How Your Amazon Prime Membership Could Save You Big Money on Gas
Image source: Getty Images There are certain expenses in your budget you may be able to eliminate, like streaming services or meal delivery kits. But putting gas in your car is an expense that’s unavoidable. If your tank is empty and you need your car to get to work, it’s a problem. So if you […]
3 Costco Changes That Would Make Shopping There Even Better
Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool One of the first things I did when I moved to the suburbs about 18 years ago was join Costco. Although I didn’t have kids at the time, it made sense for my husband and I to share a membership so we could save more money on groceries and household […]
Credit Card Application Denied? Here’s How to Get Approved Next Time
Image source: Upsplash/The Motley Fool Applying for a great new credit card isn’t always a slam dunk for approval, I’m sad to say. I’ve been turned down for new cards, and it’s always a bummer when it happens. Thankfully, by making the following moves, you can turn today’s “no” into a “yes” in the future. […]
What Happens if Social Security Runs Out of Money?
Social Security is projected to run out of reserves in 2035, according to the latest projections. In this video, Certified Financial Planner® Matt Frankel discusses what this could mean for you and what it would take to fix Social Security for the foreseeable future. The $22,924 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook If you’re […]
I’m Not Counting on Social Security COLAs to Carry Me Through Retirement. Here’s What I’m Doing to Combat Inflation Instead
Social Security provides critical income for American retirees — some 68 million of them at last count — delivering about 30% of income for those aged 66 or older. And then there’s this, from the Social Security Administration (SSA): “Among Social Security beneficiaries age 65 and older, 12% of men and 15% of women rely […]
Could Trump’s Social Security Plan Cut Benefits by 33%?
Few politicians would go on record saying they wanted to slash Social Security benefits. The presidential candidates from the two major political parties in the current election are no exception. Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have promised to “protect Social Security.” But what politicians say isn’t always what they do. […]
6 Ways You Can Use 529 Plans for College Expenses, And 1 Way That’s Not Related to College at All
If you’re a parent or benefactor trying to save money so your children can attend college, then you’ve probably heard of a 529 college savings plan. There are different kinds of college savings plans, but all states except Wyoming offer these types of investment accounts. Generally speaking, 529 plans are accounts with low required minimum […]
Here’s How Much Americans Will Spend on Halloween in 2024
Image source: Getty Images American households love to spend money to celebrate holidays. And while Halloween isn’t nearly as much of a financial burden on households as the winter holidays, millions of households spend hundreds of dollars on candy, costumes, decorations, and more. In this article, we’ll explore what the average American spends on Halloween, […]
Here’s How to Tell if You Qualify for Spousal Social Security Benefits
More than 65 million seniors rely upon Social Security benefits, and many consider it their primary or sole source of retirement income. Most of these beneficiaries are retired workers, but another nearly 1.9 million spouses and ex-spouses claim on their partner’s or ex-partner’s records. Spousal benefits also provide regular monthly checks, but their qualification requirements […]
Far Too Many People Make This Social Security Mistake in Retirement
If you’re not yet retired, you probably know someone who’s collecting Social Security each month. You may have a relative, neighbor, or former colleague who relies on those benefits to cover their retirement expenses. But there’s a big mistake retirees commonly make when it comes to Social Security. And if you’re not yet retired, it’s […]
