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Families in Texas are spending more than ever on their utility costs, due to the scorching hot summers – Shutterstock Summer in Texas does not whisper—it roars in with triple-digit heat, blazing sun, and air conditioners running nonstop from sunrise to midnight. This year, that familiar heat comes with an even sharper edge: rising electricity bills that hit household budgets harder than many families expected. Utility companies across the state report higher demand spikes, and […]
There are plenty of herbs you can grow in your backyard that will give your medicine cabinet a boost – Shutterstock Grocery prices keep climbing, cold and flu season never seems far away, and many households now search for practical ways to cut costs while staying healthy. A small herb garden can help tackle both problems at once because several common medicinal herbs grow quickly, require little space, and cost far less than store-bought supplements […]
A garden trellis can be a helpful took in your backyard, and there are many ways to use them – Shutterstock A climbing plant with nowhere to climb turns into a tangled, sprawling mess fast. Cucumbers smother nearby herbs, pole beans snake across walkways, and sweet peas flop face-first into muddy soil after the first hard rain. Garden centers sell fancy trellises for shocking prices, but many gardeners already own everything needed to build sturdy […]
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has unveiled a sweeping property tax proposal that would significantly expand homestead exemptions and create a pathway toward eliminating property taxes for most Florida homeowners. The proposal, called the “Save Our Homes from Excessive Property Taxes” plan, would raise Florida’s homestead exemption from its current maximum of $50,000 to $250,000 and require lawmakers to establish a schedule that could eventually eliminate property taxes entirely on homesteaded properties. Read the rest
Happy 5/29 Day! Regular readers probably already know that a 529 is a college savings plan. For those new here, well, I guess you just found out! I first started looking into college savings plans in 2007, when my nephew was born. I wanted to give him a little head start. I loved the idea my gift would be multiplied thanks to the power of compound interest. Now, he’s 18 years old! He’ll be off […]
You’re doing the math again. One paycheck. The rent, the groceries, the utilities, the minimum payments. By the time you get to the bottom of the list, there’s almost nothing left. And somehow, everyone online seems to be talking about “extra money” you’re supposed to have lying around for debt payoff or savings. It doesn’t feel real from where you’re standing. Budgeting on a single income is not the same as budgeting on two. The […]
[Happy 5/29 day! While it’s not as popular as May 4th (Star Wars) or May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), it may be much more important to your life than either. I originally wrote this article in 2007 after days of reading about to best gift money for my nephew’s college. Nearly 20 years later, the specifics of the plans may have changed, but the overall lessons and logic remain the same. My nephew and niece […]
The April 2026 CPI number came in hot, confirming what most of us are feeling in our pocketbooks — rising prices. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for April crept up to 3.8%, the highest since May 2023. Core Inflation, an adjusted number that excludes food and energy prices, rose to 2.8%. This one isn’t as… The post Inflation Creep and Your Financial Plan appeared first on Retire Before Dad.
Everyone refers to 529 plans as college savings plans for kids. And that’s how they started out. But these tax-advantaged plans have evolved into so much more. You can benefit from your own 529 plan. Whether or not you’re in school right now. Even if you don’t have kids and never plan to. If you think you might ever want to get more education… if you’re current profession requires continuing education… if you’re thinking about […]
Over all the years I’ve been writing this blog, Ben Carlson is among the top few writers I’ve linked to most often (Jim Dahle and Christine Benz are probably the competitors). Ben recently released a new book, which I just finished reading: Risk and Reward: How to handle market volatility and build long-term wealth. In short, it’s excellent. It would be on my short list of books to recommend to a new investor, and I […]
Most retirees spend decades preparing for retirement taxes, but many never spend much time thinking about what happens to those taxes after they are gone. Early in retirement, the focus is usually on generating sustainable income and keeping taxes manageable each year. But for households likely to leave assets behind, the planning process eventually starts to shift. As the focus moves towards leaving a legacy for your loved ones, tax planning becomes more about […]
Choosing a financial planner isn’t just another decision on your list. It’s a relationship that can shape how you make financial decisions for years—sometimes decades—to come. The right fit can help you feel more clear, more confident, and more intentional with your money. The wrong fit doesn’t always fail dramatically—but it can quietly lead to second-guessing, missed opportunities, or advice that never quite feels aligned. So if you’re at the point of choosing someone, it makes sense to […]
Summer travel costs can rise fast once hotel rates, restaurant meals, gas, and attraction tickets start piling up. Many families want a break without coming home to a credit card bill that feels like a second vacation. The good news is that affordable summer travel still exists if you plan carefully and focus on simple … Read more