Author: Brian Lund
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Free Credit Reports Are Now Weekly: How to Use That
You can pull your credit report from each bureau free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. A simple rotation turns that into year-round fraud monitoring.
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The Self-Employment Tax, Explained in One Sitting
The 15.3% self-employment tax funds your Social Security and Medicare. Who owes it, the $400 trigger, the 92.35% quirk, and the deduction that softens it.
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Time-of-Use Rates: When Electricity Costs Half as Much
Time-of-use electric rates can cut the price per kilowatt-hour in half overnight. How the pricing works, who saves, and who should stay on a flat rate.
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Standard vs. Itemized: The Simple Test Most People Pass
The 2026 standard deduction is $16,100 single and $32,200 joint. A four-number test tells you in minutes whether itemizing could ever beat it.
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Flood Insurance: Why Homeowners Policies Don’t Cover It
Standard homeowners insurance excludes flood damage. Here’s how the National Flood Insurance Program works, what it covers, and why the 30-day wait matters.
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Fired vs. Laid Off: What It Means for Unemployment
Laid-off workers usually qualify for unemployment. Fired workers often do too. How states draw the misconduct line, and what to do the week you lose a job.
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How to Read a Job Offer: Salary Is Only Half the Number
Benefits average roughly 30 cents of every compensation dollar, per BLS data. How to compare two job offers on total compensation, not just salary.
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Drug Recalls: How to Check Your Prescriptions Tonight
FDA publishes every monitored drug recall, searchable by name and lot number. Here is how to check your own prescriptions in about ten minutes.
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Minimum Payments: The Math Your Statement Already Shows
Every credit card statement includes a federally required box showing what minimum payments really cost — and the payment that clears you in 3 years. How to read it.
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LIHEAP Can Pay Cooling Bills Too: How to Apply
The federal energy assistance program isn’t just for winter heat. Many states pay summer cooling bills and even help buy air conditioners. How to apply for LIHEAP.