Our first-ever live show (at San Francisco’s Sketchfest comedy festival) is action-packed! Stand-up comedian Alexandria Love is delightful as our guest, even after we trigger her severe frog phobia; Yas announces that she’s expecting a baby girl; Dara’s dad takes the stage to improvise a song in the style of Marvin Gaye; and audience members share embarrassing stories about freelance finances gone awry.Along with all the excitement, we dish out facts about some places where the cash is greener on the freelance side of the fence—as well as some places it’s not. And Yas (now a freelancer herself) shares her tactics for avoiding spending all “your” money (oops—taxes!). Whether you’re already your own boss or just thinking about it, you’re sure to enjoy this episode’s comedic jousting—as well as its historical and literary references to jousting!Links mentioned in this episode:Freelancers Union studyAlexandria’s websiteAlexandria’s Twitter

Money Ha Ha

(026) Freelancing: Quit your jobs, suckers! (LIVE w/ Alexandria Love)

Happy holidays, everybody! Dara and Yas are here with a lil’ shorty ep to share some exciting pod news as well as a couple tips for making it through this time of year without all your money going . First up, the ladies announce they’ll be doing a live show at San Francisco Sketchfest “next year” (A.K.A. 1/18/2020—that’s some sleepover humor for you, tee-hee!!). Grab your free tickets now at mhhpod.com/sketchfest!We’ve also got Yasmine’s ideas on how to smooth out your holiday expenses, and Dara’s advice for how to secure your funds if your wallet gets snatched like hers just was (don’t worry, there’s a happy ending! Shout out to Good Samaritans!). Keep your ears peeled for that live episode dropping to this feed in early 2020, happy Kwanzaa, and till next time, “Shut up and eat!!”Links mentioned in this episode:Money Ha Ha at SF SketchfestShould I Lock or Freeze My Credit File?

(25.5) Sketchfest Announcement!: It’s the Most Moneyful Time of the Year

Sometimes we all need to take a break, indulge, and have new experiences. That’s what vacations are all about. This week’s guest is here to talk to us about how she vacations like a grown up: without debt! Erin Ryan is a writer for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and host of the Hysteria podcast. She shares how saving up for her dream trip to the Himalayas taught her that she can have great new experiences, as long as she’s financially disciplined beforehand. Pro tip: when you go out for drinks, never go to a second location!Dara, Yas and Erin also talk about celebrating when you punch debt in the face, the most expensive manicure in the history of the world, the most expensive pajama pants on a plane, and the miraculous glory that is carnitas made in an Instant Pot. We also learn that Erin gets a thrill from saving and good things happen to her when Mercury is in retrograde. Seriously, who is this woman? We loved having her on the show and you’ll love this episode. If not, no worries, you’re just not invited to our cult.Full TranscriptLinks mentioned in this episode:Nerd Wallet: How to save for vacation, w vacation calculatorErin on Twitter

(025) Saving for Vacation: Like a Grown-up! (w/ Erin Ryan)

It’s hot in the Bay, and so many of us are already sweatin’ to make ends meet every month. This week’s expert guest is here to give us perspective. Rachel Schneider followed the money stories of hundreds of Americans as part of co-authoring The Financial Diaries. She breaks down why so many of us find ourselves needing to borrow money from time to time, and how hidden inequality and generational wealth privilege play their part in that.Dara, Yas and Rachel talk about the common traps people fall into when it comes to short-term borrowing, how sometimes it feels like institutions make decisions for us, and slumber parties! “Leviosa!” is the new “light as a feather, stiff as a board,” mkay? So get light, unburden yourself, and consider balancing personal responsibility with holding policy makers accountable for making sure wages keep up with the rising cost of living. Leviosa!Full TranscriptLinks mentioned in this episode:U.S. Financial DiariesBuy the bookFederal Reserve ReportRachel on Twitter

(024) Cash Crunch Borrowing: No Shame in the Game! (w/ Rachel Schneider)

