker 1: gonna learn how drive on that car. Yeah, exactly, exactly. 316 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,160 Speaker 1: It's still gonna be around ten or fifteen years from now, 317 00:14:04,280 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: for sure, totally. Alright, Well, Joe, we've got a few 318 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: more questions, including one about a roth ira A, and 319 00:14:08,880 --> 00:14:11,680 Speaker 1: we're gonna get to that's and another question right after 320 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:23,520 Speaker 1: the break. Alright, Matt, we're back from the break, and 321 00:14:23,640 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 1: the first question is about a tricky little rule associated 322 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: with the roth ira A. Hey, Matt and Joel Jason 323 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:31,960 Speaker 1: here from the beer rich region of the Front Range 324 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: in Colorado. Hey, thanks for all the USM advice and 325 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,360 Speaker 1: for keeping me company during my travels. I really like 326 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 1: what you guys are doing. I've been grappling with this 327 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: question for a couple of weeks now and keep getting 328 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:47,440 Speaker 1: conflicting answers, so i'd appreciate your thoughts. Is it possible 329 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: to pull money out of my roth ira A prior 330 00:14:49,480 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: to a five year holding period if this money is 331 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:57,120 Speaker 1: exclusively post tax contributions and without any earned dividends, Paying 332 00:14:57,120 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 1: a penalty on a four oh one K or traditional 333 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: i R A roll of makes sense to me because 334 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: it's pre tax dollars. However, if your roth consists only 335 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: of your own post tax money. Shouldn't you be able 336 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: to withdraw that any time free of charge because you've 337 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: already paid your taxes on it. I imagine new investors 338 00:15:16,440 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 1: such as myself would be more motivated to pay out 339 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:21,440 Speaker 1: the yearly maximum, knowing that if we find ourselves in 340 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:24,520 Speaker 1: a real bind, this money is always available. And thanks 341 00:15:24,560 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: again for taking my question. If you ever find yourselves 342 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,000 Speaker 1: in the Denver Boulder area, please take me up on 343 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: a tour of our finest local breweries. Looking forward to 344 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: hearing what you guys have to say. Appreciate it, hey, Jason, Yeah, 345 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: you certainly do live in a beer rich region. You 346 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:41,560 Speaker 1: mentioned the uh, the Front Range, Joe, have you ever 347 00:15:41,600 --> 00:15:43,400 Speaker 1: heard of that term before? Because I've never heard of 348 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:45,880 Speaker 1: the term. I haven't either, and I kind of nordered out, 349 00:15:45,960 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: so I looked it up. And it's the stretch of 350 00:15:48,320 --> 00:15:51,560 Speaker 1: mountains from Casper, Wyoming down to Denver, and there are 351 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: a lot of good breweries there, tons of great beer. 352 00:15:53,760 --> 00:15:56,160 Speaker 1: That's also just a beautiful place. Anytime I'm making out 353 00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,080 Speaker 1: to Colorado, I enjoy the beer and the beauty and 354 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:01,560 Speaker 1: hopefully it's not too on before I get out there again. 355 00:16:01,640 --> 00:16:03,880 Speaker 1: But let's get to that tricky question, Matt and and 356 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 1: Jason is right. There is a rule that's called the 357 00:16:07,120 --> 00:16:10,280 Speaker 1: five year rule in regards to a roth Ira, and 358 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: sometimes it confuses people. So let's kind of get into 359 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:16,160 Speaker 1: it first. Jason, your question about with drawing the money 360 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:19,280 Speaker 1: that you've contributed to your wrath at any time, Yes, 361 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:22,000 Speaker 1: you can. So here's an example. If you put six 362 00:16:22,040 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: thousand dollars into your wrath today and you decide to 363 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: withdraw every single penny of that amount that you contributed 364 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: the very next day, that would be fine. You would 365 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 1: not be subject to any penalties from the I R S, 366 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: and you would not be in trouble for violating any rule. 367 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,360 Speaker 1: That's why the Rath is such a great account. It's 368 00:16:39,360 --> 00:16:42,680 Speaker 1: got this amazing flexibility for folks that want to invest 369 00:16:42,880 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: more money, but that might need access to those funds 370 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: in case of an emergency. We dedicated an entire episode 371 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 1: to the Beauty of the roth Ira back in episode 372 00:16:51,640 --> 00:16:54,080 Speaker 1: eighty three, but that one thing we didn't tackle in 373 00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: particular was the five year rules. So you want to 374 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:58,000 Speaker 1: explain that for Jason and other people that might be 375 00:16:58,040 --> 00:17:00,240 Speaker 1: confused when they hear about it. Yeah, Joe, let's do that. 376 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: So the five year rule. It's specifically about withdrawing rath earnings, okay, 377 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:08,280 Speaker 1: not the contribution. So for example, if you were to 378 00:17:08,280 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 1: start a wrath at the age of fifty eight, you 379 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,160 Speaker 1: can't start taking out those earnings the very next year 380 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:16,119 Speaker 1: at age fifty nine, when most everyone else would be 381 00:17:16,160 --> 00:17:18,800 Speaker 1: able to make withdrawals on the earnings had they started 382 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:21,479 Speaker 1: fi years prior to fifty nine, Right, So as long 383 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: as they started contributing before fifty four, you can start 384 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:28,239 Speaker 1: making those withdrawals on those earnings at age fifty nine. Yes, 385 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 1: So it's really it's a difference between contributions and earnings 386 00:17:31,760 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: and when you opened your wrath exactly. And I think 387 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,200 Speaker 1: sometimes like that can be a confusing thing for people, 388 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,800 Speaker 1: so it's important to spell out. Contributions are the money 389 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: you put in your wrath. The earnings are whatever happens 390 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,760 Speaker 1: as your wrath grows. Like let's say you put six 391 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 1: grand in a wrath and that money is invested in 392 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:50,439 Speaker 1: a total stock market index fund, and you look at 393 00:17:50,480 --> 00:17:53,040 Speaker 1: that wrath three years down the road, it's worth nine 394 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:56,520 Speaker 1: thousand dollars. That three thousand dollars additional money are your 395 00:17:56,560 --> 00:17:59,960 Speaker 1: earnings that we're talking about here. Yeah, exactly, And Jays 396 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 1: and your your thought process is on the right track. 