Author: Brian Lund
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Minimum Wage Goes Up July 1: Check Your State
Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C. raise their minimum wages July 1, 2026, along with Chicago, Los Angeles and more. Here are the new hourly rates.
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Low Income Taxpayer Clinics: Legal Help for Tax Fights
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics represent people in audits, appeals and collection fights with the IRS for free or a small fee. Here is who qualifies in 2026.
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Extended Warranties: When to Say No at the Register
Extended warranties often duplicate coverage you already have for free. Here is the FTC’s checklist for deciding at the register, and when to just say no.
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Working While on Social Security: The Earnings Limit
Claim Social Security early and keep working, and SSA may withhold part of your benefit. Here is how the earnings test works and why the money isn’t lost.
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How to Read Your Pay Stub, Line by Line
Gross pay, FICA, pre-tax deductions, YTD columns: what every line on your pay stub means, which numbers to check, and the errors worth catching early.
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Balance Transfers: What 0% Really Costs
A 0% balance transfer can save serious interest, but the fee, the clock, and the fine print decide whether it works. Here is the math to run before you move debt.
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RMDs at 73: The Withdrawal the IRS Requires
At 73, the IRS requires withdrawals from traditional IRAs and 401(k)s. Here are the deadlines, the penalty, the first-year trap, and the charity option.
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HELOC or Home Equity Loan? How to Choose
Both borrow against your house, but a HELOC and a home equity loan behave very differently. Rates, draw periods, tax rules, and the risk both products share.
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A Mid-Year Withholding Checkup Takes Ten Minutes
July is the ideal month to run the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator. Ten minutes with a pay stub can prevent both a surprise tax bill and an oversized refund.
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The Saver’s Credit Pays You to Put Money Away
The Saver’s Credit gives lower- and moderate-income workers a tax credit worth up to half of what they put into a retirement account. Here is how it works in 2026.