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Mega Millions

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Surprising things renters insurance covers — and leaves out. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast tackles sudden retirement and finding lost money, using a crisis to help build helpful money habits, and why Powerball and Mega Millions aren’t reaching giant jackpots anymore.

Surprising Things Renters Insurance Covers — And Leaves Out
You may think buying renters insurance means you’re covered for just about any disaster, but that’s not the case.

Smart Money Podcast: Sudden Retirement and Finding Lost Money
What to do when you’re forced to retire sooner than you expected.

You Can Use a Crisis to Build Helpful Money Habits
Making the best of a bad situation.

Here’s why Powerball and Mega Millions jackpots aren’t reaching giant amounts anymore
It’s not just the pandemic.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 3 ways to pay for Airbnb with credit card rewards. Also in the news: A cheapskate’s guide to shopping for credit cards, Black Friday price matching, and how much you’ll actually take home if you win the billion dollar Mega Millions jackpot.

3 Ways to Pay for Airbnb With Credit Card Rewards
Using rewards to pay for your stay.

A Cheapskate’s Guide to Shopping for Credit Cards
Finding a match for your thriftiness.

Black Friday: If No Price Match, Go for Cash Back
More Black Friday strategy.

How Much You’ll Actually Take Home from the $970M Mega Millions Jackpot
Don’t forget to tip your blogger.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How replacement window costs add up. Also in the news: Hiring a vacation photographer, how to fight about money and stay madly in love, and 5 things to do first if you win tonight’s Mega Millions jackpot.

How Replacement Window Costs Add Up
Things to take into consideration.

So Long, Selfie Stick. For Better Vacation Photos, Go With a Pro
Hiring a vacation photographer.

How to Fight About Money and Stay Madly in Love
Don’t let money come between you.

5 things to do first if you hit the $512 million Mega Millions jackpot
Besides jumping up and down on the couch.

You’re not going to win the lottery. But if you do, read this.

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With so much talk about the record Mega Millions jackpot, I thought I’d throw in my two cents:

First cent: You’re not going to win. The odds are ridiculous.

Second cent: If you should win this or any other windfall, even a much smaller one, you’ve got some work ahead of you.

If you’ve never had money, you may not realize how much effort it takes to manage it wisely–and not lose it. You don’t want to wind up like the folks featured in SmartMoney’s “Why lottery winners go bankrupt“–lottery winners who went bust, or even to jail.

So here’s my MSN column “You won the lottery. Now what?” When you don’t win, you can still read it for advice about what to do should any major windfall enter your life.