Andy | Saving to Invest

Delaware Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $450/Week

Delaware's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Delaware Department of Labor — provides up to $450 per week for up to 26 weeks. That 2026 cap is locked in; the open question is whether it moves for 2027, something policymakers have discussed given Delaware's relatively high cost of living,…

Connecticut Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $796/Week With Dependents

Connecticut's unemployment insurance program — managed by the Connecticut Department of Labor (CTDOL) — has one of the higher benefit maximums in the Northeast. The 2026 base maximum ($721/week, or up to $796 with dependents) is locked in through October 2028 under a state law that froze the cap to…

Alaska Unemployment Benefits: 2027 Outlook, Current 2026 Amount Up to $370/Week for 26 Weeks

Alaska’s unemployment insurance program — managed by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) — provides up to $370 per week. That 2026 maximum adjusts periodically; I haven't seen a specific figure confirmed for 2027 yet. Given that Alaska consistently ranks among the most expensive states to live in,…

IRS Cycle Code Decoder & Refund Date Estimator

✅ Updated for the Current Tax Season 🔍 IRS Cycle Code Decoder & Refund Date Estimator Enter your 8-digit IRS cycle code from your tax transcript to decode your processing date and estimate when your direct deposit will arrive. 🗂️ How to Find Your IRS Cycle Code Go to…

AI Infrastructure Investing in 2026: How to Think About the Trade Behind the AI Boom

By late summer 2026, the AI infrastructure story on Wall Street has moved past "how much are they spending" and into "is it working." It's no longer just about which company has the smartest chatbot — it's about who's pouring concrete, stringing transformers, and laying fiber to keep the whole…

Using AI to Invest in Stock Market Momentum: How I Made a Quick $4000 in 3 Trading Days

Right now, the stock market is booming despite all the geopolitical risk, inflation, and other headwinds. In particular, a lot of AI-related stocks are booming thanks to the massive amounts of money being spent by the largest companies in the world. The current investing climate is definitely not one for…

Are Adult Kids Still on Your Cell Phone Plan? What the Numbers Say

Here’s a question that comes up at a lot of family dinners: “So… when are you getting your own phone plan?” If you’ve been on the giving or receiving end of that conversation, you’re not alone. A surprisingly large share of American adults — well into their 20s and beyond…

How to Invest Without FOMO: Smart Strategies for 2026

Does it feel like you missed the recent crypto surge or AI tech stock rally? This feeling is the Fear Of Missing Out, or FOMO. It drives many investors to buy at the peak and sell in a panic. This is a story that keeps repeating through history during any…

Are You Upper Middle Class? 2026 Income Thresholds and a State-by-State Breakdown

Nationally, upper middle class means a family of three earning roughly $133,000 to $400,000 — but the honest answer depends heavily on your state. In Mississippi (MS) you can hit the tier at around $89,000, while in Massachusetts (MA) the bar starts near $181,000. The full state-by-state table is below.…

How to Save Money and Time on Your Next Vacation Using AI plus Social Media

You know the drill: you open a browser tab to check flights, then another for hotels, then one more for rental cars, and suddenly you have 18 tabs open and no idea which deal is actually the best one. Two hours later, you book something — probably not at the…

Updated 2026-2027 State Unemployment Max-Min Benefits with Qualifying Wage Table

Here are the latest maximum and minimum unemployment payments for each state, including the minimum wage base earnings to qualify for these benefits. With a worsening economy and ongoing job losses, it its important to keep these unemployment benefits in mind. Always apply for benefits via your state's official website…

Avoid Costly Mistakes When Inheriting an IRA in 2026: The Annual RMD Rule You Can’t Skip Anymore

If you inherited an IRA anytime after 2019, there's a good chance you've been told the rule is simple: empty the account within 10 years, take distributions whenever you want in between. That's no longer entirely true, and the IRS's penalty-free grace period for getting it wrong ended after 2024.…

2026–2027 Senior Deduction: The New $6,000 Tax Break for Ages 65+ (Do You Qualify?)

For retirees on a fixed income, every tax break matters. The $6,000 Senior Bonus Deduction added by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is one of the most straightforward new benefits in the law: if you're 65 or older, you get an extra $6,000 subtracted from your taxable income,…

Master Your Money: The Ultimate Personal Income and Spending Roadmap (2026 Update)

Your gross paycheck is the starting line for everything. Before you can invest, before you can build an emergency fund, before you can make any financial progress, you need a clear picture of where money enters your life, where it leaks out, and what's actually left to deploy. Most people…