Good morning, HTM family!

“I do not recall a time when negativity fixed anything”

Keep that in mind as you encounter challenges and bumps in your road this week… Keeping your cool and staying positive is the secret to a smoother ride.

It’s a great day to have a great day. 😉

OK, now let’s chat about money stuff! 👇👇👇

TO DO

Ask for a Discount Somewhere 🏷️

Your challenge this week: Try asking for a discount somewhere.

It can be scary putting yourself out there. And 9 times out of 10 you might hear a "no"... But, even getting a discount at only 10% of the places you shop can be a huge win!

Just try it. Advocate for yourself (and your wallet) by learning the art of asking for a discount 💪

SAVING

How to Score a Deal, Post-Purchase 🙌

Ever tried getting a deal or lower price for something, even after you’ve purchased it?

It’s becoming easier than you think…

More and more retailers are extending price matching periods and honoring discounts for items you’ve already bought.

A few things to try next time you pay full price for something, and then notice a price drop after the fact…

• Contact Customer Service: It's worth reaching out, even if there's no official policy for the store. Some stores have a 14-day window for price adjustments. Others will help you just because they’re smart enough to understand it’s cheaper to give you a few dollars back vs. processing a full return.

• Check Your Credit Card Benefits: Some credit cards offer price protection — it’s worth a quick call to your credit card company to see if they can help. You might be able to file a claim with them directly.

• Consider a Return, then Repurchase: If you’re still within the return window, you can often return the full-price item and then buy a new one at a lower price. Kind of a manual workaround, but it gets you the discount you’re looking for.

• Get to know Retailer Policies: Costco, Target, Best Buy, and Macy’s have some great price adjustment policies, with claim windows of 10-30 days. Policies can vary (and sometimes adjust for holiday periods), so always check with the specific retailer.

The best time to get a deal is before you buy. But, in some instances, it’s not too late. And it never hurts to ask!

Happy shopping!

Read more, via Consumer Reports.

TOGETHER WITH FACET*

Family-First Planning with Facet

Juggling soccer practice, bedtime stories, and your family's financial future?

Facet gets it. They’re not your typical financial planners who only know numbers and spreadsheets – they’re your partners in creating a fun and fulfilling life!

Beyond the numbers, Facet dives deep into the psychology of money, helping you build a healthy relationship with your finances.

With a human touch, powered by tech, you’ll enjoy personalized advice without sacrificing modern convenience.

With Facet, you're not just planning for tomorrow – you're living your best life today. Let them handle the financial intricacies while you focus on what truly matters: those precious moments with your little ones.

Check out facet.com/howtomoney to learn more about which membership option is best for you.

*Disclosure: Joel and Matt are not members of Facet. They have an incentive to endorse Facet, as they receive cash compensation for introducing you to Facet. All opinions are their own and not a guarantee of a similar outcome.

INVESTING

The “Hassle” Factor 😎

When I was younger, I could think of nothing cooler than owning 100 rental properties.

But as I started to amass more investment rentals, I began to realize the time suck involved with each house may not ultimately be worth the (perceived) additional returns.

Our buddy Nick Maggiulli wrote about this: The Return on Hassle Spectrum. Here’s a chart from the post 👇👇👇

There’s no one-size-fits-all way to build wealth. And I don’t want to discourage young folks from rolling up their sleeves and taking on hard tasks. The truth is,

That being said, if I could give my younger self any advice on simpler investing, this is what I would say:

1. Embrace index funds: Instant diversification, low cost, proven performance and they require zero management to own. IMO these are the easiest way for folks to build and maintain wealth in life with the least amount of hassle.

2. Begin with the end in mind: Before adding new things to your portfolio, ask yourself “what is the end goal?”. Picture your portfolio 50+ years from now… If it doesn’t fit your long-term vision, don’t bother with it in the short term.

3. Limit your information intake: Constantly checking market news, following niche gurus, and getting side-tracked with flashy new investments takes away more than it adds to your life. Instead, review your investments quarterly and tune out the daily noise.

Again, there’s no right or wrong way to climb the mountain. Everyone gets to decide for themself how they want to build their investment profile and grow wealth.

Just keep in mind the hidden hassles that come along with certain strategies. The extra effort might be worth it and certainly can help you increase your net worth at a faster clip. But there’s also no sense in working harder than you need or want to!

Related reads:

• 👀 Free Press: Want to Be Happier? Use These Five Charts to Improve Your Life.

• 📉 MorningStar: 3 Ways to Simplify Your Investment Portfolio in 2025

• 👨‍💻 HTM Blog: 8 Ways to Automate Your Financial Life

ICYMI

Noteworthy news…

Subaru FTW 🚘
Consumer Reports has updated its most reliable car brands list for 2024, and we’re surprised that Toyota has been knocked from the #1 spot! “In an industry constantly chasing the next big thing, sometimes the real winners are the ones who stick to what works”

Holiday Debt 🧑‍🎄
Surveys show that 36% of Americans took on holiday debt with an average balance of $1,181. If this is you —> start building a sinking fund for the 2025 Holiday now!

Use Your Rewards! 💳
Bankrate finds that 1 in 4 cardholders didn’t tap into their credit card rewards last year. This is a growing problem, folks. Don’t forget to USE the points that you earn!!

Hot Spots 🏡
According to the National Association of Realtors, here are the 10 hottest housing markets for 2025… (Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC/SC, Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI, Greenville-Anderson, SC…)

ASK HTM

“I’m interested in investing some money for a nephew who is 2 years old…” 🤷‍♂️

There are several ways to invest money for minors. In short, here are the options…

That’s the short answer. Here’s the longer one!

Have an amazing week ahead, folks! Remember, stay positive —> it’s an underrated superpower. 💪

Best friends out! 🍻