Health care costs are a quadruple-whammy: They’re expensive, they’re confusing, they’re communicated in a way that can make you feel powerless, and they come at a time when you’re extra vulnerable—because you’re sick! This week’s guest, writer/actor/improviser Erin Whitehead, is no stranger to the wild and woolly land of out-of-network costs. Based on the tales of woe she and Dara + Yasmine share in the no-judgement zone, should our motto for medical expenses be “Abandon hope”??“Heck, no!” say Dara and Yasmine. They clear up some of the kooky terms you see on your bills, fill you in on your rights, and give you a game plan for staying in control of costs. Plus, Yas confesses the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel techniques she used on her husband, we ponder whether Daenerys sniffed her baby dragons’ heads, and Dara compares Yas to a (cute) potato—twice.Full TranscriptLinks mentioned in this episode:CNBC: The much higher costs of 'out-of-network' health careCNBC: Four steps to fight off high medical expensesThe College Investor: The ultimate guide to disputing a medical bill and reducing your paymentErin on TwitterErin on Instagram

(023) Medical Expenses: No, Thank You (w/ Erin Whitehead)

With their great big eyes and sweet little bellies (that we want to drum on), children are designed to make us love them—and spend money on them! Mom and actor Christina Elmore (Insecure) joins us this week to share how her finances have changed since she had her (super cute–check out her Insta) little boy. Though not yet moms themselves, Dara and Yas reminisce about how expensive they were as kids, and how their parents got revenge by putting them in the hardest math classes.As always, we ground things in facts by sharing the top expenses that come with children, as well as the total amount they cost per year—get ready to gasp just a little. Though the price tag of traditional parenthood briefly gets us dreaming of moving to Waco, TX, and becoming sister wives, Christina ends things on a positive note by reassuring people who want to become parents that they can do it.Full TranscriptLinks mentioned in this episode:USDA: Expenditures on Children by Families, 2015USDA: The Cost of Raising a ChildChristina on Twitter

(022) The Cost of Raising Kids: Mom Goggles (w/ Christina Elmore)

Whether well-meaning or not, bad financial advice can mess you up, and this week’s guest is having none of it! Self-styled “financial hype woman” Berna Anat (@heyberna to her scads of followers) stops by Studio Ha this week to teach us how to tell good financial tips from bad. When we’re in that vulnerable place of not-knowing, it’s tempting to swallow whatever advice we’re told just so we can “scurry back in the hole.” But with a few pointers from Berna and a whole lot of common sense, it’s not hard to pick out the good and avoid the too-good-to-be-true.It’s not all shop talk—your Leo and Taurus co-hosts (can you guess who’s who?) get into astrology with our Scorpio guest, and Yasmine explains her theory about how Bitcoin is a secret robot plot. Long-time listeners will appreciate Dara’s story about encountering an iguana “in the wild” (on the subway). And finally, Berna shouts out some of her favorite sources for good financial advice at the end of the ep—so get your follow finger ready!Full TranscriptLinks mentioned in this episode:Berna on InstagramBerna on YouTubeBerna on Twitterheyberna.comDara’s show, AmazoniansDara’s stand-up calendarTiffany the BudgetnistaJourney to LaunchBitches Get Riches#moneymemes

(021) Bad Financial Advice: If it’s too Good to be True… (w/ Berna Anat)

Fresh from riffing her way straight through a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that tried to interrupt her stand-up set, our guest Atsuko Okatsuka can conquer anything—including this week’s topic, bank fees! Together we break down the types of fees you’re probably getting charged, how much they’re costing you, and how they like to multiply like bunnies—especially when those unpredictable “pending” transactions start racking up the overdrafts.We start light with talk of Barbies and race cars, but end intense with a request that you sign a pact in blood. Along the way, Atsuko fantasizes about bank executives gorging themselves on Red Lobster, and Dara gets accused of surfing the dark web in search of a Red Lobster biscuit. We wouldn’t leave you without a solid action item, and you get to choose how to do it: call up your bank and “ask a few nice questions”—or deliberately keep them on the phone for several hours as a form of righteous revenge, like Yasmine would. Get ready, Customer Support!Full TranscriptLinks mentioned in this episode:Atsuko’s earthquake setNerdWallet article on average checking account feesMiami Herald op ed about overdraftsThe CFPB’s research on overdraftsNerdWallet list of the most consumer-friendly checking accountsAtsuko on TwitterAtsuko on InstagramLet’s Go Atsuko! A (woke) Japanese Game Show

