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

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

Author: Lee Enterprises October 20, 2025 Duration: 21:55

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.


Ever feel like your financial goals and your desire to explore the world are constantly at odds? PennyWise: Personal Finance & Travel Tips digs into that very tension, offering a practical and surprisingly optimistic look at how to manage your money while still funding your adventures. Hosted by Lee Enterprises, this podcast moves beyond dry financial advice, weaving together conversations about smart investing, everyday budgeting, and the cultural richness that travel brings. Each episode introduces you to a different financial expert with actionable strategies, but the focus remains on real-life application-how a solid investment today can mean a memorable trip tomorrow, or how understanding local economies can deepen your travel experiences. You’ll hear discussions that connect market trends to personal savings plans, and thoughtful segments on how the places we visit shape our perspective on value and community. It’s a blend of street-smart finance and genuine curiosity about the world, designed for anyone who believes building wealth shouldn’t mean staying put. Tune in for a fresh take that makes financial planning feel less like a restriction and more like the key to unlocking meaningful experiences, all within a budget that makes sense for you.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

PennyWise: Personal Finance & Travel Tips
Podcast Episodes
Where Budget Travelers Should Turn Now That Spirit Airlines Is a Ghost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:54
In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by airline industry expert Blaise Waguespack to discuss what’s next for budget travelers in the wake of Spirit Airlines’ collapse. Blaise is a professor at Embry‑…
First Time Homebuyer? Here’s the Blueprint for Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:22
In this episode of PennyWise, host John Kiernan is joined by guest Stacie Rihl to discuss how to go about buying your first home. Stacie hosts the “Your First Home” podcast and helps connect first-time homebuyers with th…