As retirement approaches, you’re going to face a big decision: At what age should you claim Social Security benefits?Do you start drawing Social Security at age 62, as soon as you can, or do you wait until you reach your full retirement age, which is 66 or 67 for people born after 1942? Or … [Read more...] about When to claim Social Security
How to choose the right place to retire
A generation ago, retirement was more defined. You had a last day of work, collected your gold watch and headed for a planned community in Florida or Arizona. But the baby boomer generation is heading into a much different kind of retirement. Modern technology has made it easier to move to another … [Read more...] about How to choose the right place to retire
How to say ‘no’ and teach your kids about money
We’ve all seen it, and if you’re a parent, you’ve certainly experienced a similar scene: Kid melts down, whining in the store that he must have a candy bar, toy or whatever is important in the moment. As the noise escalates, the parent gives in to avoid embarrassment. That’s no way to teach your … [Read more...] about How to say ‘no’ and teach your kids about money
How to buy a foreclosure home
Just a few years ago, buying a foreclosed home was seen as a way to get a bargain. With a glut of foreclosures and few buyers perusing the market, lenders were willing to sell homes at a substantial discount just to get rid of them.Those days are gone. Buying a foreclosure can still be a good … [Read more...] about How to buy a foreclosure home
How to buy and sell a house at the same time
Now that the real estate market is climbing out of the doldrums (or now that your family has grown by a member or even a few), you may be ready to buy a new home.But do you sell your old home first? Or do you buy and then sell?“It’s always a tough choice to make,” says Anthony Vitale, senior … [Read more...] about How to buy and sell a house at the same time
Best way to buy and sell furniture on Craigslist
The garage and the basement are full. You can’t stand that old entertainment center. You really want a new sofa but don’t want to pay new-furniture prices.In decades past, you might have put up a notice on the bulletin board at your local coffee shop or checked the newspaper classifieds. But … [Read more...] about Best way to buy and sell furniture on Craigslist
How to turbocharge your online home search
There was a time when the only way to find homes for sale was to engage a real estate agent to send you listings or drive up and down the streets scouting "for sale" signs.In the past decade, an explosion of online real estate listings services has drastically changed the way Americans look for … [Read more...] about How to turbocharge your online home search
New rules for buying a house in a sellers’ market
It wasn’t so long ago that you could shop for homes at your leisure, offer significantly below asking price and end up with a bargain.No more.In many parts of the country, buyers outnumber sellers, and homes listed for sale in the morning may be under contract by lunch. Homes in good … [Read more...] about New rules for buying a house in a sellers’ market
10 ways to get your retirement plan back on track
Back in 2001, David Raether was a comedy writer for the TV sitcom "Roseanne," earning $300,000 a year. He and his wife and their eight children lived comfortably in a big house in an upscale suburb of Los Angeles.That was before the recession, before Raether lost his career, his home and his … [Read more...] about 10 ways to get your retirement plan back on track
Apps help you find cheapest gas
When gas prices are low, it doesn’t always make sense to drive around looking for a station where it’s a few cents cheaper. Time is money, after all — not to mention the extra fuel you’d burn in the hunt.But as prices pass $4 a gallon and the cost of filling a tax exceeds $50, saving money on … [Read more...] about Apps help you find cheapest gas
Get free stuff, give old stuff away
Wouldn't it be great if there were an easy way to give your unwanted but perfectly good stuff to someone who needed it? And a way to get stuff that's perfect for you but doesn't work for your neighbors any more?There is, and it's called Freecycle. It's a great way to work with your neighbors to … [Read more...] about Get free stuff, give old stuff away