Good morning, HTM fam!

If you want normal results —-> do normal things.

If you want better results —-> do better things!

Here are a few “better things” to consider today…

• Read a book for 10 mins instead of scrolling

• Eat something healthy instead of convenience food

• Do a tiny bit more than what’s asked of you at work today

• Write down 5 new goals, (then actually start one of them)

• Try one of these posture exercises for 2 minutes

Small or big, trying harder usually pays off. Cheers to a better YOU ahead! 💪

OK, now onto the money stuff! 👇👇👇

TO DO

Save or Make $46 👩‍💻

Your mission this week: Save $46

Why $46 exactly?…. Well, as today is Aug 1st, if you saved $46 every week between now and the end of the year, you’d have a cool $1,000 stashed away come Jan 1st. And imagine kick-starting the year with an extra grand in your pocket!

Sooo… Can you sell something online, ask for a discount, get a side gig, forgo a luxury, kill a subscription, get a signup bonus, switch providers or any other little thing to scrounge up $46 this week? I dare you 🫵

SAVING MONEY

Cheaper Prescription Drugs 💉

Let's face it, prescription drugs can be ridiculously expensive. It's like they're made of asteroid minerals or unicorn tears or something. $180 for a 1oz tube of rash cream? WHYYYY!?!?!?

Good news though… Whether you’ve got a one time or reoccurring prescription need, there are ways you can you save those hard-earned dollars while still getting the correct medications.

Here are some ways to save money on prescription drugs:

• Ask your doctor for generic alternatives: Brand-name drugs are like the fancy designer clothes of the pharmaceutical world, and we all know how overpriced those can be. Generic drugs are just as effective, but without the hefty price tag. Don’t be shy! Just ask "Do you have a generic version of this, doc?"

• Use prescription discounts: These little gems can easily be found online (places like GoodRX, CostPlusDrugs, or SingleCare are great options). It's like having a coupon for your medication, except savings can be like 95% off. It’s crazy! Just bring the coupon to your pharmacy and scan it at the register.

• Shop around for the best price: Never settle for the “closest pharmacy” to you. The US has millions of drug stores and 5 minutes of online research could save you hundreds of dollars! Before the doc prescribes you meds, whip out your smartphone and start comparing prices. And don’t forget that you can still use the Costco pharmacy even if you’re not a Costco member.

• Forgo insurance: Sometimes the “discount” your insurance provides for meds is MORE EXPENSIVE than using a coupon without insurance! (yes, healthcare system = messed up). Keep in mind, if you pay for drugs without insurance, that money doesn’t count towards your deductible (not a huge deal for most folks). Anyway, don’t assume your insurance coverage is giving you the best deal.

• Check online & mail-order pharmacies: (if using insurance, you should check if your plan covers them). Not only do online pharmacies often offer lower prices, but they deliver your meds right to your doorstep. It's like having a personal butler for your regular pills. Here are some highly rated ones, and some even do price matching.

• Become a rockstar: As the infamous Billy Mack once said “Don’t buy drugs. Become a popstar and they give you them for FREE!!!” (Kidding of course. Love that movie 😉)

Pharmaceutical companies make plenty of money. There’s no need to give them more than you have to! With a bit of research, you can fight back against the world of expensive meds.

Related stuff:

• 👩‍⚕️ WebMD: 10 ways to save on prescription drug costs

• 🎧 Pod Ep #229: Cutting Healthcare Costs with Scott Heiser

TOGETHER WITH YNAB**

Rule #1: Give Every Dollar a Job

With YNAB, every single dollar that enters your life works for YOU.

Some dollars get assigned the job of paying rent. Some are sent to savings or investments where their job is to recruit new dollars. Other dollars have a job of just being “ready” in case of emergencies.

New budgeters, on average, save $600 in their first two months with YNAB! (And more than $6,000 after one year!).

If you struggle to manage and control your money, check out YNAB. At least try the 34 day free trial — it may just change your life. 💪

INVESTING

Listening to Doomsayers 🙅‍♂️

Ever see those news headlines like “warning: the biggest crash in history is coming next month!” or “the market is poised for a 25-50% sell-off. Get out while you can!”…

Well, a few years ago JP Morgan studied these financial armageddonists that write those doomsday headlines and tracked the hypothetical investment returns you’d see if you actually followed their advice. Check this out 👇👇👇

It’s kind of ironic, actually… By following the bad advice of a doomsayer (selling “risky” stocks and moving to “safe” bonds), you’re more likely to experience that exact doomsday scenario you’re trying to avoid!

We’re not saying that there won’t be crashes, corrections, recessions, downturns, and bad stuff in the future. And sometimes these doomsayers have correct predictions (a broken clock is right 2 times a day).

But following advice based on fear can cost you dearly.

Just something to keep in mind… The stock market is back on 🔥 and more doomsayers will start coming out of the woodwork. Take all news headlines and doomsday comments with a grain of salt. Continue thinking long term, and trust the proven process.

Related stuff:

• 💻 HTM Blog: Top money fears, and how to overcome them

• 🧠 Warren Buffet: Why smart people do dumb things, via Novel Investor

• 🎧 Pod Ep #668: Financial pessimism will eat you alive!

ICYMI

In other news…

Decluttering 🙌
“Your environment is either creating clarity or complexity”… Check out this great post via System Sunday about 5 ways to make room for the things that matter most.

Food Stamps 💮
Pew Research just published a detailed study on food stamps. Pretty interesting data including who qualifies, trends over time, and demographics of recipients.

Patience 🏠
Some people are jumping into dangerously large mortgages in hopes that they’ll just “refinance in a few years when rates come down”. Yes, the real estate landscape is crazy right now, but don’t forget these 2 important factors when buying a home: forecasting your life, and patience.

Investing in AI 🤖
Here’s a pretty cool article (warning: it’s loooong) about how to navigate the hype of investing in AI stocks. By the way, remember if you own a total stock market ETF (or S&P 500 fund), you already have a decent exposure to AI stocks.

Free Subway 🥙
Want to win free Subway for life!?!? Subway is hosting a competition that starts today at 9am ET and runs through Friday. But wait, there’s a catch… The winner needs to legally change their first name to “Subway” for the rest of their life (not kidding).

Humble Brag 💁‍♂️
US News just put out their Top 10 Personal Finance Podcasts list for 2023, and we’re honored that HTM was included!!! Congrats to all the shows mentioned, they are all amazing pods. (ps. if you love HTM, writing a quick Apple or Spotify review helps us a LOT — we love and appreciate your feedback!)

COMMUNITY

See You at FinCon this year? ⚜️

Our favorite money conference is coming up soon! FinCon 2023 will be in New Orleans this year, October 18th - 21st.

If you’re a content creator in the finance space, or have wanted to jump into the world of money blogging, podcasting, youtubing, influencing or coaching, then you’ll learn a TON at FinCon. This conference helped put our podcast on the map back in the day, and we’ve met a million industry experts and amazing friends by attending over the years.

Tickets are a few hundred bucks, so it’s not cheap! But if you’re in the industry and are serious about creating content for a living, it might be well worth it!

We’ll be at FinCon this year waiving the HTM flag. If you’re planning to go, hit us up so we can share some beers! Laissez les bons temps rouler! 🎉⚜️

Cheers for reading. Now get out there and save that $46!!!

Best friends out 🍻