397 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,240 Speaker 1: Since you've paid the tax, you have ready access to 398 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:08,160 Speaker 1: the contributions that you've been making at any time you want. 399 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: And here's the thing, for any reason you want, there 400 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,919 Speaker 1: are no I R. S. Qualifications for what you can 401 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: use that money for. So technically you could raise your 402 00:18:16,680 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: Wrath account and you can spend it all on delicious 403 00:18:19,040 --> 00:18:21,399 Speaker 1: craft beer from Colorado. That might be fun for a 404 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:25,000 Speaker 1: little bit, but that's not something that that we would recommend. Yeah. So, Jason, 405 00:18:25,040 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: if you're only really asking the question about potentially pulling 406 00:18:27,480 --> 00:18:30,800 Speaker 1: out those contributions, then you're not at risk of violating 407 00:18:30,840 --> 00:18:32,480 Speaker 1: the five year rule. You don't even have to worry 408 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: about it. But then it does beg the question what 409 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:37,600 Speaker 1: are you taking money out of your Wrath for? And 410 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:40,160 Speaker 1: should you be pulling money out of your Wrath at all? 411 00:18:40,600 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 1: And I think that is definitely a worthy question to consider. 412 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: I would be very careful before tapping your Wrath contributions. 413 00:18:47,160 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: I think the Wrath is a beautiful account because of 414 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,280 Speaker 1: its flexibility. But is it too flexible? Right? Does that 415 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: easy access make it a little too simple for someone 416 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 1: to rip money out of an investment account to spend today. 417 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 1: Yes it can. And so I've taken money out of 418 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: a roth before in order to get that last little 419 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,040 Speaker 1: bit for a down payment for an investment property, and 420 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,679 Speaker 1: I think that was worthwhile for me. But I do 421 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: think that if we're talking about pulling money out of 422 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: a wrath, you should be careful before doing so. And 423 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:20,320 Speaker 1: hopefully you're only taking that money out to fund another 424 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:23,159 Speaker 1: investment that is going to be really beneficial for you, 425 00:19:23,480 --> 00:19:26,119 Speaker 1: or for like a potential home purchase. We're grabbing some 426 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: of those rath contributions will allow you to avoid fees 427 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:31,800 Speaker 1: or p m I or something like that when you 428 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: do buy a home. Other than that, we would say, 429 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: leave your wrath money in place, don't touch it, leave 430 00:19:36,600 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: it be, and let it grow, because that is ultimately 431 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:40,280 Speaker 1: what's going to help you build wealth. You don't want 432 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: to mess with those rath contributions unless it's for a 433 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,399 Speaker 1: really good reason. Yeah, you want to make sure that 434 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 1: you are leaving future Jason in a in a good place. 435 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: It's not all about hashtags and yellow all right. So 436 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,640 Speaker 1: let's go ahead and move on to our next question. Joe, 437 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 1: Let's hear that one about pet insurance. Hi, JOEA. Mett. 438 00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:00,840 Speaker 1: My name is Samantha and I'm from Hugh Euston, Texas. 439 00:20:01,200 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: I love y'all's podcasts and value your opinion on saving money, 440 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:07,560 Speaker 1: so I really wanted to get your opinion on pet insurance. 441 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,680 Speaker 1: I don't currently have any pet insurance, but I recently 442 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 1: spent nearly a thousand dollars to get my cats teeth cleans, 443 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: one tooth removed, and some pain meds for after surgery. 444 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:21,840 Speaker 1: This was pretty shocking to me since I don't have 445 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:24,919 Speaker 1: any kids. My cat is pretty much my child, so 446 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,960 Speaker 1: her health and happiness is important to me. My work 447 00:20:29,080 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: offers pet insurance, but it does not cover preventative care 448 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:36,440 Speaker 1: like teeth cleaning, which is recommended by the vets do yearly. 449 00:20:37,040 --> 00:20:42,359 Speaker 1: It also doesn't cover vaccinations, medicines, or any prior existing conditions. 450 00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:46,080 Speaker 1: The cost is ten dollars per pay period, which is 451 00:20:46,119 --> 00:20:50,200 Speaker 1: bi weekly for me, and a deductible of two fifty 452 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:53,000 Speaker 1: So with all that in mine, I'm debating if it 453 00:20:53,080 --> 00:20:55,280 Speaker 1: is worth it. I hope you guys don't think I'm 454 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: a crazy cat lady, but I love any thoughts on 455 00:20:57,760 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: pet insurance or even tips to say ape on pet healthcare. 