Andy | Saving to Invest

Is It a Good Time to Buy or Rent in Texas – Home Price Market Forecasts and Trends

Texas has been one of the hottest housing markets over the last decade. Thanks to booming cities like Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio; coupled with no state taxes many Americans have flocked to the Lonestar state and driven up property prices. But the question being asked my many buyers,…

Can I Call My Congressman or Representative For Help With My Tax Refund or Other Missing and Delayed Payments

Many Americans have been waiting several months for their tax refund, missing stimulus checks, unemployment benefits or some other government payment. They have tried calling the paying agency, responding to letters, posting on social media and almost all other avenues they can think off. Yet have not seen much movement…

Will The Stock Market Bounce Back or Should I Sell and Run for The Hills As we Enter A Prolonged Bear Market?

The stock market has weathered moments of fear, falls and panic over the past decade. But each time, the market came roaring back and set new records, leaving investors to ask why they sold in the first place! I keep reminding myself of this logic, which is reinforced by many market…

Are Treasury I-Bonds a Good Investment? Downside Risks and Tax Considerations

So after seeing a lot of buzz around the amazing yields being paid on Treasury Series I Savings Bonds (I-Bonds), I decided to take the plunge and buy some for my wife and I as a place to park some cash while the stock market gyrates and inflation remains stubbornly…

IRS $600 Limit For Tax Form 1099K – What You Need To Know Around Third-party Payments in 2022 For 2023 Filings

Call yourself a freelancer, part-time Uber driver, online advertiser, Airbnb host, full-stack and backend remote blah blah; Congrats and either way you are now a business owner and are responsible (among many other things) for paying taxes when you earn income from one or more of your gigs. [2023 Tax…

Where is My Amended Tax Return and When Will I get My Refund? 2025 Payment Status and Ongoing Delays

While the IRS promises to have regular season tax returns and associated refunds processed within 21 days for the vast majority of filers, it does take them quite a bit longer to process amended tax returns and associated refund payments. The IRS has reported that they still have thousands of…

What Happens if I File My Taxes Late? 2026 IRS Penalties and Getting Your Refund

I get a few comments every tax season from readers asking whether it's too late to file a return after the regular deadline (April 15, 2026 for most people) — and what happens if they forgot to file for an extension. I also get asked what happens if they owe…

IRS Tax Transcript Code 841 – Refund Cancelled Due to Direct Deposit Rejection, Paper Check on The Way

The transcript excerpt below shows how the IRS deals with refunds that are issued, but cancelled for some reason or unable to be paid due to incorrect bank account details. I'll review the key codes and associated dates in this article. Seeing transaction code 841 (refund cancelled) on their tax…

Will Additional 60 day IRS Review Letters Impact My Tax Refund – How to Get Help

Ongoing tax return processing delays and additional reviews mean many tax filers are getting multiple letters from the IRS, including ones stating that their tax return (and refund payment) will be further delayed for up to an additional 60 days. In this article I'll go through some reasons behind the…

When Can I Expect My New York (NY) State Tax Refund? 2023 Payment Updates

The NY Department of Taxation and Finance (NYDTF) manages the administration and collection of taxes and related programs for individuals and corporations in the state. Generally, you have to file a state tax return if you’re an income earning resident or part-year resident or a non-resident who earned income from a…

2026 401(k) and IRA Updates: SECURE 2.0 Changes, Auto-Enrollment, and New Catch-Up Rules

The SECURE 2.0 Act, signed into law in December 2022, has been rolling out changes to retirement accounts in waves. In 2026, two of the biggest provisions finally kick in: mandatory Roth catch-up contributions for high earners, and a new round of contribution limit increases across the board. Here's what's…

Why Did My Monthly Mortgage Payment Go Up?

Many homeowners have had their mortgage payments change recently and there are multiple reasons why this may have happened, as discussed in this article. You’ll need to have the mortgage statement from your lender handy to find out more, which should indicate why the payment has increased. I’ll cover some…

2022 Federal and State Gas Tax Relief Holiday To Support Drivers Dealing With High Fuel prices – Updates and Latest News

Gas prices have reached multi-year highs as anyone who drives or uses a car can attest to. Along with high inflation, soaring gas prices are now part of the daily zeitgeist. Energy and basic living expenses (like food and shelter), make up 30% to 60% of most households expenditures, so…

5 Side Hustles to Start with Your Tax Refund

We all have that Uncle who swears he “just needs 500 bucks” to start his million dollar food truck. No? Well, maybe that’s just me...…The fact is, the average American tax filer gets almost $3000 back from the IRS each year in the form of a tax refund. So if…