Learn how to choose your next credit card by weighing airline perks, annual fees, and simple cash back rewards.

How do you choose a credit card when the options feel endless? Should a family of four choose an airline credit card or a more flexible rewards card? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss travel rewards and everyday rewards to help you understand how to match a card to your real spending habits. Joined by credit card Nerd Sara Rathner, they discuss how co-branded airline cards differ from general travel cards, why store cards can be risky if you carry a balance, and how cash back cards can reward everyday spending like groceries and dining. They also discuss budgeting for annual fees, reevaluating cards at renewal time, tracking a sign-up bonus spending deadline without overspending, and what can happen to your credit score if you cancel or downgrade a card.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• NerdWallet’s 2026 Best-Of Awards Winners: Credit Cards

• Best Travel Credit Cards of March 2026

• Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards of March 2026

• Atmos Rewards Ascent Review: Well Worth $95 a Year 

• Chase Sapphire Reserve Review: A High-End, High-Maintenance Card 

• American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits 

• American Express Blue Cash Preferred Review 

• AmEx Blue Cash Everyday Review: Rewarding, for no annual fee 

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Learn what chip shortages could mean for tech prices and how to align your target-date fund with your values.

Will chip shortages make laptops and phones more expensive? How can you make a Roth 403(b) target-date fund reflect your politics and values? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss values-based retirement investing to help you understand how to check what’s inside your portfolio and what options you have when your workplace plan feels limiting. But first, news editor Rick VanderKnyff and personal finance writer Tommy Tindall join Elizabeth to discuss the latest consumer tech headlines. They discuss the tentative Live Nation/Ticketmaster settlement and what it could change about fees, Apple’s new lineup including the budget MacBook Neo, and how an AI-driven memory chip crunch could push up PC and smartphone prices.

Then, investing Nerd Bella Avila joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss how to make your retirement portfolio better match your values without having to pick individual stocks. They discuss ways to find the “nested” funds and holdings inside a target-date fund, how to use tools like AI and third-party screeners to spot value conflicts and double-check what you find, and alternatives that may offer more control such as an IRA, a self-directed brokerage option in your plan, direct indexing, or a robo-advisor.

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Learn how to build a budget with room for fun so you can save money without guilt.

How can you save toward big goals without letting frugality turn into burnout? How do you stop shaming yourself for spending on fun? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola respond to a listener named Michael who’s skipping trips, staying in, and feeling guilty whenever they spend. Joined by personal finance writer Kim Palmer, they unpack frugal fatigue and money shame, explore how “money stories” and scarcity mindset can fuel obsessive saving, and share practical ways to budget for joy.

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Find out what Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery could mean for streaming, then learn how to pick a budgeting app you’ll actually use.

How do you pick a budgeting app that helps you see where your money goes? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss budgeting apps to help you understand how to track spending without making budgeting your second job. But first, news writer Rick VanderKnyff joins the show to discuss Paramount’s bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery with Anthony Palomba, a media scholar and assistant professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. They discuss what major brands and streaming platforms are on the line, how the bidding played out after Netflix walked away, and what the deal could mean for consumers.

Then Sean and Elizabeth do a “Budget Rehab” with listener Rashondra, covering budgeting styles and the 50/30/20 framework, how big line items like a car lease and groceries can shift your “needs” category, and what to look for when comparing tools like Empower, YNAB, EveryDollar, Monarch, and NerdWallet’s budgeting app.

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Discover simple rules that can cut budget tracking fatigue and still show you where your money goes.

How can you make a budgeting app reflect what you actually bought when one Costco or Target run covers five or 10 different categories? And how can you track those “commingled” purchases without spending your life itemizing receipts? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with personal finance Nerd Amanda Barroso about how to handle mixed transactions so your budget feels usable instead of exhausting. They begin with a discussion of why this problem is so common, features in budgeting apps like Monarch, YNAB, and EveryDollar that make categorizing easier, and how to decide when perfect tracking is the enemy of “good enough.”

