By Paula Pant
As we close out 2025, premium credit cards got pricier, and a lot more “coupon-y,” and plenty of us are wondering if the points game is still worth the effort.
In this episode, we sit down with Chris Hutchins, host of All the Hacks, to talk about what’s actually changed in credit card rewards, […]
By Paula Pant
They’ve done everything right on paper. Mid-40s, nearly $2 million saved, clear spending numbers, and a realistic plan to downshift work within the next five to seven years. And yet, the hesitation is real.
In this Q&A episode, we unpack the hesitation that shows up right before a major financial transition, even when the numbers […]
By Paula Pant
We’re joined in-studio by David Bach, bestselling author of The Automatic Millionaire and The Latte Factor. He’s updated his most popular book (over two million copies sold) and this is his last big launch as he heads into retirement.
Together, we wrestle with a problem our listeners know well: what happens when you’ve built the […]
By Paula Pant
Home prices have outpaced wages for more than a decade, and first-time buyers are stretching further every year. Now a new idea is entering the conversation, the 50-year mortgage. It promises lower monthly payments, yet it reshapes everything from equity growth to long-term risk.
In this episode we sit down with Karsten Jeske, PhD, CFA […]
By Paula Pant
Welcome to the last First Friday episode of the year. Today, we’ll dive into an unprecedented moment in the U.S. economy: a missing jobs report, a divided Federal Reserve, a sluggish labor market, and a holiday shopping season shaped by AI, bargain hunters, and low consumer confidence.
In this episode, we […]
Written By Paula Pant
It’s Giving Tuesday.
You probably woke up thinking it would be simple: write a check, feel good, move on.
Instead you’ve found yourself in a full-blown negotiation with your spouse.
Together, you’ve set aside $500 for charity.
You want to give to your university.
Your spouse wants to fund malaria prevention.
Both charities offer a […]
Written By Paula Pant
Let’s take a look at some stats from the holiday weekend.
How much are people spending?
What does this tell us about the economy?
How confident do households feel about their income and budgets?
Let’s look at the numbers and see what stories they’re telling us.
U.S. shoppers spent a record $11.8 billion online on […]
By Paula Pant
Today’s episode is a special rerun from the Afford Anything “greatest hits” vault, one that’s especially timely as we move through peak shopping season.
Originally aired in January 2020, this conversation with behavioral economist Jeff Kreisler digs into the hidden psychology behind sales, discounts, so-called “free shipping,” and all the subtle […]
Written By Paula Pant
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Which means in 48 hours, your inbox is going to explode with “savings.”
Except here’s the thing: most of those “savings” aren’t savings at all.
Let me break down what’s actually happening to your brain during Black Friday.
Truth #1: You can’t save money by spending it.
That 40 percent off Instant […]
Written By Paula Pant
Remember the last thing you bought ….
…. that’s now collecting dust in your closet?
You thought it was a great deal, but now it’s just making you feel guilty?
Yeah, me too.
Here’s what nobody tells you about the price tag: it’s lying to you.
That $500 treadmill […]
