by Kent McDillContributorIf an EpiPen has been a part of your family’s medical history for the past decade, you are entitled to some money.This is welcome news since the cost of a pair of allergy-reaction fighting EpiPens has jumped from about $100 in 2009 to nearly $700 today. Generic versions are a couple of hundred dollars less. And while most insurance plans cover the EpiPen, not everyone has insurance.That’s a
by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterCan’t stop talking about your RV? You can share that passion for life on the road with people interested enough to actually pay you to rent an RV.Plus, there are affordable insurance solutions that’ll give you true peace of mind and put any worrying thoughts to rest.And if you use an RV-rental marketplace called Outdoorsy, you’ll get renter verification, short-term insurance plans built into the booking flow
by Nicole DowSenior WriterBuying a car is a major financial decision.If you purchase a car using an auto loan, you’re paying for that decision every month for the next two to eight years.That doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with the loan you initially took out, though. You have options.If you’re not satisfied with your existing loan conditions or you need to adjust your monthly car payments due to
by JoEllen SchilkeContributor Weddings are complicated ventures whether you are booking the vendors yourself or working with a wedding planner. Expensive, too. And what if we told you that an extra $1,000 is needed for tips. That’s right, tips. It’s smart to budget a little something extra for the makeup artist that made the bride sparkle and the florist who got the groom’s mother to smile for the first time
by Tiffany ConnorsEditor/WriterIf you aren’t using your credit card, the whole out-of-sight-out-of-mind thing could keep you from spending money but still wind up landing you in financial trouble — think lower credit score due to inactivity and potential fraud.To protect yourself, watch out for these potential consequences of an unused credit card. When we were unable to eat out or shop as often, we had fewer excuses to pile more
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterLiving in a one-income household is like being a gymnast walking on a balance beam. You have absolutely no margin for error, and the slightest misstep can spell disaster. The tens of millions of jobs lost to the COVID-19 pandemic have left millions of families surviving as one-income households for the first time. That’s a really hard thing to do these days, especially if you’re not used
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI am 73 and have one son who is unmarried and lives in the same town. I also have five siblings. I am very close to my youngest sister who is on disability. I paid my home off two years ago, and I have some 401(k) savings. I am planning on leaving my home and all of my 401(k) and savings accounts
by Kathleen GarvinContributorAmericans and the word debt often seem like they go hand-in-hand. And for good reason.U.S. household debt hit an astonishing — and record-breaking — $14.6 trillion in 2021, according to Debt.org. Granted, this high total was partially influenced by the pandemic. And this figure is total debt, which includes non-loan amounts like money owed on credit cards.But, if used wisely, debt can be a tool. Contrary to the opinion of
by Catherine HilesContributorNo matter where you live, you are not immune from disasters. Floridians and Gulf Coast residents frequently deal with hurricanes, Californians with wildfires, Oklahomans with tornadoes and Minnesotans with blizzards.But one thing remains the same with all natural disasters: You need an emergency kit.Hopefully you keep sufficient batteries, bottled water and canned food in your home in case of emergencies. If not, it’s time to stock up.Sure, you
by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorLove and marriage don’t always last forever. But if your matrimony lasted 10 years or more, the financial benefits can last a lifetime. That’s because you may be able to take Social Security based on your ex-spouse’s benefits instead of your own, even if you divorced decades ago.The philosophy is that both spouses often contribute economically during the marriage, even if only one person was employed.
