Author: Elizabeth Blessing
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The 2027 Social Security COLA: What Early Numbers Show
April’s inflation data pushed one early 2027 COLA estimate to 3.9%, up from this year’s 2.8%. It’s a forecast, not a promise. Here’s the math behind it.
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Budget Billing: How Level Utility Payments Work
Budget billing turns lurching utility bills into one level monthly payment. How the averaging works, what the true-up month means, and who it helps.
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FTC Refund Checks Are Real: How to Tell (and Cash Them)
The FTC mailed hundreds of millions in refunds last year, and real checks expire in 90 days. How to verify yours is genuine before you toss or cash it.
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Your Final Paycheck: What Employers Owe and When
When must your last paycheck arrive after you quit or get fired? Federal law says next payday; some states say same day. Here’s who owes what, and when.
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Catch-Up Contributions After 50: The New Roth Rule
Starting in 2026, higher earners must make 401(k) catch-up contributions as Roth. Who the rule covers, the 2026 limits, and what it does to your paycheck.
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CD Ladders for Beginners: How the Rungs Work
A CD ladder splits your savings across staggered maturity dates, so money comes free every year while most of it earns longer-term rates. The mechanics, step by step.
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QR Code Scams: When Scanning Costs You
Scammers paste fake QR codes on parking meters and send them by text. How the scam works, the checks to make before you scan, and what to do if you already did.
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Medigap Plans Compared: What the Letters Mean
Medigap plans are standardized by letter, so Plan G is Plan G everywhere and only the price changes. What each letter covers and why your buying window matters.
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How to Switch Banks Without Missing a Bill
Switching banks goes wrong when an autopay hits a closed account. The CFPB’s order of operations: open new, move deposits, move payments, then close.
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Gas Prices for Memorial Day: What Drivers Will Pay
Gas averages about $4.56 a gallon heading into Memorial Day 2026, the highest holiday price in four years. What it means for your road trip budget.