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How to Money · May 11, 2026 · 55m

Ask HTM - Budgeting for Credit Card Rewards, HELOC for Home Improvements, & Coast FI with Bonds #1138

Joel Larsgaard & Matt Altmix, Matt Altmix
Show Notes

A listener Q&A episode where the hosts tackle five money questions: how aggressively to shift retirement portfolios to bonds when nearing Coast FI, whether to treat credit card rewards as budgeted income, the priority of setting up a trust for a young child, strategies for finding affordable prescription sunglasses, and what separates a good HELOC from a bad one.

This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.

Highlights

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Coast FI and the Bond Shift
A listener near their Coast FI number asked how aggressively they should shift their retirement portfolio toward bonds. The hosts discussed the tradeoffs of de-risking as you approach the point where your savings will compound to your retirement goal without further contributions.
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Editorial

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Budgeting for Credit Card Rewards
A listener who earns thousands per year in credit card rewards asked whether it makes sense to formally track and budget that money. The hosts weighed the benefits of treating rewards as regular income versus keeping them outside the formal budget.
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Setting Up a Trust With a Young Child
A new parent asked whether establishing a trust should be a priority. The hosts discussed the importance of estate planning when a child enters the picture.
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How to Choose a Good HELOC
A listener planning home improvements asked what makes one HELOC better than another. The hosts broke down the key features to compare: draw periods, repayment terms, fees, and rate structures.
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Affordable Prescription Sunglasses
A listener asked where to find Rx sunglasses cheap enough that they wouldn't be afraid to lose them. The hosts shared strategies for getting functional prescription sunglasses without the premium markup.
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Misc

✧The hosts enjoyed a Dream Operator beer by Piedmont Brewery during the episode.
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