Ah, Black Friday. Half the nation is in bed, nursing the year’s biggest tryptophan hangover — and the other half is beating down the doors of their local retailers, baying for bargains with a glint in their eyes and wallets in their hands. If you’re going to tackle the crowds, you’re going to need a […]
Category Archives: Finance
Social Security to start cashing Uncle Sam’s IOUs
The retirement nest egg of an entire generation is stashed away in this small town along the Ohio River: $2.5 trillion in IOUs from the federal government, payable to the Social Security Administration. It’s time to start cashing them in. For more than two decades, Social Security collected more money in payroll taxes than it […]
Sectors That Are Creating Jobs
The US Employment Situation report (better known as the jobs report) released on Friday paints a somewhat mixed picture of the labor market. The economy lost only 36,000 jobs in February, well below the consensus forecast of a 68,000 decline in jobs and continuing the trend of moderate job losses in recent months. Contrast that […]
Make Money in 2010
Raises should make a comeback, but keep an updated resume handy. Despite all the talk about economic recovery, you’re probably still anxious about next year’s job market — worried not necessarily about your position but maybe your spouse’s or your adult kids’ or your best pal’s. Your concern is understandable. According to the consensus estimate […]
Retirement Benefits: What to Expect in 2010
In most years, retirement benefits increase to keep up with inflation. But 2010 will be far from typical. Because of a drop in the consumer price index, government payouts and tax incentives to save for retirement will generally stay the same. At the same time, out-of-pocket retiree health costs, especially for prescription drugs, will continue […]
What Will People Do for $5
What do you get when you mix unemployment, frugal consumers and Internet boredom? One possible answer — Fiverr.com, a site that allows you to buy and sell tasks for $5. The “gigs,” all fixed at $5, range from the silly to serious. Among them: sending a nice postcard from Paris, burning a small paper effigy […]
Defaulted Loans May Haunt Seniors
A little–noticed law could soon result in smaller Social Security checks for hundreds of thousands of the elderly and disabled who owe the U.S. money from defaulted loans and other debts more than a decade old. Social Security benefits are off–limits to creditors, such as credit–card companies and banks. But the U.S. can collect debts […]
Great Real Estate Deals That Won’t Last
Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions that a person makes. Because of the serious financial commitment involved, most buyers are interested in securing the best deal possible when purchasing a home. As the economy continues to wreak havoc on our jobs and plans for retirement, many people are wondering when will be […]