(020) Bank Fees: Mundane Shame (w/ Atsuko Okatsuka)

Money Ha Ha is about bringing money talk out of the shame drawer and onto the table, and this week we’re opening up that drawer (or bag, or box—everyone’s system is different) to discuss why we keep stuffing our unopened bills in there: financial avoidance. This week comedian Danielle Perez invites us into her L.A. home to chat about why our brains don’t like to go to the scary money place, and how we can tempt them to at least pay it a visit. Don’t avoid this episode, cause we’ve got Danielle’s re-telling of her viral appearance on The Price is Right, a special duet between Yasmine and Dara’s mom, not one but two stomach-turning anecdotes about overdue dental work, and a full-on Girl, Interrupted moment. Plus, once you go on Yasmine’s guided “mind journey” into your financial future (light a candle first!), we bet you’ll discover things aren’t as bad as you’ve built them up to be. Links mentioned in this episode: APA: Face the numbers: Moving beyond financial denial Danielle’s “The Price Is Right” video Danielle on Twitter Danielle on Instagram Thedanielleperez.com 

(019) Financial Avoidance: The Actual Shame Drawer (w/ Danielle Perez)

Comedian/writer/actor Matt Lieb joined Dara and Yasmine to talk about all the stuff you have to shell out for when you move. Though some costs of moving are unavoidable (like that new shower curtain!), this resourceful crew turns you on to a number of money-saving measures, from light cat burglary (cheaper than a locksmith) to guilting sympathetic strangers into lugging your heavy stuff up the stairs. In an especially philosophical episode, the group ponders questions such as where the butt begins, what “beyond the pale” means, and why moving food must always be pizza. As always, we leave you with some tips you can definitely use about how to budget for your next move so that there aren’t any nasty surprises—until the property manager cuts down your hedge. Full Transcript Links mentioned in this episode: Business Insider: “16 Hidden Costs of Moving” U.S. News & World Report: “The Real Cost of Moving” Matt Lieb on Twitter Matt Lieb on Instagram Newsbroke 

(018) Moving Expenses: It Gets So Real (w/ Matt Lieb)

Comedy writer and podcast co-host Heather Anne Campbell (The Twilight Zone, How Did This Get Played?) joins Dara and Yas this week to talk about the privilege of growing up with money. The group shares experiences from both sides of the wealth privilege spectrum—from driving a car purchased for $1, to “failing up” by being sent to private school as punishment—and how those experiences shaped how they see themselves today. Though the stats on how your family’s wealth (or lack thereof) affects your prospects as an adult get pretty grim, the ladies end up thinking you don’t have to be discouraged, and offer some tips on how to own your story so that it inspires yourself and others. We also hear about Yas’s grandmother’s “candy boobs,” put out a plea for everyone to re-watch the movie Clue, and learn that both co-hosts have purchased special tools for cutting their own hair. Full Transcript Links mentioned in this episode: “Finance Podcasts We Love” by Simple Heather's "Rich Parents" video “Rich Kids Stay Rich, Poor Kids Stay Poor” by fivethirtyeight.com National Center for Education Statistics, "Postsecondary Attainment: Differences by Socioeconomic Status" (2015) Socioeconomic Status" (2015) Heather’s podcast How Did This Get Played? 

(017) Privilege: It Must Be Nice! (w/ Heather Anne Campbell)

 FOLLOW US ON: Instagram Twitter Facebook SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY HA HA: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Stitcher Pocket Casts Spotify Overcast RadioPublic Comedian and actor Carl Tart (Brooklyn 99, Mad TV) stopped by our LA studio to talk all about borrowing and lending money with family and friends. Luckily, he’s a pro at helping out his loved ones and living his best life, so he shares some great ideas with Dara and Yasmine for negotiating interpersonal loans and setting boundaries with acquaintances in need. We’ve also got some insights into how social support works in immigrant communities and the impact that can have on generational wealth. As always, we keep it light with some purchases to help keep our wardrobes fresh (in more ways than one), a debate on the term “sportsball,” and cues from teenagers on when it’s time to stop living at home with mom. Final Transcript Links mentioned in this episode: The Financial Diaries Black Tax article Carl Tart on Twitter Carl Tart on Instagram Carl Tart at UCB Carl Tart on Earwolf 

