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Social Security retirement benefits are meant as a supplemental income source, to be used in conjunction with personal retirement savings or pensions. As such, many “retirees” continue to work part-time or side jobs in order to maintain their standard of living. One important thing to note, however, is that in some cases earning outside income can reduce the amount of your Social Security payout. Here’s a brief overview of what you need to know about collecting Social Security while still working....

It’s no secret that lumber prices have surged and it costs much more now to build a home than it did pre-pandemic. But that doesn’t mean that new home construction is at a halt. According to the annual State of the Nation’s Housing report published by Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies, the pace of both single-family and multifamily construction has exceeded historical averages for nearly a year, but it’s still not enough to meet demand....

Can I cash a check at any bank or credit union? If you visit a bank or credit union where neither you nor the person who wrote the check don’t bank with, they’re unlikely to cash a check for you. By Lydia Kibet How To Cash a Check At Any Bank Cashing a Check as a Non-Customer Other Options However, there are instances in which banks and credit unions will agree to cash a check even if you don’t bank with them....

Gas prices have risen by approximately 50% in 2021, now averaging $3.38 per gallon, CNBC reported today. These prices surpass pre-pandemic levels and combined with inflationary prices on food and other items right now, the increase is hitting Americans’ wallets hard. By Dawn Allcot See: OPEC’s Decision Not to Increase Production Sends Oil Prices SurgingFind: Putin Acknowledges Crypto’s Potential as Trade Currency (Provided Oil Isn’t Involved) Global oil prices have also surged by 70% this year as a result of increased demand as travelers took to the roads and workers returned to offices after the height of the pandemic....

With another potential government shutdown looming, many Americans might be wondering (again) how their monthly Child Tax Credit payments will be affected. For now, it looks like the advance payments due on Dec. 15 are safe — at least according to recent comments from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. By Vance Cariaga See: Taxes 2021: How the Child Tax Credit and Student Loans Could Reduce Your Total RefundFind: Stimulus Update: Child Tax Credit Opt-Out Deadline for 2021 Is Nov....

The advance, extended child tax credit may not return any time soon, but first-time mothers in the state of New York State could be getting some financial help this year. By Dawn Allcot See: Stimulus Update: 91% of Low-Income Families Are Using the Child Tax Credit for Basic Necessities Find: Nearly 40% of America’s Wealthiest Billionaires Give Relatively Nothing to Charity A new program called The Bridge Project has been distributing funds of $500 to $1,000 per month to at-risk mothers in urban areas of downstate New York....

Half of wealthy millennials plan to retire early, but they’re not seeking a traditional retirement. According to a recent RBC Wealth Management survey of 1,000 high-earning and high-net-worth millennials, 50% plan to retire before age 65 but plan to establish passive sources of income or side hustles to “reinvent themselves” in retirement. By Gabrielle Olya Wealthy Millennials Aren’t Banking on Stocks: Here’s What They’re Investing In InsteadSee: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

Medicare Part B is federally sponsored medical insurance that helps pay for services offered by doctors and other health care providers, outpatient care, home health care, durable medical equipment and some preventive services for those aged 65 and older. Medicare is a program generally aimed at reducing the economic cost of health care for more vulnerable populations, and while the Social Security Administration (SSA) processes applications, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers this federally funded program....

A firefighter is a person who responds to emergencies, working to put out building fires or wildfires and keeping people safe. They also respond to potential gas leaks and car accidents and may provide fire safety education to the public. By Jessica Moore Average Annual Salary Pay Frequency Benefits Firefighting can be a high-pressure job that requires a person to remain calm and think quickly in stressful situations. It’s physically and mentally demanding, and it requires working long shifts — sometimes as long as 24 hours....

The flagship Tesla Model S was a dream car to many when it rolled out in 2012, and it remains that way to this day. Nine years ago, an electric car that could hit 60 miles per hour in just 4.2 seconds was unheard of; yet, that car was just one step in the growing legacy of the popular electric vehicle maker. Certainly, owning that original Model S was a thrill and a conversation piece, but was it a good investment?...

