fizkes / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Construction Coverage. Due to both the drive up in home prices that began in 2020 and rising interest rates, mortgage payments have increased rapidly over the last year. The monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home is now 66% higher than a year ago. According … Read more
Steve Cukrov / Shutterstock.com If chips and candy bars have a strong hold on your mind — and waistline — you are not alone. About 13% of older Americans meet the criteria for addiction to junk food and beverages, according to recent data from the University of Michigan’s National Poll on Healthy Aging, which surveyed … Read more
vchal / Shutterstock.com Everyone knows that wages are taxed by the federal government, but Uncle Sam has a far-reaching definition of “taxable income.” It covers numerous types of earnings that many people don’t realize are subject to federal income taxes. Following are several examples of taxable income that may come as a surprise. 1. Social … Read more
Rido / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com. Every 60 seconds, 20 people are abused by an intimate partner. Domestic violence affects people of all races, ethnicities, religions, incomes, beliefs, and sexual orientations. It can include stalking, sexual violence, physical violence, and financial control. Domestic violence also doesn’t pause when we go … Read more
fizkes / Shutterstock.com Inflation continues to make life difficult for millions of Americans. Although prices have moderated somewhat in recent months, costs continue to climb. And it seems unlikely that the trend will abate any time soon. That truth has people discouraged, according to recent polling by Fidelity Investments. In a survey of 3,569 adults … Read more
Retirement is an essential milestone that requires careful planning and saving to ensure a comfortable future. But with so many variables at play, it’s challenging to determine the magic number needed to secure a comfortable retirement. After someone asked a poverty finance community how much they needed for a comfortable retirement, these were their honest … Read more
wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock.com If you were born in 1950, Uncle Sam has his eye on you right now. That’s because April 1, 2023, is the deadline to take your first required minimum distribution (RMD), essentially a mandatory withdrawal of a minimum amount of money from retirement accounts. That withdrawal is generally considered taxable income. This … Read more
Tattoboo / Shutterstock.com There’s an old adage: Money can’t buy happiness. But there are plenty of twists on that saying. One 2015 country song by Chris Janson claims, “money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy me a boat.” Janson’s point is pretty clear: If you have money, you can certainly smooth the way for … Read more
Tyler Olson / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on LawnStarter. Americans have a fondue-ness for cheese — but cheese love isn’t spread evenly across our vast country. In search of 2023’s Best Cities for Cheese Lovers, LawnStarter compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities on factors in four categories: cheese access, quality, affordability, and … Read more
Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Living on the Cheap. As I write this, I’m nursing sore legs from a half-marathon that I completed two days ago. For most of my life, I’ve been possibly one of the least athletic people on Earth and never considered running for fitness. But here … Read more