Mystery deposit from your credit union? It’s your share of the profits
If you bank with a credit union, you may notice a deposit appear once a year labeled something like “descriptive deposit rebate.” It is not a mistake. It…
Category: Money & Personal Finance
“Free $1,000” insurance from the bank
Your bank or credit union may have already sent you an announcement that you are covered for $1,000 of accidental death and dismemberment insurance. It’s…
Can you fund retirement without stocks?
Some want zero stock market exposure when they retire. Maybe they were burned in 2008. Maybe they remember the decade from 2000 to 2009, when the S&P 500…
The two-week trouble of payday loans
Payday loans are legal in most states, but illegal or capped at very low rates in about 21 states and the District of Columbia. If your state allows them,…
The SALT deduction: a bigger break for homeowners
If you pay significant state income taxes or property taxes, a change in federal tax law probably made you plenty happy with 2025 taxes and your luck will…
What parents (and grandparents) need to know about child tax credits in 2026
If you have children in your household, two federal tax credits could put real money back in your pocket, and both have changed enough in 2026 to be worth…
The Midwestern millionaire: The guy next door plans his moves
You probably know someone like this. They are not flashy. They pack a lunch. They wait for fruit to go on sale. When their kids ask to stop for fast food,…
When Streaming Stops Being The Cheap Option
Cutting the cord was supposed to save money. For many households, it still does, but the math is getting murkier. The average cable bill runs…
Costco Membership Earning Its Keep?
A Costco Gold Star membership costs $65 a year – which means it pays for itself the moment you’ve saved $5.42 a month. For families,…
The real cost of dinner at your door
The food delivery apps make it look simple: tap a few buttons, and dinner appears. What they make considerably less visible is what that convenience…