1923: Ask Farnoosh: How to Get Financially Unstuck (Debt, Work, Retirement)
So Money with Farnoosh Torabi
Farnoosh Torabi
4.7 • 2K Ratings
🗓️ 26 December 2025
⏱️ 22 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Ask Farnoosh tackles three timeless money crossroads: getting out from under high-interest credit card debt, taking a career break without losing financial footing, and deciding whether an early retirement package is a smart (and safe) next move.
Questions Include:
How to manage credit card debt at 30% interest? Consolidation options, reputable nonprofit credit counseling, negotiating APR, and a realistic payoff plan
Burnt out breadwinner considering a 6-month break? Exploring a “middle path” (sabbatical/reduced hours), runway math, and navigating the fear of financial dependence
Take an early retirement package? Evaluating the offer, retirement readiness checks, when to consult a planner, and why buyouts can signal future layoffs
Learn more about Farnoosh's upcoming literary workshop Book to Brand. Early bird registration is now open!
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | So Money episode 1923 Ask Farnush. |
| 0:04.1 | You're listening to So Money with award-winning money guru Farnoosh Torabi. |
| 0:09.0 | Each day, get a 30-minute dose of financial inspiration from the world's top business minds, |
| 0:14.3 | authors, influencers, and from Farnoose yourself. |
| 0:18.2 | Looking for ways to save on gas or double your double coupons? Sorry. You're in the wrong |
| 0:23.6 | place. Seeking profound ways to live a richer, happier life. Welcome to So Money. Welcome to So Money, |
| 0:31.7 | everybody. I'm Farnoose Tarabi. Hope you've been enjoying our walk down memory lane this week, revisiting some of the best episodes of 2025. |
| 0:42.1 | On Monday, we listen to excerpts from interviews about finance and feminism on Wednesday, conversations around AI, money, and work, and all of the changes that are afoot. |
| 0:52.5 | What you're about to hear is a replay of an Ask |
| 0:54.8 | Farnuch episode from April 26th, 2024. It may seem like decades ago, but the questions back |
| 1:01.4 | then still resonate. We have people in the audience wanting to know how to get out of credit |
| 1:05.9 | card debt. They are buried. Somebody wants to quit her job. She's the breadwinner, but she's |
| 1:10.4 | nervous about doing that, even though she's saved up a little quit her job. She's the breadwinner, but she's nervous about doing that, |
| 1:11.6 | even though she's saved up a little bit of money. She's worried about being dependent on her |
| 1:16.5 | partner. Does that sound familiar? And then someone wants to know, Farnoush, should I take an early |
| 1:21.6 | retirement? My wife and I want to continue making money. The job market's just okay. It's a really |
| 1:27.0 | weird time to be looking for |
| 1:28.3 | work. What do I do? All right, let's get into it. First up in the mailbag, Jude writes in, |
| 1:35.4 | concerned about their level of credit card debt. Jude says, firstly, I'm so happy I discovered |
| 1:41.8 | your podcast, Farnouche. Thank you. Here's my situation. I'm single. I have |
| 1:46.2 | no children. I have to pay for rent. And I'm in major credit card debt. The interest rate on my credit |
| 1:52.5 | cards is 30%. My credit score is 654. I'm so ashamed and upset. This debt happened so quickly. I make $98,000 a year and I only spend on my |
... |
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