What happens if your investments are down just as you’re heading into retirement? The nest egg you’ve been building for decades could have taken a major hit, and pulling it out now locks in that loss. The advice to delay taking Social Security as long as possible can be a good strategy for people without … Read more

This winter, Americans once again will have access to free at-home COVID-19 testing kits. The Biden administration announced on Dec. 15 that all households are eligible for free at-home tests. You can order four free testing kits per household at the government’s official COVID.gov website. Those who do not have access to the internet can … Read more

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | RadioPublic | Stitcher | RSS In this week’s podcast, we’re talking taxes. They say death and taxes are the only certain things in life. Certain or not, though, taxes are definitely stressful, which is probably why one-third of Americans procrastinate when tax time … Read more

The holidays are almost here, and Old St. Nick soon will be climbing down chimneys and leaving presents behind. Want to help Santa dream up ideas for stocking stuffers? Take a look at these great ideas for men, women and children. Just note that although prices you see here will almost always be accurate, they … Read more

goffkein.pro / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder. Buying a house is an expensive endeavor. You might spend years saving for a down payment to earn the pleasure of paying a mortgage, property taxes and homeowners insurance each month. But the final price can get even higher when you factor … Read more

It’s time to use it or lose it for many folks with flexible spending accounts, the tax-advantaged vehicles that help you pay for medical expenses. Money in FSAs generally must be used within your health insurance plan year. Employers are allowed — but not required — to offer one of two extensions of sorts, according … Read more

Rob Crandall / Shutterstock.com Warren Buffett is constantly listed as one of the world’s richest people, with an estimated net worth of about $108 billion. But unlike his good pal Bill Gates, Buffett doesn’t live in a sprawling $100 million lakeside home. No, the 91-year-old chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway doesn’t exactly live like … Read more

Pressmaster / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder. A few years ago, I was invited to participate in a focus group. I visited in-person along with about 15 other people. For two hours, we vented all of our feelings about the ways a particular health insurance company interacts with its … Read more

Buying store-brand products is always a smart, money-saving move. But it becomes even more important during times of inflation like today. However, some people are reluctant to buy store brands because they worry the quality won’t match that of brand-name products. In fact, Consumer Reports recently surveyed around 2,500 adults and found that 43% said … Read more

Being in debt sucks. Believe me, I know. There was a point when I found myself in way more credit card debt than I’d like to admit as a personal finance expert. My husband’s chronic illness flared up, and suddenly we were facing mounting medical bills at the same time he had to stop working. … Read more