All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

Latest Episodes:

This Episode Changed My Perspective on Cruises with Emma Le Teace Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

#146: Cruise expert Emma Le Teace shares insider tips to optimize your cruising experience. She shares an overview of cruise operators, must-visit regions, practical advice on booking, packing, and making the most of the onboard facilities. She also offers tips on how to book the best deals and avoid hidden costs in cruise travel.

Emma Le Teace is an award-winning cruise blogger, YouTuber and the founder of Emma Cruises. She's been on 60+ cruises, ranging from luxury yachts to mega-ships, and loves sharing cruise tips to help others master the ability to cruise in style on a budget.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://allthehacks.com/emma-cruises

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For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Emma Le Teace: Website | YouTube | Instagram

Floating Hotel in Japan: Guntu

Website to Search Cruises: Vacations To Go

Founder's Card Program

Frequent Miler Article: How to Get Free Cruises by Gaming Casino Status Matches

Full Show Notes

(02:13) Why You Should Opt for Traveling in Cruises

(03:21) Emma’s Cruising Journey

(04:13) The Cruising Landscape

(09:00) Major Cruise Regions

(13:05) Evaluation Criteria to Consider When Selecting a Cruise

(15:46) Websites to Search for Cruises

(18:34) Best Times to Book Deals

(20:54) Getting Casino Status without Gambling

(23:58) Hidden Costs on Cruises

(29:23) Meeting People on Cruises

(35:35) Cruises to Steer Away From

(38:11) Choosing a Cabin

(40:53) Other Things to Consider When Booking a Cruise

(42:19) Importance of Travel Insurance

(45:29) Visas for Cruises

(48:11) Things to Pack

(50:07) The Food Onboard

(54:06) Onboard Activities & Entertainment

(55:49) Things to Avoid on a Cruise

(56:45) Traveling with Kids

(58:36) Dealing with Seasickness

(1:00:50) Emerging Trends in the Cruise Industry

(1:02:37) Disney Cruises

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

Editor’s Note: The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

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Fitness and Mental Strength with Robin Arzón Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

#145: Renowned fitness instructor Robin Arzón shares ways to achieve your fitness goals, master your motivation and live the life you want. She covers the fundamentals of fitness training, the importance of recovery, the role of nutrition, and also highlights the importance of building mental strength to stay motivated and committed to your life goals.

Robin Arzón is a former lawyer turned Head Instructor and VP of Fitness Programming at Peloton. She’s an RRCA-certified running coach and ultramarathoner, who has made it her mission to redefine and rethink possibility through movement. Robin is also a two-time New York Times bestseller.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/fitness-robin-arzon

Partner Deals

Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice (stock vs. cash calculator)

Athletic Greens: Free 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs

Mint Mobile: 3 months free of unlimited wireless on the nation's largest 5G network

Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

Masterworks: VIP access to skip the waitlist

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Robin Arzón: Website | Instagram | Welcome, Hustler: An Empowerment Journal

December Challenge: #3For31 Challenge

Kelly Starrett: Built to Move: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully

James Clear: Atomic Habits

Full Show Notes

(02:12) Robin's Biggest Transformation Lessons

(04:48) Approach to Cardio vs. Strength Training

(09:10) Best Way to Start Strength Training

(10:20) How Important Is Variety in Exercises?

(16:37) Setting Personal Fitness Goals

(18:05) Rest & Recovery

(18:35) Importance of Nutrition

(20:22) Best Timings for Workouts

(21:31) Ways to Self-Motivate

(25:06) #3For31 Challenge

(26:02) Mental Toughness

(31:57) Adapting to Movement When You Have Kids

(34:17) Tactics to Build Mental Toughness

(39:31) How to Enjoy the Process

(41:44) Being in a State of Flow

(44:05) Robin's Journaling Evolution

(45:09) Striking a Balance When There's So Much Going On

(46:26) Robin's Learning Resources

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

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Leveraging Tax-Advantaged Accounts to Maximize Your Wealth with Katie Gatti Tassin Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

#144: Katie Gatti Tassin shares her expertise on leveraging tax-advantaged accounts to maximize your income. This crash course covers investment strategies using different types of 401(k)s, IRAs, Roth Conversion Ladders, HSAs, Donor Advised Funds, and much more.

