This week we meet a 38-year-old father based in Queens, New York, who has spent tens of thousands of dollars on home repairs and renovations over the past two years. Frustrated by all the time and money he’s spent on a place that isn’t his family’s forever home, our listener asks: Should we sell and move elsewhere, even though we’ve only lived in our place for two years? Host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez turns to full-time real estate investor, J Scott, for answers. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buying your first home is already a major money milestone—but having to do it on your own in an uncertain housing market can make it feel even more overwhelming. In this episode, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez interviews real estate expert and mortgage lender Nicole Rueth about how to navigate the home-buying process as a single person - including the options and alternatives available to single buyers who fear being priced out of this hot housing market. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we’re revisiting conversations we’ve had with four past expert guests about the most common things people overlook when purchasing a home, as well as all the hidden costs of homeownership – to help you prepare for one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll ever make - buying a home. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Real estate prices are extremely high, and now mortgage rates are also rising. Has first-time homeownership ever felt more out of reach? On this week’s episode, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez talks to Dr. Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at real estate brokerage Redfin, about what today’s housing market means for prospective buyers, plus whether it makes more sense to buy or rent right now. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is it possible to take on major financial responsibilities such as buying a new home while you’re still paying down debt? Is now even a good time to buy a home? This week’s guest, a 39-year-old aspiring homeowner living in Iowa City, Iowa, is struggling with whether t homeownership is right for her because of these questions and more. For advice, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodrgiuez turns to author Mindy Jensen, who is also the host of The Bigger Pockets money podcast and a licensed real estate agent. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is now really a good time to be investing? With prices going up and the stock market falling, how should you adjust your financial plans and investing strategy? Stefanie sits down with Katie Gatti Tassin, host of the Money with Katie podcast, to find out. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once you’ve paid off your debt, established an emergency fund, and started investing for retirement, you’ve got your financial fundamentals in place - but is it enough to afford the future you want for yourself? And if not, what should you do next? This week, Stefanie interviews Certified Financial Planner Douglas Boneparth about how to prioritize your savings and investments and what to consider after you’ve maxed out your retirement accounts. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s frustrating when you’re not getting what you want out of your career, whether it’s money, meaning, or in the case of this week's listener, both. So what do you do next? Give up the security of a steady paycheck to pursue your passions? Or stick it out and hope that someday you’ll make more money -- and if that’s a possibility, what can you do to try to make it happen? On this episode, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez turns to Terri Trespicio, author of Unfollow Your Passion: How to Create a Life that Matters to You, for answers. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez - Host/Producer Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Engineer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The wealth gap between young married couples and their single counterparts has more than doubled since 2010. It’s expensive being single, and inflation is making it even harder to manage rising costs on a single income. This week, Stefanie interviews writer Anne Helen Petersen about the rising costs of being single in America. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

More than half of American workers say they’re behind on their retirement savings, and 46% expect to retire with debt. Stefanie interviews Joe Saul-Sehy, personal finance expert and author, about how we can prepare our finances and our lifestyles for this retirement reality. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Stefanie talks to a listener who is the first in her family to live, work and build her wealth in the United States, and the impact that has on her relationship with both her money and her family. Personal finance author Berna Anat weighs in with how to manage the unique financial considerations for immigrants, first- and second-generation Americans.  For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As prices rise on everything from food to housing, your paycheck may not be going as far as it used to. So how can you or should you bring up inflation in your next salary negotiation? Stefanie turns to career coach and co-host of The Brown Ambition podcast Mandi Woodruff-Santos for answers. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is now really a good time to be investing? With prices going up and the stock market falling, how should you adjust your financial plans and investing strategy? Stefanie sits down with Katie Gatti Tassin, host of the Money with Katie podcast, to find out. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s the real cost of having a baby? And how can you prepare for it? Host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez interviews Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code and Marshall Plan for Moms, about the impact of parenthood on your personal finances, and what we can do to prepare our money and our careers for one of life’s most expensive milestones. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alicia, a 49-year-old school psychologist and mother of two children, is juggling multiple money goals following her recent divorce: furnishing her new home, paying off debt, helping her college-aged kids pay their tuition, and building up her savings. Host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez and attorney and wealth expert Tasha Cochran lay out a step-by-step plan to help Alicia and others like her get their financial lives in order. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s one thing to split expenses, but when you get married, what should you combine? What should you keep separate? And beyond the budget, what do your joint financial plans need to include? This week, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez gets answers from Erin Lowry, author of the Broke Millennial series, including Broke Millennial Talks Money: Scripts, Stories, and Advice to Navigate Awkward Financial Conversations. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once you’ve paid off your debt, established an emergency fund, and started investing for retirement, you’ve got your financial fundamentals in place - but is it enough to afford the future you want for yourself? And if not, what should you do next? This week, Stefanie interviews Certified Financial Planner Douglas Boneparth about how to prioritize your savings and investments and what to consider after you’ve maxed out your retirement accounts. If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at money.confidential@realsimple.com. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Buying your first home is already a major money milestone—but having to do it on your own in an uncertain housing market can make it feel even more overwhelming. In this episode, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez interviews real estate expert and mortgage lender Nicole Rueth about how to navigate the home-buying process as a single person - including the options and alternatives available to single buyers who fear being priced out of this hot housing market.\ If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at money.confidential@realsimple.com. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Julia’s marriage ended she did not expect to lose half of her savings. Now that she’s thinking about getting remarried, Julia wants to protect herself financially and is considering asking her partner for a prenuptial agreement. Host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez sits down with Beatrice Leong, a divorce and family law attorney, to discuss what Julia, and all couples considering marriage, need to know about getting a prenup. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Student loan debt can make you feel like you’re never going to get ahead, especially when your total student loan balance is hundreds of thousands of dollars - as it is for this weeks' listener. In this episode host, Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez, interviews Melissa Jean-Baptiste, the founder of Millennial in Debt, about her journey of paying off $102,000 of debt, and her strategies for anyone else trying to do the same. For more info visit realsimple.com/moneyconfidentialpodcast Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices