1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:02,840 Speaker 1: Welcome to How the Money. I'm Joel and I am Matt, 2 00:00:02,880 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: and today we're answering your listener questions. That's very funny. 3 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: We've got a listener question Monday episode lined up for everybody, 4 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: and we're gonna get to five great questions that listeners 5 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: sent our away. We're gonna get to a frugal or 6 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:37,240 Speaker 1: cheap I love it when listeners sent in their frugal 7 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: er cheaps, because you know what, there's not necessarily a 8 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 1: right or wrong answer. We kind of have to navigate 9 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:46,879 Speaker 1: the waters of friendship and familial expectations and just all 10 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: these other different aspects. You're dealing with cultural norms. That's right. Yeah, yeah, uh, 11 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:53,639 Speaker 1: and so I like doing that a lot. But we're 12 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,319 Speaker 1: gonna take a fugular cheap regarding a bachelorette party. I'm 13 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: looking forward to that. We've got a question about short 14 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: term employments how this listener can plan for that, And 15 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:06,720 Speaker 1: a question too about putting more down towards the down 16 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: payment for a house that this listener is thinking about 17 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: getting looking forward to that, plus two others during this episode. Yeah, man, 18 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: should be good. I want to quickly. Will be good? 19 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 1: It will be good. I agree with you. Well, I 20 00:01:16,600 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: just wanted to say that I'm not sure how many 21 00:01:19,280 --> 00:01:22,560 Speaker 1: listeners out there have Triple A as kind. I forget 22 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 1: what it costs a year. I think we paid something 23 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: like seventy dollars a year to A. Yeah, and it's 24 00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: one of those things where my mind it was like 25 00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: a couple or something like, oh no, I don't think. No, 26 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:32,480 Speaker 1: it's not that m more forward something like seventy or 27 00:01:32,520 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: eighty bucks. Um. But we uh, I don't know if 28 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 1: we've talked about the fact that our family does pay 29 00:01:37,160 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 1: for Triple A, mostly at my wife's insistence. She's like, no, 30 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: we've got this old car. We only only got one car. 31 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: We need to get Triple A. And I was like, 32 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: I get it, okay, all right. So I succumbed thinking 33 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: that you know what I'd rather in the event of 34 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: a necessary towing I'd rather just pay the toe company directly, 35 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: although that can get expensive. Um. And actually she was 36 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: she was proved right in this instance. Okay, we we 37 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: have actually had to use our Triple A coverage or 38 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: been able to use it just kind of makes it easy. 39 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: Used it twice, um, so far in the past six 40 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:11,480 Speaker 1: months this year. I thought, right, was it earlier this 41 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 1: year that it was that I got that flat tire 42 00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 1: and they changed changed day. Yeah, yeah, that was just 43 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: a nice things. We had so many other things going 44 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:22,120 Speaker 1: on and they came and changed changed the tire. Something 45 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,079 Speaker 1: I can do. I prefer not to do, you know 46 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,880 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. But uh, and then this pastime, my 47 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 1: something happened to our crank Pully broke on on the 48 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: minivan on Homer so so technical cranker, so it literally 49 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 1: fell off beneath the car. Mo I was like stranded. Um, 50 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: you know, about twenty minutes from home and we have 51 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: one car, so I can't pick her up and stuff. 52 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,679 Speaker 1: So Triple A helped out in a big way to 53 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 1: the rescue. Yeah, and so I just wanted to say that. 54 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: Sometimes we've talked about how if you decided to become 55 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: a one car family, there are other considerations that you 56 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: have to make and potentially other expenses. For instance, uh, 57 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:01,679 Speaker 1: I chair, you have to allocate a little more money 58 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: towards potentially taking more Uberts or something like that. Um, 59 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 1: and another thing you're gonna have to consider. You might 60 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,000 Speaker 1: want to get Triple A. You might want to spend 61 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 1: the seventy or eighty bucks a year, especially if you're 62 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,240 Speaker 1: one car is an older car like ours, and there's 63 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: more to go wrong. Thin plus years old, right, so 64 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: um yeah, I think it's Homer is a little bit older, 65 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,840 Speaker 1: how uh yeah, a little bit newer, yes, but not 66 00:03:22,840 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: not much newer. Honestly, I feel like we're kind of 67 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: catching up to you'all over a decade old now in mileage. 68 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: Holy cow, yeah it ten years old. That's crazy thing. 69 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: I didn't even think about that, but you're right, yeah, 70 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: in minds like, um, se years old. So it's yeah, 71 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:39,120 Speaker 1: they're getting long in the tooth, but it's it's still 72 00:03:39,160 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: I'm still glad that that's the one car we have 73 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: and we want to stick to that. But it does 74 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,480 Speaker 1: mean probably some you know, some additional maintenance expenses. But 75 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: one of the things, like the repairs that we did 76 00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: to the car that crank Polly was something like two 77 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty dollars to fix it. Not bad. And 78 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:55,080 Speaker 1: when I spent that money, when I when I gave 79 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: that to my local mechanic, I gave it to him 80 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 1: gladly because I was like, you know, what if we 81 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 1: were to get a newer car and had a payment 82 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: on it that would be less than one month's payment order. 83 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: The Tower Bucks would be like a quarter of new 84 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:10,040 Speaker 1: car page exactly. So I'm like, let's keep this, which 85 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: I hate, this probably running, keeping a good condition and 86 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 1: all is good. Totally agree. I think it's a good 87 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 1: way of thinking about it to approach some of these 88 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: expenses that are inevitable as a necessary small expense, especially 89 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: when you are comparing it to the amount of money 90 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: that you're saving. Um. But even I don't know, I 91 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: do want to push back a little bit because I mean, 92 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: how often have you ever had a car toad before? 93 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: Because in my entire I have I don't think I 94 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: literally have never gotten a car toad. I will say 95 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: it's one of those insurance items that is we could 96 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:42,880 Speaker 1: have just paid for the toe and it probably would 97 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 1: have cost us like a dollar. Yeah, that's what I 98 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 1: gonna say. It's like like nar Bucks. Uh. And you're 99 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:48,480 Speaker 1: probably right if you were to break it down over 100 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: a period of ten or twelve years, I would probably 101 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,920 Speaker 1: save more by not having triple. And then you talked 102 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: about like that, my wife would be mad at me 103 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 1: and it wouldn't be worth it, and there you go. 104 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:57,479 Speaker 1: And so that's something else you have to consider. So 105 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,080 Speaker 1: it depends on what kind of flexibility you have, who 106 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: else is going to be driving that vehicle, and what 107 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,040 Speaker 1: risk that they're going to assume. But like, even like 108 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: the car, even the flat higher thing. I think we've 109 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:08,599 Speaker 1: we've talked about this on the show before, but you 110 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 1: can spend twenty bucks and buy a tire repair kit 111 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,000 Speaker 1: on Amazon that comes with like twenty or thirty little 112 00:05:15,120 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: of these rubber like plugs you like, jam it inside 113 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: the tire and you pull it, you know, pull it out, 114 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,200 Speaker 1: and you cut it. I literally did that a few 115 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: months ago. It is it's not too difficult to do, 116 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 1: although if it's kind of hard to reach, it can 117 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:28,800 Speaker 1: be very difficult to get to. But I just wanted 118 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:31,000 Speaker 1: to highlight that there are other options as well. Even 119 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: you know, again we have we've got a single car, 120 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 1: and we're not leaving the house maybe quite as much 121 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: as y'all are, you know, with Emily, she's in school 122 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 1: right now, and so I think y'all are commuting a 123 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: little bit more. So maybe if we were in a 124 00:05:39,800 --> 00:05:42,320 Speaker 1: situation like that, there's a good chance that we that 125 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: we might also pay for for triple as well. Okay, 126 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: all right, just want to that, you know, it's like 127 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: it's insurance fire patch kit, though it's kind of like 128 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: turn life insurance. What's the likelihood I'm gonna die in 129 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: the next twenty years? Like, you know, not likely, not 130 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,839 Speaker 1: not super likely, but it's good to have if there's 131 00:05:56,839 --> 00:05:59,400 Speaker 1: piece of mind involved, and that means something. Absolutely all right, 132 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 1: But let's let's be von Matt. The beer that we're 133 00:06:01,279 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: having on this episode is called Aspect Ratio. It's by 134 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:07,560 Speaker 1: Spyglass Brewing Company. Listener Gary sent this one to us. 135 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,440 Speaker 1: He hosts a podcast called The Fat and Broke Podcast, 136 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: and so yeah, big thanks to Gary. I'm telling you, man, 137 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: this beer looks incredible. Can't wait to give our thoughts 138 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,400 Speaker 1: at the end of the episode, and it tastes incredible. 