Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
1:12 – I’m not a financial expert.
2:01 – It’s vital to remember that we’re talking about long term goals.
3:21 – A detailed explanation of why index funds rock.
3:52 – I’m not alone in this perspective, either.
4:48 – The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing is essential reading on these topics.
6:01 – The organization I quickly mis-referred to as the “SIDC” here is actually the SIPC.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #17: Investing in Stocks appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:35 – Here’s some basic advice for managing cash in college.
1:10 – Is college even really necessary?
2:01 – Here’s how to minimize accumulated stuff in college (which amounts to lost money).
3:41 – Here are ten key things any college student can do to prepare for success in life.
5:02 – My college career wasn’t exactly perfect.
7:11 – A great book on the college experience (from a financial perspective) is Dara Duguay’s Please Send Money.
8:40 – Some advice to college students at the end of their college career.
9:20 – A preview of next week.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #16: College Advice appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:20 – I should definitely mention the excellent book Mindset, which explains the differences well.
1:05 – This topic is covered really well by Michael Graham Richard on his blog.
2:02 – Here’s a great article by Jonathan Fields about cultivating the right mentality in your child.
2:52 – If you’re growth-oriented, Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell can be a powerful read.
3:40 – A fixed mindset would do well to work on these fifteen things you can do right now to help your career.
4:39 – Transferable skills are incredibly useful, particularly to growth mindset folks, but even fixed mindset folks might find them useful for solidifying their position.
5:20 – A preview of next week.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #15: Fixed and Growth Mindsets appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:45 – The news story I refer to ran on local news in Des Moines and is apparently no longer in their online video archives, unfortunately.
1:45 – I trust Dave Ramsey, for example, when he sticks to finances, particularly debt elimination. He knows what he’s talking about, you can run the numbers yourself, and lots of people have found success using his methods.
2:40 – On the other hand, I don’t trust Robert Kiyosaki at all. Yes, his works are inspirational for entrepreneurial types, but I have a hard time trusting anyone who refers to a person who chooses to work a traditional job as a “hamster” as he does in Rich Dad, Poor Dad.
3:42 – Financial bloggers I trust include J.D. Roth and Jim Wang. Bloggers I don’t trust include Casey Serin, whose blog is now defunct (for good reason).
4:40 – The format matters, too. I tend to trust Jim Cramer in book form (because he gives very sensible long-form advice), but in short doses, I don’t trust him at all because he tends to go off the cuff with advice not based in fact.
5:55 – I’m not wholly condemning things like the Wall Street Journal and Money Magazine, just saying that my trust tends to focus more on the individual writers, not that it appears in those publications. I trust Sam Walker, not the WSJ. I trust Jason Zweig, not Money Magazine. That’s the right place to put it, I think.
7:20 – A preview of next week’s topic.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #14: Personal Finance Media appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:45 – There’s actually a solid book by Jon Hansen on this topic.
1:11 – Is an auto loan good or bad debt?
2:22 – Here are some details about John’s land purchase.
3:01 – A few further thoughts on good debt and bad debt.
4:21 – The “no debt” philosophy is pretty well espoused by Michael Mihalik.
5:42 – Is a student loan a bad debt? I think it can be.
7:20 – A preview of next week’s topic.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #13: Good Debt, Bad Debt, No Debt appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:31 – Some thoughts on why a “one-budget-fits-all” approach doesn’t really work.
0:42 – Here’s the early budgeting technique that worked well for me. It helped to get me on the right path.
1:21 – Here’s the full story on that coffee shop experience.
2:01 – I like the analogy of training wheels on a bike. At first, they teach you how to ride, but later, they’re a hindrance.
4:51 – Here are some thoughts on transitioning from budgeting to the net worth mentality.
5:50 – Some thoughts on budgeting with online bill pay.
6:59 – Here’s a preview of next week’s podcast, about personal finance media.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #12: The Anti-Budget appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:24 – If you want a great book on this topic, you should read Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi and Tahl Raz.
0:32 – Here’s my Twitter feed, if you’re so interested.
0:36 – Here’s the website for #amestweetup. There’s probably a similar gathering in your own area.
0:55 – Yes, I use Twitter for networking and communicating with people. Here are ten fundamental steps for online career networking.
1:12 – Yes, going out for beers (or any other social activity) with friends is a form of networking because you’re building relationships with those people.
2:52 – Some thoughts on the value of networking and friendship.
4:43 – Networking has no value without follow-up.
6:22 – If communicating with people face to face is hard for you, here are nine social skills to practice if you’re not socially skilled.
8:15 – Here’s a preview of next week’s topic, budgeting.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #11: Networking with Value appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:24 – A peek at the early years of our marriage.
1:11 – Smart Couples Finish Rich is a very good book for couples to read.
3:32 – Should a couple combine their finances? I was as unsure then as I am now.
6:01 – Some thoughts on setting goals together in a marriage.
