Dear Penny: Will I Be Left With Nothing When My Partner of 50 Years Dies?

Can I receive his retirement when he dies? Im very worried Ill be on the street after taking care of him all these years. What advice can you give me? -Lost Dear Lost, Lots of people will tell you that marriage is just a piece of paper. But thats simply not true. Before I go any further, I want to address the minuscule possibility that youre in a common-law marriage....

February 12, 2023 · 2 min · 317 words · Nancy Davis

11 Pantry Essentials for Whipping Up Easy Low-Cost Meals

Saving money on food comes down to one thing: working smarter, not harder. Saving money in the kitchen is always important, but even more soas food prices rise. Can You Survive 10 Days of Budgeting? Spices and dried herbs can be expensive. We’ve rounded up 10 ways tosave money on spicesthat will help keep your pantry stocked for scratch cooking. If you oughta wrangle your budget, it may be time to consider a savings challenge....

February 10, 2023 · 4 min · 681 words · Christopher Jackson

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Your Savings Account Interest?

At the end of 2021, thebest high-yield savings accountsearned an average of about 0.5% to 1%. As long as the Fedkeeps raising rates, high-yield savings account rates will keep inching higher. But all that interest isnt free money. You have to pay taxes on savings account earnings. Heres how it works. Are Savings Accounts Taxable? Interest earned on a savings account is considered taxable income by the Internal Revenue Service....

February 10, 2023 · 3 min · 457 words · Robert Carey

Free File Alliance Is the Cheapest Way to File Your Taxes

But we like a challenge, dont we? Except most of us dont use it … because we dont know it exists. No Interest Til Almost 2027? Check out these eight ways tofile your taxes for free. Seven companies are part of this agreement as of January 2023,according to its recent press release. It also bars the IRS from providing its own free filing system like that dreamy no-return scenario mentioned above....

February 10, 2023 · 2 min · 305 words · Evelyn Campbell

What’s a Penny Date? A Low-Cost Romantic Valentine’s Day Adventure

Oh, and it wouldnt hurt to spring for a couples massage, too, right? Wait, did someone mention a box of chocolates? No Interest Til Almost 2027? Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code But it doesnt have to be like that. But its all part of the adventure, right? Either way, its sure to be a memorable date, right? That way, wherever you end up, youll have dinner ready to go....

February 10, 2023 · 1 min · 175 words · Candice Owens

11 Tax Breaks Parents Can Get for Claiming Kids on Taxes

Does the thought ofdoing your taxeson top of caring for your kids make your head spin? Take a deep breath: We found 11 tax breaks for parents. Drowning in Expenses? Getty Images Maybe youre scrambling after your car broke down. Or you got a medical bill you werent expecting. Or inflation has finally pushed your budget over the edge. You dont need to go it alone. When money is tight,these resourcescan help you manage unexpected expenses without stress....

February 9, 2023 · 3 min · 513 words · Robin Robertson

20 Cheap At-Home Date Night Ideas Whether You’re Together or Long Distance

Relationships benefit from regular date nights. Many couples have had to deal with physical distance. Remote working isnt the only reason couples may be apart. Kenny and Celina Beaumont have a date night in the backyard of their home in Orlando, Florida. Photo courtesy of Kenny and Celina Beaumont One could be on a military deployment or an out-of-town assignment. Then, of course, there are couples in long-distance relationships. Thanks to technology, there are some ways to re-create a date experience via long distance....

February 9, 2023 · 4 min · 818 words · Samuel Craig

Lower Your Home Improvement Budget With These Tips to Save at Lowe’s

You thought youd calculated all of the costs, but of course, it turned out to be more. And therising cost of inflationmeans youre seeing that price increase not just at home stores but everywhere. Thats why we want to help you save as much money as possible. Lowe’s seasonal sales associate Maria Norwood waters plants in the Lowe’s garden section in Tampa, Fla. Chris Zuppa/The Penny Hoarder So lets help you do it for even less....

February 9, 2023 · 4 min · 747 words · Neil Underwood

Switch From Google to Bing and Start Earning Free Gift Cards

When its time to search the web, approximately 85% of users turn to Google. Its such a prevalent search engine that weve turned its usage into a verb Googling. But other options are available, and some will pay you to use them. Do you enjoy searching the web? You canget paid $15 an hour as a search engine evaluator.5 Companies That Send People Money When They’re Asked NicelyWhen you log into your bank account, how do your savings look?...

February 9, 2023 · 3 min · 513 words · Robert Thompson

The Best Banks for Small Businesses in 2024

Andwhen you become a business owner, your banking needs to change, too. Thats right, it’s possible for you to now open a business account. Here are some of the best bank accounts for small business owners. 7 Ways to Make Money if You Hate People Do you avoid people too? Enough small talk.Here are some waysto earn extra cash, without all of the social stuff. a small business whose cash flow might not be cracking six figures yet....

February 9, 2023 · 3 min · 609 words · Jessica Lee MD

Dear Penny: My Sister Is Broke Due to Her Freeloading Sons. Do I Help Her Anyway?

Shortly after, her two sons (currently 28 and 25) moved here also and live with her. The eldest hasnt worked since 2017 because my sister says he has anxiety issues. Hes worked before, and its my view hes manipulating her. He signed up for COVIDunemploymentin 2020 and received it until I brought attention to it. Ive had anxiety and stutter my entire life and Ive worked since I was 14....

February 8, 2023 · 3 min · 639 words · Paul Carrillo

M1 Finance Review 2023: Pros and Cons

Supported investment accounts include individual and joint taxable accounts, retirement accounts and event trust accounts. You just miss out on lower borrowing rates, checking rewards and the rewards credit card. The Borrow account comes with a 6.25% rate and requires a $2,000 minimum balance. For starters, M1 Plus gets you AM and PM trade windows, rather than just AM. The minimum balance for the Borrow account is still $2,000, but the rate drops to 6....

February 8, 2023 · 4 min · 771 words · Felicia Ballard

Start Building Serious Savings With a Pay-Yourself-First Strategy

But those leftover crumbs arent often enough. Of those surveyed, about 40% reported having less than $1,000 saved up. One way to save more for the future is to prioritize saving over everything else when creating your budget. Thinking of starting an emergency fund for the unexpected expenses life throws at you? Start here withour guideon building a buffer for financial emergencies. Some refer to this approach as reverse budgeting, while others call it the pay yourself first budgeting strategy....

February 8, 2023 · 2 min · 362 words · Deborah Clark