Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How a financial therapist can help shift your money mindset. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on new money resolutions and strategizing debt payoff, how to attract busy contractors to your home remodel, and saving for what makes you feel good in 2022.

How a Financial Therapist Can Help Shift Your Money Mindset
A financial therapist can help you challenge your money fears and make progress in your investing journey.

Smart Money Podcast: New Money Resolutions, and Strategizing Debt Payoff
This week’s episode starts with a conversation about how to craft and achieve your money resolutions in the new year.

How to Attract Busy Contractors to Your Home Remodel
Patience, planning and a good referral can help homeowners stand out to contractors for home remodel projects.

Save for What Makes You Feel Good in 2022
Expenses that don’t put a roof over your head, but do provide joy, rejuvenation and other hard-to-quantify benefits are worth saving for, too.

8 rules for saving, borrowing and spending money

The best personal finance advice is tailored to your individual situation. That said, a few rules of thumb can cut through the confusion that often surrounds money decisions and help you build a solid financial foundation.

In my latest for the Associated Press, guidelines for saving, borrowing, spending and protecting your money culled from nearly three decades of writing about personal finance.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to vanquish 5 common financial fears. Also in the news: Will you get what Social Security promises, how to save money online with these sneaky tricks, and 10 better money habits to start now.

Vanquish 5 Common Financial Fears
Time to put these fears to rest.

Will You Get What Social Security Promises?
Making smarter decisions about claiming your benefit.

Save Money Online Shopping With These Sneaky Tricks
Thinking beyond coupons.

10 Better Money Habits to Start Now
The right habits can boost your savings.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to size up your property tax assessment. Also in the news: How to never miss a credit card payment again, what it takes to retire early, and how to save money by embracing the ‘pain of paying.’

How to Size Up Your Property Tax Assessment
Don’t be caught offguard.

How to Never Miss a Credit Card Payment Again
Automate your credit life.

Dreaming of an Early Retirement? Here’s What It Takes
Never too early to get started.

Save Money by Embracing the ‘Pain of Paying’
Cash can hurt.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 6 tricks to kick credit card debt quicker. Also in the news: Why Millennials are good at saving but not investing, how to make Fed rate hikes work for you, and what Toys R Us closing means for shoppers.

6 Tricks to Kick Credit Card Debt Quicker
It doesn’t have to feel like torture.

Millennials Are Good at Saving. But Investing? Not So Much
What’s keeping Millennials away from the market.

How to Make Fed Rate Hikes Work for You
Give your savings account a boost.

What Toys ‘R’ Us closing means for shoppers
Use those gift cards ASAP.

Why you should save for something fun

Financial planners tend to have firm ideas about the most important goals: You should save for retirement, pay off debt and build an emergency fund. Buying a pair of $200 sneakers or an ultra-high definition TV is probably not on that list.

But maybe saving for something you really, really want isn’t frivolous. It may be exactly what you need to get your financial life on track.

In my latest for the Associated Press, the financial benefits of saving for something fun.

Q&A: How to avoid outliving your retirement savings

Dear Liz: The wife and I are both 65. We both work, with a combined income of $125,000, of which we spend almost all. We have $550,000 in IRAs and $1 million in other investments, plus home equity of about $500,000. We’ll get $3,800 from Social Security if we start next year but plan to work until age 67. Should we wait until then to claim?

Answer: Both of you needn’t wait, but one of you should — the one who has the larger benefit.

As a married couple, you can get two checks — either two retirement benefits, or a retirement benefit and a spousal benefit that can equal up to half the primary retirement benefit. When one of you dies, the survivor will receive only one benefit, which will be the larger of the two checks you received as a couple.

It makes sense to maximize that benefit by waiting as long as possible to claim so that it can grow. After your full retirement age, which is currently 66, unclaimed retirement benefits grow by 8% each year you wait, until maxing out at age 70.

You have substantial investments that should sustain a comfortable retirement, but plenty of things could go wrong.

The fact you’re spending all your current income is worrisome. If you don’t ratchet back your consumption a bit at retirement, you may draw down your investments at a rate that isn’t sustainable. (Depending on your investment mix, an initial withdrawal rate of 3% or 4% usually is considered “safe,” or the most you should take to minimize the odds of running out of money.)

Even if you do rein in your regular spending, bad markets or unexpected expenses could cause you to exhaust your savings faster than you expect. The longer you live, the greater the odds you’ll run short of money. Maximizing one of your Social Security benefits can be a smart way to ensure you, or your survivor, have more income when you may need it most.

Before you retire, you should consult a fee-only financial planner about the best ways to tap your retirement accounts and claim Social Security.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to boostrap your credit for free or cheap. Also in the news: 3 ways to get your business up and selling on Amazon, three things to do for the best online banking, and how to save at the start of your career.

How to Bootstrap Your Credit for Free — or Cheap
Slow and steady.

3 Ways to Get Your Business Up and Selling on Amazon
Start making money.

For the Best Online Banking, Do These 3 Things
Easy steps.

How to save at the start of your career
The earlier the better.

This money habit makes all the difference

Planning ahead is hard when you’re broke. But planning ahead may be the best way to stop being broke and start building a solid financial future.

People who have a strategy tend to save more money and be financially healthier than those who don’t, studies have found. In my latest for the Associated Press, why planning ahead is essential, even when you’re broke.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Credit score companies ordered to pay millions in refunds. Also in the news: How the Trump presidency will impact housing, how to refresh your finances in the new year, and how to become an extreme saver in 2017.

Credit Score Companies Must Refund $17.7 Million to Customers
Could you have a refund on the way?

How the Trump Presidency Will Impact Housing in 2017
A glimpse into the future.

Ask Brianna: How Can I Refresh My Finances for the New Year?

How to Become an Extreme Saver in 2017
Every penny counts.