Before buying a clearance plant, inspect its roots and both sides of the leaves. Healthy firm roots and cosmetic damage may be worth rescuing, while rot, disease, and serious pest infestations can turn a $3 bargain into an expensive mistake. Catherine Anne Thomas/Shutterstock There is something dangerously tempting about the clearance rack at a garden center. A perennial that cost $15 in May is suddenly $3, its flowers are gone, half its leaves are brown, […]

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 […]

Grocery store garlic can sometimes grow successfully, but seed garlic is selected for planting and may offer better varieties and lower disease risk. Saving healthy bulbs from your own harvest can cut future costs. Elena Seiryk/Shutterstock Standing in the produce aisle, it’s easy to wonder why you’d pay a premium for seed garlic when an ordinary bulb of garlic may cost only a dollar or two. After all, garlic isn’t normally grown from botanical seed—you […]

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

Projections for the 2027 COLA are around 3.5%, but that could be the last such increase. As part the effort to fix SS solvency, the idea of a flat fixed dollar COLA has surfaced again. In short that would mean most retirees would receive less than under the current calculation.  For example, the COLA adjustment would be based on a certain level of benefits, say the 20th percentile. That is currently about $1,200 to $1,300 […]

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

We bought a house in 1971 for $59,000. The property taxes were $2,700 a year. We lived there until 2018. We sold the house for a little over $500,000. In 2026 that property is assessed at $483,000 and the taxes are $15,000 a year. The average annual increase in property taxes is about 3.17%.  Over the same period (1971 to 2026), the average annual U.S. inflation rate (measured by the Consumer Price Index, or CPI) […]

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