Ask Liz Weston

Get smart with your money

Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

By

Today’s top story: How to understand and reduce taxes when selling your home. Also in the news: Why you need to learn your parents’ financial plans ASAP, how debt-related stress affects body and mind, and the goods and services that have actually dropped in price this year.

How to Understand and Reduce Taxes When Selling Your Home
If your home’s value has soared, congratulations. If you decide to sell, beware.

Learn Your Parents’ Financial Plans ASAP
A difficult and important conversation to have.

How Debt-Related Stress Affects Body and Mind
The stress of being in debt can cause physical symptoms like insomnia and stomachaches. It can also harm you emotionally and affect your relationships.

These Goods and Services Have Actually Dropped in Price This Year
Inflation has brought on a price increase for most things, but not everything.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

By

Today’s top story: Are reluctant home sellers too attached to their low rates? Also in the news: Are I bonds a good investment, a new episode of the Smart Money podcast on a travel nerd’s guide to Costa Rica, and the best time to buy cars, appliances, and other things that have been hard hit by inflation.

Are Reluctant Home Sellers Too Attached to Their Low Rates?
An effect that’s difficult to quantify.

Are I Bonds a Good Investment?
I bonds are a safe way to guard your money against inflation, but what do you risk by keeping your money out of the market?

Smart Money Podcast: Nerdy Travel Diaries: Getaway to Costa Rica
This episode, Sean talks with NerdWallet travel editor Kevin Berry about his recent trip to Costa Rica.

The Best Time to Buy Cars, Appliances, and Other Things That Have Been Hit Hard by Inflation
If you can’t necessarily shop cheap, you might as well shop smart.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

By

Today’s top story: How to get travel insurance without paying for it out of pocket. Also in the news: Hotels tap into hot amenity amid surging gas prices, what rising prices could mean for your retirement, and why you should know which financial phase you’re in.

You Can Get Travel Insurance Without Paying for It Out-Of-Pocket
Holding certain travel cards can be a great way to easily acquire travel insurance. Just understand what’s covered.

Hotels Tap Into Hot Amenity Amid Surging Gas Prices

What Rising Prices Could Mean for Your Retirement Plans
Inflation means your retirement savings won’t go as far. Here’s how to pivot.

You Should Know Which ‘Financial Phase’ You’re In
Over your lifetime, you’ll earn, save, and spend in alignment with your values and goals.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

By

Today’s top story: How to find the right business coach and avoid the wrong one. Also in the news: Why the 15/3 credit card hack is nonsense, how death-planning apps work, and the pros and cons of vacation loans.

How to Find the Right Business Coach — and Avoid the Wrong One
A good business coach can help you develop your ideas, set goals and make plans to achieve them.

The 15/3 Credit Card Hack Is Nonsense — Here’s What to Do Instead
The supposedly secret trick does not build your credit scores, despite what you may have heard. But there are some concrete steps you can take.

Dealing With Death? There’s an App for That
How death-planning apps work.

Should You Use a Vacation Loan to Finance Your Next Trip?
Although fairly easy to obtain, travel loans could cause more problems than they solve.

How to reduce taxes when you sell your home

By

If your home’s value has soared, congratulations. If you decide to sell, beware.

Financial advisor James Guarino says some clients don’t realize that home sale profits are potentially taxable until their returns are prepared — and by that time, they may have spent the windfall or invested the money in another house.

”They’re not happy campers when they find out that Uncle Sam not only is going to tax this as a capital gain, but they’re also going to have some exposure at the state level,” says Guarino, a certified public accountant and certified financial planner in Woburn, Massachusetts.

In my latest for the Associated Press, understanding how home sale profits are calculated and how you can legally reduce your tax bill.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

By

Today’s top story: What rising prices could mean for your retirement plans. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on student debt and money baggage, how guests can honor their budgets in peak wedding season, and ways to mitigate credit card use during inflation.

What Rising Prices Could Mean for Your Retirement Plans
Inflation means your retirement savings won’t go as far. Here’s how to pivot.

Smart Money Podcast: New Student Debt, and a Couple’s Money Baggage
This week’s episode starts with a discussion of the student debt new high school grads — and their parents — could take on.

How Guests Can Honor Their Budgets in Peak Wedding Season
All signs point to a banner year for weddings in 2022. Here’s how guests can manage the costs to attend celebrations.

Ways to mitigate credit card use during inflation
Use them strategically.