Get smart with your money
Today’s top story: 3 ways to skip your bank’s long phone lines. Also in the news: Keeping your credit in shape, even if you don’t have debt and don’t plan to borrow, 25 ways to save yourself from your debt disaster, and how to set up a 60/40 budget. 3 Ways to Skip Your Bank’s […]
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Today’s top story: 5 reasons it’s smart to lease a car right now. Also in the news: How to free up cash in your budget, how to decide what to leave your kids, and all the ways to get Amazon Prime for free. 5 Reasons It’s Smart to Lease a Car Right Now Keeping your […]
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If you’ve been waiting months for your tax refund, you’re not alone. Many people who filed paper tax returns — and even some who filed electronically, but whose returns were flagged because of problems — have yet to see their money. Some are growing desperate, since they rely on refunds to pay bills or cover […]
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Target date investments are supposed to be an easier way to invest, and they’re a popular choice in 401(k) plans. But the recent market downturn showed that some target date strategies suffered much bigger losses than others, especially for investors nearing retirement. In my latest for the Associated Press, how to be sure the investment […]
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Today’s top story: Scaling back spending yields unexpected benefits. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on charitable donations and new baby expenses, a travel expert shares his tips for traveling during a pandemic, and who needs to request a Coronavirus relief payment before October 15th. Scaling Back Spending Yields Unexpected […]
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Dear Liz: One issue in a recent column was about a sibling who did not follow the will. As executor, the sibling took two thirds of the estate instead of the will’s specification of half. This is why, when my wife and I had our estate plan created, we told the attorney that none of […]
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Dear Liz: My adjusted gross income in 2019 was too high for me to get a stimulus relief payment. However, my income this year will be much lower and I would qualify. Will I automatically get the stimulus payment when I file my 2020 return or is there something I must do to get the […]
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Dear Liz: You’ve written that when writing their wills, parents should be careful about leaving unequal distributions to their children. What wasn’t mentioned was that a person could have a “good” child and a “bad” one. The “bad one” has never done a thing for the parent, such as inviting her to the child’s home […]
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