Author:

Do you have musical instruments you’re no longer using and want to sell? In my household, we play piano, violin, cello, and ukulele, so we know quite a bit about buying and selling instruments for the best value.  In this article, I’m sharing: And more! Recommended reading: 11 Best Ways To Get Paid To Listen… Do you have musical instruments you’re no longer using and want to sell? In my household, we play piano, violin, cello, and ukulele, so we know quite a bit about buying and selling instruments for the best value.  In this article, I’m sharing: 8 best…

April 14, 2026By Jethro Ombao What do student loans, early retirement, and Airbnb have in common? They’re the three questions we’re tackling in today’s episode, and each one forces you to think about uncertainty, flexibility, and whether the “right” financial move on paper is actually the right move for your life. Joe and I answer three listener questions. KJ has $90K in student loans at 6.8% and just inherited $25K earning 3.3%—should she pay off the debt or hold cash for uncertain future payments? Anonymous is retiring in 7 years with $1.9M and wants to know if working part-time mitigates…

After publishing my piece on the shocking cost of eldercare, a question kept nagging at me that I couldn’t shake: when money is finite and the people you love are not, how do you decide who to help or save first? A $230,000-a-year group home in Hawaii for one person. Four parents to potentially care for. Two children still in school. A wife. And a version of FIRE retirement that is starting to look a lot less like freedom and a lot more like a second career with no salary. This is the financial dilemma I’m facing right now, and…

SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer. Mortgage rates are basically the same as where they were on Friday, but they’re much lower than where they were just two weeks ago. The average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage ticked down to 6.16% APR, according to rates provided to NerdWallet by Zillow. This is one basis point lower than yesterday, seven basis points lower than a week ago and nearly 30…

A debt-to-income ratio is a number lenders use to compare how much you owe in debt each month to how much you earn.   If you apply for a mortgage, car loan or other type of credit, this figure helps lenders decide whether you can manage a new payment.   Understanding your debt-to-income ratio can give you insight into how lenders evaluate your financial profile.  What Is a Debt-to-Income Ratio?  A debt-to-income ratio, often called a DTI ratio, measures the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward paying debts.  Lenders calculate your debt-to-income ratio by dividing your total monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income…

April 10, 2026By Jethro Ombao Jon McNeill, the former President of Tesla and former COO of Lyft, discusses the intersection of innovation, leadership, and the future of technology. Jon shares behind-the-scenes stories of scaling two of the most disruptive companies in modern history and offers a masterclass on how to build “acceleration” into your own career and business ventures. We explore the mindset required to solve impossible problems and what it truly takes to lead during times of rapid change. Listen Here Apple PodcastsSpotifyYoutube Key Takeaways: The “First Principles” Mindset: How breaking problems down to their fundamental truths allowed Tesla…

I must live in a bubble. Because in my circle, I don’t know anybody who has a car worth more than 1/10th of their annual gross income. My dad drives a 28 year old car that’s worth maybe $500 and he has a government pension worth at least 100X that. I drive an 11 year old car worth maybe $15,000 and my passive income is more than 10X that. My friend drives a 10 year old Tesla Model S worth maybe $16,000 but makes over $5 million a year. A neighbor just paid off his house and celebrated by buying…

SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on NerdWallet. The information has been collected by NerdWallet and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer. The war in Iran may be on pause, but its effects on prices are still in motion and will continue to ripple through the economy after more than a month of disruption to the global oil supply. Gas prices, for starters, are up more than 40% since February, and aren’t likely to subside soon. Airfares have climbed as well. Other price hikes are likely to…

How do you like that confidence?! It’s true though – I am (thrilled to be on the) So Money podcast again! 🤑 And I was a little nervous, not gonna lie… it’s been a hot minute since I was last on a show, but that quickly faded as Farnoosh and I got going because it’s like reuniting with family. I was one of her first guests when her podcast first launched, and now here we are over 10 years later just picking up the convo where we left it! It’s fun to read the summary of that first episode too…

While marriage often involves merging finances, debt isn’t always a shared burden. If one partner faces overwhelming financial distress while the other remains on solid footing, a common question arises: Can one spouse file bankruptcy alone?  In many cases, the answer is yes. Filing for bankruptcy as an individual while married is a common legal strategy. This guide explores when it makes sense to file alone, the limitations of doing so, and how your state’s laws might influence the outcome.  Can One Spouse File Bankruptcy?  A married person can legally file for bankruptcy without their spouse. When you file separately, only your individual debts are discharged,…