Ask Liz Weston

Get smart with your money

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Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Your guide to earning bonus miles with airline promotions. Also in the news: 4 important features to finding the perfect home, why some people don’t mind overpaying the IRS, and this cash-envelope budgeting system turns back-to-school shopping into a money lesson.

Your Guide to Earning Bonus Miles With Airline Promotions
Check out these limited-time offers.

Look for these 4 important features to find the perfect home
Sometimes good enough is perfect.

Here’s why these people don’t mind overpaying the IRS
They’d rather get a refund.

This cash-envelope budgeting system turns back-to-school shopping into a money lesson
Letting your kids make the decisions.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to qualify for first-time home buyer benefits. Also in the news: The best investments you can make right now, how to bypass ATM fees while you’re on the road, and how financial therapy might help you get to the root of your money problems.

First-Time Home Buyer Benefits: How to Qualify
Perks for new buyers.

The Best Investments You Can Make Right Now
Planning carefully.

How to bypass ATM fees while you’re on the road
More money in your pocket.

Money problems? Here’s how financial therapy might help
Getting to the root of the problem.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 5 cheaper alternatives to popular vacation spots. Also in the news: How credit unions fit in your financial life, how to prepare for an economic downturn, and the fee the IRS is waiving for more than 400,000 filers.

5 Cheaper Alternatives to Popular Vacation Spots
Save some money while still having a great trip.

How Credit Unions Fit in Your Financial Life
An alternative to traditional banking.

How to Prepare for an Economic Downturn
Don’t be caught off guard.

The IRS will waive this 2018 tax penalty for more than 400,000 filers
Waiving the underpayment fee.

Will you be a scam artist’s next target?

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Believing that fraud can’t happen to us — because we’re too smart, logical or informed — may make us more vulnerable. Successful scam artists skillfully overcome our defenses and get us into emotional states that override logical thinking, says Kathy Stokes, AARP’s director of fraud prevention programs.

“Scammers call it getting the victim under the ether,” she says.

Various studies have tried to identify characteristics that make people more susceptible to fraud. But that can create a “blame the victim” mentality and give the rest of us a false sense of security, she says.

In my latest for the Associated Press, how to reduce the chances of being taken by a scammer.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How credit unions fit in your financial life. Also in the news: How to recover from being rejected for a personal loan, 5 simple ways to get out of credit card debt faster, and 9 ways to teach kids about money.

How Credit Unions Fit in Your Financial Life
More personal banking.

Rejected for a Personal Loan? Here’s How to Recover
Start asking why.

5 Simple Ways to Get Out of Credit Card Debt Faster
Tips to hack away at your debt.

9 Ways to Teach Kids About Money
Get them started early.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: What to do when back-to-school bites you in the budget. Also in the news: Advice and warnings for starting your own cannabis business, why Millennials need to build credit smarts and find out of your state is having a back-to-school tax-free weekend.

What to Do When Back to School Bites You in the Budget
You’ll need to prioritize.

Advice and warnings for starting your own cannabis business
The new Green economy.

Millennial Money: Credit score up? Build credit smarts, too
Protect your score.

Find Out If Your State Is Having a Back-to-School Tax-Free Weekend in 2019
Did your state make the list?