9:42 – Here are some good general tips for a successful marriage.
11:30 – A preview of next week.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #10: Money and Relationships appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:25 – Several of the requests came after my appearance on the July 6 episode of The Personal Finance Hour, where these topics were touched on but not delved into.
1:13 – My primary libraries for such use are Ames Public Library and Parks Library, both in Ames, Iowa.
5:17 – 365 Ways to Live Cheap is basically a small compendium of frugality tips sold at a very low price.
7:45 – Thus, my true hourly wage is higher even though I’m not working more and I’m earning a bit less.
11:22 – Deliberate practice is a big key to getting better at anything.
14:45 – A little preview of next week.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #9: The Realities of Freelancing appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:30 – This pretty efficiently summarizes what, why, and how I read.
1:37 – Here’s my extremely detailed review of book #1.
2:31 – Some tips on finding your core values.
2:50 – Here’s my review of book #2.
3:31 – Some notes on this kind of intensity.
4:08 – Here’s my review of book #3.
4:31 – Seven big additional tactics along these same lines.
6:11 – Here’s my review of book #4.
8:38 – Here’s my review of book #5.
10:11 – Here’s my review of book #6.
12:08 – Here’s my review of book #7.
12:11 – I absolutely loved the opportunity I had to sit down and talk with Amy.
12:50 – One example – I found the flexible casserole recipe surprisingly useful.
13:39 – Here’s my review of book #8.
14:46 – Here’s my review of book #9.
17:15 – Here’s my review of book #10.
17:55 – Deliberate practice is key.
19:40 – Here’s that radio show, if you didn’t hear it.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #8: My Top Personal Finance and Personal Development Book Picks appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:12 – Some thoughts on how to deal with a partner that lies about money problems.
0:54 – Hi “Darren” and “Billie”! I think they actually read The Simple Dollar on occasion and they’re quite okay with me sharing aspects of their personal story.
1:24 – Some of the things that “Billie” did for money are on this list of side businesses you can start.
1:52 – “Darren” and “Billie” wound up using this technique to dig out of their hole.
2:07 – On the other hand, I would be utterly shocked if “Sharon” read this site. If she does, I’d be willing to bet she’s a comment troll.
4:22 – This was one of the earliest things I wrote about on The Simple Dollar.
4:40 – The impact of lying on your career is sort of like the inverse of what Keith Ferrazzi talks about in his excellent book Never Eat Alone.
5:12 – This is one of the twelve bad habits that hold good people back.
5:38 – Here are some notes on lying to yourself about money.
8:11 – Tracking your spending is also the way to get a grip on budgeting.
9:11 – I’m not talking about eliminating all fun in your life here. I’m talking about when a treat stops being a treat and instead becomes an expense.
11:28 – Visual reminders of goals are really powerful.
12:08 – Here are some tips for defining and accomplishing microgoals.
13:22 – I opened our financial matters to our wife in much the same way as I describe here.
14:03 – Next week: the ten personal finance and personal development books that have shaped my life from my financial, personal, and career bottoms until now.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #7: Lying About Money appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:44 – We played Dominion multiple times, Ticket to Ride: Europe, and Torres (I think … I might be mixing it with the previous game night we had).
1:05 – Her family plays the card game 500, which is quite fun.
2:10 – Good card games with kids: slapjack, go fish, and war.
2:18 – Good card games with adults: bridge, gin, canasta, poker, spades, hearts, cribbage, pitch, euchre … a nearly infinite list.
2:44 – My family always plays four point pitch.
2:55 – Monopoly seems to never end – I played a game for more than twelve hours once. Even worse, many people seem to play it without the auction rule – when someone lands on a property and chooses not to buy it, it goes up for auction. Without that, the game really does never seem to end.
3:27 – Ticket to Ride is a great board game that revolves around connecting various cities to one another via train. You essentially play on a map of a continent, with major cities highlighted, and throughout the game you connect these cities. You only have a limited number of connections, though, and other players are trying to do the same thing (and thus sometimes block your connections). It’s incredibly fun.
3:39 – Puerto Rico is a board game in which you’re trying to build a successful Puerto Rican farm while competing against the other players for resources – workers, money, and space on ships to sell what your farm grows. It can be played in an hour and fits three or four people really well.
3:45 – Settlers of Catan is a board game where you’re simply trying to settle on an island by placing just a small handful of towns and roads. It’s really simple and incredibly fun – as I say on the podcast, we played our first copy until it looks…. grizzled is a good word for it.
4:20 – You want a great way to network with someone? Play a game with them. You’ll almost magically open up a bit during the game.
6:25 – I use Gamerz in Ames, Iowa for most of my video game trading.
6:55 – Yes, I know I “overlooked” the social aspect of XBox Live and many online RPGs, but unless you’re (a) willing to give a lot of time to it or (b) have a strong affinity for teenagers being “funny” by yelling racial epithets, I’d suggest skipping it.
8:35 – I turn walks outdoors into a scavenger hunt.
8:50 – Here are ten ways I save money golfing.
10:40 – A preview of next week’s topic.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #6: Games People Play appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a snippet of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986, shared via their very open taping policy. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:22 – Some useful reading on this topic.
