Social Security’s 2025 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Is Likely to Disappoint: Here’s What All Retirees Need to Know Before Oct. 10
Almost 70 million Americans will receive a total of $1.5 trillion in benefits from Social Security this year. The program’s checks are a key source of income for a majority of U.S. retirees. For some, they’re a financial lifeline: One in seven recipients relies solely on them for income. As such an important part of […]
Is It Actually Possible to Achieve a Perfect Credit Score?
Image source: Getty Images Your credit score is a simple way of showing how likely you are to repay money you borrow. If lenders see that you have a high score, they know you’re probably going to repay loans and credit cards on time. Because people with high scores are considered a lower risk, they […]
5 Things All Retirees Need to Know About Social Security COLAs
Retirement wouldn’t be possible for many Americans without Social Security. Roughly two in five Americans 65 and older rely upon it to provide over half their financial support, with more than one in 10 counting upon it for at least 90% of their support, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). This dependence makes the […]
The Best Renovations to Do Now to Upgrade Your Home
Image source: Getty Images Mortgage rates are the lowest they’ve been in a year, and with the Federal Reserve expected to continue lowering its benchmark interest rate, there’s never been a better time to invest in home upgrades. Autumn is traditionally a busy time for real estate, but these economic factors have created a particularly […]
Avoid These 6 Expensive Traps When Shopping at Sam’s Club
Image source: Getty Images If all you ever do is use Member’s Mark products to replace your expensive name brands, you’ll probably at least break even on a Sam’s Club membership, if not save a good bit of money. But there are other ways to save even more. And if you’re not doing them, then […]
3 Things You Need to Do Before Refinancing Your Mortgage
Image source: Getty Images The average 30-year mortgage rate in the United States has fallen from a peak of 7.9% in late 2023 to the current level of around 6% as of late September. Many people who bought homes in the past couple of years could potentially benefit from refinancing their mortgage. However, just because […]
Here’s How You Could Save $1,000 at Costco in October 2024
Image source: The Motley Fool/Upsplash Did you know that one of the best ways to save money at Costco is with limited-time offers? Some Costco deals have special manufacturer’s savings that give you extra discounts beyond the usual low prices. But you have to act fast! These deals don’t last long, and they can help […]
The Fed Just Cut Interest Rates. Could They Fall Even Further in 2025?
Image source: Getty Images The Federal Reserve cut interest rates at its September meeting. It was a widely anticipated move that represents the first interest rate reduction since early 2020. And not only did the Fed cut rates, but it did so by 50 basis points, or half a percentage point — a more aggressive […]
The Little-Known Way You Can Buy Gas at Costco Without a Membership
Image source: Getty Images There’s a lot of value to joining Costco, like saving money on groceries and the household essentials you need. But if you don’t have a large household or don’t cook often, then it may not make financial sense to spring for a Costco membership. You should know, though, that if you’re […]
Save $50.99 This Year With the Juice Cleanse of Personal Finance
Image source: Getty Images “Detox your finances” feels like a fru-fru way of telling you to stop spending so much. Though the famous (or infamous?) juice cleanse trend has nothing to do with purging your checking account of impurities, there’s a working equivalent. I’ve done it. It works. You can wipe your wallet clean of […]
