Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How insurance fraud costs you money. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on lottery winners and what to do with extra COVID cash, how to decide if your first house should be a condo, and how to choose your ACA plan.

How Insurance Fraud Costs You Money
Insurance fraud adds an extra $400 to $700 to your premiums every year and costs about $80 billion overall.

Smart Money Podcast: Jackpot Windfall and Extra COVID Cash

Should Your First House Be a Condo?
A condo can make a great starter home, but weigh the pros and cons of buying a condo vs. a house to decide whether it’s right for you.

How to Choose Your Obamacare Plan
Finding the right amount of coverage.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How losing Obamacare could cost you. Also in the news: Understanding Medicare prescription drug plans, a new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on remote work burnout and saving for college, and the pros and cons of paying your student loans with a credit card.

How Losing Obamacare Could Cost You
If the Supreme Court tosses out the Affordable Care Act, it could dramatically affect your finances and choices.

Understanding Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
Medicare can help you pay for prescription drugs in two ways.

Smart Money Podcast: Remote Work Burnout and Saving for College
How to handle Zoom fatigue.

Can You Pay Your Student Loans With a Credit Card?
Yes. But should you?

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Pile of Credit CardsToday’s top story: The best credit card tips for January. Also in the news: Less than one month left to shop for Obamacare, how to spend more mindfully in the new year, and what research says about erasing credit card debt.

NerdWallet’s Best Credit Card Tips for January 2017
How you can make 2017 better than 2016.

Less Than One Month Left for ‘Obamacare’ Shoppers
The deadline is Jan. 31st.

How to Spend More Mindfully in the New Year
Paying closer attention.

What research says about erasing credit card debt
Following the best path.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

8.6.13.CheckupToday’s top story: 5 must-know facts about Obamacare open enrollment. Also in the news: Why it’s getting harder to spot counterfeit cash, financial conversations you should have during the holidays, and how to host your first Thanksgiving without going broke.

5 Must-Know Facts About Obamacare Open Enrollment
Be informed before signing up.

Why It’s Getting Harder to Spot Counterfeit Cash
Criminals have become more sophisticated.

Financial Conversations You Should Have During the Holidays
Taking advantage of family gatherings.

How to Host Your First Thanksgiving Without Going Broke
Don’t go overboard.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

North-Dakota-Oil-BoomToday’s top story: Habits that can help you build good credit. Also in the news: Lessons from the oil boom and bust, replacing your financial adviser, and how to prepare for the new Obamacare tax form.

4 Habits That Can Help You Build Good Credit
Getting in the habit of building credit.

Five personal finance lessons from the oil boom and bust
What you can learn from the volitaile oil market.

Should You Replace Your Financial Adviser In 2016?
How to tell if you’re getting your money’s worth.

Are you prepared for new Obamacare tax forms?
New year, new tax form.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Why you should pay your credit card bill before it’s due. Also in the news: How to break a bad money habit, what the IRS is doing to prevent identity theft, and how one late mortgage payment can wreak havoc with your credit score.

4 Reasons to Pay Your Credit Card Bill Before It’s Due
Improving your credit score is one of them.

How to Change a Bad Money Habit
Reward yourself for better behavior.

IRS Aims Harder to Protect You Against Identity Theft
New steps to protect tax payers.

Will Obamacare Ruin Your Tax Refund?
Probably not.

How Much a Late Mortgage Payment Can Damage Your Credit Score
A single late payment could pack a wallop.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

download (1)Today’s top story: Should you splurge or save with your tax refund? Also in the news: Saving for the end of the world, understanding Obamacare tax penalties, and why free checking is becoming a thing of the past.

Tax refunds: Cheap thrills or savvy savings?
Choose wisely.

End-of-world money moves to make
Why should the zombies get your money?

Obamacare Tax Penalties: Will You Have to Pay?
Understanding the new insurance penalties.

Free checking disappearing at the big banks
Free checking is going the way of free toasters.

Will Opening Credit Cards Help My Credit
Possibly. But proceed with caution.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Hiccups to avoid when applying for a VA loan. Also in the news: Keeping your home from turning into a money pit, learning the basics of the Affordable Care Act, and how to file your tax returns electronically.

5 Homebuying Hiccups for Veterans to Avoid
How to clear any potential hurdles on the way to a VA loan.

7 Homebuying Mistakes to Avoid
How not to turn your new home into a money pit.

5 things you need to know about the Affordable Care Act
Learning the basics.

Ways to Electronically File Your tax Return
Skip the long lines at the post office.

Medical Services Medicare Doesn’t Cover
If you need glasses or a hearing aid, you’re on your own.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: A simple way to help your credit. Also in the news: Financial fasting, the best financial resolutions for the New Year, and why you’re not being paid what you’re worth.

What’s the Simplest Thing I Can Do to Help My Credit?
This one thing could make a huge difference.

Should You Go on a Financial Fast?
It’s like a diet for your wallet.

The Most Successful Financial New Year’s Resolutions
Which resolutions work and which ones don’t.

5 Reasons You’re Making Less Money than You Should
Stop undervaluing your worth.

ObamaCare and early retirement
How Obamacare could help you retire early.

A health insurance shopping site that actually works

Health claim formYou don’t have to wait for the federal government to fix the Obamacare Web site to learn about your insurance options.

HealthSherpa is the creation of three guys who actually seem to know how to program. Instead of fighting your way through confusing interfaces, legalese and a long sign-up process, you just type in your Zip Code and bam! Your options start to show up.

HealthSherpa allows you to modify your results by the number of family members and your income (which determines whether you get subsidies to cut the cost–most people do).

HealthSherpa doesn’t have the links to Social Security and the IRS that would allow you to sign up for a plan directly on the site. But it does offer links and phone numbers to insurers that can help you sign up once you pick a plan.

If only Kathleen Sebelius had hired these guys in the first place…

UPDATE: As commenter Kitty notes below, you’ll still need to go through Healthcare.gov to sign up for coverage if you want the subsidies and other cost reductions available through Obamacare. The HealthSherpa site allows you to see and explore your options, which should make signing up a bit easier.