1:41 – The frugality lessons my parents taught me.
2:38 – Here are some of the ways they managed to juggle all of these things.
3:27 – The book It Pays to Talk by Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz and Charles Schwab was really helpful – here are my detailed notes on the book.
4:31 – Honesty is absolutely vital when talking about these issues.
6:02 – When I’m trying to calm myself down, I often sing to myself. I usually choose a very calm song – usually, it’s Crash by Dave Matthews Band.
8:58 – It might be worthwhile to get your parents a copy of Start Late Finish Rich by David Bach – here are my notes on the book.
11:30 – Estate planning 101
12:07 – A master information document is unbelievably useful in such situations.
15:22 – A semi-preview of next week’s podcast.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #5: Talking to Parents appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a public domain recording of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:29 – Some background reading – tactics for making healthy, simple, and cheap meals for you and your family.
1:57 – You’re not “frugal” if you don’t buy the cheapest thing, right?
3:11 – Read my review of Michael Pollan’s In Defense of Food for more on finding real value in food.
5:58 – and that’s the way … we be-came … The Brady Bunch!
7:20 – Here are six examples of simple main dishes based on such staple ingredients.
7:52 – A detailed guide to the art of the marinade.
8:06 – The basics of kitchen spices
9:03 – Is a deep freezer worth it? Yes!
10:11 – This is a great strategy for saving time and money – we do it with more than just chicken breasts.
10:23 – Slow cookers rule! Here are five great recipes for it … and five more.
13:30 Bulk buying can save a ton of money – more than you might think – if you do it right.
13:55 – Here are nine great ways to re-use leftovers in the same vein.
14:12 – … and how to make straight-up leftovers more tasty.
15:54 – Additional details on the “flexible casserole” including a version similar to what I talk about here.
17:11 – Just make your own cream sauce – as healthy as you want it.
19:11 – The neighborhood cooperative concept – or even just cooperating with a neighbor or two – can save you tons of money.
20:01 – Here’s a great way to start planning your meals.
21:40 – A preview of next week’s topic.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please. Also, if you use Skype, feel free to ask your question that way – my username is trenttsd.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #4: Food appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a public domain recording of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:16 – Some background reading on short term goals.
0:42 – Uh-oh, dry mouth setting in!
0:53 – Quick gulp of water!
1:11 – An excellent book on procrastination is The Now Habit by Neil Fiore.
1:21 – I can be an awful procrastinator.
1:57 – Here’s An overview of The Chronicles of Narnia.
2:14 – I thought The Magician’s Nephew was the best one in the series.
3:35 – Here’s that very non-motivational poster.
4:02 – And here’s a much better one, with a Lao Tzu quote.
4:22 – Some notes on Getting Things Done by David Allen.
5:42 – Here’s how to plan ahead for meals like I’m talking about.
9:39 – Here’s my notes on a Roth IRA and other retirement savings tools.
9:43 – … and here’s how to develop your own debt repayment plan.
10:19 – A nice guide for installing a programmable thermostat from Frugal Dad.
10:22 – Here’s the Department of Energy’s guide to air sealing your home.
11:35 – All the President’s Men is a great movie.
11:41 – … and so is The Natural.
11:55 – Do I sound more like Ernie Harwell, Vin Scully, or Harry Caray? Or Chip Caray? Or Bob Uecker?
12:30 – Evernote is great!
13:08 – Action Method is a pretty good way of keeping track of what you need to do next.
14:03 – A preview of next week’s topic, food.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #3 – Short Term Goals appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a public domain recording of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:14 – Background reading: the fulfillment curve.
0:28 – Your Money or Your Life comes up again – here’s a reading guide.
0:48 – Great book suggestion: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
0:58 – Great book suggestion: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
1:06 – Great book suggestion: The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion
1:14 – Essential book suggestion: 365 Ways to Live Cheap by Trent Hamm
1:34 – Some further thoughts on guilt and spending.
2:04 – Stop! Hammertime!
2:26 – How Fahrenheit 451 had a huge impact on me.
3:55 – Why, exactly, do people like Starbucks? I don’t get it.
4:25 – I wrote about the coffee shop thing before in Splurges, Habits, and Projection.
5:29 – The Fruit Bats are a perfect example of this kind of music. Listen in.
6:22 – Like, this Andrew Jackson biography, or this Augusten Burroughs memoir.
6:40 – Woo hoo! PaperBackSwap! I LOVE THIS STUFF!
6:50 – My mouth got really dry here.
7:02 – I snuck a drink of water here.
7:42 – This second is for you, Carolyn!
8:15 – I’ve actually sold a big pile of DVDs before. Here’s how I did it.
8:23 – I recommend using a very simple Mead pocket notebook for this – it works really, really well and fits nicely in the pocket. Don’t forget a pen!
9:45 – True Blood is goofy and over the top, but very fun.
11:12 – The Baseball Card Blog sums up this passion brilliantly.
11:56 – I actually had to find out if I was pronouncing Oddibe McDowell’s name right.
12:15 – A great discussion of Gregg Jefferies and late 1980′s baseball cards by Dave Jamieson.
13:04 – Slate on the enduring popularity of the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. card – a symbol of the boyhoods of countless guys that are now around age 30.
14:19 – The Frugal Golfer – for all your frugal golfing needs!
14:43 – A preview of next week.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #2 – The Fulfillment Curve appeared first on The Simple Dollar.

