Your love life might be hurting your wallet. Recent research found that if financial literacy levels are unequal between you and your partner, that disparity will only grow as you age, causing irreparable damage to your personal finances. Recent research from the University of Texas at Austin found that two people involved in a relationship [...]
The holiday shopping season is upon us, and it’s the time of year when your budget (and your pantry) is most strained. But you can limit the damage by building a Black Friday/holiday shopping budget plan. You’ll need to keep your gift list tight and decide in advance how much you’ll spend on each person. [...]
From 2011 through 2014, identity thieves submitted more than 19 million suspicious tax returns to the IRS for more than $63 billion in fraudulent refunds. But until recently, taxpayers weren’t allowed to see the fraudulent returns filed using their Social Security numbers (SSNs). That changed recently, thanks in part to a letter sent to the [...]
With only 60 days to go before you retire, you might already be dreaming about that first morning waking up without a schedule. But while two months may seem like nothing, there are still some things to take care of before you can spend your days roaming around in an RV or golf cart. Here [...]
You’ve prepared for retirement for decades, saving money, and making plans, and now the big day is just three months away. With only 90 days left until retirement, you may still have questions—and preparations that need to be made. Here are some steps to consider taking three months prior to retirement. Practice living within your [...]
You might already have plans for your golden years, but finding the right size retirement for you is crucial to make them a reality. Unexpected health and other costs are bound to come up, so the sooner you know what you want retirement to look like, the faster you’ll be able to adjust your plans [...]
Many working Americans are tapping into their retirement funds for emergencies and unexpected expenses, and millions more have no savings for retirement at all, according to a 2015 survey by financial services website Bankrate.com. The survey also revealed that fewer than one-fourth of workers ages 50 to 64 have seen their retirement savings suffer over [...]
Maybe you wish you could save more money for a rainy day or to spend on a nice vacation, but the thought of giving up free time to work a second job doesn’t sound attractive to you. If so, it might be time to make some minor course corrections with your budget. You may be [...]
In certain situations, it’s clear who to call when there’s a problem you can’t solve. When a pipe breaks in your home, you call a plumber. When your car breaks down, you call a mechanic. When your pet is sick, you call the veterinarian. But what if you’re trying to determine how to invest your [...]
Last spring, when my 16-year-old nephew told his father he was excited to get his learner’s permit, my brother cringed. He had dreaded this day. Driving lessons and driving permits would help his son get the necessary practice to be a confident driver, but my brother knew that the number one threat to his son’s [...]