139 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 1: We will give the full breakdown later on, but let's 140 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 1: go ahead and get to our questions for this episode. 141 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: If you are listening and you've never heard and asked 142 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: How the Money episode, we want you to know that 143 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: you too, can submit your own listener question by just 144 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 1: recording a voice memo on your phone and emailing it 145 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,480 Speaker 1: to us at How the Money Pod at gmail dot com. 146 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: But Joel, let's go ahead and get to that first question, uh, 147 00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: surrounding short term employment. Hi, Joel and Matt. I recently 148 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: accepted a position with the nonprofit, and I'll be working 149 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 1: under a grant that is only guaranteed to have funding 150 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: for one year. I currently have a two months emergency fund. 151 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 1: I won't be eligible for the organizations for OH one 152 00:06:57,000 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: K or any matching until I have worked for the 153 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: company for a year. I'm wondering if I should prioritize 154 00:07:03,200 --> 00:07:06,600 Speaker 1: ramping up my emergency fund over funding my wrath IRA 155 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,520 Speaker 1: knowing that my position maybe gone in a year, or 156 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: if I should continue to work towards maxing out my 157 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 1: IRA account while still putting small amounts forwards my emergency fund, 158 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,960 Speaker 1: but not making it my top priority. Love the show, cheers, oh, 159 00:07:22,040 --> 00:07:25,440 Speaker 1: short term employment question, looking forward to chatting about this, 160 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: And Jessica mentioned that she's got a two month emergency fund, which, 161 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: in the grand scheme to things, considering what most people 162 00:07:33,480 --> 00:07:36,920 Speaker 1: have in their savings account, that's pretty good, right, um 163 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: and and so yeah, definitely, Jessica would say give yourself 164 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: some credit for getting to that point because there's a 165 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: lot of folks, still a massive amount of people in 166 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: our country who are living paycheck to paycheck, even Matt. 167 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: I think we recently highlighted how many people making more 168 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:52,240 Speaker 1: than a hundred grand are still living paycheck to paycheck. 169 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: Something close to half the country with an income of 170 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: that amount live paycheck to paycheck. They're counting on that 171 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: next check showing up. They don't have that margin in 172 00:07:59,800 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: their life. Yeah, they haven't had the foresight to save 173 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: even a portion of what they're making to prepare themselves 174 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: for an unfortunate event. But um and and Jessica is 175 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: not not taking that tact, which I appreciate. But let's 176 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: let's cut to the chase. Because um giving, given your 177 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: more tenuous situation, Jessica, namely a job that might not 178 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: be around twelve months from now, it's smart to prioritize 179 00:08:20,840 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: and having more cash on hand in case that grant 180 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: doesn't get renewed and you've got to start pounding the 181 00:08:25,280 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 1: pavement for something else in a year. I think, especially 182 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 1: the fact that you know that this is coming to 183 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,840 Speaker 1: an end, it at least gives you the foresight to 184 00:08:33,840 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: be able to prepare even more than you otherwise would 185 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: be able to. Matches like this job has an expiration date, 186 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:42,719 Speaker 1: how do I prepare in the meantime. Uh, it's Jessica. Yeah. 187 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 1: How much money you should have in cash, it's largely 188 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:48,680 Speaker 1: dependent on your specific situation. Like a lot of money 189 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 1: quote unquote gurus out there, they're gonna encourage everyone to 190 00:08:51,760 --> 00:08:54,040 Speaker 1: have a minimum of six months cash on hand, and 191 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: they'll even say that twelve months is what like everybody 192 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: out there should actually strive for. But that's of course 193 00:09:00,000 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: easier said than done, and it's not even necessarily true 194 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: because if you're trying to pay off credit card debt, 195 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,839 Speaker 1: then that becomes a more important goal than amassing just 196 00:09:07,880 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 1: this massive, fully funded emergency fund. Uh. And let's say 197 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,000 Speaker 1: you're a two income household with steady jobs and a 198 00:09:14,040 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 1: source of passive income. Well, you can probably afford to 199 00:09:17,160 --> 00:09:19,680 Speaker 1: skate by a little bit while having maybe a little 200 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: bit less in your savings account without fretting. And that's 201 00:09:22,760 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: actually we're having a bare bones budget comes in handy. 202 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,079 Speaker 1: We actually talked about that back in episode three sixty two. 203 00:09:28,480 --> 00:09:30,719 Speaker 1: But knowing that you can cut back in a big 204 00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 1: way at a moment's notice is really powerful, and it 205 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,080 Speaker 1: can allow you to have less money sitting there idle 206 00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:37,959 Speaker 1: in your savings account. Yeah, I think that bare bones 207 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 1: budget is a really helpful exercise for anyone to do, 208 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 1: because it does help you realize, wait a second, I 209 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:46,400 Speaker 1: see what my monthly expenses are, but I could actually 210 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: live on two thirds of those overall expenses. I could 211 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: cut back here, here, here, and here. And if you've 212 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: done that exercise and you know what you could get 213 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,400 Speaker 1: by on, it actually makes you realize that you could 214 00:09:57,400 --> 00:10:00,640 Speaker 1: extend your emergency fund even further, um, that it would 215 00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:03,960 Speaker 1: last for longer than you otherwise thought it would. And Matt, 216 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: that brings us to the question of the wrath I array, Uh, 217 00:10:07,120 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: you and I we, of course we love this retirement account. 218 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: We've talked about it many times over the years. We've 219 00:10:11,360 --> 00:10:14,440 Speaker 1: dedicated entire episodes to it. But yeah, we we typically 220 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:16,959 Speaker 1: the beauty of think that's what we call it. We're 221 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: like behold in all its glory on the choir eanngels saying, 222 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: and you know, we still, of course feel that way, 223 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:26,840 Speaker 1: but we typically don't want you to prioritize your wrath 224 00:10:26,960 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: before setting aside at least a solid three months of 225 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: living expenses in your emergency fund. Um. We talked about 226 00:10:33,280 --> 00:10:35,599 Speaker 1: this in depth back in episode three O two so 227 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: that's another one to listen back to. That was our 228 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,640 Speaker 1: episode about money gears and and since you've already got 229 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: two months worth, I'm guessing that it shouldn't take too 230 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:47,679 Speaker 1: long before you're at three. If you're dedicated, as it 231 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,199 Speaker 1: sounds like you are, Jessica. However, the timing of your question, 232 00:10:51,200 --> 00:10:53,439 Speaker 1: I would say, is really important, and it means we're 233 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: going to modify what we typically recommend. Since you have 234 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:00,240 Speaker 1: less than a month left to contribute to your roth 235 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:03,439 Speaker 1: IRA the deadline is April eighteenth, we think you should 236 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:07,520 Speaker 1: contribute that money to your WRATH even though your emergency 237 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:10,559 Speaker 1: fund isn't stocked as you'd like it to be. It's 238 00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:13,320 Speaker 1: because the clock is ticking right and unfortunately, once that 239 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: window closes, you'll never be able to make up for 240 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 1: those missed contributions. It's yeah, you're you're out of luck. 241 00:11:20,280 --> 00:11:22,920 Speaker 1: If you don't contribute a SAP. That is a window 242 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: that you will never be able to reopen. It's like 243 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:29,120 Speaker 1: a time portal that completely closes. But you know, Jessica, 244 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:32,839 Speaker 1: even though you make those contributions, you shouldn't necessarily invest 245 00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: that money just yet. You actually want it sitting on 246 00:11:35,440 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: the sidelines at least for the time being. See this 247 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,400 Speaker 1: is where you actually can have your cake and you 248 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:41,920 Speaker 1: can eat it too. You know. One of our favorite 249 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: things about the roth Ira is that you can actually 250 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: use it as a backup emergency fund if you need 251 00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:48,920 Speaker 1: to in the future. Uh. And since you've already paid 252 00:11:48,960 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: tax on any contributions, you can pull out those contributions 253 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,720 Speaker 1: without any tax consequences and so put some money in 254 00:11:54,760 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 1: there if you can. And since those contributions aren't invested, 255 00:11:57,720 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: you don't run the risk of that balance decreasing in 256 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: the short term due to market volatility. And then once 257 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:05,560 Speaker 1: you do have an actual three months worth of living 258 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: expenses set aside as cash in your hopefully in a 259 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 1: high interest savings account, then you can put those roth 260 00:12:12,080 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: Ira contributions to work by actually investing it, uh in 261 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: a you know, simple index fund like an SMP five 262 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,280 Speaker 1: hundred or total stock market index fund. Yeah. I like 263 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,280 Speaker 1: that in vice Matt, because in less than a month, 264 00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 1: you won't have a chance to contribute for that time period. Again, 265 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: so getting it in there but leaving it essentially in 266 00:12:29,160 --> 00:12:31,800 Speaker 1: in liquid cash form so it's not in the market, 267 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: makes a whole lot of sense, because this is money 268 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,080 Speaker 1: she might need to use in the near future. So so, Jessica, 269 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: just a quick recap. Max out you RATH contributions before 270 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: April eighteenth, if possible for you, but don't invest the 271 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 