The first episode of The Simple Dollar Podcast focuses on credit card debt. I tell my own story of escaping from a pile of credit cards and relate some very specific advice on how to extract yourself from such debt. Also discussed: Rocky IV, Douglas Coupland novels, Steve Bartman, Twittering while drinking your third glass of wine, snarky librarians, and Dave Ramsey’s connection to Star Trek. Total length: 12:12

Listen In!

Other options for enjoying The Simple Dollar Podcast include:
Listen to this episode on a separate page
Subscribe via iTunes
Download this episode (right click and save)
Subscribe in the media player of your choice

Though I hope you do subscribe using one of the above methods, don’t worry – each episode will be featured in its own post, much like this one, on Tuesday afternoons. The podcast itself may appear earlier than that, however, if you subscribe using one of the above forms, but the notes won’t appear until I post about it here on The Simple Dollar.

Episode Notes
Here are some additional notes that go alongside the comments in the podcast. Approximate times for the corresponding links and notes are listed.

0:00 – The theme song is a public domain recording of a Camper van Beethoven concert on October 25, 1986. Listen to the concert in its entirety.
0:24 – Background reading – my financial biography, particularly the part about our meltdown.
0:50 – The World’s Strongest Man competition is held annually, pitting competitors against each other in a wide variety of feats of strength.
0:58 – I talked about that “sunny April afternoon” in a post called The Longest Night.
1:06 – Rocky IV! Ivan Drago whips Apollo Creed!
2:18 – My public library of choice.
2:39 – Your Money or Your Life is a must-read. Here’s how it really impacted my life.
2:54 – Detailed notes on The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.
4:14 – And I’m still reading; here’s a peek at that mountain.
4:43 – Which one of these three is the manliest?
5:09 – Here are the only budgeting techniques that ever worked for me.
6:25 – I highly recommend White Oak Vineyards in central Iowa.
6:28 – If they’re sold out of Prairie Rose, blame me.
6:45 – Here’s my Twitter feed … I promise, no more meandering discussions of North by Northwest!
7:17 – Redbox is cheap because there are tons of codes out there for free DVD rentals.
7:31 – PaperBackSwap is the best! But you probably already knew that…
7:49 – The three best novels on modern careers that I’ve yet read were all by Douglas Coupland – Generation X, Microserfs, and JPod.
8:12 – Here’s a startup guide for cooking at home if you have no idea what you’re doing in the kitchen.
8:14 – Restaurants.com can be a good money saver.
9:05 – Here’s a startup guide for your emergency fund.
9:23 – Steve Bartman, oh, Steve Bartman. Relive the moment.
9:44 – Proof that Steve needed a bodyguard.
10:18 – Some details on the debt snowball and a mathematically superior (though psychologically inferior) alternative.
11:29 – Your homework, class!
11:46 – For any of this to work, you have to overcome lying to yourself about money.
12:02 – A preview of next week.

One thing I’d like to do in a future episode is have an audio reader’s mailbag. If you have a microphone on your computer and can record an MP3 of a simple, short question you might have on personal finance, careers, pop culture, or anything else you’d like me to answer, record it as an MP3 and send it to me. Keep the total recording under 15 seconds, please.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

The post The Simple Dollar Podcast #1 – Credit Card Debt appeared first on The Simple Dollar.