456 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,160 Speaker 1: Thank you for all you do, Samantha, Thanks so much 457 00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:06,440 Speaker 1: for the question. And you're not a crazy cat lay 458 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: at all. You want to make sure that you're taking 459 00:21:08,560 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: care of that little critter little Yeah, if you don't 460 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:13,200 Speaker 1: have any kids, that's yeah, it really is your fur baby, 461 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: So totally I'm all about that. I know you haven't 462 00:21:15,920 --> 00:21:18,040 Speaker 1: had a cat before, right, but had like has your 463 00:21:18,080 --> 00:21:20,080 Speaker 1: family ever had an owned a cat like when you're younger? 464 00:21:20,200 --> 00:21:23,720 Speaker 1: Sorry Samantha, but my mom hates cats. Yeah, so we've 465 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:25,879 Speaker 1: never had a cat, although we've got some really good 466 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: neighborhood cats. My neighbor across the street has this awesome 467 00:21:28,400 --> 00:21:31,359 Speaker 1: cat named Furgus, so he's kind of like our neighborhood mascot. 468 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:33,199 Speaker 1: He comes over all the time, just like hops in 469 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:35,159 Speaker 1: the house. So I feel like we really we kind 470 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,919 Speaker 1: of have this part. Oh my gosh, he's super sweet. 471 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:40,040 Speaker 1: I would not be down with that because there's fleas 472 00:21:40,119 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 1: right with neighborhood cats are outside alive. But he belongs 473 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: to my neighbor next door, so he's inside a bunch, 474 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:47,920 Speaker 1: but she lets him out in rome And yeah, he's 475 00:21:48,119 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 1: the fattest cat I've ever seen. He just hangs out 476 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:52,399 Speaker 1: in the house and just wants his belly rubbed. Yeah. Well, 477 00:21:52,440 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 1: further down the street where we are from, you guys, 478 00:21:54,359 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: we have a few neighborhood cats as well, But I 479 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:59,320 Speaker 1: don't know how much time does cats spend indoors versus outdoors. 480 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: So there's no way I'm gonna let that cat inside 481 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,680 Speaker 1: my house. We're not cat people. Plus I'm a little allergic. 482 00:22:04,720 --> 00:22:06,320 Speaker 1: But they do keep the rats in the mice at bay, 483 00:22:06,359 --> 00:22:08,719 Speaker 1: which is the number one reason that I am all 484 00:22:08,760 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: about these neighborhood cats. For sure, they can be helpful 485 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:12,640 Speaker 1: in that way, for sure. All right, Matt, But let's 486 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:15,119 Speaker 1: get to Samantha's question. While you and I don't have cats, 487 00:22:15,520 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: we have owned dogs before, and pet insurance has grown 488 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 1: in popularity in a major way recently. And it makes 489 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: sense because the costs of healthcare associated with owning a 490 00:22:24,040 --> 00:22:27,120 Speaker 1: pet can be astronomical. And it's no surprise too that, 491 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:30,720 Speaker 1: like Samantha has access to more employers are offering that 492 00:22:30,800 --> 00:22:34,359 Speaker 1: as an additional benefit pet insurance for their employees. But 493 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: is that pet insurance worth it? I think that's the 494 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: heart of Samantha's question, So Matt, let's get into it. 495 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: It can be complicated, right, Yeah, I mean there's just 496 00:22:42,000 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: so much to consider when you are deciding if if 497 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: that's something that you're going to get for your pet. 498 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:49,440 Speaker 1: One of the reasons for that is because pet insurance 499 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:53,280 Speaker 1: can also be really expensive. Just like with our own 500 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,680 Speaker 1: health insurance, we need to know the fine print that's involved, right, 501 00:22:56,760 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: make sure that you know the exclusions. You want to 502 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:01,879 Speaker 1: know the pale limits. Sometimes there's waiting periods and you 503 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: want to make sure you know what is covered. Like 504 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: you mentioned, sometimes Donald isn't included in this pet insurance. 505 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,119 Speaker 1: And today it's worth knowing that the average pet insurance 506 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:14,000 Speaker 1: premium is about six hundred bucks a year in the 507 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: average annual claim is only about three so on average, 508 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,040 Speaker 1: it's definitely not worth it. But of course, you know, 509 00:23:21,080 --> 00:23:24,160 Speaker 1: it depends on each individual case pet insurance. It can 510 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:26,879 Speaker 1: be helpful if your pet is prone to different health issues, 511 00:23:27,440 --> 00:23:29,080 Speaker 1: or if you know you have a breed that is 512 00:23:29,119 --> 00:23:32,280 Speaker 1: more likely to get sick. In that case, pet insurance 513 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,399 Speaker 1: can make some more sense. Yeah, Matt, and Samantha specifically 514 00:23:35,400 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: mentioned how much she's gonna have to pay for this 515 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: pet health insurance, and it's gonna be roughly two or 516 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: fifty bucks a year because her employer subsidizes that amount, 517 00:23:44,800 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: Whereas if she had to go on the open market 518 00:23:47,040 --> 00:23:49,159 Speaker 1: and by her own plan, she's probably looking at much 519 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:51,840 Speaker 1: higher premiums. So I think in her case, it makes 520 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:54,080 Speaker 1: a lot more sense because of the low price that 521 00:23:54,160 --> 00:23:56,359 Speaker 1: she's gonna be paying for that insurance. Yeah, and for 522 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:59,440 Speaker 1: everyone is out there who may not have subsidized pet insurance, 523 00:23:59,560 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 1: rather than only looking to the pet insurance, we would 524 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,960 Speaker 1: recommend to make sure that you're shopping for services like 525 00:24:06,160 --> 00:24:09,239 Speaker 1: routine care and look for more affordable places to get 526 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:12,119 Speaker 1: vaccinated when you can. Maybe you can look to a 527 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:15,639 Speaker 1: veterinarian school. There's a list of different organizations that the 528 00:24:15,720 --> 00:24:19,760 Speaker 1: Humane Society has vetted to help with bigger pet healthcare costs. 