1: money just yet, and then save up enough so that 272 00:12:47,080 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 1: you have at least three months of expenses in your 273 00:12:49,600 --> 00:12:53,560 Speaker 1: emergency fund. Do that over the next I don't know, five, six, 274 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: eight months, you know, while you're working, and then you 275 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,920 Speaker 1: can actually invest the money that you've contributed to your 276 00:12:58,920 --> 00:13:01,160 Speaker 1: WRATH once you're at that point points. So hopefully that 277 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: all makes sense. We don't often deviate from our money gears, 278 00:13:03,920 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: but in personal finance is of course personal, and you 279 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:09,600 Speaker 1: have an interesting situation. We want you to be able 280 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: to investor your future, even in a period where you've 281 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 1: got a short term job and things are a little 282 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: more up in the air um as to to where 283 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,080 Speaker 1: they're going to go from here for you. But yeah, 284 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: given the timeliness of your question, we think it makes 285 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: sense for you to get money in the RATH, even 286 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,559 Speaker 1: though your fund is it quite where you wanted to 287 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:26,360 Speaker 1: be yet exactly. And that, dude, this is what why 288 00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:28,640 Speaker 1: I love listener questions because it allows us to kind 289 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: of dive into the nuances and the details of an 290 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: individual situation. Uh, in order for us to give like 291 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,920 Speaker 1: more artistic advice, right, because we've got our money gears. 292 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: But the fact is, man, we're not like ideologues. We're 293 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: not super fundamentalists here where we're gonna say no, matter what, 294 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,720 Speaker 1: you always have to do exactly what we say. It depends. 295 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: It depends on the dollar amounts. And like, we do 296 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: have general rules that we want folks to follow. When 297 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: we're able to get some of these you know, nuanced details, 298 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: that does allow us to give even better advice because 299 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,160 Speaker 1: in this case, Jessica may have missed out on six 300 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: thousand dollars worth of investing that she would never have 301 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:02,600 Speaker 1: been able to contribute to that account again. Yeah, and 302 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:04,680 Speaker 1: that is one of the biggest problems I think in 303 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: the personal finance space is really hard and fast rules 304 00:14:07,880 --> 00:14:11,880 Speaker 1: that they apply to everyone, regardless of their situation, whether 305 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: it's don't ever use a credit card or don't ever 306 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: buy a new car, or don't ever take out a 307 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: loan on this or such. Yeah, it's like those those 308 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: hard and fast rules can lead to people taking actions 309 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: that aren't appropriate for their situation. I get it because 310 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,400 Speaker 1: sometimes those rules apply to nine plus percent of the 311 00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,520 Speaker 1: population and you're trying to keep people from being their 312 00:14:31,520 --> 00:14:34,320 Speaker 1: own worst enemy, and people can use those tools improperly. 313 00:14:34,360 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: But that's that's where it takes a deeper discussion and 314 00:14:36,720 --> 00:14:39,400 Speaker 1: some new ones. So Jessica, hope that helps best of 315 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:41,360 Speaker 1: luck in this short term job. I hope it turns 316 00:14:41,400 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: into something full time in the near future. Um, if 317 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 1: that's what you want. But all right, Matt, we've got 318 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: more questions to get to, including that bachelorette party for 319 00:14:48,600 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: rule or cheap. Will get to that and more right 320 00:14:50,360 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: after this. All right, we are back, and before we 321 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: get to that bachelorette conundrum, let's hear from a listener 322 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: who wants to buy a house, and how's a question 323 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:10,360 Speaker 1: about the down payment? Hey, Matt and Joel, this is 324 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: Aaron in Ukaypa, California, and I'm super grateful for all 325 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:15,920 Speaker 1: to help you give to us listeners. So I think 326 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:17,760 Speaker 1: my wife and I are on money gear number seven 327 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: and we really want to buy our first home. We 328 00:15:19,960 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: know we're going to pay at least down, but our 329 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:25,640 Speaker 1: current single modest income would still not keep our California 330 00:15:25,640 --> 00:15:30,120 Speaker 1: mortgage under that housing costs threshold, unless that is, we 331 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: made an especially large down payment. I figure if we 332 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:36,480 Speaker 1: pay up to thirty to thirty down, our mortgage payments 333 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: could be more reasonable, though that would obviously deplete more 334 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: of our investments. So do you think it makes sense 335 00:15:42,360 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: to up our down payment since we're on a single income, 336 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: or does it make more sense to just pay down, 337 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: keep more of our money in the market and maybe 338 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,720 Speaker 1: even use our investments to supplement our mortgage payments or 339 00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: something else. Really appreciate your input and hope to see 340 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,160 Speaker 1: you guys make a tour stop and so cal someday. 341 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,280 Speaker 1: Oh man, lovely southern California, where it's always funny, where 342 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: it's always funny, and where the beers are always delicious. 343 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,080 Speaker 1: Is that is true? Yeah? So if we if we 344 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,400 Speaker 1: can maybe coordinate stops at like Monkish the Brewery Fire 345 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:12,920 Speaker 1: sound Walker, I mean, we need to put that on 346 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,080 Speaker 1: our list and to get back there soon. They're they're 347 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: just so many great breweries out there. I don't maybe 348 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:21,160 Speaker 1: some of my favorite breweries are in that like Vermont region, 349 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: but I think Southern California has definitely an argument to 350 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: be made for having like the most great breweries in 351 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: a small area, the weather, yeah yes, and so yeah. 352 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: The only reason we're not moving out there though is 353 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: cost of living. It's it's too expensive, as Aaron knows, 354 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:38,400 Speaker 1: and so yeah, home down payments are are there one 355 00:16:38,400 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 1: of those things you know, we were just talking before 356 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: the break about these rules of thumb that personal finance 357 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 1: experts have and that they divvy out and they tell 358 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:49,400 Speaker 1: everyone that they need to abide by them. Well, this 359 00:16:49,480 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 1: is another one of those things where you you must 360 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: have this amount of money to put down, but so 361 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,640 Speaker 1: much of it applies to your specific situation. And I 362 00:16:56,680 --> 00:16:59,080 Speaker 1: think you know that's the case. Actually with with Aaron's question, 363 00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: you know, some folks will tell you, told me by 364 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: real estate, if you've got the cash, like literally to 365 00:17:03,800 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 1: pay cash for a house, and others say that you 366 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: should start building wealth by purchasing a primary home as 367 00:17:08,320 --> 00:17:10,240 Speaker 1: soon as possible, no matter how much money you have 368 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:12,360 Speaker 1: to put down. Uh, you know, even if you've got 369 00:17:12,480 --> 00:17:14,359 Speaker 1: little to no cash on hand for down payment and 370 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: closing costs, it doesn't matter. Get in the house. Well, 371 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: we hear at how the money we tend to of 372 00:17:19,040 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: course straddle the middle. So maybe let's do our best 373 00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: to give Aaron some thoughtful advice. Yeah, and you know, 374 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: generally speaking, we do like our listeners to prioritize a 375 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 1: minimum down, you know, specifically to avoid having to pay 376 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: extra in private mortgage insurance every month. Those costs really 377 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:35,840 Speaker 1: add up, right, If you were to get a mortgage, 378 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: say for three thousand dollars, you could easily be paying 379 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:41,919 Speaker 1: three dollars a month to cover p m I. And 380 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,000 Speaker 1: on top of that, it's wise to have saved a 381 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,240 Speaker 1: bundle in cash above and beyond that for closing costs 382 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: necessary repairs. But there's nuance in this answer as well, 383 00:17:51,320 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 1: because Aaron, the longer that you plan on staying in 384 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: this home, the less risky it is to put less 385 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: money down. You're able to spread the closing costs out 386 00:17:58,359 --> 00:18:00,680 Speaker 1: over a longer period of time, and you were less 387 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: likely to be affected by those shorter term declines and 388 00:18:03,320 --> 00:18:06,800 Speaker 1: home values. But you're you're talking about putting even more down, 389 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:10,280 Speaker 1: which is a question that we don't get all that often. 390 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,879 Speaker 1: It's like the kid who's getting a hundred in the 391 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:15,080 Speaker 1: class and they're like, what can I do for extra credit? Teacher, 392 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,399 Speaker 1: And it's like, you don't really, you don't really have to, 393 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,160 Speaker 1: but um, okay, so so let's let's get a feeling 394 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: that Aaron was perhaps the he might have been. And so, Matt, 395 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:26,399 Speaker 1: what you said is right. But I like where Aaron's 396 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: head is at, Like he he wants to keep those 397 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,199 Speaker 1: monthly mortgage payments manageable, which I think is is a 398 00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,080 Speaker 1: good goal in an expensive market like southern California, that's 399 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:38,160 Speaker 1: hard to do. Write home prices um are not cheap. 