Andy | Saving to Invest

First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit — Is There One in 2026?

Short answer: there is no active federal first-time homebuyer tax credit for 2026. If you're searching for this because you've heard about a "$15,000 homebuyer credit," you're likely thinking of a proposal from the Biden administration's housing agenda that was floated but never passed Congress. It's not law today, though…

Getting a Free Copy of Your IRS Tax Return Information (Form 4506-T / IRS Tax Transcript)

When closing on my home a while back, I had to request a copy of my tax return. I assumed this would be a hassle since the requesting party wanted an official transcript, not just a copy from my tax software. It turned out to be a simple, free process…

Protecting Your Social Security Number From Identity Theft in 2026

Concern about Social Security number security tends to spike after news of a major data breach, and for good reason — your SSN is the master key that ties together your credit history, tax records, and government benefits. But the specific threat has changed over the years, and the protections…

How to Pay Off or Negotiate Down Credit Card Debt in 2026

The average American household carrying a credit card balance owes over $11,000 on it, at an average APR near 19.6% in 2026. That combination — a five-figure balance at a rate roughly triple a mortgage — is exactly why credit card debt deserves a real plan, not just "pay more…

FHA vs. Conventional Loans in 2026: Down Payments, Mortgage Insurance, and Which Costs Less

The 2026 FHA loan limit just rose to $541,287 in most of the country, and conventional conforming loans now top out at $832,750. Beyond those limits, the core FHA-versus-conventional decision hasn't changed: it comes down to your down payment, your credit score, and how mortgage insurance is structured on each.…

Can’t Afford to Pay Your Taxes? Here’s What Actually Happens (and Your Options)

Owing more than you can pay is stressful, but the IRS has more structured ways to work with you than most people realize — and the single biggest mistake is letting the fear of the bill stop you from filing at all. Here's what actually happens when you can't pay…

How Your FICO Credit Score Actually Works in 2026 (and How to Raise It)

The average FICO Score in the US just dipped to 714, the second straight year it's fallen. At the same time, a record 48.1% of Americans now carry a score of 750 or higher. Credit is splitting into haves and have-nots, and where you land affects almost every rate you're…

10 Fast and Easy Ways to Get, Save and Make Money Now

Nowadays every extra dollar counts more than ever. Despite a paycheck from working a regular job, once taxes and other fixed expenses are accounted for, it is getting harder and harder to make ends meet. Since there are only twenty four hours in day, physically working more (provided you can…

Gold Price Outlook for 2026: What’s Actually Driving the Rally (and How to Think About Buying)

Gold traded around $4,121 an ounce on July 10, 2026, up about 22.8% from a year earlier. It's also down slightly over the past month, which is the point: gold moves, and I'm not going to pretend I know where it goes next. What I can do is lay out…

Apartment Rental Tips for 2026: What to Check Before You Sign a Lease

The national average apartment rent was $1,742 a month in June 2026, up slightly from May, according to Apartments.com's rent report, while the Census Bureau's rental vacancy rate has climbed to around 7.2–7.3% — one of the highest readings in years. That combination (rents drifting up, vacancies also up) means…

Budgeting Pitfalls in 2026 — Why Most Budgets Fail and How to Fix It

Inflation was running around 4.2% year-over-year as of May 2026, the highest reading since 2023. If your budget's numbers are from last year — or longer — they're already stale, and it's worth rechecking your take-home pay against this year's tax brackets and standard deduction. That gap is usually where…

Am I Being a Cheapskate or Just Frugal?

In an argument with my wife over our holiday spending on gifts, travel and entertainment, I got accused of being a cheapskate because I refused to put aside money/budget worries during the holiday season. “What’s the point of saving if we cannot spend the money on the ones we love?”…

Stock Market Volatility in 2026: Why Now Is Still Not the Time to Sell

The S&P 500 closed at 7,683.69 on September 29, 2026, about 1.5% below its all-time closing high of 7,798.99 from August 13. Four days earlier it had pulled within 0.7% of that record before sliding again. That's the whole story of this market lately: lots of noise, not much net…

How to Choose a Health Insurance Plan: 10 Tips for 2026–2027 Open Enrollment

Choosing a health plan is now a five-figure decision. The average employer family plan costs $26,993 a year in premiums, with workers paying about $6,850 of that from their paychecks, per the latest KFF employer survey. Pick the wrong plan and you can easily leave a few thousand dollars on…