As much as we’re fans of the frugal lifestyle, it’s not always right in every situation. There are a few scenarios where holding back spending … Read More 6 Daily Habits That Cause Frugal Americans to Struggle With Their Financial Goals.

Even when you’re doing everything “right,” budgeting can still feel exhausting. This article explores why—and how to make your budget work better for your real life. The post Why Budgeting Feels So Hard (Even When You’re Doing Everything “Right”) appeared first on The Budget Mom.

As the seasons change, the allure of spending time outdoors grows stronger. But what’s an outdoor space without the perfect setup? DIY outdoor furniture and planters offer a unique opportunity to personalize your garden, patio, or balcony, transforming it into your own oasis. Whether you’re a seasoned DIY enthusiast or a beginner looking to dip your toes into creative projects, there’s something incredibly satisfying about building something with your own hands. Crafting your own outdoor […]

Before the article, check out the latest on my podcast, Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors: On Apple Podcasts On Spotify On YouTube Now, here’s today’s article: Podcast listener Corey wrote in and said… I’ve gotten very serious about personal finance recently and have consumed a large amount of personal finance content over the last 18 months. Something I’ve noticed to be lacking is how to plan and account for healthcare costs during all phases of your retirement planning. I think most people would agree that it represents a huge aspect of an individual’s or family’s financial picture and I think the argument could be made that, on average, it is a poorly understood topic by the general public. I think Corey makes a great point, and I’m happy to admit I fall in that camp. I know my fair share about portfolio this and account type that. Saving on taxes, when to claim Social Security. I’ve got my facts down. When it comes to Medicare, IRMAA, some of those ideas, I can poke my way around. But Corey’s question caused me to dig deeper into this question than I ever had before.  Now that I’ve dug and dug and dug, here are the 4 stages of healthcare during all phases of your retirement planning.  Healthcare Costs While Working Most American employees have an employer-sponsored group plan. It might be worth defining some terms here, like premiums, deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums.  Think of premiums as your monthly membership fee for having health insurance. You pay your premium every month, whether or not you go to the doctor. It’s the cost of staying in the club, so your insurance is active and ready when you need it. Your deductible is the amount you must pay out of pocket each year before your insurance coverage kicks in. Example: If you have a $2,000 deductible, you pay the first $2,000 of your medical bills yourself. After that, your insurance starts chipping in. A co-pay is a fixed amount you pay when you receive certain services. For example, you might pay $30 every time you visit your primary care doctor, or $10 for a prescription. Co-pays usually kick in even before you’ve met your deductible. The out-of-pocket maximum is the the most you’ll have to spend in a year on covered health care. It’s your “ceiling.” Once you hit this number, insurance pays 100% of covered expenses for the rest of the year.It includes what you pay toward deductibles, co-pays, and co-insurance (if your plan has that too). Some healthcare plans allow you to open a Health Savings Account, or HSA. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a fantastic account with a so-called “triple tax advantage.” You get to invest tax-deferred on the front end. You can invest your money in an HSA, and it’ll grow tax-free. And then when you spend on healthcare costs, your withdrawals are tax-free too.  For Sudden

Turning thirteen isn’t just another birthday. It’s not about party favors or cake flavors. It’s the moment your daughter is standing with one foot in childhood and the other stepping into who she’s becoming. And that? That deserves more than a practical gift card and a “we’ll do something small.” Even if your family prides … Read more

Saving money can be an uphill battle at times, and often can seem impossible.  It can feel like something is always coming up that you didn’t plan for and it screws up the whole month, and can even make you feel like you will never be able to catch up.  Just be sure to remember, … Read More about Easy Weekly Savings Plan to Actually Save Money in 2025 The post Easy Weekly Savings Plan to Actually Save Money in 2025 appeared first on Budgets Made Easy.

Buying a home is rarely simple at the best of times, but when the property itself is out of the ordinary, the process can bring… The post Buying an Unusual Property? What You Need to Know appeared first on Savings and Sangria.

Fall is a season of fresh starts. The kids are back in school, routines are falling into place, and there’s still time before the whirlwind of the holidays hits. That makes it the perfect time to hit reset on your money and create a simple game plan that helps you finish the year strong. When … Read More about 🍂 Your Fall Financial Game Plan: 5 Steps to End the Year Strong The post 🍂 Your Fall Financial Game Plan: 5 Steps to End the Year Strong appeared first on Budgets Made Easy.