400 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: And so by saving more money to go towards that 401 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: down payment, that is exactly what he's accomplishing. He's able 402 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:47,480 Speaker 1: to put more down upfront and lower those monthly his 403 00:18:47,520 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: monthly obligation. But do you unleash this money at the 404 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:52,719 Speaker 1: closing table, that's the big question, or do you keep 405 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: it invested in? Yes, that is this question. And you know, 406 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 1: much of this depends on what type of investment account 407 00:18:57,960 --> 00:18:59,600 Speaker 1: the money is in. For instance, if it's in a 408 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,000 Speaker 1: brokerage accounting, that money has been invested for at least 409 00:19:02,040 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 1: a year, it's not a bad idea to tap some 410 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:06,880 Speaker 1: of those funds, right. He'll have to prepare to pay 411 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: some capital gains tax though if he does that. But 412 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:11,960 Speaker 1: if we're talking about money that hasn't been invested for 413 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:15,160 Speaker 1: long or if we're talking about money in a retirement account, 414 00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 1: then we would say that's a no go, because then 415 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,680 Speaker 1: the taxes and the penalties become prohibitive. Basically, we'd rather 416 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:23,439 Speaker 1: you have a larger mortgage payment. Agreed. Yeah, taxes and 417 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,439 Speaker 1: penalties are the two reasons why you want to avoid 418 00:19:26,440 --> 00:19:29,080 Speaker 1: snagging money from your investments when possible. But something I 419 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,439 Speaker 1: wanted to point out was something that Aaron said there 420 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: at the beginning of his question, which is that he 421 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,000 Speaker 1: and his wife that he thinks that they're pretty much 422 00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:39,160 Speaker 1: on money gear number seven. He didn't say how long 423 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:41,120 Speaker 1: they've been there, he didn't say how large their investment 424 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,560 Speaker 1: portfolio is, but it sounds like that they are in 425 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 1: a really healthy financial position, so much so that I 426 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: think they could afford a slightly higher monthly payment that 427 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:54,560 Speaker 1: starts to creep even above that of their monthly expenses threshold. 428 00:19:54,880 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: And mainly because they've gone through all the gears. They've 429 00:19:56,600 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: got a fully funded emergency fund, they've got no debt whatsoever, 430 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,080 Speaker 1: they've no xed out the retirement accounts. Like sure, their 431 00:20:02,119 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: their mortgage payment might be higher than what they would 432 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: like to see, but I think it's okay. To slow 433 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:11,119 Speaker 1: down their savings rate. If home ownership in southern California, 434 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,639 Speaker 1: if that's a high priority for them, They've been making, 435 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:16,560 Speaker 1: you know, such smart moves for years that I think 436 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:19,880 Speaker 1: they can now make this dream perhaps of home ownership 437 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:23,560 Speaker 1: possibility for them. No, I completely agree. Again, personal situation matters, 438 00:20:23,560 --> 00:20:27,200 Speaker 1: and and and you know, the traditional advice to make 439 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:31,919 Speaker 1: your home no more than your monthly expenses makes sense. 440 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 1: But if you're basically at the point of financial independence, 441 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:36,919 Speaker 1: like Aaron and his wife are, then I think you 442 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: can afford to make slightly different decisions with with your money. 443 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: And the bottom line is that in either case, Aaron, 444 00:20:43,440 --> 00:20:45,560 Speaker 1: your your money is going to be invested somewhere. It's 445 00:20:45,600 --> 00:20:47,320 Speaker 1: either invested in the market or it's going to be 446 00:20:47,359 --> 00:20:50,160 Speaker 1: invested in real estate inside of this house. And so 447 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: I think Matt and I tend to think of this 448 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 1: as six of one or half dozen of the other. 449 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 1: It doesn't really matter all that much whether you leave 450 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:02,480 Speaker 1: your you know, that money invested, or whether you're pulling 451 00:21:02,520 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: it out now and taking it to the closing table. 452 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,040 Speaker 1: You know, even though the technical definition of being house 453 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: for is when your mortgage payments are too high, you're 454 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:12,520 Speaker 1: still talking about purchasing the same house. It's not like 455 00:21:12,560 --> 00:21:15,160 Speaker 1: you're saying, well, I would probably opt for this less 456 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: expensive house, because if that was the case, that's a 457 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,760 Speaker 1: different answer. And if push comes to shove, you can 458 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,240 Speaker 1: always sell some of your investments down the road. So 459 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:24,199 Speaker 1: either way you're spending that money on housing. It's just 460 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: a matter of doing that upfront with your down payment 461 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,200 Speaker 1: or spreading it out over time throughout your mortgage payments. 462 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:33,879 Speaker 1: And so there just really isn't a right or wrong answer. 463 00:21:34,119 --> 00:21:36,920 Speaker 1: It's more about what gives you the most peace of mind. 464 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: Is it having your your money in the market working 465 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:42,359 Speaker 1: for you uh and continuing to build wealth for you, 466 00:21:42,480 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: or is it kind of being a little bit more 467 00:21:44,280 --> 00:21:47,679 Speaker 1: conservative and making sure that your monthly mortgage payments are 468 00:21:47,720 --> 00:21:50,920 Speaker 1: more manageable exactly. I will highlight one other threshold because 469 00:21:50,960 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: we were talking about mark in order to make sure 470 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:56,320 Speaker 1: that you'll eliminate that p M I. But the Wall 471 00:21:56,320 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: Street Journal is talking about how it is good to 472 00:21:58,600 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: shop around and make sure that you are able to 473 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:03,800 Speaker 1: lower the lender fees, and you can do that by 474 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 1: not putting and so Aaron, as you are talking to lenders, 475 00:22:08,840 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: see what kind of difference that makes in order to 476 00:22:11,520 --> 00:22:13,119 Speaker 1: remove some of those fees, because that might be a 477 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:15,240 Speaker 1: threshold that you know, might make a little bit more sense, 478 00:22:15,400 --> 00:22:18,600 Speaker 1: not necessarily to reduce your monthly mortgage payment, but to 479 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:21,000 Speaker 1: actually reduce some of those costs in order to score 480 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: that mortgage. Yeah, I agreed. It's it's certainly worth asking 481 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 1: the question and bring more money to the table if 482 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: it's gonna save you money on fees and it's not 483 00:22:28,080 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: prohibitively difficult, if it's not locked up in one of 484 00:22:30,359 --> 00:22:33,160 Speaker 1: your retirement accounts, that's you know, that's a different story. 485 00:22:33,280 --> 00:22:35,439 Speaker 1: All right. Let's get to that frugal or cheap question now, 486 00:22:35,480 --> 00:22:38,119 Speaker 1: Matt about going to this bachelortte party. Let's help Alex 487 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: make a great decision. Hello, Matt and Joel. This is 488 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 1: Alice calling from Philadelphia. I'm wondering if I'm being the 489 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:45,680 Speaker 1: cheap one in my friend group, if I'm willing to 490 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:49,040 Speaker 1: skip my friends bachelorette party just over the cost of it. 491 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,200 Speaker 1: She wants this party to be a surprise for her, 492 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: so she has a mutual friend of ours planning it. 493 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 1: I tried to talk to this mutual friend about the 494 00:22:57,280 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: cost in the past and he's brushed me off every 495 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:01,880 Speaker 1: single time, so I just left it at. I told 496 00:23:01,920 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 1: him my budget for the entire wedding, and that I 497 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: was only looking to spend seven hundred fifty dollars and 498 00:23:05,880 --> 00:23:08,679 Speaker 1: that's what I set aside for it. Recently, though, he 499 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: told us that we all owe him two hundred and 500 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,040 Speaker 1: seventy dollars for the hotel he book down in Miami, 501 00:23:13,280 --> 00:23:15,120 Speaker 1: and we should start looking for flights to get down 502 00:23:15,119 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: there too. So right now, flights in Miami out of 503 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: Philadelphia about five hundred dollars, and so I'm way past 504 00:23:22,320 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: the budget. I told him. Knowing this, I reached out 505 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,240 Speaker 1: to him, trying to talk about compromises we could do 506 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: to bring down the cost, maybe a different location or 507 00:23:29,680 --> 00:23:32,920 Speaker 1: a cheaper hotel in general. He was shocked and taken 508 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:35,680 Speaker 1: it back that I wasn't willing to spend however much 509 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:39,159 Speaker 1: it told to make this her dream party. So the 510 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: last we left it at was me telling him, if 511 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,119 Speaker 1: it's this much money, I really can't afford to go. 512 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:46,040 Speaker 1: I have other things going on in my life that 513 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:49,200 Speaker 1: I just can't afford to spend seven hundred plus dollars 514 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:53,120 Speaker 1: in one weekend. So Matt and Joel am I being 515 00:23:53,160 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: the cheap one here, all right, Alex, thanks for that question, 516 00:23:56,640 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: and Joel man, like, what I don't want to do 517 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:01,879 Speaker 1: is to make Alex whose friends here in this situation? 518 00:24:02,640 --> 00:24:04,840 Speaker 1: Like these really are tough decisions that all this face 519 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,879 Speaker 1: at one time or another. Sometimes attending a fun event 520 00:24:07,920 --> 00:24:10,120 Speaker 1: with friends like that can mean spending money that we 521 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:12,919 Speaker 1: might prefer to save. And a major part of the 522 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:15,640 Speaker 1: reason that these decisions are so difficult is the peer 523 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: pressure that you face to spend money in ways that 524 00:24:18,920 --> 00:24:21,040 Speaker 1: you don't feel comfortable right, Like, and like it's not 525 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 1: always super obvious where folks are saying that, like, hey, 526 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:26,600 Speaker 1: if you don't do this thing, you're no longer my friend. 527 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,840 Speaker 1: I'm cutting you off and I'm never gonna see you again. 