Andy | Saving to Invest

Will SNAP Get Cut Off After December 11, 2026? Where Funding Stands Now

If you get SNAP, the date to watch now is December 11, 2026 — not because benefits are scheduled to stop, but because that's when the stopgap funding bill Congress passed in September runs out. October 1 came and went without a funding lapse. Here's what happened the last time…

Average vs. Median Net Worth by Age in 2026: Are You Ahead or Behind?

The median American household has a net worth of $215,900, according to the Federal Reserve's new 2025 Survey of Consumer Finances, released October 9, 2026. If that number feels either way too low or suspiciously high compared to what you'd guess, you're not alone. Most people have never seen this…

Where Do Your Federal Tax Dollars Go? A 2026 Breakdown (Plus What’s Coming in 2027)

For every dollar the federal government spent in fiscal year 2026, about 22 cents went to Social Security and 16 cents went to Medicare. That's before a single cent goes to defense, interest on the debt, or anything else. Total federal spending in FY2026 runs about $7.4 trillion — 23.3%…

Your Direct Express Card Is Changing Banks through 2026 and 2027: What SSA, SSI, and VA Recipients Need to Know

If you receive Social Security, SSI, or VA benefits on a Direct Express prepaid debit card, you may get a letter or a new card in the mail this year from a bank you've never heard of before: Fifth Third Bank. This is real, not a scam — but it's…

Social Security Survivor Benefits in 2027: Who Qualifies and How Much You Get

The average Social Security benefit for a widow or widower living alone rises to about $2,005 a month in January 2027, after the 3.6% COLA. A widowed parent with two children averages about $4,074 as a household. What you get depends on the worker's record, your age when you claim…

SSDI Back Pay: How It Works, How Much You Get, and When It Arrives

SSDI back pay usually lands as a single lump sum about 60 days after approval. But the amount depends on three separate pieces: the application-to-approval gap, up to 12 months before you applied, and a five-month waiting period that is never paid. The terminology alone (back pay, retroactive benefits, waiting…

SNAP Soda and Candy Bans by State: 12 Now Active, 4 Blocked by Court (2026 List)

SNAP soda and candy restrictions are now active in 12 states. Montana, North Dakota, South Carolina and Virginia all started on November 1, 2026, after USDA published Federal Register approval notices for each one. If you receive SNAP, whether a restriction applies to you depends on which state you live…

Social Security Payment Schedule 2027 by Birth Date

Your 2027 Social Security payment lands on the second, third or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on your birthday. If you started benefits before May 1997, or you get both Social Security and SSI, you're paid around the 3rd instead. Every date for the year is below. I also…

Missed the July 10 COVID-Era IRS Refund Deadline? Here’s What Actually Happens Now

July 10, 2026 came and went. That was the deadline the National Taxpayer Advocate flagged for tens of millions of taxpayers who may be owed refunds — or abatements — of penalties and interest the IRS assessed during the COVID-19 disaster period. If you're reading this now, you're probably asking…

2026–2027 No Tax on Overtime: Who Qualifies, How to Calculate Your Deduction (With Examples)

If you regularly work overtime, there's a number you need to know right now: $12,500. That's the maximum amount of overtime premium pay you can deduct from your federal income tax for 2025 through 2028, thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). For a nurse working regular double…

2026 Updates: IRS CP53E Notice — Your Refund Is Frozen, Here’s What to Do in 30 Days

By early spring 2026, more than 1.4 million taxpayers had received an IRS CP53E notice — a letter that means your approved tax refund is frozen and you need to act. The cause is a new federal policy phasing out paper refund checks, and the window to fix it without…

What Are Perpetual Futures (Perps)? Why They’re Booming — and Why They Could Trigger the Next Financial Crisis

Perpetual futures — "perps" in market shorthand — are the fastest-growing trading instrument in global finance right now. They started in crypto, stayed in crypto for years, and are now crossing into mainstream U.S. brokerage accounts. The CFTC formally approved Bitcoin perps from regulated U.S. platforms in May 2026, and…

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act Is Now Law — What It Means for Buyers and Investors in 2026 and 2027

Congress passed the most significant housing legislation in decades, and after a standoff at the president's desk, it's now the law of the land. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act became law on July 11, 2026 — one day after the constitutional window for President Trump to act on…

I Let Claude Trade My Robinhood Account – What Happened and Now it Has Stopped Working

Update, November 1, 2026: 200,000 Agentic Accounts Robinhood's third-quarter report on October 27 put numbers on how fast this is moving. About 200,000 customers have opened agentic accounts, up from 150,000 a month earlier, and those accounts have driven over $1.6 billion in trading volume. The money is still small.…