Dear Liz: We want to get rid of our timeshare after having it for more than 20 years. We gave the exit company $5,000 to help us, but all they did was tell us what to do, and it was going to cost more money. Renting it would probably be a nightmare, and we don’t want […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Relative’s oversharing puts family at risk
Dear Liz: Your recent column on identity theft touched a nerve. My husband and I are very cautious about online security and don’t post details on social media that could be used in identity theft. But his mother constantly overshares, has no privacy filters on her accounts and ignores our requests to avoid posting our children’s […]
Q&A: Coping when dementia causes reckless spending
Dear Liz: Our son-in-law has been diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s disease and sometimes makes reckless purchases. Our daughter has appealed to their bank to close their account or cancel his credit and debit cards. They refuse because the accounts are in his name. What can she do? Answer: What your daughter can do may depend on how […]
Q&A: Home sale tax rules confuse many
Dear Liz: I thought I understood about taxes and house sales, but I am now confused. It seems like the previous rules were that home sale profits could be rolled from one house to the next and one would take a one-time exemption for up to $500,000 or so, with capital gains only due on the […]
Q&A: How do I protect myself from identity theft?
Dear Liz: I am regularly notified by my identity theft protection service that there has been a data breach somewhere where my data is stored. I don’t know what in the world I’m supposed to do about this. I try to follow all the recommended precautions, but I also wonder: now that all Social Security data […]
Q&A: Affordable Care Act exchange can help bridge health insurance gap
Dear Liz: I have retired early. I can keep my employer health insurance, thanks to COBRA, until I’m 64 years and 9 months. Do you have any suggestions on how to bridge that 3-month healthcare gap while waiting for Medicare? I am relatively healthy, but things happen. Answer: You shouldn’t be without health insurance for a single […]