529 00:24:20,280 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: Man back in the day, we would get our dogs 530 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:25,679 Speaker 1: shots at this traveling shot clinic. It was essentially like 531 00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:27,879 Speaker 1: a pop up and they would open their doors at 532 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:29,719 Speaker 1: the local church just right down the street from us, 533 00:24:29,920 --> 00:24:31,400 Speaker 1: and we would go in there at super low cost. 534 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: You kind of wait in line because it's they're only 535 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:36,439 Speaker 1: there for a few hours. It's super legit, but you 536 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: just walk in, get everything done, and you leave and 537 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:40,919 Speaker 1: you're gonna go uh. I loved it because it was 538 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,200 Speaker 1: completely in our neighborhood and it was just an incredible 539 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: way for us to save money. Yeah, looking at that 540 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,639 Speaker 1: list can be really helpful. They're also let's say you 541 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: need meds, well, they're cheap and generic medication lists for 542 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:54,720 Speaker 1: animals at Target and Kroger. So if you're ever, you know, 543 00:24:54,720 --> 00:24:57,080 Speaker 1: filling a prescription for your pet, it makes sense to 544 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:59,920 Speaker 1: look at those lists first. But ultimately, if you're willing 545 00:24:59,920 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: to look around to a little bit of digging, you 546 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: can cut the cost of health care for your pet 547 00:25:03,760 --> 00:25:06,280 Speaker 1: just by being a little proactive. And also it's important 548 00:25:06,280 --> 00:25:08,439 Speaker 1: to mention but it's also kind of an awkward thing 549 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:10,560 Speaker 1: to say, is is that you can have a conversation 550 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: with your vet about what care is necessary for your 551 00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:16,160 Speaker 1: pet and what the costs are and potential discounts are 552 00:25:16,280 --> 00:25:19,400 Speaker 1: ahead of time. And like Matt you just mentioned, it's 553 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: not terribly dissimilar from human health care. When we're talking 554 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:24,800 Speaker 1: about the things that we're gonna have done well, we 555 00:25:24,840 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 1: want to make sure we're healthy and not cheaping out right, 556 00:25:27,119 --> 00:25:28,920 Speaker 1: but we also have to advocate for ourselves at the 557 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,119 Speaker 1: same time and make sure that we're not just getting 558 00:25:31,160 --> 00:25:34,359 Speaker 1: tests run just because, and if you have a great 559 00:25:34,359 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 1: local vet, they'll take the time to explain why something 560 00:25:37,200 --> 00:25:39,760 Speaker 1: is or isn't necessary, and they might actually help you 561 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 1: avoid some of these costs. So if you decide to 562 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 1: not opt for health insurance in particular, it makes sense 563 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,200 Speaker 1: to do a little more asking and do a little 564 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: more digging before you have certain things done for your pet. Yeah, 565 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: I love that, man. We we have to advocate for 566 00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: ourself in all areas of our life and including those 567 00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:00,200 Speaker 1: of our pets as well. Ultimately, the pet insurance it's 568 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:03,000 Speaker 1: best to take care of those different major illnesses that 569 00:26:03,040 --> 00:26:06,480 Speaker 1: you hope actually never happen. Right, But if you are 570 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 1: a good saver and you've got a robust emergency fund, 571 00:26:09,280 --> 00:26:12,560 Speaker 1: we would skip the insurance altogether. Right When the average 572 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:15,239 Speaker 1: claim is three hundred bucks a year, it's not too 573 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:17,920 Speaker 1: difficult to set aside twenty five a month and forego 574 00:26:18,160 --> 00:26:22,160 Speaker 1: that insurance completely self fund, self insured, and for most 575 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: folks out there, you're going to be able to save 576 00:26:24,080 --> 00:26:25,760 Speaker 1: a lot of money and real quick. The people that 577 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,360 Speaker 1: we think pet health insurance might be most helpful for 578 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: people with aging animals that have health issues, breeds that 579 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:34,600 Speaker 1: are specifically prone to health issues, and also when you 580 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:38,560 Speaker 1: have access to a subsidized plan with cheaper premiums. Those 581 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,240 Speaker 1: are the times when pet insurance makes the most sense. 582 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:43,720 Speaker 1: But for most people out there with mostly healthy pets, 583 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: pet insurance just doesn't usually make sense. The numbers just 584 00:26:46,880 --> 00:26:48,760 Speaker 1: don't make sense, and you're actually going to be a 585 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:51,640 Speaker 1: net loser. And so yeah, just beef up your fund 586 00:26:51,680 --> 00:26:53,960 Speaker 1: and pay for it out of pocket. Nice, that's right, man. 587 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:55,840 Speaker 1: All Right, we've got a couple more questions. We're gonna 588 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:59,679 Speaker 1: talk about how to approach multiple savings goals that you 589 00:26:59,720 --> 00:27:03,280 Speaker 1: have while also trying to stick to the debt snowball plan. 590 00:27:03,520 --> 00:27:05,399 Speaker 1: And we're also going to talk about student loans to 591 00:27:05,480 --> 00:27:17,480 Speaker 1: rena cover those right after the break. All right, Matt, 592 00:27:17,520 --> 00:27:19,280 Speaker 1: we're back from the break, and now it's time to 593 00:27:19,280 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: take your question about how you think about the debt 594 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:26,080 Speaker 1: snowball process when you're thinking about buying a home. Hey, guys, 595 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:28,880 Speaker 1: this is Matt from Orange, California. I have a debt 596 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:32,000 Speaker 1: payoff question. Currently. I am saving to buy a house, 597 00:27:32,320 --> 00:27:35,119 Speaker 1: paying off my student loans and some other random debts. 