Many consumers may compare thrift shop experiences to a treasure hunt adventure. However, if you aren’t careful, it could be a horror movie instead. Thrift shops contain furnishings with obsoleted chemicals, bug-infested products and other things that shouldn’t be bought secondhand on principle. Vintage clothing and accessories aside, avoid these five potentially toxic or dangerous […]
Let’s say you have a cash windfall, whether it’s from a relative that passed away, an insurance claim, or you just got lucky with the lottery. The big question is what to do with it. It’s a good problem to have! Unless you are planning on a trip to Las Vegas, any debt that you […]
Divorce can occur at any adult age, but its consequences can be more financially destructive the older that we get. We usually hit our financial peak after middle age. And if you have been married for more than a decade but nearing retirement age, then both parties could be emotionally invested in the marriage. If […]
A significant number of Americans rely on their Social Security benefits as their sole or primary source of income. While that may seem like a startling statistic, it is not as bad as it may sound — depending on where you live. When it comes to Social Security and retirement, the cost of living can […]
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of securing your assets and ensuring your loved ones are taken care of after you pass away. Two primary instruments used for estate planning are trusts and wills. Although both serve similar purposes, they have distinct features that cater to different needs. In this blog, we’ll explore the key […]
With today’s historic low rates, many people are thinking about refinancing their mortgages and lowering their monthly interest expenses. But is it the right time for you? Whether you need to lower your payments or pay for home improvements, here are three good reasons to refinance your home. To get a lower interest rate The best […]
The phrase, “location, location, location” usually refers to real estate transactions. It can also be used to explain the main budgeting consideration when developing a sustainable retirement plan. The cost of retiring increases incrementally every year. Relative cost of living expenses and inflation must be considered when calculating a retirment budget. And for many retirees, […]
About 10 million American homes feature an inground pool. For many Americans, installing a pool is the closest equivalent of an extravagant home feature — a sign that you “made it” in America. Yet a pool is probably the least interesting feature in a celebrity home. Some have backyard mini-mansions, experimental sinks, and mattresses that […]
The only thing that can be more expensive than attaining higher education may be the price of ignorance. Still, the cost of tuition is high. The average one-year tuition for a private college is $37,000 and $22,600 at a public college. Tuition may be a moot now since the pandemic caused the closure of most […]
Financial markets often are directly correlated to the macroeconomic, social and political factors far out of our control. Herds of investors are prone to reacting in extremes whenever these macro factors exhibit sudden change. The coronavirus shutdowns are a prime example. But the same factors — fear, panic, herd mentality — drove the declines in […]