Then, they discuss practical ways to reduce budgeting fatigue while still learning where your money goes. They discuss how different apps approach splitting transactions, how to think about tradeoffs between accuracy and effort, and how to set simple personal rules that keep you consistent even when shopping gets messy.

The Best Budget Apps for 2026: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/best-budget-apps 

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Find out how tariffs may change prices and how to build sinking funds while saving for retirement.

What could the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling mean for the prices you pay and the next move on trade policy? How much should you set aside for sinking funds while you build an emergency fund and contribute to your 401(k)? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss sinking funds and savings priorities to help you balance long-term goals with near-term costs. But first, senior news writer Anna Helhoski joins Sean and Elizabeth to unpack the Supreme Court decision limiting “reciprocal” tariffs tied to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) with Lourdes S. Casanova, senior lecturer at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business. They dig into the big open questions the ruling raises, including what legal paths might still allow new tariffs, how trading partners and markets could respond, and what tariff refunds and lawsuits could mean for businesses and consumers.

Then, Sean and Elizabeth discuss sinking funds and how to decide what percentage of your income to dedicate to them when you’re also trying to hit a retirement savings target. They cover what sinking funds are and why they’re useful, where to keep the money (and why a high-yield savings account often fits), and how to use frameworks like 50/30/20 and time horizon to choose between saving versus investing for specific goals.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts for February 2026: Up to 4.21% https://www.nerdwallet.com/banking/best/high-yield-online-savings-accounts 

Are you on track to save enough for retirement? Use NerdWallet’s free retirement calculator to check your progress, see how much retirement income you'll have and estimate how much more you should save: https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/calculators/retirement-calculator 

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Understand common money traps and what to do as homeowners insurance premiums rise across the country.

Your brain can be expensive. That’s why hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola break down three behavioral finance biases (loss aversion, herd mentality, and overconfidence) and how they can lead to costly spending and investing decisions.

Then, NerdWallet editor Caitlin Constantine joins to answer a listener's question about whether buying a home still makes sense as homeowners insurance premiums skyrocket and coverage gets harder to find in some areas. They dig into “escrow shock,” FAIR plans, why some homeowners go uninsured, and practical ways to plan for higher housing costs. Plus: what renters can and should protect with renters insurance.

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Learn how concentration risk can affect index funds and how 2026 catch-up contributions work.

Senior news writer Anna Helhoski and Ryan Sterling, a wealth advisor with NerdWallet Wealth Partners, break down stock market concentration risk and what it means for index fund diversification. Then, hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola answer a listener’s question about 2026 catch-up contributions, including FICA wages, Roth 401(k) rules for some high earners, and other ways to boost retirement savings.

NerdWallet Wealth Partners, LLC is an affiliate of NerdWallet Inc. NerdWallet Wealth Partners is a fiduciary online financial advisor, offering low-cost, comprehensive financial advice and investment management. Learn more at nerdwalletwealthpartners.com/smart

Use NerdWallet’s free investment return calculator to estimate how much your money can grow. Enter your planned contributions, timeline, rate of return and compounding frequency to get started: https://www.nerdwallet.com/investing/calculators/investment-calculator 

Backdoor Roth IRA: What It Is and How to Set It Up https://www.nerdwallet.com/retirement/learn/backdoor-roth-ira 

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Find out if Bilt’s new credit cards are worth the hassle for earning points on rent or a mortgage.

In this special episode, NerdWallet travel writers and Smart Travel hosts Sally French and Meghan Coyle dig into Bilt’s three new credit cards and a rewards system that now includes two currencies: Bilt Points and Bilt Cash. They walk through the big questions listeners have been asking, including when it makes sense to earn on rent, what’s really going on with mortgage rewards, and why the new math (plus shifting details) could change whether you jump in now or wait. Along the way, they weigh the annual-fee tradeoffs, compare Bilt’s new lineup to familiar fan favorites, and share what to watch for as the rollout keeps evolving.

