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Friday’s need-to-know money news

March 11, 2022 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Steps to build healthy spending habits and make the transition out of college easier. Also in the news: How to avoid risk of student loan default, why you should file your taxes early, and the cheapest American metro areas to buy a home right now.

Get Ready to Spend Like a College Grad With These Top Budget Tips
Soon-to-be graduates can take these steps to build healthy spending habits and make the transition out of college easier.

Are You At Risk of Student Loan Default?
Student loan default starts the same way for everyone: a missed payment.

Why You Should File Your Taxes Early
Don’t wait until the last minute to get in line for your refund.

The Cheapest American Metro Areas to Buy a Home Right Now
With the cost of houses continuing to rise, location can make a big difference.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: buying a home, college graduates, file taxes, healthy spending habits

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

March 10, 2022 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: How to put your tax refund to work for you. Also in the news: 7 ways to improve your small-business website, how ‘impact investment’ perform better than evil investments, and how to get the most out of every drop of gas right now.

How to Put Your Tax Refund to Work for You
Paying into an emergency fund and getting rid of high-interest debt are top priorities.

7 Ways to Improve Your Small-Business Website
Keep it simple and take your time while revamping your small-business website or establishing an online presence.

Does ‘Impact Investment’ Perform Better Than Evil Investments?
Impact investing is not charity, but it’s also not an automatic route to higher returns.

How to Get the Most Out of Every Drop of Gas Right Now
With prices well over $4 per gallon, you’ll want to squeeze every last inch of road from your fuel.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: establishing an online presence, gas prices, gas savings, impact investment, small-business website, tax refund

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

March 9, 2022 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Travel insurance that are not cover COVID-19 unless you upgrade. Also in the news: 4 cheap ways to be an eco-conscious traveler, and how to create the ultimate travel spreadsheet.

Travel Insurance Might Not Cover COVID-19 — Unless You Upgrade
As with any insurance policy, you’ll want to read the fine print to know what’s covered.

4 Cheap Ways to Be an Eco-Conscious Traveler
Being an eco-conscious traveler doesn’t necessarily require dropping cash on carbon offsets.

How to Create the Ultimate Travel Spreadsheet (and Why You Need One)
Save time, money, and brain space on your next journey.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: COVID-19, eco-conscious traveler, travel insurance, travel spreadsheet

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

March 8, 2022 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: 6 ways technology is evolving travel in 2022. Also in the news: Headwinds that first-time home buyers faced again in Q4, and how now is a bad time to lease a new auto.

6 Ways Technology Is Evolving Travel in 2022
The pandemic has pushed the travel industry to embrace contactless tech like digital room keys and virtual queues.

First-Time Home Buyer Metro Affordability Report – Q4 2021
Prices stall and active listings fall: There was little relief for first-time home buyers in the fourth quarter.

Whatever You Do, Don’t Lease a Car Right Now
Leasing a car is rarely a great idea financially speaking, but it’s a particularly bad one in 2022.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: auto leasing, first-time home buyers, Q4 2021, travel

Monday’s need-to-know money news

March 7, 2022 By Liz Weston

Today’s top story: Smart Money Podcast on why to sell your house, and managing investment fees. Also in the news: How to handle a year-round homebuying season, and a guide to the current federal tax incentives for energy efficiency and other green upgrades.

Smart Money Podcast: Why to Sell Your House, and Managing Investment Fees
Sellers should consider the advantages in this housing market. And investors need to know about the fees they pay.

How to Handle a Year-Round Homebuying Season
High demand and low inventory have upset the housing market’s usual ebb and flow.

Made Green Upgrades in 2021? Don’t Miss These Tax Credits
Here’s a quick-start guide to the current federal tax incentives for energy efficiency and other green upgrades.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: green upgrades in 2021, homebuying season, housing market, managing investment fee, selling a house

Q&A: Did this child get ripped off?

March 7, 2022 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: My niece’s father remarried when she was a child. Her father and her stepmother bought a house as community property in California. Ten years later, her father died. Not long after that, her stepmother died. The stepmother had no children, and my niece was the only child of her father’s. The stepmother’s niece took the house and sold it, and kept all the proceeds. Was my niece entitled to any of the proceeds?

Answer: Your niece needs to consult an experienced attorney, because the answer depends on a number of factors.

Estate planning attorney Jennifer Sawday of Long Beach points to California Probate Code Section 6402.5, which could give your niece priority over other heirs for the property’s proceeds — but only if the facts line up. If the stepmother died no later than 15 years after the father, didn’t remarry, didn’t have children, didn’t put the home in a trust and didn’t make a will after the father died, then the California probate court could consider your niece an heir, Sawday says.

That’s a whole lot of ifs, and your niece will need expert advice to proceed.

Filed Under: Inheritance, Q&A

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