528 00:24:28,920 --> 00:24:31,879 Speaker 1: Like it's it's not usually that cutting dry exactly. Yeah, 529 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: we don't communicate that way. It's way it's way more 530 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,480 Speaker 1: like undercover than that, And it's more about how we're 531 00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 1: made to feel about our decision. It's not something that 532 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:41,720 Speaker 1: is blatantly spoken about. But this sounds like this is 533 00:24:41,760 --> 00:24:44,080 Speaker 1: exactly what Alex is going through. Yeah, no, it does, 534 00:24:44,160 --> 00:24:47,240 Speaker 1: And I think you're right. I mean I think there 535 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:50,360 Speaker 1: there are decisions that we have to make, especially especially 536 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,959 Speaker 1: in those early years where our income may not be 537 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: where it's going to be five ten years from now, 538 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,320 Speaker 1: where our expenses are are still high, where are savings 539 00:24:59,359 --> 00:25:02,640 Speaker 1: are Buddy, like they're they're still small. They're a very 540 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: thin margin between expenses and what I'm able to put 541 00:25:05,720 --> 00:25:07,960 Speaker 1: away towards retirement. And you're like, listen, I could cut 542 00:25:07,960 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: back on how much I'm contributing to my four oh 543 00:25:10,160 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 1: one K or something like that in order to make 544 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 1: this happen, But man, I don't know. That's not what 545 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: I want for myself. I have bigger goals. And so 546 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:18,960 Speaker 1: it becomes a tough decision because you know, you could 547 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:21,360 Speaker 1: do something you you know, I know, Alex could pull 548 00:25:21,359 --> 00:25:23,119 Speaker 1: a rabbit out of his hat and make this happen, 549 00:25:23,359 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: but that's not necessarily the best move for him either. 550 00:25:25,840 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: And so I do think he's going about this in 551 00:25:27,840 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: the right way. He set this budget for himself that 552 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:33,520 Speaker 1: he feels comfortable with and that's important, and he's really 553 00:25:33,760 --> 00:25:35,960 Speaker 1: he's talking about it. Well, yeah, he's told the person 554 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: who's planning the getaway that like, hey, this is where 555 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,080 Speaker 1: I'm at, And you know, he's being up front of that. 556 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 1: I think sometimes you feel uncomfortable and you go along, 557 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: or maybe you bail at the last minute, And that's 558 00:25:44,520 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 1: a different way, Like that's a that's a you problem, 559 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,840 Speaker 1: that's a you needing to be be more forthright with 560 00:25:49,920 --> 00:25:51,760 Speaker 1: kind of your needs and how you're going to be 561 00:25:51,800 --> 00:25:54,639 Speaker 1: able to like actually participate in this weekend. Right, And 562 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: he even offered to help come up with a fun 563 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: plan for this party that doesn't blow his budget or 564 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: anybody else is. And I know that it's not easy 565 00:26:02,280 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: planning a trip like this to accommodate a bunch of 566 00:26:04,440 --> 00:26:07,480 Speaker 1: different people with different budgets. And it doesn't sound like 567 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:11,399 Speaker 1: the person who's planning planning this took anybody's budget into consideration, 568 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:13,760 Speaker 1: maybe at all. Um As evidenced by the fact that 569 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:17,040 Speaker 1: he was shocked that Alex wasn't willing to spend whatever 570 00:26:17,040 --> 00:26:19,439 Speaker 1: it takes, shouldn't have come as a shock. Yeah, Alex 571 00:26:19,520 --> 00:26:23,680 Speaker 1: told him right, exactly, And but this isn't surprising considering 572 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 1: so many folks have never even set much of a 573 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,320 Speaker 1: budget for themselves right in their own day to day lives. 574 00:26:28,320 --> 00:26:30,560 Speaker 1: They're like, what, what is a budget? And why are 575 00:26:30,560 --> 00:26:33,360 Speaker 1: you sticking to this? It doesn't make sense, and so yeah, 576 00:26:33,760 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 1: let alone to do that for a group planning a 577 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:38,960 Speaker 1: special weekend get away. It's just foreign to so many 578 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 1: people and so like, it makes sense that this situation 579 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:43,800 Speaker 1: comes up time and time again for so many people, 580 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:46,560 Speaker 1: and it's happening for Alex. Now. Yeah, so Alex, even 581 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:49,160 Speaker 1: if your friend or the planner isn't willing to change 582 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: these plans, I think you can find a way to 583 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:53,679 Speaker 1: make this happen while still lowering your out of pocket 584 00:26:53,680 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 1: costs five bucks First of all, to Miami, that sounds 585 00:26:56,640 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: pretty stinking expensive a lot like, and so we would 586 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,720 Speaker 1: recommend that you at least set up some fair alerts, uh. 587 00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: And you can do that on Google Flights, so that 588 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,720 Speaker 1: you can tell when a sale actually hits. And at 589 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 1: the same time, remember that Southwest those fairs, they don't 590 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:13,480 Speaker 1: show up there in Google Flights, So go directly to 591 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:17,400 Speaker 1: Southwest's website to see if they have some better pricing there. 592 00:27:17,760 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: And so that's one big expense. That's one big part 593 00:27:19,800 --> 00:27:23,760 Speaker 1: of this trip, the flights transportation. The other aspect of 594 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:26,560 Speaker 1: it is housing the hotel. Is there a way that 595 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:29,159 Speaker 1: you can potentially book a hotel that's pretty close but 596 00:27:29,200 --> 00:27:30,480 Speaker 1: you know, maybe a block or two a way that 597 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:32,960 Speaker 1: doesn't you know, cost nearly as much, where you could 598 00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:35,680 Speaker 1: stay um or even better yet, like, is there a 599 00:27:35,720 --> 00:27:37,840 Speaker 1: possibility that you could room with another friend where you 600 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:40,280 Speaker 1: could split the cost or even sleep on the couch. 601 00:27:40,800 --> 00:27:42,800 Speaker 1: That way, you know you're still together, you can still 602 00:27:43,000 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 1: be a part of the party. Uh, and you're not 603 00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: missing out completely. I think there's a lot of ways 604 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:49,399 Speaker 1: where you can cut some of these costs um or 605 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: even Like I'm thinking of even an alternative to like, 606 00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:55,000 Speaker 1: let's say you bail completely. I still think you can 607 00:27:55,040 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: celebrate your friend the bride to be by like reaching 608 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:00,159 Speaker 1: out to her directly and just letting her or no 609 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: your situation, and then like seeing if there's a way 610 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,399 Speaker 1: that you could plan a trip there where you all live. Right, 611 00:28:06,440 --> 00:28:09,080 Speaker 1: so I guess I'm assuming that she lives there in Philadelphia. 612 00:28:09,280 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: Maybe there's a weekend where you and some other friends 613 00:28:11,560 --> 00:28:14,479 Speaker 1: of hers can all get together and really celebrate and 614 00:28:14,520 --> 00:28:17,040 Speaker 1: go out and spend a good amount of money going 615 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:20,240 Speaker 1: out for a single night, as opposed to also having 616 00:28:20,240 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: to pay for flights down to a city that you 617 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,800 Speaker 1: don't normally live, also having to pay for housing when 618 00:28:24,800 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: you've got a great place up in Philadelphia where everyone 619 00:28:27,200 --> 00:28:29,879 Speaker 1: can crash. I think there are just other creative ways 620 00:28:29,960 --> 00:28:32,840 Speaker 1: where she can be celebrated that don't necessarily involve going 621 00:28:32,840 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: to Miami. And you could like pay for massage for 622 00:28:34,560 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 1: the two of you, kind of things you know that 623 00:28:36,080 --> 00:28:39,560 Speaker 1: sounds like twelve of you. Maybe not that might run 624 00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,240 Speaker 1: your foul the seven limit, but um and I think 625 00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: one other thing, Matt, like you didn't mention this, but 626 00:28:44,360 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: maybe getting a credit card with some sign up bonus 627 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:49,440 Speaker 1: something like that could afford you the ability to buy 628 00:28:49,440 --> 00:28:52,480 Speaker 1: this plane ticket, um for for spending you already doing. So. 629 00:28:52,520 --> 00:28:55,200 Speaker 1: Let's say it is Southwest and you get those sixty 630 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:57,520 Speaker 1: or eighty thousand points whenever they're offering at this current 631 00:28:57,560 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: moment sign up and getting those points allows then to 632 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:02,920 Speaker 1: to fly there for free. I mean, there are ways 633 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:06,680 Speaker 1: to in this don't involve spending a thousand plus dollars. 634 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 1: So I want I want Alex to think creatively and 635 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:13,760 Speaker 1: not just assume that the seven hund budget is preventing 636 00:29:13,800 --> 00:29:15,520 Speaker 1: him from going at all, because I think there are 637 00:29:15,920 --> 00:29:18,440 Speaker 1: ways to potentially do this. We want you to magically 638 00:29:18,560 --> 00:29:21,640 Speaker 1: somehow find a way to expand that seven because bottom 639 00:29:21,640 --> 00:29:23,680 Speaker 1: line like this is a good friend of yours, and 640 00:29:24,000 --> 00:29:25,280 Speaker 1: I would hate for you to be Like when I 641 00:29:25,280 --> 00:29:28,040 Speaker 1: look back in my past, there are times when I 642 00:29:28,080 --> 00:29:30,440 Speaker 1: felt like, in retrospect that I was being cheap. Like 643 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,000 Speaker 1: in the moment, I felt like I was being frugal, 644 00:29:32,280 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 1: but in the rear view, I was like, man, I 645 00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:36,440 Speaker 1: really was really wasn't that much money? And I should 646 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: have been there exactly, And I wish I would have 647 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: sacrificed more when it came to other areas of spending 648 00:29:41,200 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 1: in order to make that relationship at priority. Yeah, but 649 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,400 Speaker 1: that's also not limitless, right, And so you have to 650 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: figure out And so I think Alex is setting good boundaries, 651 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:50,720 Speaker 1: but we're just saying, like, how inside of those boundaries 652 00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 1: can you make a decision that lets you actually make 653 00:29:53,200 --> 00:29:54,960 Speaker 1: this happen. And so I think the fair alerts. I 654 00:29:54,960 --> 00:29:57,480 Speaker 1: think potentially a credit card with with some some sign 655 00:29:57,520 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: up points that allow you to travel potentially for free 656 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:02,760 Speaker 1: could be a big help. And and you know, Alex, 657 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:04,560 Speaker 1: you asked whether you're being cheap here, but it doesn't 658 00:30:04,600 --> 00:30:06,480 Speaker 1: sound like you are, at least not to us. You know, 659 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,760 Speaker 1: a destination bachelor or bachelor at party, you can get 660 00:30:09,800 --> 00:30:12,720 Speaker 1: really expensive, and you know, you know where your finances 661 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,080 Speaker 1: are and whether or not you can actually swing spending 662 00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:17,200 Speaker 1: a grand or more to go on this trip. You know, 663 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:18,960 Speaker 1: it's tough to miss out on an event like this, 664 00:30:19,200 --> 00:30:21,120 Speaker 1: but if you can't fit it into your budget, it's 665 00:30:21,120 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 1: a terrible reason to go into debt. Or even if 666 00:30:23,160 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 1: you feel like you're short changing yourself by reallocating funds 667 00:30:26,440 --> 00:30:28,600 Speaker 1: from other areas that you find meaningful. If you're like, 668 00:30:28,640 --> 00:30:30,360 Speaker 1: if I go on this, it's gonna mean I don't 669 00:30:30,360 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 1: get to go home and spend Christmas with my family 670 00:30:33,240 --> 00:30:35,600 Speaker 1: something like that, Like that's that's not a worthwhile trade 671 00:30:35,600 --> 00:30:37,640 Speaker 1: off either. I don't and I'm just thinking. One last 672 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:39,920 Speaker 1: suggestion is maybe you can find a way to make 673 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:42,360 Speaker 1: a little more money if if the difference is literally three, 674 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:44,880 Speaker 1: is there a way for you to make three dollars 675 00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 1: in the next month and a half two months, right, 676 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:50,080 Speaker 1: so that you can actually make this happen. And is 677 00:30:50,080 --> 00:30:51,400 Speaker 1: that worth it to you or do you have like 678 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:53,960 Speaker 1: is your time just super full and you can't do that? 679 00:30:54,000 --> 00:30:57,040 Speaker 1: I think sometimes it is worth it to to sacrifice 680 00:30:57,040 --> 00:30:59,240 Speaker 1: some of our time to make more money when there's 681 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 1: a specific goal at it. And maybe this is the 682 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:03,600 Speaker 1: goal that's worth it. Absolutely. I feel like this is 683 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: a perfect instance where a little side hustle, like you know, downloading, well, 684 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,360 Speaker 1: you already have the you know the uber, you've already 685 00:31:09,400 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 1: got the lift up on which over to drive mode 686 00:31:12,600 --> 00:31:16,440 Speaker 1: and cancel Netflix, cancel HBO Max and you'll save a 687 00:31:16,440 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 1: month's worth of subscription money there and then use that 688 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 1: time to hustle a little bit. And if this relationship 689 00:31:23,280 --> 00:31:25,840 Speaker 1: means that much to you, I mean, you don't have 690 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:27,440 Speaker 1: to though, And I don't think you should feel pressured. 