Dear Liz: I was widowed at 44, when my children were 10 and 12. I received Social Security benefits for myself and for them for a time. I then went back to work. I started taking Social Security at 65 even though I continued working until 70. I hear a lot about widows’ benefits and wonder […]
Recent Blog Posts
How to tackle holiday debt in January
After years of being in debt, Rachel Kramer Bussel came to a realization: “If I don’t become proactive about it, I will be in debt for the rest of my life.” For Bussel, a freelance writer near Atlantic City, New Jersey, that meant scaling back spending and putting any available money toward the debt principal. […]
Q&A: Why you need to pay attention to your credit utilization
Dear Liz: Our credit scores are in the low 800s. We always pay all credit card balances off before the next billing period. We are presently charging a cruise for us and our daughter and her husband. We’re worried about using too much of our available credit and thus reducing our credit scores. We’re using one […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on investing in 2023. In other news: Small-business trends 2023, privacy hacks that may hurt your credit, and how to avoid hotel resort fees. Smart Money Podcast: Your Money in 2023: Investing in the Stock Market This week’s episode is all about investing in 2023. Small-Business Trends: 6 Predictions […]
Q&A: Estate taxes on house bequests
Dear Liz: You recently wrote about the capital gains tax implications when someone sells a house they’ve been given, versus one they’ve inherited. Would you elaborate on the estate ramifications for the donor if that person has a large estate? Would their estate pay tax on the gift? Answer: Few people have to worry about either gift or estate […]
This week’s money news
This week’s top story: How to get paid for surviving the Southwest meltdown. In other news: Smart Money podcast on January money moves, and paying off your mortgage early, 4 ways to improve your odds of meeting new year’s money goals, and the path of mortgage rates prior to Fed meeting. How to Get Paid for […]