Personal Finance
Homeowners often believe they stop paying property taxes after a certain age. In reality, there is no nationwide age at which property taxes automatically disappear. Whether you qualify for a property tax break depends on where you live, since states and local governments offer their own property tax exemptions or…
Back in 2017, I wrote that households need to earn $300,000 a year to live a middle-class lifestyle in an expensive coastal city. The internet was not pleased. I was called out of touch, delusional, and a few other things I can’t print on a family finance blog. After having a second…
Stunning gardens, a lighthouse, and state park exploration. These are just some of the ways you can spend your afternoon in Southern California while keeping costs down this summer. Of course, there’s a myriad of things to do on your own or with loved ones for free across a region…
Social Security is confusing enough for one person. For married couples, the options are often even more complicated, with spousal benefits and survivor’s benefits potentially in play. Sometimes adding to that confusion is a 2015 federal law that changed the process of how some lower-earning spouses apply for benefits. This…
Navigating airport security can be stressful. But for low-risk travelers, there’s an easier way. TSA PreCheck members wait about 10 minutes or less on average at airport security checkpoints, plus can leave electronics and small liquids in bags and don’t have to remove belts and light jackets. Until the Transportation…
You can watch movies and TV at home, on a plane, in line at the grocery store — virtually anywhere and on any platform you like. But it will cost you. Big-name video streaming sites like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video require you to pay monthly subscriptions. Luckily, they…
Andrii Iemelianenko / Shutterstock.comJobs don’t need to be difficult to be financially rewarding. Some of the easiest jobs that pay well rely on skills you may already have, without requiring long hours, constant pressure, or years of advanced training. That said, what makes a job “easy” depends on the person…
One of the greatest ironies in personal finance is that the people with the most money sometimes live the most uncomfortably. After spending another summer in Honolulu with my parents, I’ve been thinking hard about why. This post is a love letter to frugal parents everywhere. It’s also a nudge…
With new electric vehicle prices averaging nearly $55,000 and the federal government no longer offering $7,500 in tax credits for plug-in vehicles, 13 major automakers are confirming plans to participate in California’s new $3,500 instant rebate program for new EV buyers in the state. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat,…
Major changes to federal student loan repayment rules went into effect this month and are rippling across the system. Many borrowers currently repaying their student loans, as well as prospective students and their families, will see the impacts, including through higher monthly payments.The rule updates went into effect on July…