Katie Gatti Tassin is the creator of the Money with Katie blog, podcast, and newsletter, which was acquired by Business Insider’s Morning Brew in 2022. The Money with Katie Show is one of the top finance-related podcasts, boasting 140,000+ listeners per month and 6 million+ lifetime downloads.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/tax-advantaged-accounts

Partner Deals

Storyworth: Share your family stories in a custom book (+ $10 off)

Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice

Notion: Try Notion AI free to automate tedious tasks and streamline your work

Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn

Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Katie Gatti Tassin: Podcast | Newsletter | Instagram

Solo 401(k): Carry (← $500 off Pro)

Bogleheads Article: Tax-efficient Fund Placement

All the Hacks Episodes Covering Donor Advised Funds:

Full Show Notes

(05:31) Fundamentals of Tax-Advantaged Investing Accounts

(09:55) Employer Plans: 401(k)

(12:21) Katie's Bread and Butter 401(k) Strategy

(18:07) Employer Account Trade-Offs

(20:29) Misconceptions About 401(k)s

(24:36) Employer Account Fees

(27:26) 401(k) Plan Rollover to New Employer

(28:15) Employer Traditional vs. Roth 401(k)

(36:39) Contribution Limit for a 401(k): Mega Backdoor

(42:30) Retirement Plans: IRAs

(46:57) Backdoor Roth IRA

(50:05) General Strategy for Traditional IRA

(51:43) Roth Conversion Ladder Tactics

(53:08) Dividend Income & Capital Gains

(56:57) Small Business Plans

(1:01:19) Solo 401(k)

(1:09:04) 529s

(1:11:00) Donor Advised Funds

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

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2023 Holiday Gift Guide (Bonus Episode) Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

#143: In this bonus episode, I'll share 50+ of my favorite products, gifts, past purchases and more. Hopefully some of them might make good ideas for gifts this holiday season. Hope you enjoy!

For all the products, links, deals and more, check out the full version of the 2023 Gift Guide here: https://allthehacks.com/gifts

Resources Mentioned

2023 Holiday Gift Guide

All the Hacks Listener Survey

Full Show Notes

(5:54:) Home & Food

(9:47) Tech & Gear

(13:47) Clothing & Bags

(15:44) Health & Fitness

(18:07) Family & Kids

(26:32) Saving Money When You Shop

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Travel Goes Wrong: Pro Tips for Flight Cancelations, Delays, Lost Luggage, and More Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

#142: Discover essential tips for handling travel mishaps, like flight delays and cancellations, lost luggage, or sold-out hotels and rental cars. This episode covers a range of preventative measures and compensation strategies to use when travel goes awry.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/when-travel-goes-wrong

Partner Deals

LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix

Athletic Greens: Free 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs

Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family

Shopify: $1/month trial for the easiest e-commerce platform

Trade Coffee: Free bag of the best coffee to upgrade your morning routine

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

All the Hacks

Episodes Mentioned

Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn

Anyday: 15% off non-toxic microwave cookware

Dumb Money Movie: Free Download Codes

Airline:

Flight Monitoring Tools: Flighty | TripIt Pro
Mobile Passport Control (for US)
Global Entry Appointments: Appointment Scanner
Baggage Trackers: Apple AirTags
25% transfer bonus to Air France/KLM Flying Blue
Air France-KLM Flying Blue Reduce Award Pricing
Delta Rolls Back Some Changes to SkyMiles
Southwest Companion Pass

Credit Cards

Disk Space Analysis: DaisyDisk

Property Appraisal Appeal: Ownwell

Full Show Notes

(02:18) All the Hacks Annual Listener Survey

(04:40) General Tips for When Travel Goes Awry

(06:59) Air Travel: Cancellations & Delays

(11:05) Compensation for Canceled Flights

(13:08) Using Points & Miles to Book Last-Minute Flights

(16:56) Hidden Credit Card Benefits: Flight Delay or Cancellation Insurance

(18:23) How to Handle Checked Baggage When Flights Get Canceled

(20:27) Booking Flights on Same Airline vs. Different Airlines

(23:19) Tips for Lost, Delayed, or Damaged Luggage

(28:16) Hack for When Travel Goes Awry with Kids

(29:02) Canceled Hotel Reservations

(31:07) How to Avoid Being Walked Out of a Hotel

(33:25) All the Hacks Luxury Hotel Upgrade Program

(38:53) Car Rental Cancellations

(40:38) Tips for When Your Car Rental Is Sold Out in Advance

(43:17) Car Rentals Hacks

(44:02) Getting Lost

(44:48) General Travel Tips for the Holiday Season

(47:04) Tips to Get Global Entry Appointments Faster

(47:44) Listener Wins

(49:51) Hack: 0% APR

(52:19) Airline News

(59:44) Bilt

(1:02:41) Random Hacks and Tips

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

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The Spectrum of Financial Independence and Tools to Track Your Progress with Brad Barrett Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

#141: Financial independence expert Brad Barrett and Chris deep dives into the FI/RE movement. They cover various forms of FI/RE, share effective strategies for investments and retirement planning, and discuss tools to track and manage finances. They also explore the psychological aspects of financial decision making, including the skill of mindful spending.

