Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI receive full disability from Social Security. I am 64 and went out on disability at 48 years old. (I was born in 1957.) Since there is now a shortage of labor, I thought I might like to try going back to work. Social Security has a Ticket to Work program, which gives you a limited time to try working without losing
by Sarah Kuta, Catherine Hiles We’re always looking for ways to save money, and one surefire way to do that is to buy products that last. You can also buy products from companies that will repair or replace them if they break. You may spend a bit more up front, but quality items — and ones with awesome lifetime warranties — can end up saving you money in the long
If you’re on the lookout for a new job that pays well, your timing could not be better. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures, the job market is bouncing back — there were 11 million job openings across the country in late 2021 — and all indications point to a rise in opportunities for people with varying levels of experience, skills, and educational credentials in 2022. Don’t have
by Robert BruceSenior Writer The hot real estate market of 2021 shows no signs of slowing down in 2022, according to a recent study released by Zillow. That’s especially true in the South. Nine of the top 10 forecasted hot markets are in the southern U.S., with Tampa leading the way. Jacksonville, Raleigh, San Antonio and Charlotte rounded out the top 5. Zillow’s Top 10 Markets Rank City Typical Home
Letters of recommendation can be valuable assets for aspiring undergraduate and graduate students, new job seekers, and even employees looking to move up in their organization. However, you’ll not only need to determine who to ask — spoiler alert: Your BFF’s mother is not a good reference unless she was also your college professor or you interned at her company — but you also need to establish how and when to
by Nicole DowSenior WriterRaising any child is expensive, but when you’re raising a child who has special needs, there are additional financial responsibilities to consider.The cost of doctor’s visits, therapy appointments, medication and special equipment add up. The amount of time needed to provide care may restrict you or your partner from working outside the home — or even at all.Depending on your child’s condition, you may need to provide
by Timothy MooreContributorQuick NavigationPet emergencies, like human emergencies, are unexpected, scary and expensive.In fact, veterinary care in the U.S. is a $31.4 billion industry, based on data from 2020. With costs expected to continue to rise in 2022, how can you ensure that your pet receives the best care in the event of an emergency? First, you need to plan ahead for something you hope will never happen. Here are
by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterThe easiest way to save a lot of money is to make a lot of it first. If only it were that simple. But just because you may have to try harder than some (and most of us do), it doesn’t mean saving money has to be hard.If you make enough money to pay for all of your necessities every month, there’s room to save and grow
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterIf you shop on eBay, you know it can be a great place to find a bargain. But if you’re like most eBay shoppers, you’re probably not getting any cash back on your eBay purchases.What’s that? you ask. I could be getting cash back on eBay?Yes, although it’s getting trickier now that eBay is shutting down its own cash-back program.“Enrollment in the eBay Bucks Rewards Program is
by Katherine Snow SmithContributor It’s always the season to clean out closets, basements and attics and cash in on some of that stuff that doesn’t “spark joy” as organizing guru Marie Kondo would say. Believe it or not, your grandmother’s World War II antique china collections with the floral patterns may well spark joy for someone else even if you can’t get your kids to take it. Or it could
