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.
704 episodes transcribed#439: There are massive rapid changes unfurling in the financial world. This week’s biggest news: First Republic Bank collapsed; JP Morgan Chase acqui...
#438: “Do you want to save money? Or do you want to enjoy your life?” That’s a common question, but it’s strange. It assumes these ideas are opposites...
#437: Do you have a project you want to start … but you’re stuck in analysis paralysis? Do you feel like if you want to do something right, you have t...
#436: Jeremy wants to attend graduate school. Should he take student loans or cash out his investment portfolio? Andy is wondering if the 4 percent ru...
#435: Lee is 30 and facing a tech layoff. She can live for a year on her savings. She’s thinking about taking the rest of the year off. How should she...
#434: The majority of financial advice is geared to people with 9-5 jobs: “Negotiate for a raise.” “Max out your 401k match.” “Budget based on your...
#433: Should “Walker,” an anonymous caller, give up a cushy job to take a year-long sabbatical in Europe? Blue wants to rent out his East Coast home,...
#432: 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 a...
#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 commun...
#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...
#429: Have you ever thought about remodeling a kitchen? Retrofitting a camper van for #vanlife? Converting your basement into an Airbnb? Building a cu...
#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 accel...
#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 eve...
#426: Behavioral researcher, Vanessa Van Edwards, talks to us about the critical importance of charisma - and how to use the perfect blend of warmth a...
#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 o...
#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...
#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...
#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 st...
#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?...
#420: Harvard professor Arthur Brooks described two types of intelligence – and explained, in scientific terms, the wisdom that comes with age. Dr. El...