As “Grey’s Anatomy” enters its 18th season on ABC television, the stars are undoubtedly getting set to cash big paychecks for their work. This includes Houston-born actress Chandra Wilson, who has played Dr. Miranda Bailey since the start of the show. Celebrity Net Worth reported that Wilson’s net worth is $10 million, with a hefty chunk of that coming from her work on the hit medical drama series. By Dawn Allcot See: Top 10 Most Expensive Beanie BabiesFind: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security Early...

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on small businesses was devastating. Most companies had to close their doors for an extended period of time, and some, unfortunately, were forced to shutter forever. Now that the number of new cases is slowing dramatically across the U.S., businesses are reopening at a rapid pace. However, many are still struggling to survive. If you’re in need of some operating cash to help your business weather the storm, there are a few remaining options for free money....

Even with good budgeting and careful planning, sometimes a bill comes along that surprises you, falling outside of the guidelines you’ve set for your finances and putting you in a tough spot. For many people, a common surprise bill might be medical expenses that your insurance didn’t cover, a veterinary bill or car repair. Sometimes even bills you knew were coming due can surprise you if they hit at a low point in your finances or if you’ve suffered any kind of financial hardship, as many people have in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic....

Families that received enhanced Child Tax Credit payments in 2021 will be eligible to claim even more money this year — in the form of tax refunds — during the current filing season. But you might want to file early to ensure the tax refund doesn’t get delayed. By Vance Cariaga See: What Is the Vermont Child Tax Credit? How $1,200 Payment Compares to Federal BenefitsChild Tax Credit: How To Claim the Full Amount On Your 2021 Taxes...

The Internal Revenue Service announced on Feb. 23 that interest rates will increase for the calendar quarter beginning April 1, 2022. The rate of interest is determined on a quarterly basis and is based on the federal short-term rate, rounded to the nearest full percent, determined during Jan. 2022 to take effect Feb. 1, 2022, based on daily compounding. By Josephine Nesbit See: How To File Your Taxes If You Got Married in 2021 Find: Top Tips for Painless Tax Prep...

As the pandemic drags on, workers have been quitting at near-record rates — leaving more open positions than there are workers to fill them. By Josephine Nesbit Senior Stimulus: Which Social Security Recipients Will Still Receive a Golden State Payment?More: 8 Surprising Facts About Stimulus Checks in 2021 JPMorgan chief global strategist David Kelly also believes that shortages will stretch into the new year, and possibly indefinitely. In a note, Kelly provided three reasons why we’re in a “great worker shortage,” as reported by Business Insider....

Dollar Tree is known for its great prices on holiday decorations and party supplies, but as food prices continue to hit budgets hard, shoppers are turning to this discount store to get their groceries. By Josephine Nesbit Dollar Tree: 5 High-Quality Items To Buy NowExplore: Cutting One Guilty Pleasure Expense a Month Could Save You Nearly $100 According to Winsight, Dollar Tree’s same-store sales of consumables outpaced discretionary sales for the second straight quarter, the retailer reported, with a 9....

Pandemic SNAP, or P-EBT, is set to expire in February for Massachusetts SNAP recipients. WWLP 22News reported that the last SNAP emergency allotments are scheduled to go out on March 2. By Josephine Nesbit SNAP Benefits: How Long Do They Last?See: 3 Easy Tips to Turn Your Credit Woes into Wows According to the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance, the P-EBT benefit amount is the difference between your normal SNAP amount and the maximum amount for your household size, with a minimum of $95 per household....

The pandemic has taken a toll on Americans in many ways and caused 1.02 million deaths nationwide. Now, the Social Security Administration (SSA) released beneficiary death information for 2021, which shows that more needs to be done to appropriately protect certain groups of Americans. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: 6 Reasons You Won’t Get Social SecuritySocial Security: Do My Underage Children Get Benefits When I Retire? The Hill reports that the SSA data shows 840,000 more beneficiary deaths for the 2020-2021 period, at 5....

Future Social Security beneficiaries are probably aware that their payments won’t be as big as those of previous generations. The question is when you can expect payments to go down. At least one group estimates it will happen as soon as 2033. By Vance Cariaga See: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Aren’t TaxableLearn: With a Recession Looming, Make These 3 Retirement Moves To Stay On TrackExplore: All the States That Don’t Tax Social Security...