598 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:37,919 Speaker 1: I am using the debt snowball method to pay everything 599 00:27:37,920 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: off at my current pace, it should take about four 600 00:27:40,600 --> 00:27:43,159 Speaker 1: to five years to be completely debt free. I have 601 00:27:43,320 --> 00:27:45,720 Speaker 1: enough saved to pay off one of those loans right now. 602 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:48,359 Speaker 1: If I did this, it would eliminate my hard earned 603 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,480 Speaker 1: down payment savings, but significantly increase my monthly cash flow 604 00:27:52,680 --> 00:27:55,840 Speaker 1: moving forward. I would still have my emergency fund, but 605 00:27:56,000 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: my biggest nest egg would be gone. My question is 606 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,119 Speaker 1: should I keep saving for the house and be patient 607 00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 1: with the debt snowball or get rid of the debt 608 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,679 Speaker 1: as soon as possible. Thank you for your time. Cheers boys. 609 00:28:07,119 --> 00:28:09,639 Speaker 1: All right, Matt, thanks so much for the question. And 610 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:12,399 Speaker 1: first off, we love that you have a plan and 611 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:14,080 Speaker 1: that you're gonna be debt free in four to five years. 612 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:16,560 Speaker 1: I think that's fantastic. But first off, we've got two 613 00:28:16,800 --> 00:28:18,680 Speaker 1: big questions for you. A couple of things that you 614 00:28:18,720 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: want to ask yourself are what is the interest rate? 615 00:28:22,160 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: And also how quickly do you want to buy a home? 616 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,399 Speaker 1: I know you mentioned doing the debt snowball, but if 617 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 1: you have any loans with an interest rate that's a 618 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: little bit higher, right like anything over maybe about seven percent, 619 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,359 Speaker 1: we would recommend you to focus your efforts and knocking 620 00:28:35,359 --> 00:28:39,080 Speaker 1: out that debt first, and your timeline is important here 621 00:28:39,120 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: as well. And you say you wanted to have a 622 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,560 Speaker 1: house maybe in the next couple of years, Well, if 623 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:46,160 Speaker 1: you can ask that one debt and build your down 624 00:28:46,240 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 1: payment back up in two years, like just in time 625 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:50,560 Speaker 1: to buy a house, that seems like a good recipe 626 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:52,360 Speaker 1: for success, right, Like you're able to knock out that 627 00:28:52,400 --> 00:28:55,160 Speaker 1: debt completely while also achieving this this massive goal of 628 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: purchasing at home. I think that's great, Yeah, Matt, I agree. 629 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: So much of it with this question comes down to 630 00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:03,520 Speaker 1: Math's timeline and how quickly he's able to build that 631 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 1: savings back up after he pays down that debt. And 632 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: I would say this the argument for not paying the 633 00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:12,000 Speaker 1: debt off and holding onto that money and making sure 634 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:13,920 Speaker 1: that you have it for a down payment when you 635 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:16,440 Speaker 1: buy a house, Matt, is if buying a home would 636 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,680 Speaker 1: also lower your housing costs, then I would say keeping 637 00:29:19,720 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 1: that down payment in hand makes a lot of sense, 638 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: Like you don't want to screw that up if it's 639 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 1: going to lower your monthly bills. And then once you 640 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:28,560 Speaker 1: buy that home essentially allow you to put even more 641 00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,720 Speaker 1: of your monthly income towards paying down debt. Then you 642 00:29:31,720 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: probably want to keep that money in hand as a 643 00:29:33,720 --> 00:29:36,800 Speaker 1: down payment, and it's particularly helpful if you're at that 644 00:29:36,920 --> 00:29:40,480 Speaker 1: key mark for a down payment amount, so you can 645 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,080 Speaker 1: avoid the additional expense of p m I and Matt, 646 00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:45,040 Speaker 1: I think I randomly brought up p m I earlier 647 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,560 Speaker 1: in the episode, But basically, if you can avoid that 648 00:29:47,600 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: private mortgage insurance, that can be a hundred fifty a 649 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: month of money that's just oozing out of your budget 650 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 1: that you're able to claw back in by putting down 651 00:29:57,560 --> 00:30:00,600 Speaker 1: on the purchase of a home. So, yeah, that something 652 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: really important to consider, Matt. If your housing costs are 653 00:30:02,880 --> 00:30:05,200 Speaker 1: going to go down, if you're avoiding those additional fees, 654 00:30:05,440 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: then you want to make sure you hang onto that 655 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: money and don't pay down your debt so that you 656 00:30:09,320 --> 00:30:11,480 Speaker 1: can't afford to lower your housing costs when you buy 657 00:30:11,520 --> 00:30:13,480 Speaker 1: this house. Yeah. Well, here's the other thing that I 658 00:30:13,560 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: want to make sure we cover as well, though, is 659 00:30:15,120 --> 00:30:17,960 Speaker 1: that Matt. Here he's talking about the debt snowball and 660 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:19,800 Speaker 1: how that's working out for him, And we've talked about 661 00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:22,440 Speaker 1: this recently, But I don't want to underestimate the psychological 662 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 1: and emotional power of eliminating debt from your life, Joel, 663 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:28,240 Speaker 1: you kind of mentioned the argument for purchasing the home, 664 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 1: and we talked about the argument for going ahead and 665 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: paying off, in particular some debts that have a higher 666 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 1: interest rate. Well, these things go completely counter to the 667 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:39,880 Speaker 1: debt snowball, right, And if Matt's in this situation where 668 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:43,680 Speaker 1: he sees that he's making serious traction with the debt snowball, 669 00:30:44,080 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 1: sometimes when you spread yourself too thin and you're trying 670 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,640 Speaker 1: to knock out multiple goals at once, that can really 671 