691 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: And I think as he knows, stick to your guns 692 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:31,640 Speaker 1: if you feel like that's and he knows the extent 693 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,400 Speaker 1: of their relationship as well. But like I want to 694 00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: encourage you too, Alex. I mean just a warning to 695 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 1: be kind, like whatever it is that you choose to do, 696 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:40,200 Speaker 1: like this isn't a time for you to kind of 697 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 1: like be on your like on a high horse, or 698 00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 1: kind of like hit other folks over there over the 699 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 1: head with being responsible and being an adult and investing 700 00:31:47,800 --> 00:31:51,720 Speaker 1: your money, even though those are all things that secretly here, 701 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: not even secretly like this, these are things that we 702 00:31:53,600 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 1: want to talk about, but obviously we agree with you, 703 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: like that's something that we want you to do, but 704 00:31:57,960 --> 00:32:00,920 Speaker 1: it is definitely worth being kind. So that's one morning 705 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:03,040 Speaker 1: like that I'm thinking of, and another one too. Let's 706 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: say you are able to go right, like, say you 707 00:32:06,360 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: pick up that that side hustle, you're making a little 708 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:10,400 Speaker 1: bit extra money. Let's say you get the deal on 709 00:32:10,440 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: the flights and you go, but it's still gonna feel 710 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: like a stretch, right, Don't be like a wet blanket 711 00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: like where you're there but you're not really having a 712 00:32:18,120 --> 00:32:20,800 Speaker 1: good time. Make sure that you can communicate how you 713 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,240 Speaker 1: feel about stuff to whoever was planning it. Obviously you 714 00:32:23,280 --> 00:32:25,360 Speaker 1: know you disagree with some of the decisions that they made, 715 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,040 Speaker 1: but beyond that, just move on and make sure that 716 00:32:27,080 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 1: you have fun. Make sure that you, you know, are 717 00:32:29,080 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 1: able to celebrate your friend who's getting married. Totally agreed, 718 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: all right, Matt. We got a couple more questions to 719 00:32:33,640 --> 00:32:36,680 Speaker 1: get to, including someone who is a part of their 720 00:32:36,800 --> 00:32:38,480 Speaker 1: h o A board and they want to invest some 721 00:32:38,520 --> 00:32:40,360 Speaker 1: of the h o A money. Is that a good idea? 722 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:41,880 Speaker 1: I don't know. We'll see you. We'll get to that 723 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:53,720 Speaker 1: right after this sor right, Chel, we are back and 724 00:32:53,800 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: our next question has to do with the real estate. 725 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,520 Speaker 1: We've got a listener who's thinking about buying a second home, 726 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 1: but not that kind of second home. Hi, Matt and Joel, 727 00:33:02,880 --> 00:33:06,800 Speaker 1: this is Corey, longtime listener A couple of times question asker, 728 00:33:07,040 --> 00:33:11,080 Speaker 1: and I love all the advice you guys have given. Um, 729 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:15,360 Speaker 1: keep up the good work. I wanted to get some info. 730 00:33:16,160 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 1: I'm planning on buying a second home closer to my 731 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:25,200 Speaker 1: parents and as a result, Um, we currently own a 732 00:33:25,240 --> 00:33:29,280 Speaker 1: home and we just wanted to rent this out. Um, 733 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:32,680 Speaker 1: we already have a friend who's planning on renting it 734 00:33:32,760 --> 00:33:35,400 Speaker 1: from us, and we just wanted to know if there's 735 00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:39,040 Speaker 1: any details that you could give us about maybe a 736 00:33:39,080 --> 00:33:42,160 Speaker 1: good place to start. We went ahead and refinance to 737 00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:45,600 Speaker 1: this place, uh, so that we could get the best rate, 738 00:33:46,120 --> 00:33:49,160 Speaker 1: and we plan on applying for the loan for the 739 00:33:49,200 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 1: new home soon, but already taking up time. Thank you 740 00:33:53,400 --> 00:33:56,800 Speaker 1: guys in advance for all your help. Bye. All right, Corey, 741 00:33:56,840 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: glad to have you back on the show. Always nice 742 00:33:58,800 --> 00:34:02,280 Speaker 1: when someone asked a question, wasn't totally dismayed by advising 743 00:34:02,320 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: comes back asking you another questions. So guys are idiots. Yeah, 744 00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:07,680 Speaker 1: I will never talk to them again much less listen 745 00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 1: to their voices. Uh but I yeah, I appreciate your 746 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:12,600 Speaker 1: desire to move closer to your parents. I feel like 747 00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,880 Speaker 1: that's a that's a total adulting move right there, And 748 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:18,200 Speaker 1: especially if you plan on having kids. A long are 749 00:34:18,239 --> 00:34:21,719 Speaker 1: the goals of moving out to San France. It's just like, i' 750 00:34:21,760 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: let me move close to my mom and dad, live 751 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:25,600 Speaker 1: in that nineteen seventies hippie life or whatever. Uh Yeah, 752 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:27,680 Speaker 1: I think like if if you plan on having kids 753 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:30,800 Speaker 1: and your folks are willing to provide some help, that's 754 00:34:31,040 --> 00:34:33,799 Speaker 1: that can be like a game changer in how your 755 00:34:33,840 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 1: life functions. And so, yeah, Matt our family. We're thirty 756 00:34:37,120 --> 00:34:39,440 Speaker 1: minutes from my parents, and honestly, I wish we were closer. 757 00:34:39,680 --> 00:34:41,799 Speaker 1: That's how great my parents are. It's one of those 758 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:44,680 Speaker 1: things that a lot of people don't understand until they 759 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:47,320 Speaker 1: have a kid or two and they're like, oh my gosh, 760 00:34:47,360 --> 00:34:50,360 Speaker 1: this is wonderful but also a gigantic commitment, and it 761 00:34:50,400 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 1: would be nice to have a little help on occasion. 762 00:34:52,080 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: We nice to have a yeah, third, fourth set of hands, 763 00:34:54,680 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 1: perhaps the whole variety. Yes, but but let's talk about 764 00:34:57,600 --> 00:35:00,520 Speaker 1: this soon to be rental property and and yeah, you 765 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:03,000 Speaker 1: mentioned he said second home, but not that kind because 766 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:05,560 Speaker 1: usually when people say second home, that means I'm gonna 767 00:35:05,600 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 1: buy a house at the beach or in the mountains, 768 00:35:07,760 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 1: um that I can get away to a retreat on 769 00:35:10,360 --> 00:35:13,040 Speaker 1: the weekends or a few times a year, but we 770 00:35:13,120 --> 00:35:17,279 Speaker 1: split our time between Michigan and Florida, right yeah, or 771 00:35:17,400 --> 00:35:19,279 Speaker 1: the private island that we bought. Some day you will 772 00:35:19,280 --> 00:35:22,400 Speaker 1: be there, Jo, But let's discuss, you know, getting a 773 00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:24,680 Speaker 1: rental property this way. But I think this is the 774 00:35:24,719 --> 00:35:26,799 Speaker 1: best way to get into the second home game, the 775 00:35:26,800 --> 00:35:30,399 Speaker 1: best way to actually get started with investment properties, because yeah, 776 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:32,839 Speaker 1: saving up another down payment to purchase that next house 777 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 1: and running out your first one, That's how I did it. 778 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:37,920 Speaker 1: And it just makes a whole lot of sense if 779 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:40,480 Speaker 1: the numbers work to make that first primary home that 780 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:43,239 Speaker 1: you bought a killer rental um. You know. More more, 781 00:35:43,280 --> 00:35:45,799 Speaker 1: folks who are interested in slowly but surely building up 782 00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:49,480 Speaker 1: a portfolio of rental properties should consider this approach because 783 00:35:49,520 --> 00:35:51,560 Speaker 1: of the ability to bring less money to the table 784 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:54,040 Speaker 1: to get a lower overall interst rate. It could turn 785 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:57,680 Speaker 1: that property from a solid rental into a great one. Um. 786 00:35:57,719 --> 00:35:59,439 Speaker 1: You know, so much of it depends on the terms 787 00:35:59,440 --> 00:36:01,560 Speaker 1: of your own and then you know how you bought 788 00:36:01,560 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 1: that first house, what kind of home it is as well. 789 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:06,359 Speaker 1: Totally agree. Man. Also, we've got a point out here 790 00:36:06,440 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 1: that Corey that he really needs to be careful writing 791 00:36:09,000 --> 00:36:11,359 Speaker 1: out his place to a friend. Corey, I'm not saying 792 00:36:11,400 --> 00:36:13,160 Speaker 1: that you shouldn't do this. I'm just saying that this 793 00:36:13,200 --> 00:36:16,440 Speaker 1: could potentially cause problems that could impact that friendship. So 794 00:36:16,640 --> 00:36:19,400 Speaker 1: it's important to be upfront. It's important to be clear 795 00:36:19,440 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 1: about everything here before uh, your friend moves in. You're 796 00:36:23,080 --> 00:36:25,200 Speaker 1: still gonna want to go through the normal rhythms that 797 00:36:25,239 --> 00:36:27,080 Speaker 1: you would go through if you were to run to 798 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:29,680 Speaker 1: someone else. And so that means creating a lease, having 799 00:36:29,719 --> 00:36:31,920 Speaker 1: them read and sign that thing. That is the main 800 00:36:31,960 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: thing that you need to do. Uh. And you know, 801 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: like that might sound crazy if you are really close 802 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: with these folks. You know, you might love these folks 803 00:36:38,360 --> 00:36:41,080 Speaker 1: and have known them forever. But it's important to have 804 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:43,759 Speaker 1: everything in writing that way, there's just not any confusion 805 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:46,359 Speaker 1: as to what is expected from either one of you. 806 00:36:46,640 --> 00:36:49,759 Speaker 1: You want them to be comfortable with you as the landlord. Uh. 807 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:52,520 Speaker 1: And I mentioned this one in particular because man like 808 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:55,680 Speaker 1: I like to have clear boundaries. So Corey, I'm encouraging 809 00:36:55,680 --> 00:36:57,880 Speaker 1: you here to be very clear and upfront with the 810 00:36:57,880 --> 00:37:00,480 Speaker 1: boundaries that you're setting. Yeah, and you can frame it 811 00:37:00,520 --> 00:37:02,759 Speaker 1: and discuss it in a way where you're protecting them, 812 00:37:02,920 --> 00:37:06,319 Speaker 1: like listen, Uh, this is my first trial period as 813 00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:07,840 Speaker 1: a landlord, and I want to make sure I'm treating 814 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:10,800 Speaker 1: you fairly. I want to go through all of the hoops, 815 00:37:10,840 --> 00:37:13,960 Speaker 1: the proper hoops um as I'm learning to be a 816 00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:15,959 Speaker 1: decent landlord. And so I would love for you guys 817 00:37:16,000 --> 00:37:18,399 Speaker 1: to live in this house. But here's what we need 818 00:37:18,440 --> 00:37:20,759 Speaker 1: to do, and here are the forms you need to sign. 819 00:37:20,800 --> 00:37:22,719 Speaker 1: I want you to be acquainted with them, and I 820 00:37:22,760 --> 00:37:25,000 Speaker 1: want to as well. So yeah, and if you're having 821 00:37:25,120 --> 00:37:28,399 Speaker 1: second thoughts, you could instead help your friends find another place. 