You split another checkout into four payments, tapped approve, and moved on. That habit used to be invisible to your credit score no matter how many apps you used. Not anymore. New scoring models built specifically for buy now pay later loans are rolling out at the credit bureaus in 2026, and nearly 130 million Americans who use these apps are about to find out what that means for their credit. Here is what actually […]

There are a lot more places that sell stamps than just the Post Office. You can buy postage stamps at grocery stores, pharmacies, warehouse clubs, convenience stores, office supply stores, and even some ATMs. You can also order them online and have them delivered to your home. The best place to get stamps depends on what matters most to you. The Post Office offers the largest selection, while grocery stores and pharmacies are convenient if […]

If you are like most people, you think of “budget” as something that restricts your lifestyle.   To some degree, a budget does force you to reevaluate your spending.   But if you do it the right way, then a budget will help you feel free. Not restricted. (Curious how? My Freedom Budget Planner will guide you through it!) With some thought, you can create a budget that lets you enjoy your money without putting you into significant debt. A budget should help you manage your finances so you can reach your financial goals and live your life. Hopefully these will help you do just that.  Have a Fund for the Unexpected The unexpected will happen to you at one point in life, and it may be expensive. If you already have savings and invest them regularly, make sure you keep some cash on hand. It’s also important to decide how much you should keep on hand and make a plan for replenishing it or withdrawing from it. Read More: What Is a Life Happens Fund? (And Why It’s Not Your Emergency Fund) Define Your Needs Know what you need to keep the rent or mortgage paid and keep your lights on, as well as any necessary transportation expenses to take you to and from work. Other utilities also fall under this category. You need food and water. Entertainment expenses do not. You don’t need Netflix.  If you have a variable income, this step is vital. You need to know what you need before you can budget for anything else. Prioritize Your Wants Once you know what the essentials cost, make a list of what needs to be done and a list of what you want or want to do. Then rank these lists from most immediate needs to things you can put off for a while. This will clearly show your priorities and serve as a reminder if something comes up. You can revise this list, but try to complete the items near the top and work your way down. This will help keep you on budget. Consider Payment Plans For many, setting aside a certain amount each year for a yearly expense, fixed or variable, can be difficult. That’s why some services, like the gas company, offer payment plans. They may even come bundled with some kind of discount. Track Everything at Regular Intervals Don’t put off managing your budget to one night a month. Track your expenses as they happen. Software and apps can help make this incredibly easy. Want to put this advice into action? Grab my free Monthly Budget Planner and start managing your money with confidence. [Get it here → Monthly Budget Planner]   Budget for the Year For most people getting a regular paycheck, it makes sense to plan for significant expenses in advance. If you are shopping for a new car and all the costs that come along with moving, that’s an expense you’ll want to budget for. Redistribute For many, learning

When you search for a company to pay a bill, the top result can be a paid ad for an impostor’s site. That site can tack on a fee and deliver your payment late. Skip the search and go straight to the website listed on your bill or the company’s own app. Source

Letting your health plan roll over at open enrollment means buying next year’s coverage without checking next year’s prices. Before the window closes, add 12 months of each option’s premiums to what you’d expect to pay out of pocket, and compare the totals. Then confirm your doctors and prescriptions are still covered. Source

My Sweet Retirement SIA Shares Price: Dividend Yield and Should I Buy Now? The SIA shares price sits at around S$6.55 as of 21 September 2026. Since the SIA shares price changes throughout each trading day, I always check the live quote on SGX or my broker before … SIA Shares Price: Dividend Yield and Should I Buy Now? My Sweet Retirement

Don’t miss an episode of our podcast, Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors. Available on all podcast players. Here’s the latest episode: Small change, giant impact. One challenge in financial planning is when a “small” decision creates much bigger than we assumed. “End of Plan” is one such decision. Some planning software might call it “planning horizon” or “life expectancy” or any number of other euphemisms for “when might you die?” Yes, death is scary to consider. And it’s obvious how our lifespan affects our finances. The longer we live, the more money we need to live a successful retirement. But there’s so much more! If you’ve ever dabbled with financial planning software (Boldin, Pralana, eMoney, RightCapital, Empower, etc.), you might be unaware of the unintended side effects that “age at death” is creating in your plan. Defining the “Problem”… The (frequent) “problem” I witness follows this logic: Running out of money is a scary idea. I don’t want to underestimate when we’ll die. I’ll overestimate instead…I’ll live until 90. My wife, 95. Boom. I’ve “solved” the problem of running out of money. [Narrator: But they were completely unaware of the unintended side effects…] I agree that it’s important to “stress test” whether you’ll run out of money. Changing your assumed age of death is a good idea. But what else are people missing? Let’s dive into what people often miss. Side Effect 1: Social Security Claiming Extending your End of Plan to age ~85+ almost assuredly pushes your Social Security claiming strategy out to age 70. If you live a long time, you wouldn’t want to claim Social Security early. This one is straightforward. In fact, it might be less of an “unintended side effect” and more of a “known headliner.” Plenty of couples should be claiming Social Security before 70 — at least for one of the two spouses. But if you model your End of Plans out at 85, 90, etc., then the planning software might encourage you both to delay until age 70. Side Effect 2: Roth Conversions Roth conversions are tricky. Decades of unknowns lie ahead, and you need to account for them in today’s Roth conversion math. It’s a gray area. Nevertheless, what’s the effect of assuming someone lives until age 95? The main effect is that said person would have 20+ years of required minimum distributions, the last of which would be more than 10% of their account value. These RMDs would push this person into higher and higher tax brackets, likely making present-day Roth conversions more and more attractive. Said succinctly: later death = more Roth conversions today. But if that same person dies at 75? Roth conversions might be outright bad. If they die at 80? Perhaps much smaller Roth conversions would be appropriate. The choice of modeling death at age 85, 90, or 95 can encourage

This long box has a butterfly clasp lid and can hold 300 comics. Image source: Amazon This post includes affiliate links. If you purchase anything through these affiliated links, the author/website may earn a commission. Here’s the hard truth: without proper storage, even the most valuable comics can warp, fade, or tear over time. Whether you’re safeguarding a vintage Amazing Spider-Man or your latest indie gem, the right short and long boxes are essential for […]