Category: Personal Finance and Money

A lot of people say "richer" Americans are an eccentric lot. But the fact is that, your co-worker or neighbor down the road is probably more likely to better fit the "well-to-do" or upper class profile than someone like Donald Trump. Based on information from the Census and IRS data,…

The average used car sold for around $25,600 in mid-2026, according to used-vehicle price trackers. Some methodologies that weight more toward newer used inventory, like JD Power's, put it closer to $30,166. Either way, that's roughly half of what a new car costs today. Kelley Blue Book had the average…

Published tuition at public four-year, in-state schools hit $11,950 for the 2025-26 school year, up 2.9% from the year before. Private nonprofit four-year tuition climbed to $45,000, up 4.0% before adjusting for inflation. For 2026-27, College Board projections put the next increase at around 2.3% for public four-year schools —…

In discussions with my readers and from what I see online I am constantly amazed at how low a priority folks give their finances. Yes, it is unpleasant to deal with hard money issues. Taxes are a drag. Changing bank accounts for a marginally higher yield is a pain. There…

As is the case every year, I receive an escrow summary from my mortgage provider. An escrow is the funding account for the variable part of your mortgage payment that includes property taxes, home insurance and HOA fees in some cases. The escrow amount is added to the fixed principal…

10 or so years later, I thought I would revisit how Americans (and myself) are doing with their retirements savings in 401K and IRA plans. This is particularly important as Americans age and contribution limits keep rising. Based on Fidelity's 2022 report, the average 401(k) balance is $121,700. This is…

The typical American thinks they need $1.46 million to retire comfortably — up $200,000 from just last year's estimate. Meanwhile, the average Gen X 401(k) balance sits at $222,100, and roughly 28% of Americans have nothing saved for retirement at all. Against that backdrop, I still tell parents the same…

Ever been curious about the seeming universality of the desire to purchase goods and services without paying for them immediately? Many credit card users fall victim to this desire for instant gratification knowing full well they can’t actually afford what they bought without going into debt. Deferring payment until tomorrow…

With gold prices rolling past record highs on a regular basis, a number market pundits feel that we are entering a gold bubble.  Like the housing and financial bubbles many have gotten swept away with the lure of easy money, only to coming crashing to earth when the bubble pops.…

In today’s flip-flop economy, just about everyone has an opinion about what you should do with your money. From the din of these many opinions a few financial “gurus” seemed to have emerged. Some have become bona-fide celebrities by advising people on how to escape financial ruin, while making millions…

Most people still spend more time planning a vacation than choosing the person who'll steer their life savings. And the stakes compound: a 1% difference in all-in costs on a $500,000 portfolio is $5,000 a year, every year, growing with the account. The good news is that vetting an advisor…

What does No Preset Spending Limit (NPSL) mean to you?  Many consumers, normally with excellent credit, take this popular credit and charge card feature to mean “no limit.”  They think that NPSL products—such as the charge cards offered by Chase and American Express as well as Visa Signature credit cards…

I have made a number of updates to popular topics on this site and in case you missed them, here is a quick recap with a link to the detailed information. 2011 Tax Rates and Brackets Following Bush-era Tax Cut Extensions With approval of a two-year extension to all the…