This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on spring-cleaning, and paying off different types of debt. In other news: What could happen if Congress doesn’t make changes to Social Security by 2035, mortgage could be harder to get in a credit-tightening era, and 4 tips for a meaningful and successful retirement. Smart Money Podcast: Spring-Cleaning, and […]
Recent Blog Posts
Q&A: Switching between survivor benefits
Dear Liz: My wife is drawing Social Security survivor benefits. Next year I will start drawing my own Social Security benefits at full retirement age. If I were to die, could she switch over to survivor benefits based on my work history? I know she would get a lot more than what she’s getting now, which […]
Q&A: Why asking for lower card limits can hurt your credit scores
Dear Liz: My wife and I recently paid off our home mortgage and now have only our two Visa cards, which we pay off in full each month. Depending on our monthly expenses or purchases, those balances rarely exceed a few hundred to possibly as high as a thousand dollars. Each card has a limit of […]
How to use a tax refund to fight inflation
If inflation has eaten away at your budget the way waves erode a beach, then your tax refund might just provide a much-needed protective barrier. As of March, prices are up 6% over the past 12 months, according to the most recent consumer price index. At the same time, just over half of filers (55%) […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on banking stability, and traditional vs. online banks. In other news: how bank failures show us what not to do with our own finances, how doing the bare minimum with debt is costing you, and if being a landlord worth or not. Smart Money Podcast: Is Banking Stable, and […]
Q&A: Grandma needs tax help
Dear Liz: My grandma is 78, divorced, and has not filed taxes in the last decade. I was wondering what she should do because she is head of the household and taking care of three adopted kids and needs help. Answer: Please help connect your grandmother with AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, which provides free virtual and in-person tax help. You […]