logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2025
34m 39s

How to Get Ready for a Recession and Cho...

NerdWallet Personal Finance
About this episode

Learn how to prepare for a possible recession and make sure your car insurance coverage is enough to protect your finances.


What should you do to get ready for a recession? How much car insurance coverage do you really need? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss recession risks and car insurance basics to help you understand how to protect your finances. Joined by NerdWallet senior news writer Anna Helhoski, they begin with a discussion of recession warnings, with tips and tricks on budgeting with the 50/30/20 rule, building an emergency fund, and prepping your credit and savings.


Then, insurance Nerd Lisa Green joins Sean and Elizabeth to discuss how to choose the right amount of car insurance. They discuss the difference between liability, collision, and comprehensive coverage, what minimum insurance limits really protect you from (and what they don’t), and how umbrella policies and uninsured motorist coverage can add extra protection. You’ll also hear ways to lower your car insurance bill by shopping around, raising your deductible, and finding overlooked discounts.


Compare auto insurance rates in 2 minutes with NerdWallet’s auto insurance finder: https://www.nerdwallet.com/insurance/l/auto-insurance-finder 


In their conversation, the Nerds discuss: how to prepare for a recession, signs of a recession, what happens during a recession, 50/30/20 budget rule, building an emergency fund, credit during a recession, umbrella insurance, what is umbrella insurance, car insurance basics, collision vs comprehensive coverage, liability car insurance explained, full coverage car insurance, what is full coverage insurance, auto insurance deductible, underinsured motorist coverage, car insurance tiers, how to save on car insurance, shopping for car insurance, car insurance comparison tips, high liability coverage, car insurance for old cars, what is property damage liability, what is bodily injury liability, best car insurance coverage, understanding insurance limits, home and auto umbrella policy, recession impact on prices, recession and interest rates, how long recessions last, economic indicators of recession, consumer sentiment recession, car insurance for risky drivers, and auto insurance discounts.


To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com.


Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend.

Up next
Today
Buy Now, Pay Later Comes at a Price: Credit Score Risks You Need to Know (Plus: $124k Windfall Tips)
Understand how Buy Now, Pay Later financing options affect your credit and learn smart strategies for using a six-figure inheritance wisely. How does Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) affect your credit score? What’s the smartest way to invest or use an unexpected inheritance? Hosts Sean ... Show More
33m 8s
Jul 7
Amazon Prime Day Hacks and Budgeting Tips for Emotional Shoppers
Learn how to approach Amazon Prime day without blowing your budget and hear how you can start to understand the emotions that might be driving your spending. What are the best ways to take advantage of big sales like Amazon Prime Day but still stay on track with your budget? How ... Show More
31m 28s
Jul 3
How to Retire Early and Live Abroad: Your Guide to Making FIRE Last (Plus: 2025 Gas Prices Explained)
Learn how to navigate gas prices this summer, then hear how to make your money work after retiring early and moving abroad. What’s going on with gas prices this summer? How can early retirees turn their savings into income abroad? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss gas ... Show More
36m 11s
Recommended Episodes
May 5
Ask HTM - Pro Help to Break the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle, Down Payment Money Market Accounts, and Viable Student Loan Forgiveness Plans #979
Let’s kick off the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guide ... Show More
45m 33s
Feb 2025
Ask HTM - Birth Now Pay Later, Forcing Home Equity with a Basement Build, & Saving vs Paying Credit Cards #946
Let’s dive into the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guid ... Show More
54m 2s
Sep 2024
Ask HTM - Smarter Ways to Cut Credit Cards, Unrealized Capital Gains on the 401k, & Jumbo Down Payments #880
Let’s dive into the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guid ... Show More
47m 27s
Sep 2024
Money Bootcamp: How to put a savings plan together
Welcome to the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp with Maya Fisher-French and Mapalo Makhu. This series is designed to guide you through essential financial topics, helping you make informed decisions for a secure future.  In this episode we help listeners give up the debt ... Show More
32m 25s
Jan 2025
Ask HTM - Supercharging Retirement as a Freelancer, HSA for Medical vs Retirement, & “Investing” in Your Primary Residence #934
Let’s dive into the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guid ... Show More
52m 22s
Apr 9
225. Recession, Tariffs, and the Stock Market: How to Plan for Economic Volatility
Worried about the stock market or a possible recession? Register for our Don't Panic workshop for your 3-step plan for financial security in 2025: https://herfirst100k.ac-page.com/dont-panic Let’s be real — 2025 is already shaping up to be a hell of a year financially, and not ne ... Show More
57m 15s
Jan 2025
Ask HTM - Sahm Rule Recession Indicator, New App Gives Kids IRAs, & Paying for Big One-Time Expenses #931
Let’s dive into the week with some fresh listener questions we have lined up for you! And don't just stand on the sidelines- if you have a question you’d like us to answer, toss your voice memo our way. It only takes about 90 seconds to record and you can find a step by step guid ... Show More
51m 31s
Mar 2024
1952: Loan Repayment & Personal Finance Pt. 2
On today’s episode, we have the second installment of our deep dive into student loans and financial strategy with Jake Courtney, a financial planner specializing in student loan consulting from Student Loan Planner. We tackle the tangible scenario of "young Mark," a hypothetical ... Show More
31m 25s
Aug 2024
How to Become Financially Smarter Than the Average American
💵 Start your free budget today. Download the EveryDollar app! Anyone else feel like life’s been expensive lately? While we can’t control inflation, we can change our relationship with money. Find out the simple steps you can take to make the most of your income and get ahead wit ... Show More
31m 58s
Aug 2024
Is NOW THE RIGHT TIME to Buy a House?! - Money Q&A
In this episode of the Personal Finance Podcast, we're going to do a Money Q&A about is now the right time to buy a house? Today we are going to answer these questions: Question 1: Is now a good time to Buy a House? Question 2: How to Get Around Personal Guarantees? Question 3: C ... Show More
36m 6s