NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast
At the Smart Money podcast, NerdWallet's in-house writers answer your real-world money questions. Our Nerds are your guides so you can get smart about personal finance, then get back to doing you.
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226
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part III: Coronavi...
Nauseating drops in the stock market can be hard to endure, but most of us should try to do just that -- and even invest more, if we can. If you need the money within five years or you’re losing sleep, though, you might need to get at least some of...
10 min
227
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part II: Saving, B...
The coronavirus pandemic has scrambled people’s travel plans and their budgets. Here are the most important things to know now about emergency funds, spending plans and travel in the coming months. As always, send us your money questions! Email...
10 min
228
Coronavirus Special Edition, Part I: Mortgages ...
Mortgage rates dropped and then soared, making life difficult for people who wanted to refinance and buy homes. Mortgage and real estate Nerd Holden Lewis explains why that happened and what the future may bring. As always, send us your money...
11 min
229
How can I brace financially for coronavirus?
The economic impact of the novel coronavirus and the COVD-19 disease it causes is likely to be profound. Sean and Liz discuss how to cope with the potential financial fallout. As always, send us your money questions! Email or call or text...
13 min
230
My credit score randomly dropped — a lot. What ...
Unexpected credit scores drops are the worst -- especially when you’re trying to do everything right. Sean and Liz dig into the details of how credit scores work to help a reader whose scores dived seemingly without reason. As always, send us your...
13 min
231
What's the best way to save for a down payment ...
Many first-time home buyers wonder how to save for a down payment and where to put the money while they’re saving. Sean and Liz talk to mortgage and real estate authority Holden Lewis about the options. As always, send us your money questions! Email...
13 min
232
How can I get into the travel credit card point...
Want to get the most points from your travel credit card, but don't know where to start? We've got you covered. In this episode, Sean and Liz talk with travel Nerd Sara Rathner, who offers up her insider tips about how to get the most points from your...
14 min
233
Are Roth conversions a good idea?
Roth conversions can give you a big tax advantage in retirement, but they're not right for everyone. Sean and Liz talk with retirement Nerd Andrea Coombes to help you figure out if you could come out ahead with a Roth conversion. As always, send us...
10 min
234
What's the best way to do a spending fast?
A spending fast can help you save money — fast! The idea is to hit the pause button on non-essential spending for a set period, usually a month. Sean and Liz are veterans of spending fasts and have some tips for how they work, what to watch out for...
14 min
235
Should I invest or pay off my student loans?
Should you invest or pay off debt? This question can get especially tricky when you’re talking about investing in your company’s stock versus paying down your student loans. Sean and Liz help a listener who wants to know if she should exercise her...
11 min
236
How do we manage money as a couple?
Yours? Mine? Ours? Managing your money as a couple can be stressful, and there’s no one right way to do it. Sean and Liz offer some strategies for figuring out what will work best for both of you. As always, send us your money questions! Email or...
12 min
237
From the archive: "What's the best way to rack ...
We'll be back in a couple weeks. In the meantime, here's how you can use these winter months to rack up the credit card points to fund your summer travel. And be sure to send us your money questions! Call or text the Nerd Hotline at 901-730-6373, or...
10 min
238
From the archive: "How can I pay off my debt fa...
We'll be back in a few weeks, so here's an episode from our archives that can help you tackle your holiday debt. In the meantime, send us your money questions! Call or text the Nerd Hotline at 901-730-6373, or email . Talk to you soon!
12 min
239
Happy New Year from the SmartMoney team!
Thanks for a great 2019! We're taking a little holiday break but will be back in 2020 with loads of new episodes for you. In the meantime, send us your money questions! Text or call our Nerd Hotline at 901-730-6373, or email us at podcast@nerdwallet.com.
0 min
240
How can I (actually) keep my new year’s money r...
New Year’s money resolutions are common, sure. But keeping them is a whole different story. In this episode, Sean talks with Nerd Kim Palmer about the best tips that can help you actually achieve your money goals in the new year.
14 min
241
What are your best tips to save on family holid...
Holiday travel can be expensive — especially if you’re traveling with family. But you have options to make the cost more manageable. In this episode, Sean talks with travel Nerd Sara Rathner about how you can save on family holiday travel costs.
13 min
242
Does Black Friday live up to the hype?
Black Friday might seem like the best time to get the biggest deals of the holiday shopping season. But is the shopping extravaganza all it’s made out to be? The answer: Sometimes. In this episode we give you the tips to get the best holiday...
14 min
243
Which accounts can make me the most money?
You can make money just by putting your cash into the right account. Which account to choose depends on a few factors, though. In this episode, Sean talks with investing Nerd Arielle O’Shea about the best ways to make money off of cash you have...
13 min
244
How much house can I afford?
Think you’re finally ready to buy a home? Here’s how to know how much house you can afford with your budget, what you might need for a down payment, and how to think about the emotional aspect of homebuying.
14 min
245
How can I pay off my debt faster?
Want to pay off your debt fast? You can, with a bit of know-how. In this episode, Sean Pyles and Liz Weston break down how you can find the payoff path that might work best for you and your debt.
11 min
246
How do I buy a used car?
Buying a used car can be confusing. Should you shop around a used car lot, or are the online classified ads a better route? With the help of NerdWallet car-buying whiz Philip Reed, that’s the debate Dayana and Sean settle this episode.
14 min
247
How can my credit score save me money?
Sure, you got a high credit score — but how can you make the most of it? Sean and Dayana talk with NerdWallet all-star Liz Weston to see how you could use your high credit score to save thousands of dollars.
13 min
248
Should I refinance my student loans?
Refinancing student loans might save you money — if you’re a good candidate. But that’s not the only way to help manage your student debt. In this episode Dayana and Sean get to the bottom of when student loan refinancing is a good idea, so you...
13 min
249
My prescription drug costs are wrecking my budg...
Having Type 1 diabetes can be expensive. Just ask Paloma Kemak, aka Glitter Glucose on Instagram, who pays over $1,000 a month for her insulin. Dayana and Sean talk with her about her experience living with diabetes and offer tips to help manage the...
12 min
250
What's the best way to rack up travel rewards q...
You can rack up travel credit card points quickly — if you know the right tips. In this episode, Sean and Dayana give you the inside scoop so you can earn points and miles fast to fund a vacation on credit card rewards.
9 min