WSJ Your Money Briefing

Many young Americans overwhelmed by financial stress brought on by the pandemic and inflation are avoiding their expenses. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by WSJ reporter Oyin Adedoyin and a 22-year-old man who struggled with his spending. 

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Hotel prices and airfares up substantially compared to a year ago might cause some people to reconsider their summer vacation plans. WSJ travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the trade-offs some travelers are making .

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Writing out paper checks raises the chances of being the target of fraud and theft. The WSJ personal-finance team’s Oyin Adedoyin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss ways to reduce those risks.

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Hundreds of families who paid life-insurance premiums were denied millions of dollars in death benefits because of missteps by both their employer and their insurance company. WSJ reporter Leslie Scism joins host J.R. Whalen to explain how it happened. 

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Amid moderating inflation and signs that the economy may be headed toward a recession, many companies continue to raise prices. WSJ’s Suzanne Kapner joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how consumers are responding. 

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The amount Americans can contribute to a health savings account will rise to the largest-ever increase on record next year. WSJ personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what you should know about HSAs. 

Correction: A Flexible Spending Account, a type of savings tool used by many employees, is often referred to as an FSA. An earlier version of this podcast incorrectly identified it as a Flexible Savings Account. (Corrected on May 22)

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The rising cost of living in Florida has caused many seniors to seek more affordable locations to spend their retirement years. WSJ contributor Cecilie Rohwedder joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why more Americans are choosing to live in Baldwin County, Alabama.

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The share of marriage with women earning more than their husbands has tripled over the past 50 years. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what has changed and why those marriages are less likely to end in divorce.

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Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs can list at $900 or more per month. WSJ’s Anna Wilde Mathews joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how to get your health insurance plan to cover these prescriptions.

Correction: Anna Wilde Mathews is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal. A previous version of the show notes for this podcast incorrectly spelled her first name. (Corrected May 17)

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Some users of Buy Now, Pay Later programs like Klarna and Affirm say they have faced unexpected denials or lower spending limits when they try to make purchases. WSJ personal-finance reporter Imani Moise joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why the companies are tightening credit standards.

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Concerns have risen about how Social Security payments, among other programs, would be affected if the U.S. reaches its debt ceiling and defaults on its loans. WSJ retirement reporter Anne Tergesen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what retirees can expect.

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Many millennials and Gen Z workers say their jobs are important to their own sense of identity. WSJ “On the Clock” columnist Callum Borchers joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how they struggle to balance that with scheduling personal time.

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Wait times for ordering a new passport are running as long as 13 weeks. WSJ travel reporter Allison Pohle joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss ways to expedite the process, and the costs involved.

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Having a good job by age 30 can unlock the path to a successful career. WSJ workplace reporter Lindsay Ellis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss research that examined choices people in their 20s made and how it affected their career by age 30.  

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Customers routinely tip service workers, but many shoppers are perplexed and even angry to find some self-checkout machines prompting them to leave upwards of 20%. WSJ reporter Rachel Wolfe joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss so-called tip creep and where, exactly, those tips are going .

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Dying without a will can put the future of your assets at risk. Wall Street Journal personal-finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why most Americans don’t have one.

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As more college seniors accept job offers in advance of graduation, companies may have to work harder to find top candidates. WSJ contributor and LaSalle Network CEO Tom Gimbel joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what future grads say they’re looking for in a potential employer.

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The red-hot labor market created opportunities over the past several years for workers to ask for and receive sizable raises. Wall Street Journal reporter Ray A. Smith joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why companies are budgeting for lower salary increases.

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After several years of workers scoring sizable pay bumps to switch jobs, companies are reining in the amount they’re offering new hires. WSJ reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what this means for the broader labor market.

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Subscription price creep is real, and new data show that more consumers are rejecting higher prices on some of their favored subscription streaming and delivery services. But it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen joins guest host Dion Rabouin to discuss ways to push back against price creeps.

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With today’s high interest rates and inflation, certificates of deposit are becoming an attractive way to grow savings over time. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin joins guest host Danny Lewis to discuss how staggering your investments can make the most out of these assets.

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On the fifth and final installment of the WSJ’s special series “Under Contract: Your Guide to Home Buying,” financial psychologist Dr. Brad Klontz and real-estate professional Tracy McLaughlin join host J.R. Whalen to discuss how FOMO and other emotional hurdles make it difficult to think rationally when searching for a home.

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Bosses have tried many different tactics to get employees back into the office. Nationally, a number of offices remain sparsely populated, particularly on Mondays and Fridays. WSJ reporter Chip Cutter joins guest host Mohsin Ali to discuss how one company is tying pay to attendance.

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As the cost of concert tickets skyrockets, fans are finding ways to stretch their budgets. WSJ’s Rachel Wolfe joins guest host Danny Lewis to talk about how people are struggling with the splurge.

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While some workers are literally counting the days until they can call it a career, there’s a growing segment of Americans who can’t think of anything they want to do less. They say they never want to retire. Demetria Gallegos from WSJ’s Journal Reports joins guest host Dion Rabouin to discuss the growing number of people who say they’d rather keep on working.

