Feeling the pinch at the grocery store and the gas pump? This episode is a jargon-free guide to inflation. We demystify what it is, how it's measured using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and how it impacts your daily life. We'll explain the difference between "demand-pull" and "cost-push" inflation and provide practical, everyday tips for adjusting your family budget to cope with rising prices, fight back against the rising cost of living, and protect your purchasing power.

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You hear "the Fed raised rates" on the news, but what does that actually mean for your wallet? In this episode, we translate the complex headlines into practical, personal knowledge. We'll explain who the Fed is, what their "dual mandate" means, how their decisions directly affect the APY on your savings account, and why the interest rate on your variable-rate credit card goes up when they tighten policy. This episode connects the big picture to your budget.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Making Sense of your Cents and you’ve found our tips helpful for your financial journey, I want to ask you a quick favor. Please take a moment right now to hit that Subscribe or Follow button on your favorite podcast app. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss an episode, and it helps other people in our community find the show.

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Could you be paying less on your car loan or mortgage? In this episode, we explain the pros and cons of refinancing. It can be a powerful tool to save money, but it's not the right move for everyone. We'll discuss the two main reasons to consider refinancing—an improved credit score or a drop in market rates—and teach you how to calculate your "break-even point" on closing costs to see if it's truly worth it for your financial situation.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Making Sense of your Cents and you’ve found our tips helpful for your financial journey, I want to ask you a quick favor. Please take a moment right now to hit that Subscribe or Follow button on your favorite podcast app. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss an episode, and it helps other people in our community find the show.

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to podcast@fcbtn.com.

Whether you have a blank credit file or are recovering from past financial mistakes, this episode provides a clear roadmap to a better score. We lay out actionable strategies for building a positive credit history, starting from day one. We’ll explore how to leverage a secured credit card to prove your creditworthiness, the benefits of a credit-builder loan, and how becoming an authorized user can provide a powerful head start. It’s never too late to write a new financial story.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Making Sense of your Cents and you’ve found our tips helpful for your financial journey, I want to ask you a quick favor. Please take a moment right now to hit that Subscribe or Follow button on your favorite podcast app. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss an episode, and it helps other people in our community find the show.

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Your credit report is the official story of your financial life—but is it telling the truth? In this episode, we provide a step-by-step guide to pulling your free annual credit report from the only official source. We'll teach you how to decode the four key sections of your report, how to spot common errors or red flags for fraud, and the exact process for formally disputing an inaccurate item with the credit bureaus to protect your score and your reputation.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Making Sense of your Cents and you’ve found our tips helpful for your financial journey, I want to ask you a quick favor. Please take a moment right now to hit that Subscribe or Follow button on your favorite podcast app. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss an episode, and it helps other people in our community find the show.

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Life's biggest milestones—getting married, having a baby, buying a home—are also major financial events. Joined by CFO Barron D. Kennedy, IV, we discuss the key financial conversations and action steps for these exciting transitions. Learn how to have the "money talk" with your partner before getting married, the non-negotiable financial steps to take when a child is on the way, and how to avoid being "house poor" by buying what you can comfortably afford, not just what you're approved for.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Making Sense of your Cents and you’ve found our tips helpful for your financial journey, I want to ask you a quick favor. Please take a moment right now to hit that Subscribe or Follow button on your favorite podcast app. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss an episode, and it helps other people in our community find the show.

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Identity theft goes far beyond a single stolen credit card number. As the bank's Security Officer, Daniel Hill joins Shanna Browning to dive into serious threats like the "Grandparent Scam," elder fraud, and the invisible danger of synthetic ID theft. This episode is a crucial guide to safeguarding your personal information. Daniel and Shanna explain what a credit freeze is, why it's the single most powerful tool for preventing new accounts from being opened in your name, and the proactive steps you can take to protect yourself and your family.

Credit Bureau Credit Freeze

• Equifax
• Experian
• TransUnion

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Making Sense of your Cents and you’ve found our tips helpful for your financial journey, I want to ask you a quick favor. Please take a moment right now to hit that Subscribe or Follow button on your favorite podcast app. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss an episode, and it helps other people in our community find the show.

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Fake emails, suspicious texts, and urgent calls—scammers are working overtime to trick you. In this episode, cybersecurity expert Ben Lawson, GM of Burk IT, joins the conversation to teach you how to spot the red flags of a phishing attack. You'll learn the psychological tricks of urgency and authority that fraudsters use to manipulate you, how to inspect a sender's email address, and hover over links to reveal the truth.

If you’ve enjoyed listening to Making Sense of your Cents and you’ve found our tips helpful for your financial journey, I want to ask you a quick favor. Please take a moment right now to hit that Subscribe or Follow button on your favorite podcast app. It’s the best way to make sure you never miss an episode, and it helps other people in our community find the show.

Subscribe today, wherever you listen to your podcasts (Spotify, Apple Podcast, etc.) and send your questions to podcast@fcbtn.com.