00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:52,480 Speaker 1: slow you down. And for a lot of folks and 672 00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:55,400 Speaker 1: myself included, that can kind of discourage me. And so 673 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:58,000 Speaker 1: I think when we're able to really focus our efforts, 674 00:30:58,200 --> 00:31:00,160 Speaker 1: I can just go a really long way. Since so 675 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,080 Speaker 1: it takes a lot of knowing yourself and knowing how 676 00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:06,320 Speaker 1: you might respond to setting these multiple goals out in 677 00:31:06,320 --> 00:31:08,160 Speaker 1: front of you. So I do think you want to 678 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,440 Speaker 1: make sure that you consider how much your bought into 679 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:14,920 Speaker 1: the debt snowball approach to paying down your debts. But Matt, like, really, 680 00:31:14,920 --> 00:31:16,960 Speaker 1: there's just a lot to consider. But maybe one of 681 00:31:16,960 --> 00:31:18,400 Speaker 1: the things you can do is just making a list 682 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:21,920 Speaker 1: of the benefits of each option and going with whichever 683 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 1: one means the most to you. There may not necessarily 684 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 1: be a right or wrong answer here, but instead a 685 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:30,080 Speaker 1: solution that fits your goals the best and whatever it 686 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 1: is that you want to achieve in the next few years. Yeah, man, 687 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:34,640 Speaker 1: I think what you said about a single minded focus 688 00:31:34,960 --> 00:31:37,680 Speaker 1: is really powerful and really important. And I think sometimes 689 00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:39,760 Speaker 1: when we try to do two things at once, we 690 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,920 Speaker 1: do neither thing well. So, more than anything, I think 691 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:46,560 Speaker 1: Matt definitely needs to assess his goal first, his main goal, 692 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 1: and then attack that as hard as you can. And 693 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: if it delays buying a house, it might delay buying 694 00:31:50,920 --> 00:31:53,080 Speaker 1: a house. Sometimes that's the case. Our other goals get 695 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 1: delayed when we have another goal that we're focusing on 696 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,720 Speaker 1: that's even more important to us. That's great, man, Yeah, 697 00:31:57,760 --> 00:31:59,960 Speaker 1: focus on whatever is going to move the needle the most. 698 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:02,240 Speaker 1: All right, Matt, But we got one more question we 699 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:03,760 Speaker 1: have to get to, and this one is from a 700 00:32:03,800 --> 00:32:08,040 Speaker 1: listener trying to lower her monthly payment on her student loans. Hey, guys, 701 00:32:08,120 --> 00:32:10,880 Speaker 1: this is taking an anchorage Alaska. I love your show 702 00:32:10,920 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 1: and your advice, so I'm curious as to what you 703 00:32:12,760 --> 00:32:16,920 Speaker 1: have to say about my current situation. I recently graduated 704 00:32:16,920 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: with the Masters of Social Work and I'm set to 705 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,880 Speaker 1: start repaying my loans in January February. I currently work 706 00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: at a nonprofit and planning to do so for the 707 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:28,200 Speaker 1: foreseeable future, and so I'm planning ongoing for the Public 708 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:31,600 Speaker 1: Service Forgiveness loan program. Part of this program is being 709 00:32:31,640 --> 00:32:33,840 Speaker 1: on an income based through payment plan, and right now, 710 00:32:33,880 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 1: the quote that I'm getting is way more than my 711 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:39,040 Speaker 1: husband and I can afford on a monthly basis. It 712 00:32:39,080 --> 00:32:41,360 Speaker 1: also seems to me that it's in our best interest 713 00:32:41,400 --> 00:32:43,960 Speaker 1: to pay the least amount possible for the next ten years. 714 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: I'm curious ast if you have any tips or tricks 715 00:32:46,840 --> 00:32:49,480 Speaker 1: on how to get this minimum monthly payment down. I 716 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:52,440 Speaker 1: did read the filing our taxes as married. Filing separately 717 00:32:52,480 --> 00:32:54,280 Speaker 1: can help so that I don't have to include my 718 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:57,720 Speaker 1: husband's income, but I'm also concerned that if we end 719 00:32:57,800 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: up giving me all the deductions and will end up 720 00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:03,160 Speaker 1: having to pay taxes on his half. Most of the 721 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:05,720 Speaker 1: information I can find on student loans in the money 722 00:33:05,720 --> 00:33:09,280 Speaker 1: field right now is on how to pay the student 723 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,960 Speaker 1: loans off in the quickest and most efficient way possible. 724 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: But since I want to pay the least amount possible, 725 00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:17,240 Speaker 1: there doesn't seem to be much available. I would really 726 00:33:17,240 --> 00:33:19,680 Speaker 1: appreciate any advice or tips and tricks you have on this. 727 00:33:20,080 --> 00:33:22,920 Speaker 1: Thanks guys, and keep up the great work. Tigan, thanks 728 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:25,600 Speaker 1: so much for for your question and congrats on your 729 00:33:25,600 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 1: master's degree. It takes a lot of hard work to 730 00:33:27,600 --> 00:33:30,400 Speaker 1: go back to school and get that advanced degree. That's 731 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 1: what I hear. But I wouldn't know because I wouldn't 732 00:33:32,520 --> 00:33:34,959 Speaker 1: know either. I haven't done it well, Joel. Actually, Teagan 733 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:37,160 Speaker 1: makes me think of Tegan and Sarah. Did you ever 734 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:39,120 Speaker 1: listen to Tegan and Sarah back in the day. I've 735 00:33:39,120 --> 00:33:41,280 Speaker 1: heard of them, but no, I didn't really, Yeah, whn't 736 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:43,560 Speaker 1: at the same time like ryl Lo Kilie and yeah 737 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:46,600 Speaker 1: yeah the era the same genre too, right kinda yeah, 738 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:48,959 Speaker 1: like indie pop, kind of indie rock. I will say 739 00:33:49,000 --> 00:33:51,400 Speaker 1: I still listen to Jenny Lewis. I love her music. Yeah. Well, 740 00:33:51,400 --> 00:33:53,160 Speaker 1: I mean she's been part of all these other different 741 00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:56,360 Speaker 1: groups as well. So it helps to constantly innovate, keeps 742 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:58,640 Speaker 1: you relevant. True. True, All right, Matt, But let's get 743 00:33:58,680 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 1: to Tigan's question about public service loan forgiveness and Matt, 744 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:05,000 Speaker 1: we would first off say that public service loan forgiveness 745 00:34:05,040 --> 00:34:08,640 Speaker 1: is a great move if you meet all the requirements, 746 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:11,200 Speaker 1: and I do stress all the requirements. People have had 747 00:34:11,440 --> 00:34:16,400 Speaker 1: trouble actually achieving the debt forgiveness at the end of 748 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:19,600 Speaker 1: their public service because they didn't meet all the check 749 00:34:19,640 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 1: marks that are required to actually get that forgiveness. And 750 00:34:22,440 --> 00:34:24,520 Speaker 1: so in the show notes, will post a link to 751 00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:27,040 Speaker 1: where you can see all the requirements that you have 752 00:34:27,160 --> 00:34:30,040 Speaker 1: to meet in order to actually get that loan forgiveness. 753 00:34:30,239 --> 00:34:31,799 Speaker 1: And also one of the things that he can said 754 00:34:31,800 --> 00:34:33,920 Speaker 1: in our questions, she said for she was planning on 755 00:34:34,040 --> 00:34:37,719 Speaker 1: working where she is for the foreseeable future. And I 756 00:34:37,719 --> 00:34:40,880 Speaker 1: think it's really important to stress that if your goal 757 00:34:40,960 --> 00:34:44,000 Speaker 1: is to achieve PSLF, you really need to commit for 758 00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,160 Speaker 1: a full ten years. If you're going to go in 759 00:34:47,160 --> 00:34:50,080 Speaker 1: that direction, if you're planning on being there five or 760 00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:52,919 Speaker 1: six or even nine years, well it just doesn't make 761 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:56,320 Speaker 1: sense to pursue that direction if you're not fully committed, 762 00:34:56,600 --> 00:34:58,840 Speaker 1: because if at the end of all those years that 763 00:34:58,920 --> 00:35:01,440 Speaker 1: forgiveness isn't there for you, then really you were kind 764 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:03,799 Speaker 1: of spinning your wheels for quite a long period of time. Well, 765 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:06,960 Speaker 1: so you started saying PSLF, which I appreciate because that 766 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:09,920 Speaker 1: is so much faster to say than public service loan 767 00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:12,680 Speaker 1: forgiveness through trums. A lot of syllables there, Tagan. You 768 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: mentioned lowering your monthly payments. A way to do that 769 00:35:15,360 --> 00:35:18,600 Speaker 1: is by lowering your adjusted gross income your a g 770 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: I in order to lower your student loan payments. So 771 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:24,120 Speaker 1: how do you do that? You can save more for 772 00:35:24,200 --> 00:35:26,920 Speaker 1: retirement to lower that a g I by contributing to 773 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:28,600 Speaker 1: A four O one K, A four O three B 774 00:35:29,239 --> 00:35:33,320 Speaker 1: even traditional iras. Those will offer you an outsize benefit 775 00:35:33,360 --> 00:35:35,560 Speaker 1: not only by lowering your monthly payments, but of course 776 00:35:35,640 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: you're sacking away more money for retirement, which is a 777 00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: huge win. Yeah. Yeah, most people lowering their a g 778 00:35:40,840 --> 00:35:43,400 Speaker 1: I by saving more for retirement. It's really beneficial. But 779 00:35:43,440 --> 00:35:46,319 Speaker 1: it's even more beneficial if you're trying to lower your 780 00:35:46,360 --> 00:35:49,000 Speaker 1: student loan payment. It's essentially allowing you to be forgiven 781 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 1: for even more of your student loan debt. Yeah, dude, 782 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:54,320 Speaker 1: it's seriously win win. And we also have to mention 783 00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:57,560 Speaker 1: Health savings accounts h S a S right if you 784 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:00,760 Speaker 1: are eligible, this can be another great option for investing 785 00:36:00,760 --> 00:36:03,040 Speaker 1: your money towards retirement and lowering your a g I 786 00:36:03,280 --> 00:36:06,480 Speaker 1: and Tigan did mention the option of filing separately as 787 00:36:06,480 --> 00:36:09,040 Speaker 1: a married couple, and that might be a good route 788 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,040 Speaker 1: to go, but there's also a chance you want to 789 00:36:11,080 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: forget PSLF altogether if there's not going to be much 790 00:36:15,600 --> 00:36:18,640 Speaker 1: left to forgive in the end, we would suggest running 791 00:36:18,719 --> 00:36:22,120 Speaker 1: the numbers with a student loan repayment calculator and will 792 00:36:22,160 --> 00:36:24,480 Speaker 1: link to a good one in the show notes, because 793 00:36:24,480 --> 00:36:27,759 Speaker 1: there are a number of potential options to consider with 794 00:36:27,880 --> 00:36:30,480 Speaker 1: your specific details that we don't have in hand, So 795 00:36:30,560 --> 00:36:33,239 Speaker 1: run those numbers for your specific scenario and that can 796 00:36:33,280 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: help you determine whether filing separately instead of jointly as 797 00:36:37,560 --> 00:36:40,200 Speaker 1: a married couple makes sense for you. And since there's 798 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:42,479 Speaker 1: a lot of money at stake here, we would also 799 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:46,280 Speaker 1: suggest to consider hiring a CSLP, which is a certified 800 00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:49,320 Speaker 1: Student loan professional to help you pick the right repayment 801 00:36:49,320 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 1: option for you. These people are essentially experts in the 802 00:36:52,560 --> 00:36:55,920 Speaker 1: field who can walk you through all the potential different scenarios, 803 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,880 Speaker 1: the tax implications, the debt forgiveness implications, I mean everything, 804 00:37:00,280 --> 00:37:03,319 Speaker 1: and I think you, in particular teaching would benefit from 805 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:07,160 Speaker 1: talking with the CSLP about your specific situation so that 806 00:37:07,200 --> 00:37:09,440 Speaker 1: you can make a percent sure you're making the right 807 00:37:09,480 --> 00:37:12,640 Speaker 1: decision with all of the different variables and moving parts 808 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:15,480 Speaker 1: taking place in your scenario. Yeah. Man, they're going to 809 00:37:15,520 --> 00:37:17,880 Speaker 1: specifically know all the different requirements that you have to 810 00:37:17,920 --> 00:37:20,719 Speaker 1: meet in order to make sure you qualify at the 811 00:37:20,880 --> 00:37:23,800 Speaker 1: end of those ten years, and they'll know what levers 812 00:37:23,840 --> 00:37:26,359 Speaker 1: you can pull the lower your monthly payments to where 813 00:37:26,360 --> 00:37:29,880 Speaker 1: you're getting the maximum amount of student loan debt forgiveness exactly. 814 00:37:29,880 --> 00:37:32,880 Speaker 1: And that's a beautiful thing, exactly man. And speaking of cslps, 815 00:37:33,520 --> 00:37:36,000 Speaker 1: our friend Megan and who's been on the podcast before, 816 00:37:36,120 --> 00:37:38,720 Speaker 1: she has a really helpful article up on the site 817 00:37:38,960 --> 00:37:42,320 Speaker 1: regarding filing separately filing jointly when it comes to your taxes, 818 00:37:42,719 --> 00:37:45,080 Speaker 1: uh and student loans. And again we'll make sure to 819 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:47,680 Speaker 1: link to that article as well in the show notes. 