Americans heading into retirement are facing a hefty gap between what they have saved and what they believe they need — a difference that has ballooned by roughly half a million dollars. Recent research from Clever Real Estate suggests retirees now estimate they need an average of $823,800 in savings and investments to retire comfortably … Read more
Stepping into a grocery store today feels like an exercise in budget defense these days. With food costs remaining a primary concern for most households, many shoppers have performed a quiet revolution in their carts, swapping out expensive name brands for generic or store-brand alternatives. For staples like salt, sugar, or flour, the savings provided … Read more
March and April are historically dangerous months for your travel budget. Airlines and hotels, anticipating the rush, artificially inflate prices in hotspots like Orlando, Cancun and Phoenix. If you follow the herds, you pay a premium to stand in line behind college students on spring break. The smart financial move is to pivot— shifting your … Read more
You find a hotel room for $149 a night, but by the time you click “Book,” taxes and a mysterious “Resort Fee” have inflated the total to $225. This is often called drip pricing — a tactic where the advertised price is stripped of mandatory fees to look artificially low. While the Federal Trade Commission … Read more
Scientists have known for years that the trillions of microscopic residents in human digestive tracts have a major say in overall health. But until recently, they didn’t know how bacteria were delivering the message. According to a recent study published in the scientific journal Nature, researchers have identified a molecular pathway that allows gut bacteria … Read more
Many people depend on Social Security without realizing how easily certain choices can reduce the benefits they receive. Whether it’s overlooking other income sources or misunderstanding how working affects payouts, these missteps can lead to smaller checks in retirement. Understanding the most common pitfalls makes it much easier to protect your benefits and ensure you’re … Read more
Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on FlexJobs.com. Over the past few years, many companies have learned that embracing permanent remote work is the future of work. While some companies have reversed their promises with return-to-office (RTO) mandates, many other work-from-home companies haven’t abandoned their remote work policies and don’t intend to. Following are companies … Read more
You’re standing in the baby food aisle, exhausted, staring at a wall of pouches and jars. The labels look reassuring. They scream “Organic,” “Non-GMO,” “No Added Sugar,” and feature pictures of wholesome broccoli and happy pears. You toss a few in the cart, feeling like you’ve done your job. Here’s the bad news: You might … Read more
Feeling stuck in the routine of everyday work happens to far more people than you might expect. What begins as a stable, predictable job can slowly turn into a cycle of long hours, limited growth, and fading motivation. Over time, that comfort zone can start to feel more like a barrier, holding you back from … Read more