Is now the best time to be a saver? Even if it's not the best time, it is still a great time to start saving. So I thought this would be the perfect time to start a new series all about the best places to save your money. This week we are kicking things off with the High Yield Savings Account. Let's break down the history of savings accounts, the origins of the high yield savings account, and the best way to use these accounts. Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter -...

The Biden Administration is fast-tracking student loan forgiveness for certain borrowers. And the cheap streaming prices we all loved seems to be a thing of the past. We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 64 this is combined monthly price of the top 8 streaming services Today’s Article You may need to take extra steps to qualify for Biden’s fast-tracked student loan forgiveness written by Annie Nova Connect with Today's Guest - Nika Booth Debt Free Gonna Be...

Are there any side hustles that can ACTUALLY help me increase my income? If one of your goals for 2024 is to make more money then today’s episode should help get you brainstorming on how best to do it! I’m joined by Melissa Jean-Baptiste, a former NYC high school teacher turned financial educator who’s on the show to share her story of finding a side hustle that helped her pay off more than $100k worth of debt. Melissa is a first-generation Haitian American and the author of "So This Is Why...

Do you know what Loud Budgeting is? I didn’t either before this episode. And did you spend more money this holiday season? The numbers say yes. We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 3.1% this is the increase in U.S retail sales this holiday season compared to 2022 Today’s Article This 2024 Money Trend Exploded on TikTok. And Personal Finance Experts Love It written by Dashia Milden Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance Newsletter -...

Is the SAVE student loan forgiveness plan right for me? Today I’m answering a question from Deanna, a listener wondering if The Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan - the newest income-driven repayment (IDR) plan for student loans - is right for her and her situation. To help answer this question I have student loan expert and creator of Debt Free Gonna Be, Nika Booth to give more guidance and details surrounding the SAVE plan. Nika shares how this plan works for those with a higher...

Are movie theaters back from the brink of failure and is the latest student loan forgiveness program, SAVE, a good deal? We'll discuss this and more on Popcorn Finance NEWS! Today’s Number is 2 This is the number of movies that earned more than $1 Billion in 2023. Today’s Article What Is President Biden’s SAVE Plan for Student Loan Repayment? written by Kristopher Kane Connect with Nika Debt Free Gonna Be | Instagram | Twitter Subscribe to the FREE Popcorn Finance...

What does student loan repayment look like in 2024? Nika Booth, student loan expert and creator of Debt Free Gonna Be, is back to share some updates on student loans for 2024. A lot has changed since her last visit this past summer when the Supreme Court struck down Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. We cover the chaos that was the restarting of student loan payments d and where student loan forgiveness is headed this year..   Other episodes with Nika: 390, 385, 377 Connect with...

Part 2 of the Best and Worst Movies of 2023 What were the best and worst movies you watched in 2023? In early 2023 a friend challenged me to see who could watch the most movies released in 2023. So after watching over 70 films last year, I thought a fun way to kick off 2024 would be to throw a nice big bag of popcorn in the microwave and rank some of the best and worst movies of 2023. To make things more interesting I’m joined by Trashwire movie critic, and cohost of the Watcha Watchin’...

Welcome to the very first episode of Popcorn Finance NEWS, where we break down the numbers and the news in about the time it takes to make a bag of popcorn! This new Thursday episode is the News Edition of Popcorn Finance where I grab a fresh bag of popcorn and search the internet for the numbers that catch my eye and the personal finance news that I think you’ll want to hear. Today’s Number is 11 This is the number of times that the Federal Reserve has raised interest rates since they...

What were the best and worst movies you watched in 2023? In early 2023 a friend challenged me to see who could watch the most movies released in 2023. So after watching over 70 films last year, I thought a fun way to kick off 2024 would be to throw a nice big bag of popcorn in the microwave and rank some of the best and worst movies of 2023. To make things more interesting I’m joined by Trashwire movie critic, and cohost of the Watcha Watchin’ podcast, Alexis Gentry as we discuss all things...

Who else made an overly ambitious list of goals for 2023? It’s that time of year again when social media is flooded with lists and round-ups of what everyone achieved and accomplished this year, but what about all the goals we didn’t manage to reach in 2023 - the failed goals? To make you feel less alone about your failed goals, Berna Anat, author of Money Out Loud, and I are sharing our failures of the year and what we hope to achieve in 2024.     Connect with Berna Instagram | Website |...

I’m giving away two copies of Berna Anat's book Money Out Loud and one of them is signed with a special message from Berna! To enter go to PopcornFinance.com/Giveaway The giveaway is running through the end of the year, December 31, 2023, so get those entries in now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When was the last time you had a money chat with your friends? Telling your friends that something isn't in your budget can be difficult, not to mention awkward. Erin Lowry, author and the personal finance expert behind The Broke Millennial book series joins me to discuss how to open up to friends about money and set healthy boundaries. Connect with Erin Instagram | Website | Twitter | Books Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance Want to submit a question to the...

What would you do if you received an extra $1,000 this holiday season? This week I’m joined by the internet’s favorite hype woman, Berna Anat and we’re answering a question from Derrick, a listener wondering what he should do with his Christmas bonus, put it in his savings, pay off debt, or something else. Connect with Berna Instagram | Website | Book Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email...

We are all looking for hacks to help us get better at managing our money. This week’s guest, Lisa Rowan, wrote a book compiling over 275 money hacks that she has collected over years of writing about personal finance. Today we are diving into a few of my favorites, including ways to limit impulse shopping at your favorite retail store or restaurant and a quick hack to help you make smarter spending decisions. Follow Lisa Website | Podcast Join Me on...

When do you think the Federal minimum wage was last changed? If you guessed over a decade, you’d be right, which is insane. Unlike other government numbers, the federal minimum wage is not adjusted based on inflation and so we’ve been sitting at the same number since 2009. So on today’s episode, I'm talking about the history of the federal minimum wage and what States across the country are doing to counteract that low federal number. Join Me on...

Is putting a big down payment on a new car a good idea? A listener wrote in wanting to know the best way to approach her next car purchase. I spent waaayyy too much time in my favorite program (Excel!) creating a calculator to run through some possible scenarios. Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance Want to submit a question to the show? Send an email to [email protected] Send me a message at PopcornFinance.com/Voicemail or Call 707-200-8259 Connect with...

Will the way that retirement plans work be changing in 2024? This week I’m answering a question from Kurt, a listener who has heard about a few changes coming to retirement plans thanks to the Secure Act 2.0. Will new rules make withdrawals from 401(k) plans a little bit easier? What will be the tax impact of new employer matching rules?  This week let's talk through these details in more! Episodes Mentioned: Ep.403: 401(k) Withdrawals on the Rise  Ep.215: 401(k) Q&A - What's a 401k...

Can we use fear to make better financial decisions?? In today’s episode, we’re exploring working with our fears instead of against them to build a better financial life. Farnoosh Torabi, personal finance expert, author, and speaker, is back to discuss her newest book, A Healthy State of Panic, this book is part memoir, part guidebook on how fear can be a superpower. Connect with Farnoosh Website | Twitter  | Instagram | Book | So Money Podcast Join Me on...

Is keeping it simple really the best way to ensure I’m prepared for retirement? Why are we always looking for a more complicated solution to something when the simplest is often the best choice? That’s how I feel about investing, as does Jill Schlesinger, host of the Jill on Money podcast. This week Jill joins me to explain why there is no secret sauce to investing and why overcomplicating it could cause you to lose money in the long run. Other episodes featuring Jill - Ep.371, Ep.372,...

Have you had to take money out of your 401(k) in order to keep afloat financially? It shouldn’t come as a big surprise that times are tough financially right now for a lot of Americans and a newly released report from Bank of America suggests that hardship withdrawals from 401(k)s are on the rise because of it. In this episode of Popcorn Finance, I wanted to share a bit more about what that data in the report means and how hardship withdrawals work regarding specific guidelines and criteria...

What comes to mind when you read the term generation wealth? This term has been everywhere lately and honestly, up until recently it hasn’t sat right with me. The idea behind “generation wealth” just seems unrealistic and unattainable for the majority of Americans trying to survive amidst inflation, unaffordable housing, and so on. But, if there’s anything that I am more than willing to do, it is to challenge my own beliefs. So today’s episode is about the discussion that changed my mind...

Can I contribute to an IRA and a 401(k) at the same time? A listener wrote in with this exact question so this week I'll break this question down and dive deeper in to what makes these plans different.   Have a Question? Send me a message at PopcornFinance.com/Voicemail or Call 707-200-8259   Connect with me Instagram - @PopcornFinancePodcast Twitter - @PopcornFinance Facebook - Popcorn Finance   Come Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/c/PopcornFinance Learn more about your ad...

This week we hit 400 Episodes! To celebrate I'm answering a great question sent in by Sil whose brother has found himself in an annuity that he wants to move into his 401(k). In this episode I'll discuss whether or not this is even possible and four options for getting your money out of an annuity. Listen to Ep# 399 first before you listen to today's episode to learn all about annuities. Articles on...

What is an annuity and is it something I should add to my retirement plans? This week Jill Schlesinger, CFP and host of the Jill on Money podcast, joins me to help explain the ins and outs of annuities and whether or not there is an actual use for them. Other episodes featuring Jill -  Ep.371, Ep.372, Ep.380, Ep.397, Ep.398 Connect with Jill Website | Twitter  |  Book Need an Advisor? Here's 13 Questions to Ask Join Me on YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/PopcornFinance Want to submit a...