Today we’re going over home buying tips so you can snag a great deal on your dream house! What You Need to Know About Buying a House This summer is wrapping up, but things are about to get busier for us. My mom was recently offered a job in the area and so she’s asked […]
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How Can We Start Saving for Our Kid’s College Fund?
Learn what options are available and how to best save up for your kid’s college expenses!
Paying for Your Kid’s Education and College Expenses
With student loans seeming like a weight on many college grads, I think most parents who kids are thinking about either college, trade school, or vocational schools are trying to find ways to ease the burden.
And the advice typically given is to save ahead.
But the price of getting an education is rising pretty quickly.
How do you do that when you juggling your current family expenses and saving up for other goals?
To help me out today is Drew Snider. He’s a director in Financial Planning at Coastal Wealth Management.
He’s also a parent of a 12-year-old daughter and yes, he’s been thinking about this as well. So he’s looking at this from both sides.
In this episode, we’ll get into:
- The rising costs of college and why its harder for kids to work through college
- What options you have to save to and invest
- How you can start saving now
Hope you enjoy!
Tips on Paying for College
If you two are looking to help your kid skip out on student loans, here are some resources to help you save up.
- Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
- Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
- Automatic Saving: Qapital
- Free 5 Days to $5k Course – Learn how to find, save, and make more money!
- How to Help Your Kid Graduate College Debt Free
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!
Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.
If you’d like to get a review of your financial plans, Coastal has a fantastic Wealth Management team that help you with your family’s goals, including paying for college!
Key Takeaways on Paying for Your Kid’s College Expenses
Before we close up I want to focus on some key takeaways I got:
- Start early.
- Don’t go on autopilot.
- Have your kid have skin in the game.
If you’d like to chat more about ways to save for your kid’s college and education expenses, please join us in our private and free Facebook group, Thriving Families!
Support the Podcast!
Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!
- Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
- Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
- Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!
Music Credit
Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.
First Time Home Buying Tips
Today we’re going over home buying tips so you can snag a great deal on your dream house!
What You Need to Know About Buying a House
This summer is wrapping up, but things are about to get busier for us.
My mom was recently offered a job in the area and so she’s asked me to help her with buying a house.
The problem is that here in the Raleigh/Triangle area, it’s very much a seller’s market.
Since we bought our house three years ago, prices have gone up on homes. The median price of homes currently listed in Raleigh is $330,000.
Which means we need to be savvy house hunters.
I’m excited about this, but it’s going to be a challenge for sure.
And if you’re looking to buy a house, you might be facing the same challenges.
Which is why I’m so happy to have Louis Guillama on today to offer his expertise. He’s the Vice President of Real Estate Operations over at Coastal Credit Union.
He has decades of experience with the real estate agent side as well as home renovations.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- differences between buying new construction vs resale
- spotting great and still affordable neighborhoods
- finding a fixer-upper (instead of being stuck with a money pit)
Hope you enjoy!
Resources on Buying a House
If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find an affordable place you love!
- Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
- Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
- Automatic Saving: Qapital
- Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
- My friend was about to buy a million-dollar house with no research
- What You Need to Know About Mortgages
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!
Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.
If you need an agent, Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!
Support the Podcast!
Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!
- Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
- Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
- Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!
Music Credit
Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.
Mastering Your 401(k): Understanding Your Investment Options
Want to get the most out of your 401(k)? Learn the key guidelines on how you can choose the best investment options for you!
Making the Most of Your 401(k)
Chances are if you’re investing for your retirement, the bulk of that money is stashed away in your 401(k).
For those whose employers offer them, they’re an easy option to sign up for and contribute towards.
But are how comfortable are you with how it is doing?
To help sort things out, Jonah Kaufman is joining me for this episode.
Jonah is a financial advisor at Coastal’s Wealth Management Services.
These will give you some starting points and ideas on what you need to talk about.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- Why your 401(k)s are a great foundation for retirement savings
- What factors to consider when you’re investing
- Understanding some of the different options that your 401(k) may offer
Hope you enjoy!
Just to make sure we’re on the same page, this episode is NOT about specific investment advice.
You would need to consult a qualified financial professional who can evaluate your unique circumstances.
Resources to Stay on Top of Your 401(k)
Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!
- Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
- Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
- Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
- Automatic Saving: Qapital
- Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
- Master Your 401(k): How Much Do We Need to Contribute?
- Master Your 401(k): Why You Need to Keep an Eye Out for Fees
- Robots Can Manage Your Money. But Even They Need Humans
- A Smarter Way to Think About Financial Decisions
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!
Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.
If you want to be better prepared financially for retirement, please check out Coastal’s 401(k) Planning Calculator.