820 00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:50,600 Speaker 1: And she is a c s LP, yes exactly. Yeah, 821 00:37:50,680 --> 00:37:52,759 Speaker 1: we wanted to mention c s LP because she is 822 00:37:52,880 --> 00:37:54,799 Speaker 1: a CSLP, so really yeah, when we had her on 823 00:37:54,800 --> 00:37:56,600 Speaker 1: the show before, I mean, you can ask her anything 824 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: about student loans. She knows it. And it's important to 825 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:02,040 Speaker 1: have some one like that in your court, especially in 826 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:05,719 Speaker 1: a situation that sounds as complex as yours. Tea and 827 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:07,640 Speaker 1: so yeah, I would definitely suggest that for you in 828 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 1: that article I think will be of some service as well. 829 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:11,319 Speaker 1: All right, Matt, let's take you back to the beer 830 00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:13,480 Speaker 1: that we had on this episode today. On the show, 831 00:38:13,520 --> 00:38:15,960 Speaker 1: we drank a beer called King Sue by Toppling Goliath 832 00:38:16,000 --> 00:38:18,680 Speaker 1: Brewing Company. These guys are out of Iowa. What was 833 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:20,120 Speaker 1: your take on this beer? Man? Well, first of all, 834 00:38:20,120 --> 00:38:22,120 Speaker 1: why is it called King Sue? Is that a thing? 835 00:38:22,400 --> 00:38:24,319 Speaker 1: I have no idea? This says King Sue. And then 836 00:38:24,320 --> 00:38:27,200 Speaker 1: it's got the toyrnosaurs rex on there. I don't know 837 00:38:27,239 --> 00:38:29,920 Speaker 1: what that means, but it's a good name and I 838 00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:32,239 Speaker 1: remember it. But that's not what you asked me. You 839 00:38:32,280 --> 00:38:34,239 Speaker 1: asked me what I thought about this beer. First off, 840 00:38:34,239 --> 00:38:36,600 Speaker 1: I want to mention how it poured, this cloudy, kind 841 00:38:36,600 --> 00:38:40,040 Speaker 1: of hazy pineapple mango color. We need time of beer 842 00:38:40,080 --> 00:38:42,200 Speaker 1: poors like that. It always gets my attention right off 843 00:38:42,239 --> 00:38:45,479 Speaker 1: the bat, and I'm already stoked to be drinking that beer. 844 00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:47,319 Speaker 1: But on the nose, I feel like this this beer 845 00:38:47,360 --> 00:38:49,960 Speaker 1: had a kind of a candied fruit smell to it. 846 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: But then you taste it and it has that unmistakable 847 00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:54,960 Speaker 1: I p A profile. It's got a lot of hops, 848 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:57,319 Speaker 1: a lot of fruit flavors going on here. It's super balanced, 849 00:38:57,560 --> 00:39:00,080 Speaker 1: really delicious beer. I do feel that the amount of 850 00:39:00,120 --> 00:39:01,520 Speaker 1: hops that was in this i PA it wasn't over 851 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:03,239 Speaker 1: the top. It wasn't one of the ones where it 852 00:39:03,280 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 1: totally hits you, but it kind of like snuck in 853 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:06,000 Speaker 1: the back door a little bit where it's sort of 854 00:39:06,040 --> 00:39:08,080 Speaker 1: like almost like a little sizzle, like a little tingle 855 00:39:08,080 --> 00:39:09,960 Speaker 1: on your tongue a little bit as you're drinking it. 856 00:39:10,480 --> 00:39:12,480 Speaker 1: Really good beer, man, What were your thoughts? Yeah, man, 857 00:39:12,520 --> 00:39:14,040 Speaker 1: I really enjoyed this one. This one's all the way 858 00:39:14,040 --> 00:39:15,960 Speaker 1: from Iowa, so it's not like we have access to 859 00:39:16,000 --> 00:39:19,279 Speaker 1: it here in Georgia. It's a it's a smaller brewery. Yeah, 860 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:21,600 Speaker 1: they're out there in Decorah, Iowa. Is that how you 861 00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:23,800 Speaker 1: say that? I guess I've never been there, but listener, 862 00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:25,440 Speaker 1: Joe was really kind to send us bear away so 863 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:28,319 Speaker 1: we could get a taste. And I think pineapple was 864 00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:30,680 Speaker 1: the main flavor I got out of there, which I 865 00:39:30,719 --> 00:39:32,640 Speaker 1: love in an I p A, Like a really pineapple 866 00:39:32,719 --> 00:39:35,160 Speaker 1: forward flavor in my I p A. And so yeah, 867 00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:37,960 Speaker 1: this beer has just this killer reputation with like the 868 00:39:37,960 --> 00:39:40,080 Speaker 1: best can art and a giant t Rex on the 869 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:43,600 Speaker 1: front and the liquid inside just didn't disappoint. It was delicious. 870 00:39:43,960 --> 00:39:45,880 Speaker 1: Everything I want in a double I p a. It 871 00:39:45,960 --> 00:39:48,319 Speaker 1: was sweet, it had a hoppy bite, and so yeah, man, 872 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:49,879 Speaker 1: King Sue, I'm gonna give it a lot of love. 873 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:51,840 Speaker 1: It was a great beer. Yeah for Lucky. One of 874 00:39:51,880 --> 00:39:53,640 Speaker 1: these days we can actually make it out to that 875 00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:55,440 Speaker 1: specific brewer. I want to be there because they have 876 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,960 Speaker 1: a lot of amazing beers that I have never tried, 877 00:39:59,040 --> 00:40:01,520 Speaker 1: and so they're very high on my list. Yeah, when 878 00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:03,320 Speaker 1: you look at some of the other beers on Toppling 879 00:40:03,400 --> 00:40:05,799 Speaker 1: Goliath beer list, people are obsessed with them and they 880 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:08,919 Speaker 1: get just the highest ratings. Yes, yeah, yeah, a pilgrimage 881 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:11,720 Speaker 1: is due us to that very I think it sounds 882 00:40:11,719 --> 00:40:13,160 Speaker 1: like we just need to get an air stream and 883 00:40:13,719 --> 00:40:16,520 Speaker 1: just go around the whole country really visiting breweries, and 884 00:40:16,560 --> 00:40:18,880 Speaker 1: maybe that will happen someday. But Matt, that's going to 885 00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:21,279 Speaker 1: do it for this episode. And again, for people that 886 00:40:21,400 --> 00:40:23,919 Speaker 1: do want to submit a question for a future ask 887 00:40:24,120 --> 00:40:26,480 Speaker 1: htm episode, we would love to hear from you. We 888 00:40:26,600 --> 00:40:28,960 Speaker 1: love taking your listener questions. It's always a lot of 889 00:40:28,960 --> 00:40:31,720 Speaker 1: fun for us. So all you gotta do it's really simple. 890 00:40:31,800 --> 00:40:34,840 Speaker 1: Follow the easy instructions on our website at how to 891 00:40:34,960 --> 00:40:37,719 Speaker 1: money dot com slash ask yep. You can find that 892 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:39,560 Speaker 1: there as well as our show notes, where we're gonna 893 00:40:39,600 --> 00:40:41,279 Speaker 1: have links to a lot of the different things that 894 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:44,839 Speaker 1: we discussed specifically with the PSLF question. So Joel, that's 895 00:40:44,840 --> 00:40:47,359 Speaker 1: gonna do it. Man. Until next time, Best friends Out, 896 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:48,319 Speaker 1: Best Friends Out,