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Afford Anything

Markets and Investing

You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life. How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles? On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing. But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think. In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models. Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.

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Location:

United States

Description:

You can afford anything, but not everything. We make daily decisions about how to spend money, time, energy, focus and attention – and ultimately, our life. How do we make smarter decisions? How do we think from first principles? On the surface, Afford Anything seems like a podcast about money and investing. But under the hood, this is a show about how to think critically, recognize our behavioral blind spots, and make smarter choices. We’re into the psychology of money, and we love metacognition: thinking about how to think. In some episodes, we interview world-class experts: professors, researchers, scientists, authors. In other episodes, we answer your questions, talking through decision-making frameworks and mental models. Want to learn more? Download our free book, Escape, at http://affordanything.com/escape. Hosted by Paula Pant.

Language:

English

Contact:

707-728-5202

Episodes

The Risk of Not Fully Living, with Michael Lynch

3/15/2023
Have you ever worried about running out of money after you retire? Do you keep checking your net worth to make sure you have enough? Does this always feel a little … unsatisfying? This episode discusses why. Today's guest, Michael Lynch, is a certified financial planner and author. His most recent book, “It’s All About The Income,” says that we’re obsessed with the wrong thing. Retirement planning is focused on growing assets. But your assets aren’t going to keep the lights on. Your INCOME,...

Duration:00:50:05

Mr. Money Mustache Talks About His Dating Life

3/9/2023
#431: The title says it all. Paula Pant interviews Mr. Money Mustache about his dating life. We chat about why he wants to date inside the FIRE community (financial independence, retire early) – and whether he’s had any luck. We discuss the perils of navigating into the dating world after a divorce, which he did at age 43. And – AHEM – HE’S ON THE APPS. Well, specifically, he’s on one app. And it’s technically not an app, it’s a website. Whatever. HE’S ONLINE DATING, FOLKS. We talk about the...

Duration:01:09:59

Ask Paula: My Parents Are Drowning In Credit Card Debt. What Should I Do?

3/1/2023
#430: D is worried that she’s going to suffer from her parents’ poor financial choices. Is it time to confront them about it? An anonymous caller and her fiance both own a house. Which one do they move into after the wedding? In a world of rising inflation, Nick wants to know if it’s time to change the way he saves for his future. Another anonymous caller wants to buy a second home within a decade. How does she start planning now? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these...

Duration:01:00:27

How BIG Things Get Done, with Dr. Bent Flyvberg

2/23/2023
#429: Have you ever thought about remodeling a kitchen? Retrofitting a camper van for #vanlife? Converting your basement into an Airbnb? Building a custom website? Recording an album? Did you worry that this project will cost more and take longer than you expected? This episode is all about how to complete projects on-time and under budget. Today's guest, Dr. Bent Flyvberg, is an Oxford University professor with a Ph.D. in urban geography. He’s published more than 200 scholarly articles on...

Duration:00:53:16

Ask Paula: Do I really need a Financial Advisor?

2/16/2023
#428: Jamie currently lives at home and dreams of reaching financial freedom by her early 30s. How can she take advantage of her low expenses to accelerate her wealth building? An anonymous caller has enough to retire in 5 years. Does she still need her financial advisor or is it time to do it on her own? Meghan is a personal finance enthusiast who wants to start a coaching side hustle. What’s the best way to get started? Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these five...

Duration:01:01:00

Start a Micro-Business & Build Multiple Income Streams, with Nick Loper

2/9/2023
#427: Okay, maybe the phrase “side hustle” is overused. But it’s also misunderstood. “Side hustle” is a catch-all term that people use to describe everything from low-paid gig economy labor – Doordash, Uber Eats, Rover – to six-figure consulting for Fortune 500 companies. On the remote-work side, it includes everything from freelance graphic design (services) to selling bundles of presentation deck templates (digital products). On the physical goods side, it includes everything from...

Duration:01:06:33

Key Takeaways: Best Lessons from the Last Year

2/3/2023
#426: Behavioral researcher, Vanessa Van Edwards, talks to us about the critical importance of charisma - and how to use the perfect blend of warmth and competence to be charismatic. Dr. Michael Slepian walks us through what secrets mean, what they cost, and how we think about them. We dive into the world of long distance real estate investing, and talk about two of the major components of investing - Cash and mindsets - to help you determine if long distance real estate investing is right...

Duration:01:21:11

Ask Paula: My Dad Died, and My Mom Is CLUELESS About Finances

2/1/2023
#425: Ellen’s dad died unexpectedly. Her mom is clueless about finances. How does she help a 70-year-old unravel financial complexities? Mike has an opportunity to buy into his friend’s growing business. What should be his legal, financial, and relationship considerations? Pepp wants to know what’ll happen to her Restricted Stock Units when her company goes private. An anonymous caller needs to build her nest egg. She’ll be a full-time student with no income. She has 20 years until...

Duration:01:15:45

The Power of Knowing When To Walk Away

1/25/2023
#424: We’re taught to stay in the game. Persist. Be gritty. Try, try again. But sometimes, the best decision is to walk away. Move on. How do you know when that’s right? When should you double-down … and when should you fold? Today’s guest, Annie Duke, won more than $4 million as a professional poker champion. She wrote the bestselling book Thinking in Bets and co-founded a nonprofit that teaches kids decision-making skills. Her most recent book, “Quit: The Power of Knowing When To Walk...

Duration:01:10:06

Ask Paula: Can I Make Money With My Passion?

