Cookie Studio / Shutterstock.com Many people dream of retiring early. In fact, there’s even a movement these days, called FIRE, that offers the hope of financial independence (“FI”) and the ability to retire early (“RE”) from the grind. However, it’s important to note that in many cases, FIRE requires a great deal of planning — … Read more

Ralf’s Icons / Shutterstock.com What is the Federal Reserve? You probably know the Fed is powerful. Its meetings are tracked carefully by investors and the news media. Its work can seem complex. You get that it deals with money, loads of it. And numbers: tons and tons of data. OK, impressive. But, otherwise, why should … Read more

Savicic / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on LawnStarter. Fences replaced moats in ancient times. Today, you can create ornate barriers from many materials, including plants. Living fences are a sustainable and cost-effective way to define your property. If you’re dreaming of a way to add fantasy-invoking beauty to your yard, read on … Read more

The penalty for underpaying your taxes is about to sting a bit more than in the past. The IRS announced Nov. 29 that the interest rates it charges for underpayments will rise for the first quarter of 2023, Jan. 1-March 31. The rates the federal agency pays for overpayments also will rise. (Yes, if you … Read more

Target’s best sale of the year wasn’t on Black Friday or Cyber Monday. This year it falls on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 — this weekend — when Target gift cards are 10% off in stores and online. That might not sound like much of a deal at first, but hear me out. If you … Read more

View Apart / Shutterstock.com Living abroad can be an attractive and affordable way to spend retirement. And many countries offer visas specifically for American retirees. While often temporary, they are usually the start of a pathway to permanent residence. There are certainly potential challenges to retiring abroad, including dealing with taxes, assuring you’ll have access … Read more

pikselstock / Shutterstock.com As the holiday season gets into full swing, Santa has arrived early with some fabulous freebies. From complimentary coffee this month to a chance to get a free frosty treat every day in 2023, we’ve rounded up some of the best — and most delicious — deals for December. Read on to … Read more

Krakenimages.com / Shutterstock.com In the midst of a slowing market, many homebuyers are saying: “No deal.” About 60,000 people backed out of homebuying contracts in October, according to real estate service Redfin. That figure represents approximately 18% of the homes that were under contract for sale that month and is a new record. “Sale prices … Read more

tommaso79 / Shutterstock.com A friend once told me she planned to buy a snowblower. My first thought was, “Why?” She lived in a fairly mild region that, in some years, doesn’t get any snow at all, let alone enough to require mechanical intervention. She had three healthy teenagers at home, and shovels are much cheaper. … Read more

mavo / Shutterstock.com C’mon, everyone, get happy! If that sounds too hard, maybe you’ve been going about it all wrong. It’s time to stop waiting to hit the jackpot, meet Mr. or Ms. Right, or land that sweet job. True happiness doesn’t come from external factors like those. Instead, take a cue from happy people. … Read more