PennyWise: Personal Finance & Travel Tips

Lee Enterprises Podcasts
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PennyWise is a show about money, personal finance, investing and travel. The program features a variety of financial experts who can help save you money.

  1. JAN 26

    How to Survive Valentine’s Day Without Overspending

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Lauren Weatherford, an associate professor at West Virginia University Extension, talk about how to get through Valentine’s Day without overspending…or putting your relationship in jeopardy. John and Lauren discuss the best ways to celebrate on a budget, how to cost-effectively impress your significant other, and major mistakes to avoid. If you have love in your life but not enough money to go around, this V-Day edition of Pennywise is for you!   More on this episode from WalletHub:  Best Credit Cards of 2026 Valentine’s Day Spending Survey  Best Jewelry Store Credit Cards  Valentine’s Day Facts Best Places to Celebrate Valentine’s Day Free Gift Ideas You could also give your Valentine a WalletHub Premium subscription this V-Day. After all, things like budgeting tools, credit-improvement help, and identity protection are gifts that keep on giving.

    25 min

  2. JAN 14

    Best Credit Cards of 2026: How to Make a Money-Saving Selection

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Professor Jeffry Haber of Iona University discuss how to go about choosing the right credit card to apply for. John and Jeffry cover what different types of applicants should look for, what pitfalls to avoid, and the best offers to apply for in 2026. John also breaks down WalletHub’s editors picks. More on this episode from WalletHub:  Best Credit Cards of 2026 Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Travel Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Beginners Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards  How to Choose a Credit Card You can also use WalletHub’s budgeting and expense tracking tools to keep your credit card spending in check. Information about offers is accurate as of 1/14/2026.

    24 min

  3. 12/29/2025

    New Year Money Moves: Tips for Hitting the Ground Running in 2026

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Professor Nicole Hickson discuss how to get your money right in 2026. Whether you’re making a financial New Year’s resolution or just determined to make 2026 more prosperous than the past, there are steps you can take to improve your financial performance, save more money, reduce stress, and afford to treat yourself once in a while! John and Nicole will give you the gameplan for success. Plus, John answers a recent listener question.  More on this episode from WalletHub:  New Year’s Financial Resolutions Survey 16 Financial Resolutions for 2026 WalletHub Budgeting Tools  Best Credit Cards for 2026 You can sign up for a WalletHub account to get personalized credit-improvement advice, rent and bill reporting, budgeting and expense tracking tools, identity theft insurance, and much more.

    41 min

  4. 12/15/2025

    How to Get the Right Credit Card: We're Going Back to School for a Better Approach

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Dr. Jessica G. Zeiss from Ball State University discuss the best ways to go about getting a credit card. It might seem like a simple topic, but there’s a lot more that goes into choosing the right credit card and actually getting approved than most people realize. John and Dr. Zeiss cover the process of getting a credit card from start to finish, highlighting money-saving strategies to use as well as costly pitfalls to avoid. They also talk about why getting a credit card is so important to achieving overall financial success and how many credit cards you should have. John answers some of your questions, too. More on this episode from WalletHub:  How to Choose a Credit Card How to Apply for a Credit Card  How to Get Approved for a Credit Card You can compare credit card offers on WalletHub to find the best card for your needs. You can also reference WalletHub’s editors’ picks for the best credit cards for building credit, rewards, 0% APR and more.

    27 min

  5. 12/01/2025

    Donating to Charity: How to Make an Impact, Avoid Scams & More

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Luke Powers discuss the latest trends in charitable giving, how listeners can make the biggest impact with their contributions, and strategies for avoiding scams. With the burden of inflation, high debt levels, and an uncertain job market, many people feel like they can’t afford to give back, and charitable organizations are struggling to get enough funding. But if you make the right moves, you can still make the world a better place, even with limited funds. We’ll help with that by covering the best charities by category, organizations to avoid and much more. John answers some of your questions, too. More on this episode from WalletHub: Best Charity Credit Cards & Charity Calculator  To find the best charities overall and by category, check out SmileHub's picks for the year’s best charities to donate to.

    25 min

  6. 11/17/2025

    Deferred Interest: The Retail Financing Trick That Could Cost You Big Time

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan and guest Adam McCann discuss the dangers of so-called “deferred interest” and how to avoid becoming a victim this holiday shopping season and beyond. John and Adam explain what deferred interest is and how it works, detail when you’re likely to encounter it, and provide tips for how to deal with it, plus ideas for safer alternatives. This financing trick is a lot more common and costly than most people realize, so it could really pay off to learn the ins and outs of this scheme. In addition, John answers some of your questions. More on this episode from WalletHub: Best 0% APR Credit Cards & Best Budget Apps  To find the best way to pay for your shopping trips, both during the holidays and throughout the year, check out WalletHub's picks for the best credit cards for shopping.

    18 min

  7. 11/03/2025

    Emergency Funds: What They Are, Why You Need One & Tips for Building Yours

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses the importance of having an emergency fund and how to build one with Adam McCann, a personal finance writer with WalletHub who is an expert on credit cards and budgeting. John and Adam define what an emergency fund actually is, explore the risks that come with not having one, and provide practical tips for saving more, funding different savings goals, and keeping everything straight. Budgets are tight these days, and you never know when an emergency expense will crop up, so you’ll be glad you listened! John also answers listener questions. More on this episode from WalletHub: Best Budget Apps & How to Save More Money To find the best home for your emergency fund, check out WalletHub's picks for the best savings accounts.

    41 min

  8. 10/20/2025

    Holiday Shopping: Money-Saving Strategies & Costly Mistakes to Avoid

    In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan discusses money-saving holiday shopping tips with Chip Lupo, a personal finance writer with WalletHub who is an expert on credit cards and budgeting. They discuss the holiday shopping forecast and the things people can do to maximize their merriment without putting their financial plan in jeopardy. You can even get a few pointers for whipping up holiday cookies on the cheap from a state fair winner! Plus, John answers a listener question and more. More on this episode from WalletHub: Best Credit Cards for Holiday Shopping & Low-Cost Gift Ideas To start budgeting for the holidays, check out WalletHub's budgeting tools.

    22 min
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4.5
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8 Ratings

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PennyWise is a show about money, personal finance, investing and travel. The program features a variety of financial experts who can help save you money.

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