Key Takeaways on Optimizing Your 401(k)
Before we wrap up I want to focus on some key takeaways I got from speaking with Jonah and preparing for this episode:
- Understand yourself as an investor.
- Performance isn’t tied to cost with your investments.
- Don’t check your investments too frequently.
If you’d like to chat more about your financial goals, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families.
Hope to see you there!
Support the Podcast!
Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!
- Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
- Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
- Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!
Music Credit
Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.
Financial Planning: How Are We Doing With Money?
Today we’re talking about how you two can really review the big picture and make sure you hit YOUR big money goals!
Financial Check-ups
The first half of this year is about over, so how are you guys doing right now?
It’s funny how time seems to speed up and slow down.
Looking back we have had some big ups and downs in the past four or so weeks, both financially and in our lives.
Last month our adorable cat had some seisures and other issues and in a span of week – if that – he went from sick to passing away.
It was so fast, the vets were trying to figure out what happened.
And because a few issues, we just got his remains last week and paid his final expenses.
Thankfully we have savings, but between emergency hospital exam, tests, and his vet visits, it definitely was pricey.
Besides that weight, we had good things to celebrate.
We were invited to two baby showers and then last weekend we went to two graduation parties. And of course, they are bunched together.
But that’s life, right?
At least for us.
And I find it so easy to let certain things slip by because there are more pressing or immediate things happening.
The danger is by focusing only on the thing right in front of you, that you miss important stuff.
I don’t think money is the most important thing. I do however realize that much of our day to day and long term goals need us to be on top on our finances.
We should have a game plan for our money and a system that allows us to put in place so when things come up – and they will- our finances keep chugging along.
Which is why I’m so glad Cathrine Bryant is joining in today’s episode.
She’s a financial advisor at Coastal Wealth Management.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- Getting a financial snapshot and prioritizing which goal or two is your focus
- Setting up a system to both track your money and getting into a habit of money dates
- Finding a financial planner when you need a check-up with a professional
Hope you enjoy!
Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money
Want some help staying on top of your money? Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!
- Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
- Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
- Automatic Saving: Qapital
- Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
- How to Find the Right Financial Advisor for You
- 5 Powerful Financial Goals for Couples to Build Their Marriage and Wealth
- How to Find a Financial Planner You Can Trust
- Making Sure Your Family Financial Goals Fit You
- Build Your Marriage & Wealth with Money Dates
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!
Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.
If you want to be better prepared financially, please consider Coastal’s Retirement Planning Program!
Support the Podcast!
Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!
- Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
- Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
- Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!
Music Credit
Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.
The Truth About Car Loans
Buying a car can be an extremely stressful situation. Today we’re going to break down how you can get the best deal on your next car!
Can You Get a Great Deal on Your Car Loan?
Cars and car payments are a way of life for many couples.
According to the latest data I could find, there’s a record 2.5 million auto loans originated.
That’s certainly a big chunk of their budget going to cars.
Throughout the seasons, I’ve put out the offer to you to send in your money questions. I did a call for this season as well. And guess what?
Car loans came up. A lot.
Which isn’t surprising, considering that 85% of new car purchases and 53% of used car purchases use a loan.
But if you get a car loan, is there a way to make sure it’s extremely affordable and if you decide to pay it off sooner, would the numbers work in your favor?
It’s a challenge that I want to tackle today.
By examining the numbers and pushing away the hype and ads, I think you can get a clearer picture of the real costs and then figure out what’s the best option for you.
I’m extra excited because one of you lovely listeners is the guest. And Maggie actually pitched this topic to me in person.
Maggie and her husband Ben are trying to figure out what their options are for buying a car. And they were kind enough to share their situation and questions.
What’s cool to me about is that David Jacobs VP of Consumer from our sponsor and partner this season, Coastal Credit Union is going to give us some insights on the lending side.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- how to figure out how much car you really can afford
- getting the best rate on a car loan
- running the numbers to uncover some loan traps – like if those 0% deals on new cars are really a good deal
I want you two to be able to feel confident that you’re getting the best deal you can.
Hope you enjoy!
Essential Resources for Buying a Car
If you two are thinking about buying a car soon, here are some handy resources to help you get the best deal on them!
- Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Zeta
- Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
- How to Raise Your Credit Scores
- Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
- 5 Days to $5K Course
- The 3 Biggest Myths About Credit Scores That Can Ruin Your Finances
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!
Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.
If you are hunting for a car loan, take a minute to review competitive rates and deals Coastal is offering now to make buying a car easier!
Support the Podcast!
Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!
- Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
- Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
- Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!
Music Credit
Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.