Author: Alex Clark
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The 50/30/20 Budget on a Fixed Income: Where It Breaks Down
The 50/30/20 rule was built for paychecks, not benefit checks. Running the math on an average Social Security benefit shows exactly where it fails.
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Shrinkflation: Smaller Packages, Same Price, and How It’s Measured
Fewer sheets on the roll, fewer chips in the bag, same price at the register. How the government actually counts shrinkflation, and which aisles it hits.
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Age Discrimination After 40: What the Law Actually Covers
The federal age discrimination law protects workers 40 and older, but not everywhere and not forever. What the ADEA covers, and the filing deadlines.
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Food Recalls: Where the Alerts Come From and How to Get Them First
Two federal agencies announce food recalls, on different websites, for different foods. How the system works and how to get the alerts before the news does.
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State Taxes on Retirement Income: Where Retirees Keep the Most
Where you retire can change your tax bill by thousands. The states that skip retirement income entirely in 2026, and two new changes worth knowing.
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Medicare Part B in 2026: What You Pay and Who Pays More
The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026. Here are the deductible, the income brackets that raise the bill, and how to appeal.
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Inflation Update: The Categories Still Rising Fastest
May CPI: inflation hit 4.2 percent, driven by a 40 percent yearly jump in gasoline. Where prices are still climbing fastest, and where they’re falling.
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The 1099-K Rules for Casual Online Sellers, Explained
After years of whiplash, the 1099-K reporting threshold is back to $20,000 and 200 transactions. What casual sellers owe tax on, and what they never did.
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Why Economists Watch the 10-Year Treasury (and Why It Hits Your Mortgage)
The 10-year Treasury yield sets the base price of long-term money in America. What it is, who moves it, and why your mortgage quote follows it.
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Data Breach Notice in the Mail? Your First 48 Hours
A data breach letter is a to-do list, not a death sentence. The free steps that matter in the first two days: freeze, change, watch, and document.