1/18/2023
#423: We’ve heard the warnings about following your passion. People ask if you can *actually* make money doing what you love. They frame the question “passion or profit?” as though these are in opposition. The majority – who have never tried – decry, “what if you fail?” Nobody asks the more important question: what if you succeed? Are you still going to love your passion when you rely on it to pay the bills? We grapple with that question in today’s episode, which is devoted to side hustles...

Duration:01:11:14

Ask Paula: We’re Saving 72 Percent Of Our Income … and It SUCKS

1/12/2023
#422: Emily is saving aggressively for financial independence, but it’s hard to enjoy the present. Is it time to increase spending? Monroe wants to stop working. Forever. Which is more important: debt payoff or investing? Another anonymous caller and his spouse dream of building a homestead on an expensive piece of land. How much is too much to spend on housing? Given the high costs of moving, Sarah wonders if buying a starter home is the best decision. Should she and her fiance jump...

Duration:01:15:53

How to Schedule Your Day for Peak Enjoyment, with Laura Vanderkam

1/4/2023
#421: Life is busy. We spend too much time on chores, errands, commuting, emails and other draining tasks. We lack time for joy and hobbies. Or do we? Today’s guest, Laura Vanderkam, talks to us about how to make the most of our time and carve out more space for gratifying experiences. Laura Vanderkam is a time management and productivity expert. Her latest work, “Tranquility By Tuesday: 9 Ways to Calm the Chaos and Make Time for What Matters” shares actionable steps to help you fill your...

Duration:01:02:39

What We Learned in 2022

12/28/2022
#420: Harvard professor Arthur Brooks described two types of intelligence – and explained, in scientific terms, the wisdom that comes with age. Dr. Ellen Vora, M.D., shared insight into the roots of procrastination, offering evidence-based tips for how to overcome our own inner demons of anxiety, fear and laziness. Psychology professor Bill von Hippel described why too much happiness is just as detrimental to our long-term health and wellbeing as too little happiness. Wall St. Journal...

Duration:01:29:43

Ask Paula: Should I Stay At My Job For the 401k?

12/21/2022
#419: Casey isn’t happy at her job. If she leaves before her one-year mark, she’ll lose her 401k contributions. Should she stay or find a new job? Daan resides in a high-cost-of-living area where real estate appreciates rapidly. But there’s no cash flow. How should he evaluate real estate as an investment? Emily already maximizes her 401k contributions. Should she contribute to an after-tax 401k next? Ryan’s investing for his son. If the yield is the same between two mutual funds, can he...

Duration:00:58:53

Maybe We Should Spend More, with Dr. Jordan Grumet

12/15/2022
#418: When Jordan Grumet was a child, his dad died unexpectedly. That was decades ago. Jordan is a father today, but he thinks often about the possibility of dying young. And he wonders how to balance enjoying today vs. saving for tomorrow, given that none of us know how long we’ll be on this earth. How do we think about our lives when the clock starts to run out? Beyond money, what other tools can we use to live a fulfilling life? Jordan Grumet, a hospice doctor and host of the Earn and...

Duration:00:48:20

Ask Paula: Marriage and Money: What Are the Right Conversations?

12/12/2022
#417: Our first anonymous caller is getting married. What are the financial considerations the couple should be thinking through since there is a large income gap between them? Our second anonymous caller is concerned about her ability to continue working due to major depression. Should she consider disability insurance? Carly is an accidental landlord and would love to keep her rental property. The problem? It’s losing money right now and she’d probably take a loss if she sold it. What...

Duration:01:09:51

The Crypto Crash, the Housing Market, and Hot Takes on the Latest Economic Headlines

12/2/2022
#416: Crypto is tanking. Household debt is climbing. Student loans are tangled up in the court system. And the house market…did what?! Today’s bonus First Friday episode takes a look at the latest economic headlines, with analysis, commentary and hot takes. Enjoy! For more information, visit the show notes at https://affordanything.com/episode416 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Duration:00:50:57

How I Give Away 41% of My Income, with Bob Lotich

11/30/2022
#415: The average American donates 2.1 percent of their income to charity, according to data from the Giving Institute. But an ordinary couple living in Nashville, Bob and Linda Lotich, refuse to be average. When they were both 31, they decided to “give their age” – they pledged to donate 31 percent of their income to worthwhile causes. They’ve increased their charitable giving every year since, to match their age. The couple is now 41 years old, and they give away 41 percent of their...

Duration:00:47:44

Ask Paula: I Think I Can Retire Early. Am I Crazy?!

11/23/2022
#414: Amanda is worried that her recently diagnosed health condition might force her to stop working. How should she financially prepare her family? Anonymous is a savvy DIY investor who wants to retire early and is wondering if she should hire a financial advisor. Should Krista tap into the equity from one of her rentals to rebalance a portfolio that is weighted heavily in real estate? Natasha thinks she and her husband have saved enough to retire early but it feels scary. Is she truly...

Duration:01:16:32

Why We’re Paying Attention to the Wrong Things, with Dr. Daniel Crosby

11/16/2022
#413: If an idea dominates the headlines, we notice it. But maybe we shouldn’t. Today’s guest, psychologist and behavioral finance expert Dr. Daniel Crosby, says there’s a difference between a prediction that gets repeated, and one that’s likely to unfold. What’s salient isn’t accurate, he says. And vice versa. He also talks about how money problems have morphed over time. He chats about how our evolutionary wiring is at odds with our goals. And he even discusses how we’re wired to be ‘lazy’...

Duration:00:59:09

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