(016) Borrowing and Lending with Family and Friends: Wigglin’ (w/ Carl Tart)

 FOLLOW US ON: Instagram Twitter Facebook SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY HA HA: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Stitcher Pocket Casts Spotify Overcast RadioPublic Turn down your cathartic, bleak music and listen to our chat with writer/comedian Zeke Nicholson (AP Bio, Miracle Workers). This week’s topic is thriving on paychecks that arrive two weeks apart. We walk you through creating a budget that works for you, step-by-step, including some treats to help motivate you along the way. Did you know you can reschedule due dates on some of your bills? It’s news for some of us, too! Dara, Yasmine and Zeke also share stories of times their biweekly paychecks weren’t quite enough. We’ve got stories about startups running out of cash, tips that fell short of making rent and $100 holds on rentable bikes. There’s a lot of talk about jorts and swimsuits ‘cause it’s summer in LA, ya’ll! There’s also some talk about dressing like a liberal arts professor at Sarah Lawrence, but we’re pretty sure that’s a year-round thing... Full Transcript Links mentioned in this episode: Zeke Nicholson on Twitter Zeke Nicholson on Instagram Zeke Nicholson’s @ UCB 

(015) Biweekly Pay: We Math Excellent (w/ Zeke Nicholson)

 FOLLOW US ON: Instagram Twitter Facebook SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY HA HA: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Stitcher Pocket Casts Spotify Overcast RadioPublic Dara + Yasmine kick off a few weeks in LA this week by talking all things gender wage gap with Yo, Is This Racist? co-host and star of Brockmire, Tawny Newsome. We’ve got a starfish callback and a check-in on Dara’s quest to get a good night's rest, plus some tasty dishing about Meryl Streep, Laura Dern and all the rest of the Big Little Lies gang. Things get a little emotional as we dig into how disparities in pay between women and men hurt women of color the most, but we bounce back with some great ideas on how to make sure you’re getting paid what you’re worth. Spoiler alert: it involves making like the US women’s national soccer team and talking about compensation with your colleagues. Full Transcript Links mentioned in this episode: HBR article about women receiving vague feedback Gender pay gap facts from Pew Pew on how racial pay gaps persist Pew on measurable reasons for gender pay gap Pew on unmeasurable factors like gender-based discrimination The Good Fight on CBS All Access Tawny Newsome’s website Tawny Newsome on Twitter Tawny Newsome on Instagram 

(014) Gender Income Gap: Ask for Everything (w/ Tawny Newsome)

 FOLLOW US ON: Instagram Twitter Facebook SUBSCRIBE TO MONEY HA HA: Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Stitcher Pocket Casts Spotify Overcast RadioPublic Comedian Natasha Muse is in the studio to talk with Dara and Yasmine about FOMO spending—shelling out cash for cool experiences you may not be able to afford. Those experiences may involve Instagrammable trips to the Amalfi Coast, boozy brunches with friends, meetups that require a car, or even artisanal beef jerky. We also brainstorm cheap ways to have a fun time and experience the joy of missing out (JOMO). With this many funny femmes in one room saying things the British way, it does get a little goofy this week with a debate on iOS versus Android, a remix of the Jaws theme song, a discussion of how social media scrolling can turn into spending, and a heartfelt shoutout to PBS’ Arthur (and Ziggy Marley, natch). Full Transcript Links mentioned in this episode: Natasha Muse Natasha's Webiste Credit Karma Study Wholesome memes on Twitter Emotional Club on Instagram Interactive social media makes you feel better Happy Endings 

(013) FOMO Spending: Flipper the Script (w/ Natasha Muse)

Smart, funny friends Dara M Wilson and Yasmine Khan bring money talk out of the shame drawer and onto the table.

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Money Ha Ha

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