Author: Alex Clark
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Summer Electricity Bills: What Utilities Expect This Year
Summer cooling bills are projected to average about $792, a record, up 10.5% from last year. Why electricity costs keep climbing and where to find help.
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What the June Jobs Report Says About the Second Half
Employers added just 57,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate fell to 4.2% for the wrong reason. What the BLS report signals for hiring, wages and rates.
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Midyear Tax Moves That Cut Next April’s Bill
Six months of 2026 paychecks remain. A withholding checkup, the September 15 estimated payment, and this year’s higher 401(k), IRA and HSA limits can still change your April bill.
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Midyear Scam Report: The Frauds Costing Americans the Most in 2026
FTC data show a record $16 billion in reported fraud losses for 2025: $7.9 billion to investment scams, $3.5 billion to imposters. What to watch this year.
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Replacing a Social Security Card (and When You Don’t Need To)
A replacement Social Security card is free and often available online. But you rarely need the paper card at all. The rules, the limits, and the scams to skip.
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Minimum Wage Rises July 1 in These States and Cities
Alaska hits $14, D.C. reaches $18.40, Oregon’s three tiers rise, and Chicago and San Francisco adjust. The July 1, 2026 minimum wage changes, state by state.
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Emergency Funds: How Much Is Enough, by the Numbers
The Fed’s newest survey says 37% of adults could not cover a $400 surprise with cash. What the data shows and how to size an emergency fund that fits your life.
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What Moving Actually Costs in 2026 (and When It Pays Off)
Peak moving season is here. How interstate moving prices really work, the federal rules that protect you, and how to spot a mover you should not hire.
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Second Careers After 60: The Money Rules to Know
Working after 60 touches Social Security’s earnings test, Medicare timing, and bigger 401(k) catch-ups. The 2026 rules, with the actual dollar limits.
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Funeral Costs and Your Rights Under the FTC Funeral Rule
The FTC Funeral Rule gives you the right to prices over the phone, an itemized list, and your own casket. What funerals cost and how to use those rights.