New Tax Legislation Affecting Homeowners in 2025

WASHINGTON D.C. – A significant and unavoidable shift in federal tax policy is set to occur at the end of 2025, creating what economists and policy analysts are calling a major “tax cliff.” This event stems from the scheduled expiration of numerous key provisions from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. For […]

The 5 Tricks I Used to Finally Stop Impulse Buying

A collection of unused kitchen appliances, including a bread maker, pasta maker, and other gadgets, sits on a kitchen counter or in a cluttered pantry.

The click was satisfying. A small, definitive sound that confirmed my purchase. In my cart was a high-end, silver bread maker with more settings than a commercial airliner. Did I bake bread? Not really. But the email I’d received that morning promised me I could be the kind of person who did. The kind of […]

I DIYed Home Decor—Here’s What Pinterest Taught Me

A transformed robin's egg blue side table sits in a room with newly created large-scale abstract art above a floral sofa.

The silence in my house after I retired was the first thing I noticed. It wasn’t a peaceful silence. It was a loud, echoing quiet that seemed to amplify the shabbiness of my surroundings. The floral sofa my husband and I had bought in 1988 was faded and worn. The coffee table had a permanent […]

I Tried Using a Cash-Only Envelope System for a Month—This Is What Happened

A person's hands sorting cash into several labeled envelopes on a kitchen table.

It started, as many modern financial crises do, with a quiet moment and a glowing screen. I was sitting at my kitchen table, a half-empty cup of coffee cooling beside me, scrolling through my credit card statement online. It wasn’t a matter of not being able to pay the bill. Thank goodness, I’ve always been […]

7 Types of Bank Accounts You Didn’t Know You Needed

A person uses a smartphone banking app while sitting near a bank building.

Most of us are very familiar with the basics of personal banking. We likely have a trusty checking account for daily expenses and a savings account for tucking money away. These are the workhorses of personal finance, and for good reason. But did you know there’s a wider world of types of accounts out there, […]

How to Avoid Monthly Bank Fees and Keep More of Your Money

A close-up image of a hand holding a stack of colorful bills, with a smartphone in the other hand displaying a banking app. The background is a subtly blurred cityscape, suggesting financial management and avoiding bank fees.

Welcome! If you’re like many of us, you work hard for your money and want to keep as much of it as possible. Unexpected or recurring bank fees can be a source of frustration, slowly chipping away at your savings. This guide is here to empower you. We’ll walk through understanding these fees, identifying them, […]

How to Claim Common Tax Deductions You Might Be Missing

A senior citizen sits at a desk reviewing tax documents and using a calculator and laptop.

Unlock Savings: Your Guide to Overlooked Tax Deductions Filing taxes might not be anyone’s favorite activity, but it’s a necessary part of our financial lives. The good news is that the tax code includes many provisions designed to reduce your tax burden, known as deductions. Many people, however, miss out on valuable savings simply because […]

How to Negotiate with Creditors and Actually Lower Your Debt

A person sits at a desk reviewing financial documents, a laptop displaying a spreadsheet, and a stack of papers nearby.

Dealing with debt can feel overwhelming, no matter your age or stage in life. Many of us, at some point, find ourselves facing financial challenges, whether due to unexpected medical bills, a change in income after retirement, or other unforeseen circumstances. The good news is that you often have more power than you think. This […]

Buying Out-of-Season Helped Me Spend Smarter All Year

A woman examines a deeply discounted, high-quality winter coat on a clothing rack in a department store during a post-season sale.

It’s funny the things you remember. I can still picture a particular winter coat I bought years ago. It was a beautiful, deep blue wool, and I’d spotted it in a department store window right as the first chill of November hit the air. I needed a new coat, or at least, I’d convinced myself […]

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