Consider a side hustle to earn extra cash
Can you make a decent living in the gig economy? The odds are against you if you rely on the best-known job platforms, such as Uber and DoorDash, which offer miserable net pay to drivers. A dozen other well-known sites — including HomeAdvisor, Mechanical Turk and TaskRabbit — treat workers equally poorly. Their specific sins vary from site to site, ranging from charging workers for... READ MORE
Economic abuse and fraud on the rise
Unfortunately, there is a great deal of financial abuse and fraud in our country, and much of it is aimed at individuals 50 and older. Attorney Michael Hackard, the founder of a California law firm that focuses on estate and trust litigation, has self-published an informative, comprehensive book, The Wolf at the Door, now in paperback. This book can be helpful to people with elderly ... READ MORE
Smart ways to handle an inheritance
We’ve all heard stories about individuals who passed away quietly after a life of frugality, leaving a fortune to their unsuspecting heirs or, occasionally, a beloved pet. The reality is a lot less riveting. Although two-thirds of baby boomers are expected to receive an inheritance — mostly from parents — longer life spans and the rising cost of healthcare can shrink the size of... READ MORE
Readers’ financial questions answered
Q: An address listed on my credit report is incorrect. Is there any reason to start a dispute to change it? — K.K. online pharmacy doxycycline for sale with best prices today in the USA A: It’s a good idea to fix the error. The incorrect address could be the result of a “mixed file,” when information of two individuals gets combined into one credit report, or “it could be an... READ MORE
Beware of these rewards cards gotchas
You drop a hundred bucks on groceries at Walmart, fill your tank at the store’s gas station and pay for both purchases with a credit card that claims to offer heightened rewards on grocery and gas spending. But when you check your statement later, you find that the transactions got a measly 1% cash back, instead of the 3% or more you were expecting. What gives? Purchases from... READ MORE
Share your financial plan with progeny
As my children grow older, I grapple with a mix of emotions — some sadness and nostalgia for when they were small enough to sit on my lap, but above all, excitement for them to learn and experience life on their own. Both of my sons are in college now, and a large part of the transition they are making to adulthood is related to how they engage with and take responsibility for their... READ MORE
Make each dollar you spend spark joy
Famous organizer Marie Kondo has inspired countless people to wipe out clutter. Her KonMari organizing method, popularized by her book and Netflix series, lays out how to get more joy from your life and possessions. This approach can extend to your money, too. Applying her mindset can reduce the financial clutter in your life and help you make a better plan for each dollar. Here’s how... READ MORE
Working longer makes a huge difference
Retirement experts frequently recommend working longer if you haven’t saved enough. But you may not realize just how powerful a little extra work can be. Researchers who compared the relative returns of working longer versus saving more last year reached some startling findings. Among them: — Working three to six months longer was the equivalent of saving an additional 1% for 30... READ MORE
Pre-Medicare? Beware twist on co-pays
If you are not yet on Medicare and use a drug manufacturer’s discount coupon or co-pay assistance card to save money on medicine, check your health plan before you fill your next prescription. Otherwise, you could be in for an unpleasant surprise at the pharmacy counter. You might be subject to a co-pay “accumulator program,” which is a new restriction that prevents your discount... READ MORE
Census offers temp jobs for retirees
Dear Savvy Senior, The U.S. Census Bureau is in the process of recruiting thousands of workers for temporary jobs to help collect valuable data for the 2020 Census, and retirees are ideal candidates. Can you write a column to get the word out? Thanks for your help! — Census Recruiter Dear Recruiter, I’m happy to oblige, and I agree. This once-a-decade job opportunity is... READ MORE
