Many Americans will rely on Social Security benefits in retirement, but the way their benefits are calculated could be set to change. Currently, Social Security uses a cost of living adjustment (COLA) to determine how much retirees and other people in the program get paid from year to year. During most years, the COLA adds [...]
Today’s real estate market is uncertain, and homeowners want to do whatever they can to increase the value of their homes—even if they’re not planning to sell in the near future. Updating the look of your home doesn’t have to bust your budget. Lisa Laube, chief merchandising officer for Floor & Decor, says that a [...]
Ilyce Glink Show on WSB Radio: Where are the best vacation spots in America, and how does this compare to the regular home market? On this week’s Ilyce Glink Show on WSB radio, Ilyce discussed where the best vacation spots in America currently are. She also talked about what is going on in the regular [...]
Was your seller truthful on the seller disclosure form? How to prove your seller knew about previous issues in the house and didn't disclose them. Q: I recently purchased a home in Aurora, Illinois. I received the sellers’ disclosure form with no disclosures marked off. During my inspection of the home, the inspector noted some [...]
Should I cash out my 401K? Try hiring a financial adviser, reducing your living expenses and refinancing your home. Q: I am a 49 year old who plans to retire from my current job by age 55. My 401(k) is now worth $1.1 million, which is up 20 percent since January. It is invested in several [...]
Got the wrong address on your mortgage documents? Don't worry too much about a typo on your mortgage documents. Q: My mortgage documents list my property address incorrectly. It's a small typo. The lender misspelled the name of my street. Will this cause me problems when it comes time to sell my property? I can’t [...]
Home much home can I afford? Home buying can be stressful when you are concerned about the cost of your mortgage. Q: We are retired school teachers with an income of 51,000. We only have $100,000 saved but our teachers’ pension covers our monthly living expenses. My husband has wanted a small farm and put [...]
Word-of-mouth and customer referrals are an integral part of most small business marketing strategies, and it’s possible that just a few bad reviews can make or break a business. As an entrepreneur and a yoga practitioner, I’ve discovered that yoga has much to teach us about serving customers well and addressing customer complaints satisfactorily. Like yoga, [...]
If you are in the market for a new car, keep in mind the many costs, including lease or loan payments, insurance, gas, and maintenance, that can quickly eat away at your monthly budget. Make sure you factor these into your financial calculations. Having said that, it is most important to get a good deal [...]
My teenage daughter, like her friends, pretty much lives on her Twitter and Facebook accounts. Me, not quite so much. I’m not a huge fan of sharing little bits of my daily life in short sentences. The way I do use social media, however, allows me to save money. Every few days, I check our [...]