Card benefits, terms and fees can change. For the most up-to-date information about cards mentioned in this episode, read our reviews:

• Bilt Card From Wells Fargo: No Longer Available, but New Versions Coming 

• Bilt’s 3 New Cards Earn Rewards on Housing, But It’s Complicated 

• World of Hyatt Card Review: Lavish Benefits, Reasonable Cost

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Review: Strong Option for Travel Rewards

• Capital One Venture X Review: A Steal of a Deal Among Premium Cards

• American Express Platinum Review: Top-Notch Lounge Access, Big Credits

Resources discussed in this episode:

• Dear Bilt Palladium: You’re Welcome to Move in, but You Won’t Pay the Rent

• Bilt Palladium vs. Capital One Venture X: An In-Depth Comparison

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Find out the best time to go home shopping and whether shared housing bills can affect your plans to retire together.

Should you buy a house in the winter or wait for spring? How can you split housing costs and plan for retirement when you and your partner are on different timelines? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss equitable money management for couples to help you understand how to plan a shared future without losing sight of your own financial security. But first, Anna Helhoski joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss winter homebuying and selling with mortgage Nerds Abby Badach Doyle and Kate Wood. They discuss why winter can mean less competition for buyers, what snow and cold weather can hide during a walkthrough or inspection, and why February can be the moment to get preapproved before the spring rush.

Then, listeners Claire and Robbie join Sean and Elizabeth to discuss how to share expenses when one partner owns the house, and how to aim for retirement at the same time despite a 16-year age gap. They discuss ways to rethink “50-50” so it feels fair, what semi-retirement options like barista FIRE can look like when health insurance is a concern, and how life insurance and basic estate planning can protect both partners if life takes an unexpected turn.

Use NerdWallet’s free calculator to see how far your homebuying budget could take you: https://www.nerdwallet.com/mortgages/calculators/how-much-house-can-i-afford 

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Learn about money dealbreakers in dating, then how to plan ahead for assisted living and Medicaid costs.

First, hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola dig into a new dating dealbreakers study with NerdWallet spokesperson and credit card writer Sara Rathner. They unpack why “financial infidelity” can feel like a relationship ender, what people are most likely to hide, and how to start money conversations earlier without turning the third date into an audit. They also share ways to talk about spending, expectations, and values so you can spot incompatibilities before big commitments.

Then, personal finance Nerd Kate Ashford (a certified senior advisor) helps answer a listener's question about caring for an aging parent and budgeting for senior living. She discusses how assisted living costs can vary dramatically by location, what’s typically included in base fees vs add-ons, and how “buy-in” communities like continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) compare with standard monthly-pay models. They also walk through key planning moves if a future nursing home stay is possible, including what to know about Medicaid being state-run, where to start researching benefits, and how to prepare for the paperwork and timelines.

0:00 Who will care for you in old age?

0:52 Dating money dealbreakers: debt and financial lies

3:33 Why couples hide purchases and spending

5:59 Rebuilding trust after financial infidelity

8:14 Dealbreakers: tipping, splitting dates, savings

13:16 Talking money early: what’s a red flag?

18:02 No-spend challenge: Brick and cash-only

20:35 Friction hacks to curb impulse spending

21:49 Listener question: budgeting for senior care

23:40 Assisted living costs and what drives prices

31:02 Monthly vs buy-in CCRCs and refund rules

33:34 How long care lasts: model best/worst cases

38:00 Medicaid basics: eligibility, look-back, who can help

40:21 Final tips for families planning senior living

NerdWallet Survey: One in 10 Americans Would Never Date Someone with Credit Card Debt https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/studies/data-undateable-debt 

Cost of Long Term Care by State | Cost of Care Report | Carescout https://www.carescout.com/cost-of-care 

Eldercare Locator https://eldercare.acl.gov/home 

Medicaid.gov: The Official U.S. Government Site for Medicaid and CHIP Services | Medicaid https://www.medicaid.gov/ 

Medicaid Planning Assistance – Helping Americans obtain the Medicaid long term care they require https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/ 

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