A reader in her 70s once asked me why kids today don’t do what she did: Work for a year after high school and save up enough to pay for a bachelor’s degree. If you just busted out laughing, then you’re familiar with how high today’s college costs are compared with five or six decades […]
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Tuesday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: What to do if you’ve been blacklisted by ChexSystems. Also in the news: How to avoid early withdrawal fees for CDs, steps to take if you can’t pay your taxes, and the high cost of being poor. Blacklisted by ChexSystems? Here’s What to Know That bounced check may have come back to […]
Monday’s need-to-know money news
Today’s top story: Why we’re not saving enough for retirement, and how to catch up. Also in the news: Avoiding monthly checking account fees, 3 easy ways to save for retirement, and answers to the tax questions your too embarrassed to ask. Here’s Why We’re Not Saving Enough for Retirement — and How to Catch […]
Q&A: Bad boyfriend plagues grandparents’ finances
Dear Liz: We have raised our granddaughter since birth. She is the apple of our eyes. Then she fell in love. The boyfriend had no job, no car. My husband co-signed a loan for this boy! He didn’t even know the boy’s last name. I was devastated, as we are on Social Security so our […]
Q&A: Social Security divorced spousal benefits
Dear Liz: A friend was told by Social Security that she could not collect spousal benefits on her ex-husband’s work record because she did not have his Social Security number. How can I help her find it? Answer: Your friend may have run into a new Social Security employee, or at least one who is […]
Q&A: Income tax vs. capital gains tax
Dear Liz: I was wondering about the disabled vet who wanted to sell his home, which had increased in value by about $1 million. You mentioned that “[S]ingle people with incomes over $415,050 in 2016 are subject to the 39.6% marginal tax rate. Most people pay capital gains tax at a 15% rate, but those […]