Alan Haburchak

Bio

Alan Haburchak was the Director of Studio & Technology at Mic and an Adjunct Professor of Digital Media at the Columbia Journalism School. He also loves overseeing production for Mic's podcasts "The Payoff" and "Hot Mic." Before joining Mic he was a Senior Video Journalist at The New York Times and before that was the Production Manager for Editorial Video at Mashable.
Feeling career stress? How to change jobs or recover from a layoff — and find your perfect gig
By Alan Haburchak
Here it is: The final episode of the Payoff podcast. And what better way to go out strong than by talking about another huge change everyone goes through at some point? That would be the career pivot. Whether you want to make a big shift by choice…
Want to get richer — and feel better & happier? These clever moves boost work-life balance & income.
By Alan Haburchak
The early bird gets the worm. Hard work pays off. Quitters never win, and winners never quit. Sure, these cliches can help you get out of bed on a weekday when you’d much rather hit the snooze button, but they shortchange another important secret to…
Are wellness and self-care products a ripoff? How to save money and get healthy for real
By Alan Haburchak
Doesn’t it feel like every day you read about yet another product or service that promises to help you “get well” or find an avenue to “self care” — for a hefty price tag (hello, Gwyneth Paltrow’s “Goop” products)? It’s tough because you know that…
Equifax, Yahoo and other hacks: How to protect your money and your identity online
By Alan Haburchak
It seems like every week there’s a new company announcing a leak or breach of its customers’ personal information. Most recently Yahoo announced that a security breach it suffered in 2013 compromised the user names and passwords of all 3 billion of…
Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico on your mind? Here’s how to make sure your donations count.
By Alan Haburchak
Natural disasters keep hitting the United States and other countries — from wildfires to hurricanes to earthquakes — and a lot of Americans are wondering how they can best help the people affected. Donating money to a charitable organization may…
What’s the best credit card? How to pick one that will boost your credit score and earn you rewards
By Alan Haburchak
For many people, credit cards are scary. Maybe you’ve heard horror stories about mountains of debt and ruined financial lives. But there’s good news: Armed with the right knowledge, you can actually use credit cards to grow your wealth, build your…
Want to be your own boss? Here’s how to get started as a freelancer and get in on the gig economy.
By Alan Haburchak
More and more people are trying out freelancing, with 55 million Americans — or 35% of the U.S. workforce — doing some kind of freelance work in 2016. While some are trading in their 9-to-5 for the flexibility of setting their own hours, others are…
Housing hacks to save money and make smart choices — whether you rent or might want to buy a home
By Alan Haburchak
Choosing the best housing options can be exhausting: From finding your first apartment — and not overpaying on rent — to wondering if you can (or should) buy a house, it’s hard to feel confident that you’re making the right choices. To help you out,…
Credit problems? Stolen identity? How to solve your money mysteries and protect your finances.
By Alan Haburchak
Mic’s Payoff podcast is back — with an extra-special episode and it’s a doozy! Comedian and actor Gary Richardson reached out with a money SOS, and Chris and Antonia answered the call. Richardson’s financial life had gotten pretty scary,…
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Money hacks to spend less and save a ton: Shopping secrets, tasty savings, coupon tricks and more
By Alan Haburchak
It's 2017, and that means you have more ways than ever to buy all the things you want and need: You can go online or in stores, and you might even be able to shop via drones soon. Of course, endless options can sometimes be overwhelming, leading to…
How to start investing in the stock market and actually grow your money
By Alan Haburchak
Many millennials have some mistrust of the stock market, in great part because they came of age during a financial crisis and recession. Yet young people are also aware that they need to be saving money for retirement — with 59% of…
How to fight for your money: Barney Frank sounds off on financial reforms that protect consumers
By Alan Haburchak
Do you know how to fight back if you think a company has wronged you? Maybe your burger was raw, or your cell phone bill arrived with some unexpected charges. No matter what your beef, Payoff hosts Antonia Cereijido and Chris Duffy have five great…
The secret to saving money and time — and preventing frustration
By Alan Haburchak
Have you ever found yourself in a "money maze"? Perhaps you've just discovered you've been overpaying for cable — or medical care — or maybe your cell phone service provider or airline is mistreating you. But when you call to complain, you're put on…
Save big on taxes in 2017 with tips from a CPA — and learn how Trump’s tax plan will affect you
By Alan Haburchak
No one likes paying taxes, and in the United States, paying individual income tax can seem especially complicated, confusing and confounding.  Luckily for you, we have a very special tax-time Payoff episode, and cohost Antonia Cereijido has her own…
Student Debt Survival Guide: Why college isn't free — and how to handle dastardly loan servicers
By Alan Haburchak
College debt can be scary. When you're fresh out of school and bringing in your very first — and likely very modest — paychecks, it's hard to imagine how you'll ever be able manage to pay off tens of thousands of dollars in loans. But here's the…
Budgeting money can be easy: Here's how to create a budget you will actually stick to.
By Alan Haburchak
You asked, and we answered! The No. 1 most requested topic since the start of the Payoff podcast has been budgets: how to make a good one and how to actually stick to it. Hint: Keep it simple and start sooner rather than later. In this episode, our…
The one trick to navigating love and money — and seeing eye-to-eye
By Alan Haburchak
Sometimes you really have to put the "personal" back into personal finance. That's why hosts Antonia Cereijido and Chris Duffy share private details from their love lives for episode three of The Payoff — Mic's newest podcast, packed with financial…
How to love your job and get the best salary: 'The Payoff' podcast has answers
By Alan Haburchak
Check out the latest episode of The Payoff — Mic's newest podcast, packed with financial news you can use, industry insights and simple explanations of how events in the worlds of business or economics affect your wallet — hosted by Antonia…
'The Payoff' podcast launch: How to get better with money — and plan health care in the Trump era
By Alan Haburchak
Welcome to The Payoff, a brand-new podcast from Mic! We're here to help you save money, get wealthy and hack your financial life in this series hosted by Antonia Cereijido and Chris Duffy. In our first episode we answer the question "What does it…