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As you plan for retirement, you may want to make sure you can max out your social security benefits. But the death of a spouse can change your retirement plans in many ways — including financially. By Dawn Allcot SNAP Schedule 2022: May PaymentsFind: 20 Best Places To Live on Only a Social Security Check If Social Security benefits are a part of your retirement income, it’s important to be aware that you cannot collect your own social security benefits plus those of a deceased spouse at the same time....

Despite all the talk about a fourth round of federal stimulus payments, summer is here and the check is still not in the mail. Lawmakers have proposed several plans to help America cope with inflation — high gas prices, specifically — but none have come to fruition so far. By Andrew Lisa Discover: Surprising Things You Can Buy With Food Stamps in the South Learn: Surprising Things You Can Buy With Food Stamps in the Midwest...

Today, April 18, is “Tax Day,” the annual filing deadline, and some experts say that it also represents “an inflection point” in what has been the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) most challenging filing season in recent history. In turn, additional funding from Congress is crucially needed, to avoid repeating the agency’s “failures” next season. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Find: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security EarlyTaxes in 2022: Find Out Everything You Need To Know About Filing, Refunds and More “This is the byproduct of chronic underfunding that has starved the IRS of the tools it needs to serve the American people, coupled with a historic pandemic that introduced new responsibilities alongside mammoth challenges,” Natasha Sarin, deputy assistant secretary for economic policy and counselor for tax policy and implementation, said in a Treasury Department statement on April 18....

So far, most American adults have received $3,200 in direct stimulus payments — $1,200 from the CARES Act in March 2020, $600 at the end of that year and then $1,400 from the American Rescue Plan under the Biden administration in 2021. That doesn’t count payments for qualifying dependents or other stimulus money like expanded unemployment or advance payments on the child tax credit. By Andrew Lisa See: $1M Is No Longer the Standard Nest Egg – Here’s How Much Most Americans Think You Actually Need To RetireRead More: Here’s How Much You Need To Earn To Be ‘Rich’ in Every State...

Despite entering the league in 2003, 38-year-old Miguel Cabrera is still being paid like he’s in his prime. By Andrew Lisa Miguel Cabrera Net Worth: $125 Million Detroit fans howled in 2014 when the Tigers agreed to extend the first baseman’s contract through 2023 with two more optional years depending on his performance — despite still having two years left on his previous contract. For a team struggling with payroll issues, a commitment of 10 years and $292 million to an aging star was a head-scratching decision....

When someone purchases a house, they may receive congratulations from family and friends as a “new homeowner.” Some new buyers may counter with the age-old joke, “Well, the bank owns it — but I live here and pay for it!” By Dawn Allcot See: Mortgages 101: Should I Apply to More Than One Lender? Find: Stimulus Update: Mortgage Assistance Now Available in Arizona Of course, you’re not a tenant with a landlord, so you have certain rights within your home… and that includes the right to be proud of your purchase!...

By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Gen Z Is Most Likely To Have Discussed Salary With Friends and Colleagues When asked, “Have you asked your closest friends how much money they make?,” 37% of Americans ages 18 to 24 said they had. That percentage declines as age increases: 27% of Americans ages 25 to 34, 25% of Americans ages 35 to 44, 17% of Americans ages 45 to 54, 14% of Americans ages 55 to 64 and just 4% of Americans ages 65 and older said they had asked their closest friends how much money they make....

It’s always a good idea to spend a little now to save a lot later if you can, which is exactly what strategic car maintenance is all about. The following is a checklist of automotive to-dos that won’t cost you much upfront, but that might save you big money in the long run. Some will improve your fuel economy, others will prevent small problems from becoming big problems. But all of them are relatively simple and easy, yet have the potential to save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars over the life of your car....

Everyone knows about the giant bricks of Cheerios and human-sized bags of rice that keep members flocking back to Costco to save money on bulk purchases. But the country’s biggest warehouse membership club has much more to offer than just pallets of paper towels, tubs of tamales and, of course, rotisserie chicken. By Andrew Lisa At both its warehouse stores and its website, Costco is stocked with odd, unusual and unexpected stuff of all shapes and sizes....