Brad Barrett (@bradchoosefi) is the co-host of ChooseFI, the number one podcast on financial independence with more than a million monthly listeners. After years in public accounting as a CPA, Brad reached financial independence at the age of 35, without ever earning a six-figure salary.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/FIRE-spectrum

Partner Deals

Green Chef: $250 off healthy and delicious meal kits

Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice

Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn

DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

All the Hacks: Membership

Episodes:

Brad Barrett: Podcast | Twitter | Website

ChooseFI Episode #71: Silicon Valley FI | Chris Hutchins | Grove

Early Retirement Now: The Safe Withdrawal Rate Series

Wealthfront: Cash Account Bonus 0.5% APY | Automated Investing $5k Free

Tools To Track Your FI Journey:

Free tool: Karsten Jeske’s **[EarlyRetirementNow SWR Toolbox v2.0](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QGrMm6XSGWBVLI8I_DOAeJV5whoCnSdmaR8toQB2Jz8/copy?)**
To Track Spending: Copilot (Free 2 months access with code HACKS2)
To Track Net Worth: Kubera (All the Hacks Members Get First Year for $1)
To Go Deep: Projection Lab

Bill Perkins’s Book: Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life

Dean Turner: Online Training + Coaching

Full Show Notes (not final)

(02:47) Chris & Brad's FI Journey

(04:18) Difference Between Financial Independence & FI/RE

(07:17) Why You Shouldn't Only Focus On The RE

(09:32) The Different Types of Financial Independence

(12:07) Lean & Fat FI/RE

(17:51) Coast FI/RE

(22:44) Tackling The 4% Rule

(28:42) Tools To Track Your Fi Journey

(41:19) Taxable Brokerage Accounts

(46:22) Learning The Skill of Spending

(51:24) Embodying the Die With Zero Mentality

(56:42) Health & Longevity: Hiring A Remote Personal Trainer

(1:02:51) Cold Plunges & Saunas

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Navigating Open Enrollment: Choosing the Best Health Insurance and Other Benefits in 2024 Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

#140: A deep dive into health insurance and other benefits you’ll need to make decisions about during your upcoming open enrollment. We’ll cover health plans in depth, but also dental, vision, HSAs, FSAs, employer life insurance and more.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/open-enrollment-2024

Partner Deals

Notion: Try Notion AI free to automate tedious tasks and streamline your work

Athletic Greens: Free 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs

MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off

Copilot: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2

Henson Shaving: Plastic-Free, Precision-Built Razors + $100 free Blades

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

All the Hacks:

#34: Hacking Healthcare, Prescriptions and Medical Bills with Marshall Allen
Email for questions, hacks, deals, feedback: podcast@allthehacks.com

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver: Health Care Sharing Ministries

Online Direct Primary Care For Pediatrics: Summer Health | Blueberry

Marshal Allen’s Book: Never Pay the First Bill

Online Sites for Prescriptions: GoodRx | RxSaver

Oura Ring

DNA Genetic Testing: 23andMe

Online HSAs: Lively | Starship HSA

Hawaii Recommendations:

Restaurants (Kid-Friendly): Lava Lava Beach Club | CanoeHouse at Mauna Lani
Water Activities: Ocean Sports | Snorkel Bob's

Full Show Notes

(02:27) HMOs, PPOs & EPOs

(03:47) Deductible

(04:44) Coinsurance

(05:40) Out of Pocket Maximum

(06:20) High Deductible Health Plan

(07:35) Coverage: In-Network & Out of Network

(09:16) Insurance Brokers

(14:55) Selecting a Carrier

(17:55) Premiums

(20:39) First Dollar Coverage

(21:50) HSA Hack: Use Your Cash Flow For Expenses

(25:10) Why The Platinum Plan Doesn't Make Sense

(29:55) Health Insurance Hacks

(31:13) Medical Sharing Plans

(33:36) Ways To Save

(36:16) Dental & Vision Insurance

(37:56) FSA for Health

(40:47) Using HSA

(41:41) Pre Tax Transit

(41:56) Life & Disability Insurance

(43:18) Tips from Chris's Trip to Hawaii

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think Faster, Talk Smarter and Excel at Spontaneous Conversation with Matt Abrahams Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

#139: Stanford professor Matt Abrahams is an expert in spontaneous conversations and shares six steps to help polish your speaking skills. He covers tips and tricks to help you think faster, techniques for managing anxiety, ways to structure small talk to make it more engaging, and a formula for delivering an exceptional wedding toast.

Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He hosts the award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart and is also the author of two books: Think Faster, Talk Smarter and Speaking Up Without Freaking Out.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/think-fast-talk-smarter

Partner Deals

DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web

Fabric: Affordable term life insurance for you and your family

Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth

Masterworks: VIP access to skip the waitlist

Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Matt Abrahams: Website | Podcast | LinkedIn

Books: Think Faster, Talk Smarter | Speaking Up Without Freaking Out

Humour, Seriously: Why Humour Is A Superpower At Work And In Life

Web Browser: Arc

AI Powered Personal Communication Tools: LikeSo | Poised

Email for questions, hacks, deals, feedback: podcast@allthehacks.com

Full Show Notes

(02:13) Handling Spontaneous Conversations

(04:09) Overview: 6-step Process to Think Faster, Talk Smarter

(07:49) A 2-Pronged Approach to Manage Your Anxiety

(16:41) Changing the Way We Strive for Perfection

(18:33) Small Talk & Chit Chat

(21:30) Tactics to End Small Talk

(23:18) Types of Conversational Turns

(25:30) Practicing & Preparing to Be Spontaneous

(27:05) Reframing the Circumstances

(35:03) How to Become Better Listeners

(38:37) Creating Structure for Communication

(43:37) Toasts & Tributes

(45:36) Humor in Conversations

(47:08) Why Having Structure Will Set You Free

(49:30) Being Clear & Concise

(52:42) Using Generative AI for Communication

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Optimizing Cell Phone Plans: The Best Carriers, Deals, Plans, Insider Pricing, Insurance and More! Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

#138: An exhaustive exploration of cell phone plans to help you make the right choice and get the best deal possible. Chris breaks down the best plans across different tiers from basic data to unlimited with international roaming. He also covers ways to get extra deals/discounts, as well as picking the best cell phone insurance.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/cell-phone-plans

Partner Deals

Trade Coffee: Free bag of the best coffee to upgrade your morning routine

Anyday: 15% off non-toxic microwave cookware

Shopify: $1/month trial for the easiest e-commerce platform

Athletic Greens: Free 1 year supply of Vitamin D and 5 free travel packs

LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

All the Hacks:

Membership
Email for questions, hacks, deals, feedback: podcast@allthehacks.com

Best Phone Plans: Website | YouTube

Mint Mobile: $15/mo for unlimited wireless on the nation's largest 5G network

US Mobile: Light, Kosher, Sharable and Unlimited Plans

Boost: Boost Infinite (Postpaid) | Boost Mobile (Prepaid)

T-Mobile: Magenta Max | Go 5G Plus Go 5G Next

Google Fi: The Unlimited Plus | The Simply Unlimited

Visible: Unlimited | Visible+

eSIMs: Airalo | Nomad eSIM

Crowd-Sourced Coverage Maps: CoverageMap.com

How To Use T-Mobile's Unlimited Phone Data On Your Computer

Full Show Notes

(03:47) Background Context from Chris

(05:25) The Research That Went into the Episode

(08:17) Types of Quality of Service Class Identifiers (QCIs)

(14:07) Leveraging eSIMs

(18:11) Top 3 Carriers

(20:55) Tier – Basic

(19:45) Tier – Not Unlimited But More Data

(28:36) Factoring in Taxes

(29:29) Tier – Unlimited Data

(36:38) International Roaming

(37:39) Features That Aren’t Supported by MVNOs

(40:40) Tier – Can Go International and Its Included

(44:18) T-Mobile Insider Pricing

(46:22) Hack: How to Use T-Mobile’s Unlimited Phone Data on Your Computer

(47:35) Chris’s Recommendations in Summary

(48:58) International Coverage for Canada & Mexico

(50:25) Countries Covered under Plans

(52:36) Deals, Discounts & Credits

(58:25) Free Trials

(58:57) Cell Phone Insurance

Connect with All the Hacks

All the Hacks: Newsletter | Website | Membership | Email

Chris Hutchins: Twitter | Instagram | Website | LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Science-Backed Tactics to Level Up Your Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success with Liz Moody Oct 11, 2023

Show notes

#137: Health and wellness expert Liz Moody shares her top science-backed tactics to upgrade your life. They focus on actionable steps to achieve greater success, hacks to enhance gut health, methods to cultivate deeper relationships, and techniques to rewire your mindset to increase happiness.

Liz Moody (@lizmoody) is a best selling author of two healthy cookbooks and the host of The Liz Moody Podcast: a research-backed wellness podcast that helps people live their healthiest and happiest life. Her latest book 100 Ways to Change Your Life comes out next week.

Link to Full Show Notes: https://www.allthehacks.com/change-your-life-liz-moody

Partner Deals

Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn

Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice

DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web

Mint Mobile: $15/mo for unlimited wireless on the nation's largest 5G network

Notion: Try Notion AI free to automate tedious tasks and streamline your work

For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: allthehacks.com/deals

Resources Mentioned

Liz Moody: Instagram | Podcast | Website

Liz’s Books:

All the Hacks Episodes: