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Recent Blog Posts

December 27, 2023 By Liz Weston

Q&A: Claiming Social Security benefits

Dear Liz: My husband turned 70 this past May and waited until then to take his Social Security. I am 61 and will qualify for a benefit based on my work history, although my benefit is substantially less than his. I understand I can take half of his benefit at my full retirement age of 67. […]

December 18, 2023 By Liz Weston

More retailers are charging return fees. Here’s how to pay less

If you’re someone who likes to return and exchange gifts after the holidays, prepare yourself: Making returns could feel a little different this year. “It’s going to be hard for consumers to navigate,” says shopping expert Trae Bodge. “The return policies are all over the place.” The biggest change, she adds, is that more retailers […]

December 18, 2023 By Liz Weston

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: How to overcome the challenges buying a house in 2024. In other news: How to put a ting on it and save for a house, too, what documents to protect and how if a disaster strikes, and how the Fed affected your savings account in ’23 and what’s next. Buying a House […]

December 18, 2023 By Liz Weston

Q&A: Closing credit cards could hurt scores

Dear Liz: If I have a few credit cards, why would my credit be negatively affected if I paid off and closed some? Answer: Your credit scores won’t be negatively affected by paying off your card balances — quite the opposite. Paying off debt improves your credit utilization — the amount of your available credit you’re actively […]

December 18, 2023 By Liz Weston

Q&A: Social Security benefits for exes

Dear Liz: I divorced after three decades of marriage, and my ex remarried before age 60. If I understand Social Security’s rules correctly, that remarriage disqualified my ex from claiming a survivor’s benefit based on my work history. Here’s my question: If my ex’s current spouse dies before he does, does that then make him eligible […]

December 18, 2023 By Liz Weston

Q&A: Their 529 college savings plans have a problem: The students graduated. Now what?

Dear Liz: My adult children both have money left in 529 accounts that I control as well as uncashed savings bonds given by generous grandparents. We were able to get them through college without needing the funds, but neither has decided to continue with graduate education and the funds have been stranded because of the high tax rate on non-education […]

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