It’s common for new investors to feel uneasy spending their money on real stocks without knowing exactly how the stock market works. The market is notoriously volatile, and it is easy to lose money quickly if you don’t know much about investing. By Allison Johnson About Stock Simulators PaperMoney HowTheMarketWorks Wall Street Survivor Other Options Usefulness Learn: 3 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 Luckily, stock market simulators make it convenient to practice investing....

By Andrew Lisa More From Your Money: Choose a high-interest saving, checking, CD, or investing account from our list of top banks to start saving today. Convenience and the Hidden Costs of In-Store Shopping “With the price of gas and the fact that most people are very busy, the time saved ordering online and going out to a porch to pick up vs. finding a parking spot, finding the item in the store, waiting in line to pay, taking it out and then driving home is important in consumer’s decision-making process....

Recession is a burning hot topic right now, but the conversation around it is rather chaotic. Like so many issues, the state of our economy has become a partisan debate, with Republican officials arguing that we’ve been plunged into a recession (with the blame falling on President Biden), while Democrat officeholders by and large insisting that we’re in a bumpy period economically, but not in a recession. By Nicole Spector See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsMore: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

Tis the season to be shopping! This year, savvy holiday shoppers will be heading to their favorite retailers with wish lists, budgets and apps that can help them save extra money. If you don’t already use a holiday shopping app, or you need another suggestion to add to your roster, you’ve come to the right place. By Heather Taylor Take a Look Back: 2022 Year in ReviewFind Out: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

If you’ve spent any amount of time looking for a rewards credit card, you’ve quickly noticed that many of the best offers are for frequent travelers. But the good news is that there are plenty of rewards credit cards designed for those who like to stay closer to home. Rewards credit cards that don’t focus on travel benefits can offer ways to stretch your budget further in the form of cash back....

Low temperatures and record-high inflation mean a big increase in home energy bills. In fact, nearly half of U.S. households that heat primarily with natural gas will spend 30% more than they did last winter. The 41% of households using electric heat are expected to spend 6% more, according to the Winter Fuels Outlook 2021 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. By Josephine Nesbit Inflation Fighting: The Best (and Worst) Things To Buy Each Month To Save MoneySee: How To Beat Inflation at Costco and Other Grocery Stores...

Sam’s Club is well known for its competitive pricing on a range of products, but you may be surprised to find out that the warehouse club sells a number of high-end items — at a discount of course. These items range from luxury skincare to top-of-the-line home goods. By Gabrielle Olya Take a Look Back: 2022 Year in ReviewSee: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows Here’s a look at six of the best quality items you can buy at Sam’s Club....

Social Security is an important source of retirement income, especially for women. But how well do you understand the benefits you’re due? By Jenny Rose Spaudo Here are seven things women should know about Social Security in retirement. 1. Women Face Greater Financial Challenges in Retirement Than Men More women rely on Social Security than men, yet their benefits are typically lower. After all, the more you work and pay taxes, the more Social Security credits you earn and the higher benefit you receive....

The youngest generations have been facing a slew of difficulties because of the pandemic, which for many has triggered a halt in their plans or even completely overturned their financial independence. This translated in part in reconsidering their living situations, and a new survey shows that a whopping almost 50% of Gen Z adults — those aged 18 to 24 — actually considered moving back home. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Read: Gen Z Feels Financially Unprepared for Adulthood — But Has Hope for the FutureSee: Surprising Ways Gen Z and Millennials Are Worlds Apart Financially...

Thanks to inflation, this holiday season many Americans are buying fewer gifts to cut back on expenses. While many shoppers are reducing the number of gifts they are buying, they aren’t stopping shopping altogether. Instead, many are on the lookout for the best sales and offers they can find on items. By Maddie Duley Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsMore: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

Most people will rarely come across a situation where they need a money order. However, if you do ever need to use a money order, you should know how it’s done. By Scott Jeffries Buying a Money Order Cost Refund Should You Buy Alternatives One common question is: can you buy a money order with a credit card? The simple answer is: yes. A detailed explanation will be discussed below....