If Comcast told you your data was exposed in the October 2023 breach, you have until September 14 to file a claim. The no-receipt option pays an estimated $50. Document real losses and you can claim more. File at comcastbreachsettlement.com and check your eligibility with the ID lookup tool. Source
The US tax system is progressive. You pay each bracket’s rate only on the income that falls within it. In the 22% bracket, you don’t pay 22% on everything you earn, just the portion above the bracket line. Never turn down a raise out of fear of “jumping a bracket.” Source
Live in your primary residence for at least two of the last five years and you can exclude up to $250,000 of profit from capital gains tax when you sell, or $500,000 for married couples. Keep records of home improvements, which raise your cost basis and shrink the taxable gain. Learn the residency rule before…
A market downturn early in retirement, when you’re actively withdrawing from your portfolio, does far more damage than the same downturn mid-career. Selling shares at depressed prices to fund living expenses permanently reduces the portfolio’s ability to recover. Keep one to two years of expenses in cash or short-term bonds so you’re never forced to…
Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 or higher cuts your annual premium, sometimes by 15-30%. If your emergency fund can absorb the higher deductible, you’re self-insuring the gap and pocketing the savings every year you don’t file a claim. Ask your insurer to quote two or three deductible levels at renewal. Source
Federal student loan autopay now cuts your interest rate by a full percentage point, up from a quarter point, but only if you’re enrolled by September 30. Log in to your servicer this week and turn it on. Ten minutes buys you the lower rate through June 2028. Source
If your lease is ending and the car is worth more than the payoff, get a Lease End quote before you set foot in the dealership. The service costs you nothing, and its average buyout rates undercut typical used car loan rates at every comparable tier. Compare it against your own credit union. Source
Most employer-provided life insurance covers one to two times your annual salary. The guideline is 10-12 times your income to replace earnings and cover debts, childcare, and future expenses for dependents. Supplement your employer coverage with a personal term policy you own, one that doesn’t disappear if you change jobs. Source
The beneficiary listed on your 401k, IRA, and life insurance policy receives those assets regardless of what your will says. An ex-spouse, a deceased parent, or a forgotten name can inherit funds your will directs elsewhere. Review every beneficiary designation after any major life event: marriage, divorce, death, or a new child. Source
Term life insurance provides a death benefit for a fixed period, typically 10, 20, or 30 years, at a fraction of the cost of whole life. Whole life combines insurance with an investment component, but the returns are poor and the fees are high. Buy term, invest the difference, and you’ll almost always come out…