Travel Tips For The Rest of Us

Travel Tips For The Rest of Us

If you’re like me, you’re beginning to remember who you were in the summer — that care-free human living for the moment. With Labor Day still a distant spot on the horizon, it might be good self-care to escape the Northeast and get some sunshine to tide you over until...
Don’t Miss These Facts About Gift Cards

Don’t Miss These Facts About Gift Cards

Gift cards are a double-edged sword to me — the giftee is certain to get something they want, but they also show the exact amount you spent on them. Still, they are indispensable during the holiday season. Most recipients don’t end up having a nightmare experience...
Mission: Florida Homestead Exemption

Mission: Florida Homestead Exemption

This is the time of year when your second home in Florida seems like the best investment you ever made. And then you think, “If only I had the homestead exemption!”  The most famous requirement of getting a homestead exemption is the requirement to be in the state for...
Beware of Pre-Checked Checkboxes

Beware of Pre-Checked Checkboxes

People sign up for things — and then they forget about them. Often they don’t want to spend the time to unsubscribe or cancel, or they just say domani (tomorrow), like an Italian winemaker.   One of the chief ways consumers get reeled into recurring monthly...
BNPL: Credit Is Changing

BNPL: Credit Is Changing

Last week the news broke that the big three credit agencies — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — will begin to monitor Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) behavior. In other words, they made our article about BNPL half-obsolete. So what is the new arrangement? That depends…...
What are “Tax Refund Loans”?

What are “Tax Refund Loans”?

Waiting is for schlubs. At least that’s the message retail tax preparers are broadcasting with tax refund loans. Instead of waiting two to three weeks for your tax refund, it’s now possible to get a loan for the same amount on the day you file. Or I should say,...