One Hundred Days to Christmas — The Three-Month Holiday Fund
September 21, 2026 · 7:53
Christmas is about one hundred days away and retailers are already rolling out holiday collections. Maya and Daniel run the math on what the average eight-hundred-ninety-dollar holiday costs when it lands on a credit card versus a three-month sinking fund — and the one ten-minute move to start the fund this week. Correction: in this episode we said Target Circle Deal Days run September 27 through October 5. Per Target's announcement, the sale actually runs October 6-7, with Target Circle 360 early access starting October 5 — September 27 through October 5 is the new-member sign-up window, not the sale itself.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:54 Welcome to the show
1:12 Recap: yesterday's hike preview
1:49 Money headlines
2:37 The three-month runway
3:57 What the card costs
5:01 Building the fund
6:45 Today's action step
7:33 Closing
Five Weeks to the Next Hike — The Move That Gets Cheaper Sooner
September 20, 2026 · 7:06
The Fed's next meeting is October 28th and Goldman Sachs now expects another hike. Maya and Daniel run the math on what variable-rate debt costs you while you wait, and the one money move that gets cheaper the sooner you make it.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:39 Welcome to the show
1:18 Recap: yesterday's debt trigger study
2:10 Money headlines
3:09 Five weeks to October 28th
4:47 The variable-rate math
5:21 The move: lock in fixed
5:55 Today's action step
6:32 Closing
Rate Hikes Are the Number One Debt Trigger — Here's the Counter-Move
September 19, 2026 · 7:35
A new study of more than one hundred eighty thousand people seeking debt help found one trigger above all others: rising credit card rates. Maya and Daniel run the math on what a single quarter-point hike does to the same monthly payment, and the one move that beats the treadmill.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:19 Welcome to the show
0:41 Recap: yesterday's balance transfer episode
1:19 Money headlines
2:03 The Ascend study
3:11 The treadmill math
4:43 The counter-move
6:03 Today's action step
6:49 Closing
The Fed Hiked — Lock In 0% Before the Next Hike
September 18, 2026 · 7:43
Two days after the Fed's first rate hike since 2023, Maya and Daniel run the math on the zero-percent balance-transfer window — up to twenty-one months with no interest — what the transfer fee really costs, the three traps that eat the savings, and the one number to write down tonight.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:25 Welcome to the show
0:46 Recap: yesterday's iPhone episode
1:36 Money headlines
2:15 The news: the Fed hiked, and the window is open
3:30 The math: freezing the clock
4:56 The three traps
6:16 Your one move tonight
7:05 Closing: the Debt Payoff Accelerator
The iPhone Hits Stores Tomorrow — Read the Fine Print on 'Free'
September 17, 2026 · 8:45
New iPhones hit stores Friday: Maya and Daniel run the real math on the carrier 'free phone' offers, the 36-month bill-credit trap, and the lease that rents you a phone forever — plus why a financed phone belongs on your balance sheet.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:16 Welcome to the show
0:44 Recap: yesterday's Fed hike episode
1:18 Money headlines
2:04 The news: iPhone eighteen Pro hits stores Friday
3:32 The lesson: the monthly price is not the price
4:55 The math: what the "free" phone really costs
7:01 Your one move today
7:51 Closing: the Net Worth Dashboard
Chase Just Announced Q4 — Play the Quarter Handoff
September 16, 2026 · 6:53
Chase announced its Q4 bonus categories yesterday: 5% back on groceries, dining, and Red Cross donations from October 1st. Maya and Daniel break down the quarter-handoff play — using your Q3 gas and transit bonus before September 30th — plus the math on what 5% is really worth.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:33 Welcome to the show
0:51 Recap
1:35 Money headlines
2:26 The news
3:14 The handoff
4:05 The math
5:10 The lesson
6:00 Your one move today
6:26 Closing
The Fed Just Hiked: What It Costs You
September 16, 2026 · 6:04
The Fed raised rates a quarter point, its first hike since 2023. Maya and Daniel break down what it means for your credit cards, mortgage, car loan, and the one piece of good news for savers.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:23 Welcome
0:49 The news
1:27 Credit cards
2:39 Homes
3:33 Cars
4:14 Retail prices
4:51 The savers' upside
5:22 Your one move
5:55 Closing
Q3 Estimated Taxes Are Due Today — Build a Monthly Tax Habit
September 15, 2026 · 0:07:37
Maya and Daniel break down the IRS's September 15 estimated tax deadline — who has to pay, why the bill blindsides freelancers and side hustlers, and the one monthly habit that makes quarterly taxes boring instead of painful. Plus the safe-harbor trick that kills underpayment penalties.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:37 Welcome to the show
1:03 Recap: yesterday's rate spread
1:48 Money headlines
2:30 The news: estimated taxes are due today
3:31 The lesson: make the tax bill monthly
4:31 The math: what to actually set aside
5:44 Today's action step
6:41 Closing
The Fed Decides Wednesday — Win the Rate Spread Before It Moves
September 14, 2026 · 7:02
Maya and Daniel preview the Fed's September 15-16 meeting — with traders pricing an 85% chance of a quarter-point hike — and introduce the one number that decides whether rising rates help or hurt you: your personal rate spread. Plus three money moves to make in the 48 hours before Wednesday.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:25 Welcome to the show
0:43 Recap: yesterday's bonus categories
1:18 Money headlines
2:01 The news: the Fed decides Wednesday
3:06 The lesson: your personal rate spread
4:12 The math: what a hike actually costs you
5:10 Three moves before Wednesday
6:03 Your one move today
6:30 Closing: the Net Worth Dashboard
Q4 Bonus Categories Just Dropped — Activate Your 5% Cash Back
September 13, 2026 · 7:38
Maya and Daniel break down Discover's newly announced Q4 bonus categories (5% on entertainment, restaurants, and utilities starting October 1st), why you must activate before you spend, the math on what five percent is really worth, and the one utility bill worth moving today.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:43 Recap: yesterday's subscription audit
1:19 Money headlines
2:03 The news: Discover's Q4 categories
3:12 The lesson: how rotating bonuses really work
4:41 The math: what five percent is actually worth
6:07 Your one move today
6:52 Closing: the Credit Card Rewards Tracker
ESPN's Price Hike Hits This Week — Run a 15-Minute Subscription Audit
September 12, 2026 · 7:12
Maya and Daniel break down ESPN's September 17th price hike and Peacock's new rates, show how a 15-minute subscription audit finds real money, and which card to put the keepers on.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:26 Recap: yesterday's Fed episode
1:16 Money headlines
2:03 The news: ESPN's price hike
3:04 The math: what your subscriptions really cost
4:16 The fix: the 15-minute audit
5:54 Your one move today
6:41 Closing: the Subscription Audit Tracker
What the Fed's September Meeting Means for Your Credit Cards
September 11, 2026 · 4:49
Maya and Daniel break down the hot August inflation report, the Fed's September 15-16 meeting, and what a rate hike would mean for your credit card APR. Plus: avalanche vs. snowball payoff math, and one action step you can take today.
In this episode
0:08 Cold open
0:25 Welcome to the show
0:41 The news: inflation runs hot
0:59 The Fed meets September 15-16
1:16 The lesson: how your card rate really works
2:03 The math: what a rate hike costs you
3:02 Avalanche vs. snowball
3:48 Your one move today
4:08 Closing: the Debt Payoff Accelerator
Know your numbers
Every episode pairs with a spreadsheet that does the math for you. Debt payoff, credit card rewards, subscriptions, net worth.