822 00:37:28,440 --> 00:37:31,120 Speaker 1: I've done that before to help people find a great 823 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:33,240 Speaker 1: place to live, even though it wasn't at one of 824 00:37:33,320 --> 00:37:37,000 Speaker 1: my places. And and yeah, again, be upfront, be honest, 825 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:40,520 Speaker 1: tell them you don't want business and friendship to commingle, right, 826 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:43,239 Speaker 1: you value their friendship too much and by combining the 827 00:37:43,280 --> 00:37:45,719 Speaker 1: two you could screw up one or the other. And 828 00:37:45,760 --> 00:37:48,040 Speaker 1: so yeah, if you're not worried about that, then proceed 829 00:37:48,200 --> 00:37:50,120 Speaker 1: with some of those guidelines in place, and you asked 830 00:37:50,120 --> 00:37:52,359 Speaker 1: about where to start. My my guess is that you're 831 00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:54,680 Speaker 1: looking for a state specific leases. If this is your 832 00:37:54,719 --> 00:37:56,520 Speaker 1: first one, you don't have a leash yet, Well, Bigger 833 00:37:56,520 --> 00:37:58,840 Speaker 1: Pockets is a great sight to get that from. Also 834 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:01,920 Speaker 1: check out a Veil dot c o which has a 835 00:38:01,960 --> 00:38:05,520 Speaker 1: free membership tier for landlords that includes state specific leases. 836 00:38:05,800 --> 00:38:08,879 Speaker 1: Their website as is awesome. I really like what they're 837 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:13,040 Speaker 1: doing in the small landlord space. Avail and Zillo. Actually, 838 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:15,719 Speaker 1: they both offer really cool free software to help you 839 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:18,600 Speaker 1: manage your rentals, So I would mess around with both 840 00:38:18,600 --> 00:38:20,479 Speaker 1: if I were you to see which one could work better. 841 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:22,480 Speaker 1: But the great thing about Avail, not only do they 842 00:38:22,480 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: have the free state specific leases, but they've got this 843 00:38:25,200 --> 00:38:28,160 Speaker 1: freemium business model and you could easily easily get away 844 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:31,360 Speaker 1: on their platform with not spending any money, um, but 845 00:38:31,480 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: having just a much simpler process and a simpler way 846 00:38:34,600 --> 00:38:36,719 Speaker 1: for tenants to get in touch with you when there's 847 00:38:36,719 --> 00:38:38,960 Speaker 1: some sort of issue with the property. So yeah, I 848 00:38:38,960 --> 00:38:41,040 Speaker 1: really like what they're up to. Yeah, and Corey, in 849 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:44,240 Speaker 1: the future, we want to highlight here the screen tenants 850 00:38:44,280 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: like that is ninety percent of the battle at least 851 00:38:46,520 --> 00:38:49,359 Speaker 1: like maybe even we would suggest that you go back 852 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: and listen to episode to sixty nine where we had 853 00:38:52,680 --> 00:38:56,600 Speaker 1: an end up discussion about managemental properties. Effectively, another to 854 00:38:56,840 --> 00:38:58,759 Speaker 1: make sure to set aside money for work that's going 855 00:38:58,840 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 1: to need to be done to that property, and schedule 856 00:39:01,040 --> 00:39:04,839 Speaker 1: a time where you can visit it regularly, especially if 857 00:39:04,840 --> 00:39:07,400 Speaker 1: it's not necessarily convenient for you to go see it. 858 00:39:07,480 --> 00:39:09,640 Speaker 1: This is something that you're going to have to intentionally 859 00:39:09,800 --> 00:39:12,279 Speaker 1: do and that just might be maybe once a month 860 00:39:12,360 --> 00:39:14,520 Speaker 1: or even once a quarter. But one of the main 861 00:39:14,800 --> 00:39:18,720 Speaker 1: ways landlords miss out on profits and make their lives 862 00:39:18,920 --> 00:39:21,440 Speaker 1: even harder is by not keeping up with their property. 863 00:39:21,680 --> 00:39:24,680 Speaker 1: Sometimes there's a lot of issues if addressed and nipped 864 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:26,480 Speaker 1: in the bud could save you a ton of money. 865 00:39:26,520 --> 00:39:28,399 Speaker 1: But generally speaking, we're really pumped for you to start 866 00:39:28,400 --> 00:39:32,000 Speaker 1: getting into real estate investment. Properties have been crucial on 867 00:39:32,040 --> 00:39:35,120 Speaker 1: our path to financial independence, and this is such a 868 00:39:35,120 --> 00:39:36,600 Speaker 1: great way for you to test the waters and see 869 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:38,759 Speaker 1: if it's right for you. Honestly, even with the run 870 00:39:38,880 --> 00:39:40,879 Speaker 1: up in housing prices that we've seen, we still think 871 00:39:40,920 --> 00:39:43,880 Speaker 1: that this is a great time to buy um because 872 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:46,360 Speaker 1: I mean, we've talked about this on the other previous episodes. 873 00:39:46,360 --> 00:39:49,000 Speaker 1: But we think the underlying fundamentals of the housing market 874 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:51,439 Speaker 1: tell us that we are not in some sort of bubble. 875 00:39:51,480 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 1: It's not like the Great Recession back in No. Seven 876 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,000 Speaker 1: oh eight, where things are about to pop and we're 877 00:39:55,000 --> 00:39:58,080 Speaker 1: gonna see, you know, we're we're expecting to see housing 878 00:39:58,080 --> 00:40:00,680 Speaker 1: prices plummet, you know, by a drastic out. We think 879 00:40:00,800 --> 00:40:02,320 Speaker 1: this is a great time for you to be a 880 00:40:02,360 --> 00:40:04,719 Speaker 1: real estate investor, and it's even better the longer you 881 00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:07,319 Speaker 1: plan to own the house, because a short term time 882 00:40:07,360 --> 00:40:11,239 Speaker 1: horizon could mean potentially losing out or losing money. But 883 00:40:11,360 --> 00:40:13,120 Speaker 1: if you're if you're in it for the long haul, 884 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:15,600 Speaker 1: you're going to do well. Yeah. And one other benefit 885 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:18,800 Speaker 1: too is let's say you are the landlord. Maybe you 886 00:40:18,920 --> 00:40:20,600 Speaker 1: do that for a couple of years and you're like, 887 00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:21,920 Speaker 1: you know what, I don't know if I want to 888 00:40:22,000 --> 00:40:24,560 Speaker 1: keep doing this. I don't really like. Yeah, the managing 889 00:40:24,560 --> 00:40:26,799 Speaker 1: and rental property jam, it's too far away. It's hard 890 00:40:26,800 --> 00:40:29,359 Speaker 1: to maintain all that stuff exactly that. The benefit here 891 00:40:29,480 --> 00:40:31,400 Speaker 1: is that you can still as long as you have 892 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:34,400 Speaker 1: lived in that property as your primary residence for two 893 00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:37,080 Speaker 1: out of the past five years, you can sell that 894 00:40:37,120 --> 00:40:39,799 Speaker 1: property and not have to pay any capital gains on 895 00:40:39,840 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: the increasing value of that property. And so you've got 896 00:40:42,160 --> 00:40:43,480 Speaker 1: a couple of years where you can kind of sess 897 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:46,440 Speaker 1: the waters, try it out before you're like, you know what, 898 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:48,279 Speaker 1: maybe in about six months, let's go ahead and list it, 899 00:40:48,360 --> 00:40:50,600 Speaker 1: put it on the market, and no harm, no value. 900 00:40:50,600 --> 00:40:53,160 Speaker 1: You can easily exit your position in real estate. Yeah, 901 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,920 Speaker 1: but I love that Corey is getting into investment real estate. Corey, 902 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:58,960 Speaker 1: best of luck, and just make sure that if you 903 00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:01,080 Speaker 1: do rent to your friend, that you're doing it in 904 00:41:01,120 --> 00:41:04,160 Speaker 1: this upfront, above board way so that neither of you 905 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:06,000 Speaker 1: has hard feelings at the end of it. Our ma, 906 00:41:06,120 --> 00:41:07,839 Speaker 1: let's get to our last question of the day. This 907 00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:10,839 Speaker 1: one has something to do with investing your neighbor's money. Hi, 908 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:13,400 Speaker 1: this is Adam from Salt Lake City, Utah, having a 909 00:41:13,520 --> 00:41:17,280 Speaker 1: question in regards to investing h o W reserve funds 910 00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,680 Speaker 1: for future repairs. I'm a part of an h o 911 00:41:20,719 --> 00:41:23,480 Speaker 1: A community my first time and not a fan of them, 912 00:41:23,520 --> 00:41:27,600 Speaker 1: but noticing that each year are rates are going up 913 00:41:27,640 --> 00:41:31,319 Speaker 1: each year and doubling and and out of control, and 914 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:33,320 Speaker 1: so I joined the board member to see if I 915 00:41:33,360 --> 00:41:35,880 Speaker 1: could help look at the finances and see how we 916 00:41:35,880 --> 00:41:38,640 Speaker 1: could cut costs and save And I noticed that our 917 00:41:39,080 --> 00:41:43,240 Speaker 1: entire reserve fund is sitting pretty much at zero percent interest, 918 00:41:43,880 --> 00:41:48,800 Speaker 1: and so I suggested investing into a low fee fund 919 00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:52,200 Speaker 1: to help with compound interest in all that, and had 920 00:41:52,239 --> 00:41:54,960 Speaker 1: the community look at other h O ways in which 921 00:41:55,520 --> 00:41:58,120 Speaker 1: they looked into all the h O ways in the 922 00:41:58,239 --> 00:42:02,400 Speaker 1: area and none of them are investing the funds just 923 00:42:02,480 --> 00:42:05,880 Speaker 1: because you know, it is with everybody else's money. And 924 00:42:05,960 --> 00:42:11,200 Speaker 1: they suggested looking at legal counsel before voting with the 925 00:42:11,239 --> 00:42:14,480 Speaker 1: board and investing the funds. But my question to you 926 00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:18,800 Speaker 1: guys is would it be safe and recommended to invest 927 00:42:19,040 --> 00:42:21,960 Speaker 1: these reserve funds from the h A way for future repairs? 928 00:42:22,000 --> 00:42:25,440 Speaker 1: As looking ahead in like twenty years, there's a daunting 929 00:42:25,680 --> 00:42:28,560 Speaker 1: over a million dollars worth of roof repair for the 930 00:42:28,600 --> 00:42:32,480 Speaker 1: community that we have to prepare for, and I was 931 00:42:32,520 --> 00:42:36,440 Speaker 1: thinking of putting it in like a Vanguard retirement target 932 00:42:36,520 --> 00:42:39,839 Speaker 1: date fund. What would you guys do besides not being 933 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:43,799 Speaker 1: in an h O WA. Thanks bye? All right, Adam, 934 00:42:43,880 --> 00:42:46,840 Speaker 1: thanks for that question, and your h A rates have 935 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:50,600 Speaker 1: been doubling. That would definitely have me getting involved. Neither 936 00:42:50,760 --> 00:42:53,560 Speaker 1: be moving or getting involved. One of the two, it's 937 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:55,480 Speaker 1: a good job getting on the board. I'm sure that 938 00:42:55,520 --> 00:42:58,320 Speaker 1: your involvement is gonna, you know, lead to most everyone 939 00:42:58,360 --> 00:43:00,760 Speaker 1: being happier with how the h A funds are being handled, 940 00:43:00,880 --> 00:43:03,320 Speaker 1: not just the money that you're paying as well. But Adam, 941 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:05,680 Speaker 1: I think the biggest battle here, it's likely not that 942 00:43:05,719 --> 00:43:08,480 Speaker 1: the h o A money is sitting in cash instead 943 00:43:08,520 --> 00:43:11,839 Speaker 1: of being invested, but that there has been just poor 944 00:43:11,880 --> 00:43:14,680 Speaker 1: planning on the part of the board. If there isn't 945 00:43:14,760 --> 00:43:18,000 Speaker 1: enough money to meet the obligations and therefore the h 946 00:43:18,000 --> 00:43:20,919 Speaker 1: o A dus continue to go up substantially every single year, 947 00:43:21,320 --> 00:43:24,120 Speaker 1: there isn't going to be enough money to invest. And 948 00:43:24,120 --> 00:43:25,800 Speaker 1: so if there hasn't been a proper h o A 949 00:43:25,960 --> 00:43:28,320 Speaker 1: study done in the past like three to five years, 950 00:43:28,800 --> 00:43:30,800 Speaker 1: you can add that to the list of things that 951 00:43:30,880 --> 00:43:33,279 Speaker 1: the board needs to tackle. And a part of that 952 00:43:33,320 --> 00:43:35,640 Speaker 1: process is going to involve finding out which costs have 953 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:38,520 Speaker 1: risen and why they've risen. For instance, if the city 954 00:43:38,760 --> 00:43:41,120 Speaker 1: is charging more for water, and let's say that's an 955 00:43:41,120 --> 00:43:44,080 Speaker 1: expense the building collectively shares, well, there's not much that 956 00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:46,279 Speaker 1: you can do there, but maybe solid waste fees have 957 00:43:46,320 --> 00:43:48,319 Speaker 1: gone up well, and if that's the case, can you 958 00:43:48,360 --> 00:43:52,600 Speaker 1: shop those around. Maybe insurance premiums, maybe landscaping costs, property 959 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:56,160 Speaker 1: management fees have all gone up. Shopping around to save 960 00:43:56,280 --> 00:43:59,400 Speaker 1: on those kinds of expenses are going to help the 961 00:43:59,400 --> 00:44:02,000 Speaker 1: whole community need to spend less money. That's true, Yeah, 962 00:44:02,000 --> 00:44:04,440 Speaker 1: and it's good to have level headed folks like Adam 963 00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:06,280 Speaker 1: on the board to help address some of those issues. 