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Financial experts say the May 1st enrollment decision deadline is an ideal time for students and families to negotiate a better financial aid package. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the best ways to request more aid.

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From not having your finances in order to rushing through the inspection process, common mistakes made by homebuyers can derail the path to owning your dream home. On the fourth installment of WSJ’s special series “Under Contract: Your Guide to Home Buying,” Sam Chandan of New York University’s Chen Institute for Real Estate Finance joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss.

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More companies are increasing their focus on workers’ mental health by, among other things, offering additional personal days off. WSJ contributor Tara Weiss joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the benefits of timeout days.

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Many financial advisers are once again recommending the 60% stocks, 40% bonds investment strategy to capitalize on the stock market in 2023. WSJ markets reporter Hardika Singh joins host J.R. Whalen to explain why.

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Ambitious 20-somethings are trying to knock down preconceived judgments that they are lazy and not into hard work. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by WSJ’s Lindsay Ellis and a 25-year-old CEO of a supply-chain software company. 

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Total debt for millennials in their 30s hit more than $3.8 trillion in the fourth quarter, a 27% jump from late 2019, and the steepest increase of any age group. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by WSJ reporter Gina Heeb as well as 31-year-old Stacey Coquelin, who is struggling to contain rising debt as well as her daily expenses.

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Securing the right mortgage rate can be the key to a home being affordable for a prospective buyer. On the third installment of WSJ’s special series “Under Contract: Your Guide to Home Buying,” NerdWallet’s Holden Lewis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss ways to find the most attractive mortgage rates. New episodes every Friday in April.

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Discussing your job is a common question when meeting someone for the first time. WSJ “Work & Life” columnist Rachel Feintzeig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the benefits of giving work questions less priority and instead focusing on other areas of your life.

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After signing up for numerous monthly subscriptions during the pandemic, many Americans are canceling those services to save money. WSJ’s Rachel Wolfe joins host J.R. Whalen with more.

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Although people are doing more financial transactions on their phones, experts say they still have too many items in their wallet, which could expose them to a greater risk of identity theft. WSJ’s Oyin Adedoyin joins host J.R. Whalen with more.

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Owe taxes this year? WSJ personal finance reporter Ashlea Ebeling joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss steps taxpayers can take to reduce next year’s tax bill.

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With interest rates trending higher and housing inventory stubbornly low, the spring housing market is off to a slow start. On the second installment of the WSJ’s special series “Under Contract: Your Guide to Home Buying,” Zillow senior economist Orphe Divounguy tells host J.R. Whalen how those factors have reshuffled the balance of power between buyers and sellers. New episodes of the series drop every Friday in April.

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The number of hours put in by workers on the weekend has risen 5% since 2021. WSJ’s Anne-Marie Chaker joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how working on the weekend became the norm and what it means for work-life balance. 

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More Americans are experimenting with working part-time to achieve a more desirable work-life balance. WSJ’s Rachel Feintzeig joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss. 

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A network of social media groups promote the exchange of free items among travelers who stay at hotels and resorts. WSJ travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson joins host J.R. Whalen with details.

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Researchers have found that both a shortfall of money or an influx of money can have detrimental effects on a relationship. WSJ personal-finance reporter Julia Carpenter joins host J.R. Whalen to explain.  

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The process of buying a home is often filled with excitement, but also confusion and sometimes disappointment. The WSJ’s special series “Under Contract: Your Guide to Home Buying” aims to help buyers on their journey to securing a new home. In the first installment, “The Money Coach” CEO Lynnette Khalfani-Cox joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss getting your personal finances in order before beginning your search.

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Research on how workers are reacting to new laws mandating the publication of employee salaries yielded surprising results. WSJ contributor Courtney Vinopal joins host J.R. Whalen with details.

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Companies typically carry out layoffs to reduce costs, but compiling the list of workers to be let go is often less simple, and can involve weeks of debate. WSJ’s Chip Cutter joins host J.R. Whalen with more.

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While many people often aspire to accumulate around a million dollars in retirement savings, most people wind up with far less than that. WSJ retirement reporter Anne Tergesen spoke to retirees on how they’re making do, and she joins host J.R. Whalen.

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A contingency clause is often written into the contract between a home buyer and seller if either party suspects significant financial changes could force them to back out of the deal. WSJ personal-finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host J.R. Whalen with more.

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After embracing remote and hybrid work schedules, some companies now find flexible work schedules as cutting down on productivity. WSJ ‘On the Clock’ columnist Callum Borchers joins host J.R. Whalen with more.

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The Federal Reserve raised interest rates another 0.25 percentage point on Wednesday. That is on the lower end of the Fed's recent rate hikes, but analysts say consumers could find it harder to get a loan anyway. The WSJ's Oyin Adedoyin joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss why, and how you can get your personal finances in order.

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The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has raised concerns about the banking sector and stress tests that often gauge banks’ abilities to weather financial emergencies. WSJ’s Geoffrey Rogow joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss steps you can take to test the strength of your own finances. 

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Some apprenticeships are boasting acceptance rates as competitive as Ivy League universities. WSJ reporter Doug Belkin joins host Erin Delmore to explain why students are rethinking the cost-benefit analysis of a four-year college education.

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