3 Personal Finance Podcasts You Should Follow

Open up your Spotify or Apple Podcasts app and scroll through the “finance” categories. You’ll find a long list of podcasts by financial experts sharing their knowledge on how to build stock portfolios, accrue wealth and retire early. 

While there’s nothing wrong with those podcasts, the advice they’re doling out isn’t exactly relatable for the average American. The average American doesn’t have enough savings to cover a $400 emergency expense out of pocket. The average American lives from paycheck to paycheck. The average American is having a difficult time finding affordable housing — including rentals. 

You might be sitting in this same category. Your budget is tight, and you don’t have any savings. If you were hit with a $400 emergency expense, you wouldn’t have enough to pay for it right away. You would have to use your credit card or go to a website like CreditFresh to see whether you’re eligible for an emergency cash loan. If you were eligible, you could submit an application and potentially get approved for the cash loan, which you could use to cover the urgent expense in a hurry. Afterward, you would have to adjust your budget so that you could comfortably manage the monthly loan repayment plan. It’s a simple solution for this stressful scenario. 

Basically, you might not find advice on building stock portfolios or amassing personal wealth that helpful. You should listen to podcasts that speak to the average American’s experience with money. So, which podcasts should you add to your queue? 

1. Bad with Money with Gabe Dunn

Gabe Dunn started the podcast “Bad with Money” because they were admittedly bad with money. In their first episode, they admitted that they just set up a payment plan with the IRS for $50 per month so that they could pay their taxes. They also had a pile of debts from credit cards, auto loans and student loans. 

At first glance, Gabe seems like the last person who should host a podcast about money. But, when you really think about it, they are the perfect fit! They understand what it’s like to live with the financial woes that average Americans deal with. Their experience is relatable, which is why they have such a dedicated audience and a near-perfect rating on iTunes (4.8 out of 5 stars). 

Some of the topics covered include:

• Dealing with expenses after a parent dies 
• Student loans
• Medical bills
• Compulsive shopping
• Working for tips in the service industry

2. How to Money

How to Money is a podcast hosted by friends Joel and Matt. Similar to Gabe Dunn from Bad with Money, Joel understands what’s it like to live through financial ups and downs. In his childhood, the family car was repossessed and, eventually, his parents filed for bankruptcy. After living through that time of financial uncertainty and turmoil, he grew interested in personal finances and how to attain a level of stability where that type of hardship can be avoided. 

Together, Joel and Matt can guide you through practical financial advice that you’re sure to use in your everyday life. Some of the topics covered include:

• Buying a car
• Building a bare-bones budget
• Tax refunds
• Cutting your monthly bills 
• Emergency funds

3. The Side Hustle Show 

If you’re looking to get out of the vicious paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, then a side hustle could help. With the right side hustle, you can bring in more income to boost your budget, pay off debts and put together safety nets (for example, an emergency fund). Essentially, you can get a better footing with your personal finances.

Listen to The Side Hustle Show to get inspired. The award-winning podcast will discuss all sorts of side hustle options out there and talk to savvy people who have found success with their personal projects. Some of the topics covered include:

• Thrift flipping
• Self-publishing books
• Freelance writing
• Podcasting
• E-commerce 

Follow these podcasts on your favorite app. After binging their episodes, you’ll be inspired to get your finances on track!