964 00:44:06,440 --> 00:44:09,560 Speaker 1: But you're right, mat sometimes it's not about where to 965 00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:11,880 Speaker 1: invest the money so that it grows. It's about literally 966 00:44:12,520 --> 00:44:15,040 Speaker 1: it's there's a spending side of the equation, and that 967 00:44:15,160 --> 00:44:17,080 Speaker 1: that is what we're talking about here for the most part. 968 00:44:17,239 --> 00:44:20,319 Speaker 1: But let's talk about investing two for a second, because um, yeah, 969 00:44:20,360 --> 00:44:23,200 Speaker 1: in order to do what you want to do, Adam, 970 00:44:23,280 --> 00:44:25,040 Speaker 1: and to invest some of those funds, you're gonna have 971 00:44:25,120 --> 00:44:27,400 Speaker 1: to consult the state laws and the h o A 972 00:44:27,440 --> 00:44:30,279 Speaker 1: by laws UH to make sure that both will allow it, 973 00:44:30,600 --> 00:44:33,680 Speaker 1: and that probably does mean consulting with an attorney. And 974 00:44:33,719 --> 00:44:36,759 Speaker 1: to be honest, even there there was excess cash, there's 975 00:44:36,800 --> 00:44:39,799 Speaker 1: some real risks to investing those dollars. You don't want 976 00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:41,839 Speaker 1: your h o A to run out of money when 977 00:44:41,880 --> 00:44:46,160 Speaker 1: something unexpected happens. Um, let's say there's a huge bill 978 00:44:46,280 --> 00:44:48,360 Speaker 1: do in three years. You don't want to put that 979 00:44:48,400 --> 00:44:51,279 Speaker 1: money at risk, and so Yeah, depending on how that 980 00:44:51,320 --> 00:44:54,080 Speaker 1: money is invested, you could find yourself with fewer dollars 981 00:44:54,320 --> 00:44:56,800 Speaker 1: um than you collected because of a downturn in the market. 982 00:44:57,080 --> 00:44:59,360 Speaker 1: And the one thing you could discuss is investing a 983 00:44:59,400 --> 00:45:01,400 Speaker 1: small portion and of the h o A dus for 984 00:45:01,840 --> 00:45:05,160 Speaker 1: some longer term expenses that loom on the horizon. For instance, 985 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:07,080 Speaker 1: if you don't need a portion of that money for 986 00:45:07,120 --> 00:45:10,120 Speaker 1: twenty years, it can make sense to invest in amount 987 00:45:10,400 --> 00:45:13,319 Speaker 1: that wouldn't affect your ability to meet those current obligations, 988 00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:15,680 Speaker 1: but it would help you to prepare for those bigger 989 00:45:15,680 --> 00:45:19,040 Speaker 1: eventualities that are gonna arise one of these days, potentially 990 00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:21,960 Speaker 1: decades down the road. Yeah, but cutting and controlling costs 991 00:45:22,160 --> 00:45:24,320 Speaker 1: are the number one way to curb higher h o 992 00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:26,840 Speaker 1: A fees. I appreciate your desire to invest in this 993 00:45:26,880 --> 00:45:29,000 Speaker 1: money and make it work harder, but in the case 994 00:45:29,080 --> 00:45:31,480 Speaker 1: of an h o A fund, I don't know that 995 00:45:31,480 --> 00:45:34,000 Speaker 1: that's the best way forward. Yeah. What's really cool, though, 996 00:45:34,040 --> 00:45:35,919 Speaker 1: is the fact that he did mention the fact that 997 00:45:35,960 --> 00:45:38,560 Speaker 1: he's looking at a longer time horizon, like twenty years. 998 00:45:38,560 --> 00:45:40,719 Speaker 1: And what's really cool is when you look back, like 999 00:45:40,719 --> 00:45:43,279 Speaker 1: basically at the last hundred years in the stock maybe 1000 00:45:43,280 --> 00:45:45,359 Speaker 1: not quite the past hundred years, but if you look 1001 00:45:45,400 --> 00:45:48,320 Speaker 1: at twenty year rolling returns, there is not a single 1002 00:45:48,480 --> 00:45:51,560 Speaker 1: twenty year period where the stock market did not see 1003 00:45:51,640 --> 00:45:54,360 Speaker 1: an increase in value. And so wild that's not a 1004 00:45:54,360 --> 00:45:57,479 Speaker 1: guarantee because we don't know what the future holds. There's 1005 00:45:57,520 --> 00:46:00,120 Speaker 1: a really damn good chance that were you to us 1006 00:46:00,160 --> 00:46:01,759 Speaker 1: money that you know you're not going to need to 1007 00:46:01,840 --> 00:46:05,239 Speaker 1: need a touch for a solid two decades, you're going 1008 00:46:05,320 --> 00:46:07,560 Speaker 1: to see that money grow. And so that's definitely something 1009 00:46:07,600 --> 00:46:09,359 Speaker 1: to keep in mind. But the fact is there are 1010 00:46:09,360 --> 00:46:11,040 Speaker 1: going to be some folks who are going to be 1011 00:46:11,200 --> 00:46:13,160 Speaker 1: want to be more conservative with that money. And at 1012 00:46:13,200 --> 00:46:15,080 Speaker 1: the very least, though, you could take that money and 1013 00:46:15,120 --> 00:46:17,759 Speaker 1: put it in f D I C insured accounts, right so, 1014 00:46:17,840 --> 00:46:19,520 Speaker 1: just like a c D or a money market account, 1015 00:46:19,560 --> 00:46:21,640 Speaker 1: where it's at least earning something, even if it's a 1016 00:46:21,680 --> 00:46:24,920 Speaker 1: piddly amount compared to what you're seeing your index, your 1017 00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:28,120 Speaker 1: smp F fundered index fund, you know, raking in year 1018 00:46:28,160 --> 00:46:31,760 Speaker 1: after year, at least it's earning something more than zero, 1019 00:46:32,160 --> 00:46:35,360 Speaker 1: or even like a government backed security like T bills 1020 00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:38,360 Speaker 1: or other bonds like that. Even though they're not FDIC insured, 1021 00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:40,960 Speaker 1: they're backed by the government, which basically means they're just 1022 00:46:41,080 --> 00:46:43,440 Speaker 1: as they may they may as well be FDIC insured 1023 00:46:43,880 --> 00:46:46,319 Speaker 1: because you have the backing of our country behind it. Yeah. 1024 00:46:46,320 --> 00:46:48,200 Speaker 1: And and I think Adam hinted at the fact that 1025 00:46:48,280 --> 00:46:52,879 Speaker 1: we don't like Humelewards associations, and probably on a personal level, 1026 00:46:52,880 --> 00:46:55,120 Speaker 1: I would would probably agree with him, like, Yeah, I 1027 00:46:55,200 --> 00:46:57,000 Speaker 1: don't necessarily want to live in an h A. I 1028 00:46:57,000 --> 00:46:59,279 Speaker 1: would rather be rather not be told what to do. Yeah, 1029 00:47:00,239 --> 00:47:02,600 Speaker 1: with my front lawn. Maybe that's our fiercely independent streak 1030 00:47:02,760 --> 00:47:05,560 Speaker 1: right as individuals. Yeah, and you talk about your front lawn, Matt, 1031 00:47:05,560 --> 00:47:07,560 Speaker 1: You've got this like garden in the front yard that 1032 00:47:07,600 --> 00:47:10,200 Speaker 1: would be in in almost every h A community would 1033 00:47:10,200 --> 00:47:12,840 Speaker 1: be disallowed, right. That would be the picture of it 1034 00:47:12,880 --> 00:47:15,600 Speaker 1: would be like under what you can't do? Right, They 1035 00:47:15,600 --> 00:47:17,759 Speaker 1: would literally take a picture of your front lawn for 1036 00:47:17,800 --> 00:47:19,319 Speaker 1: the book and say, I don't think you can do this. 1037 00:47:19,440 --> 00:47:21,600 Speaker 1: Don't be like Matt and uh. And so that is 1038 00:47:21,640 --> 00:47:23,200 Speaker 1: one of those aspects of an h o A that 1039 00:47:23,200 --> 00:47:26,239 Speaker 1: that isn't awesome. Um. But yeah, if if we were 1040 00:47:26,280 --> 00:47:27,680 Speaker 1: to move into a neighborhood with an h o A 1041 00:47:27,760 --> 00:47:29,239 Speaker 1: in the future, you know, we would want to make 1042 00:47:29,239 --> 00:47:31,520 Speaker 1: sure that it was well run and and I think 1043 00:47:31,560 --> 00:47:33,839 Speaker 1: we would want to make sure that the funds were 1044 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:37,160 Speaker 1: being spent efficiently. And just because people are on the 1045 00:47:37,200 --> 00:47:39,600 Speaker 1: board and just because they love your neighborhood, it doesn't 1046 00:47:39,640 --> 00:47:41,600 Speaker 1: mean that they know how to do that well. And 1047 00:47:41,640 --> 00:47:44,560 Speaker 1: so they need people like Adam to be influential on 1048 00:47:44,600 --> 00:47:47,160 Speaker 1: the board to help make some better decisions. It sounds 1049 00:47:47,200 --> 00:47:49,600 Speaker 1: like moving forward. So Adam, best of luck to you 1050 00:47:49,760 --> 00:47:52,319 Speaker 1: and to your h o A as a whole, making 1051 00:47:52,360 --> 00:47:55,360 Speaker 1: better use of the funds that your neighbors all pulled together. 1052 00:47:55,640 --> 00:47:57,759 Speaker 1: That's right, man, All right, let's go ahead, and uh 1053 00:47:57,880 --> 00:48:00,719 Speaker 1: mentioned the beer you and I we both enjoyed an 1054 00:48:00,719 --> 00:48:03,520 Speaker 1: Aspect Ratio, which is a double I p A from 1055 00:48:03,560 --> 00:48:07,040 Speaker 1: Spyglass Brewing Company. Again, a big thanks to Gary over 1056 00:48:07,040 --> 00:48:09,640 Speaker 1: there at Fat and Broke Podcast for sending this one 1057 00:48:09,719 --> 00:48:11,319 Speaker 1: hour away as well as the beer that we're gonna 1058 00:48:11,360 --> 00:48:13,920 Speaker 1: have on Wednesday's episode. But Joel, what do you think 1059 00:48:13,920 --> 00:48:16,640 Speaker 1: about this beer? Well, okay, first question, is this the 1060 00:48:16,640 --> 00:48:20,479 Speaker 1: first beer we've ever had from New Hampshire? I think so. 1061 00:48:20,640 --> 00:48:23,000 Speaker 1: I think so. Too small State, so I can't imagine 1062 00:48:23,040 --> 00:48:25,520 Speaker 1: there are a ton of breweries there. That part of 1063 00:48:25,520 --> 00:48:27,719 Speaker 1: the country, though, does similar to SoCal. I feel like 1064 00:48:27,719 --> 00:48:31,080 Speaker 1: that northeast portion has a bunch of main all up 1065 00:48:31,080 --> 00:48:33,360 Speaker 1: in there. I don't think I even heard of Spyglass 1066 00:48:33,400 --> 00:48:36,600 Speaker 1: until Gary mentioned them to us, and then he sent 1067 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:41,800 Speaker 1: them to us, which yes, Rush and this one didn't disappoint. 1068 00:48:41,920 --> 00:48:43,880 Speaker 1: I thought it was like light and pillowy, with like 1069 00:48:44,120 --> 00:48:47,279 Speaker 1: just this beautiful hot flavor. It wasn't over the top, 1070 00:48:47,560 --> 00:48:51,680 Speaker 1: but it's still had just some delicious juice notes because 1071 00:48:51,719 --> 00:48:54,000 Speaker 1: of that distinct hop presence. So I don't know, I 1072 00:48:54,040 --> 00:48:56,520 Speaker 1: really I really like it had like that juicy sharpness, 1073 00:48:56,600 --> 00:48:58,719 Speaker 1: you know, like that hot presence was so for that, 1074 00:48:58,920 --> 00:49:00,880 Speaker 1: you know, yeah sharp. This is the best way I 1075 00:49:00,920 --> 00:49:02,960 Speaker 1: can describe it. But but but it's funny because it did 1076 00:49:02,960 --> 00:49:05,560 Speaker 1: have like that new ones all I can say. It's pillowy, 1077 00:49:05,640 --> 00:49:09,080 Speaker 1: like it was like really tender in its approach. Maybe 1078 00:49:09,080 --> 00:49:10,920 Speaker 1: the fact that like this is it poor to as 1079 00:49:10,960 --> 00:49:13,239 Speaker 1: like one of those lighter like paler hazy I p 1080 00:49:13,360 --> 00:49:14,920 Speaker 1: a s like sometimes we get them in their super 1081 00:49:14,960 --> 00:49:19,520 Speaker 1: orange and very like abrasive fruit forward looking, whereas this 1082 00:49:19,560 --> 00:49:23,440 Speaker 1: one it does look very kind of lofty ethereal so 1083 00:49:23,480 --> 00:49:25,800 Speaker 1: things again to Gary Ford donating this one to the show, 1084 00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:27,920 Speaker 1: uh and the Flat and Broke podcast. You know what's 1085 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:30,360 Speaker 1: cool about them is they all the hosts they have 1086 00:49:30,520 --> 00:49:33,200 Speaker 1: a kind of like a medical background, and they try 1087 00:49:33,239 --> 00:49:36,200 Speaker 1: to tackle their topics kind of from a holistic standpoint. 1088 00:49:36,360 --> 00:49:39,000 Speaker 1: They talk about physical health, mental health as well. They're 1089 00:49:39,000 --> 00:49:41,600 Speaker 1: putting their physical therapist backgrounds to work a little bit. 1090 00:49:41,640 --> 00:49:43,239 Speaker 1: I like that a lot. Yeah, me too. You gotta 1091 00:49:43,280 --> 00:49:45,239 Speaker 1: bring your you know where you come from to the 1092 00:49:45,280 --> 00:49:47,040 Speaker 1: table when your ever tell you I thought about being 1093 00:49:47,040 --> 00:49:50,480 Speaker 1: a like a physical therapist after briefly, I had a 1094 00:49:50,480 --> 00:49:52,560 Speaker 1: friend when I was living in North Carolina. So this is, 1095 00:49:52,880 --> 00:49:55,560 Speaker 1: you know, after I graduated from undergrad before I got 1096 00:49:55,560 --> 00:49:57,920 Speaker 1: a job in advertising in Atlanta, a friend of mine 1097 00:49:58,120 --> 00:50:00,279 Speaker 1: was in PT school and just learning how the body 1098 00:50:00,360 --> 00:50:03,000 Speaker 1: works and understanding it and it's like, oh, this is 1099 00:50:03,040 --> 00:50:05,160 Speaker 1: why this hurts, and oh you should be doing this 1100 00:50:05,360 --> 00:50:08,040 Speaker 1: instead of doing this. I found really fascinating. It's like 1101 00:50:08,239 --> 00:50:11,000 Speaker 1: it's like learning how to be a like a body mechanic, 1102 00:50:11,280 --> 00:50:13,080 Speaker 1: you know. It's like, is that a mechanic for cars? 1103 00:50:13,160 --> 00:50:14,719 Speaker 1: Let me talked about earlier with you having to get 1104 00:50:14,760 --> 00:50:16,440 Speaker 1: a toe, but like, this is this is how your 1105 00:50:16,480 --> 00:50:18,640 Speaker 1: body works. I found that to be pretty fascinating. No, 1106 00:50:18,760 --> 00:50:20,960 Speaker 1: I get that. I could see you, uh, you know, 1107 00:50:21,120 --> 00:50:23,719 Speaker 1: being really really into that. So um, you know what, 1108 00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:25,160 Speaker 1: there's always a chance for a second career one of 1109 00:50:25,200 --> 00:50:27,239 Speaker 1: these days, who or a third or fourth career, whatever 1110 00:50:27,239 --> 00:50:29,320 Speaker 1: it would be. At this point, I'd be on my third. Yeah, 1111 00:50:29,760 --> 00:50:32,120 Speaker 1: all right, that's gonna do it for this episode. For 1112 00:50:32,120 --> 00:50:33,920 Speaker 1: folks who want the show notes links to anything that 1113 00:50:33,960 --> 00:50:36,000 Speaker 1: we mentioned, you can find those up on our website 1114 00:50:36,000 --> 00:50:37,920 Speaker 1: at how to money dot com. That's right, buddy, So 1115 00:50:38,040 --> 00:50:41,120 Speaker 1: until next time, best Friends Out, Best Friends Out.