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Smart Start Money provides information on making smart money decisions. Providing tips, personal experiences, and opinions on saving smart and spending smart. Times have changed since getting a job and keeping the same place of employment for a lifetime. The average time spent with one employer is now three to five years. Companies are replacing workers with lean staff that previously held more people to accomplish the same tasks. This has resulted in periods of unemployment for many people making it challenging to save for retirement and stay debt-free. The rising costs of healthcare, consumer goods, and wages that often do not seem to keep pace with the cost of daily life make it more important than ever to make smart financial decisions. Millions of people struggle each day to get ahead. The intention of Smart Start Money is to not only provide insight into saving or spending but also open conversations. Discussions relating to the economy, employment, and even the occasional forbidden topic of politics are possible. If the subject matter has a correlation to helping people with their finances or questioning the so-called experts, it is open for dialogue. It has never been more important than ever to save and stay out of debt. No one has all the answers when it comes to personal finance. People come from all different backgrounds in life. The choices we make and the opportunities available are never identical. We can all learn from each other.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
A Good Auto Mechanic Can Be Hard to Find
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
Wednesday Nov 20, 2019
Finding a good auto mechanic is essential to saving money and not getting ripped off. But how do you find an honest mechanic and where should you look for one? This podcast episode discusses ways to save money on car repairs and how to find an honest trustworthy mechanic.
Friday Nov 15, 2019
5 Reasons to Cut the Cord to Cable Television
Friday Nov 15, 2019
Friday Nov 15, 2019
Watching television can be a great source of news and entertainment. But the cost of cable TV has gotten out of control. Just like many other services cable television companies like to fee us all to death. Their advertised rates are often misleading. Contractual agreements can lock you into something that is less than desirable for enjoying some downtime in front of the TV.
I subscribed to cable for many years and was hesitant to cut the cord. However, I finally had enough with the last price increase and changes in the channel line up to give internet television a shot. I was surprised by the outcome.
In this podcast, 5 of the top reasons to cut the cord to traditional cable television are given in addition to some free resources to watch television and movies online.
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Resume Age Discrimination - 10 Things to Avoid
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Wednesday Nov 13, 2019
Although employers are not legally supposed to discriminate based on a person’s age, it happens all the time. Hiring managers and companies regularly discriminate not only based on age, but also on additional criteria that might include sexual orientation, a person’s attractiveness or their marital status. With all of these types of bias for hiring an employee how can you avoid making mistakes on your resume that give clues to your age?
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
Applicant Tracking Systems
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
Saturday Nov 09, 2019
Are Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) bad for job seekers?
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Does Applying for a Job Online Work?
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Friday Nov 08, 2019
If you have been hunting for employment in the past, posting a resume to popular job boards and applying to online applications is just part of the process. But are these methods still worth the time?
Friday Nov 08, 2019
The Cost of Owning a Dog
Friday Nov 08, 2019
Friday Nov 08, 2019
It's not just the initial purchase fees of buying a dog where there are charges and most people underestimate the cost of a dog over its lifetime.
What does it really cost to be a dog owner?
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Is a 15-Year or 30-Year Mortgage Better?
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Owning a home is a goal for many people. It is the American Dream and can be a great asset in building wealth and becoming financially secure. A majority of buyers need to take out a mortgage to purchase a home. There are many choices and terms for financing when it comes to buying a home.
The period time chosen for a home loan is often either a 15-year or 30-year mortgage. Both of these have their benefits. A large majority of financial sites you will read are proponents of a 15-year mortgage. This can be advantageous, but I am a big supporter of a 30-year year mortgage payment. There are a number of reasons it is many times a better choice in the world we live in today.
This podcast episode I review the pros and cons of a 15-year mortgage compared to 30-year. You might be surprised why a 30-year option is better for a majority of buyers.
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
An Auto Loan Should Not Be Normal
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
I hear it all the time. Having an auto loan is normal and just part of life. America loves its automobiles and nothing is wrong with this. We like the freedom it provides to travel and get to the place we want to go when we want to get there.
New cars have become more expensive over the years. As a result, banks have started to increase the available loan periods for them. This is leaving an increasing number of people locked into the debt of payments on an automobile. It holds them back from living free of debt, saving for retirement, and building wealth. Having an auto loan can limit your financial goals.
This episode looks at why financing a vehicle is a bad financial decision and how to shop for a good reliable used car.
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Why Student Loans are a Bad Idea
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
There really is no way to disagree that education is important. But at what cost does it truly make sense? Does taking out large amounts of debt obtaining a four-year degree ensure success in landing employment that will last a lifetime in a career field?
Taking out a mountain of student loan debt is a bigger gamble today than it ever has been. In this podcast episode, I talk about why student loans are a bad idea.
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Attending a Professional Sports Game is Overpriced
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Tuesday Nov 05, 2019
Attending a professional sports event is increasingly becoming overpriced. Going to view live sporting events, unfortunately, is becoming just too expensive for the middle class. Furthermore, lower-income families would have a difficult time paying for a small family to attend a few games during a season. The costs for tickets, refreshments, and merchandise has increased at such an alarming rate that it is outpacing what most people can afford.
This episode I discuss the problems with overpriced athletes and sports.