Personal Finance
Girl Scouts Are Selling Dog Cookies Now. The Shipping Costs More Than the Troop Earns.
The Girl Scouts just announced a cookie for your dog. I’m not made of stone. My first reaction was the same as everyone else’s, which is that this is delightful and I want one for a dog I don’t currently own. My second reaction, after 35 years of reading fine print for a living, was
9 Car Brands With New Vehicles Under $40,000 Despite $50,089 Average
Only nine major car brands averaged sale prices under $40,000 in the United States in August 2026, as overall average new car prices topped $50,000 and car shoppers are feeling the pinch. Consumers paid an average of $50,089 for new cars in August 2026, according to Cox Automotive’s Kelley Blue…
Wash Sale Rule for Stocks: Tax Deductions
Selling a stock at a loss can be a useful tax strategy. The loss may offset capital gains and, in some cases, reduce taxable income, but that benefit may end up delayed if you buy the same or a substantially identical investment within 30 days before or after the sale. The wash sale rule aims
Why a $10,000 IRA Withdrawal Cost This Retiree $2,220 in Tax — and How a 1984 Rule Makes It Happen
Here’s a question I’ve been asked a hundred different ways over the years: “I’m in the 12% bracket. So why did pulling $10,000 out of my IRA cost me more than $2,000 in tax?” The answer is a feature of the tax code that financial planners call the Social Security tax torpedo. It’s been sitting
Trustee-to-Trustee Transfer: How to Move Retirement Money
A trustee-to-trustee transfer moves retirement money directly between financial institutions without sending the funds to you first. This can simplify moving IRA assets, keeping the money within the retirement system. It also generally avoids the 60-day deadline and once-per-year restriction that…
Nearly Half of Seniors Lack Dental Coverage — Here Are 10 Ways to Keep Your Savings and Smile Intact
Seniors face distinct disadvantages when it comes to covering the cost of dental care: Seniors typically have a fixed income, so money can be tight. Original, aka traditional, Medicare typically doesn’t cover dental care. Retirees typically don’t have employer-sponsored dental insurance to help…
13 Ways to Improve Your Gas Mileage Without Extreme Measures
You pull up to the pump, watch the numbers spin, and wonder if there is a better way to manage this recurring expense. Gasoline takes a significant bite out of your budget, but you have more control over your fuel efficiency than you might realize. By tweaking how you drive and maintain your…
This Simple Travel Oversight Can Ruin Your Trip Instantly
Even the most experienced traveler can run into trouble every now and then. But how do you get out of trouble? I needed to think quickly when I checked in for a recent flight from Doha, Qatar, to Auckland, New Zealand. I had taken care of the visa for New Zealand, but then the ticket
The Going Rate For Selling Your Soul In The Age Of AI
On Tuesday, September 8, 2026, an Anthropic researcher named Jacob Coxon resigned over safety concerns and wrote about why. He said the leading labs are “racing straight to self-improving superintelligence” and gambling with everybody’s lives. Then a colleague answered him in public. Evan Hubinger…
Why Your Biological Sleep Schedule Might Be Costing You a Promotion
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on MyPerfectResume.com. For decades, corporate life has catered to the early risers. Morning meetings, nine-to-five office schedules, and leaders boasting about being the first in the office all send the same signal: The workplace belongs to morning…