Budget & Savings

[Monday 9/21/26 7:49pm ET]It seems EVERY YEAR of late I am getting "notified" about a DATA BREACH (my info compromised).I had stopped requesting my 3 FREE Credit Reports when I retired. Use to do it online EVERY YEAR.Decided I better start up this habit again.Tried to do it ONLINE, an issue.DIDNOT want to use the "mail in" option with all the dishonest postal employees, mail theft, lost mail & going to Post Office to buy a stamp. Been years since I have visited them or mailed anything.So it was the PHONE OPTION. Did good with this & ordered ALL 3.Well ONLY one has arrived. And way before the 15 days they say it would be received. NOT sure IF that was 15 biz days.Lol, the other TWO ARE STILL MIA. Will be a MONTH since ordering ALL THREE on the 25th of this month.Now I did REorder the "missing" two SEPARATELY after the 15 days. And spaced this out so as NOT to order on SAME DAY.➡️[*** Does anyone know what "options" we have IF we NEVER receive a report?I tried calling the Credit

So, let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I’m a 68 year old widow, who is having a rough time just covering the basic expenses.  I don’t look like the people in the AARP  ads, who are happily going on vacations, and spoiling their grandchildren with gifts.  But...I make JUST enough that don’t qualify for any assistance.  I live on Social Security, and a very tiny (less than $200) retirement check from my husband.  I know I can’t be the only one stuck in the “in between” group...not comfortably retired, but not “poor” enough for government assistance.I’ve gotten pretty good at saving money at the grocery store, but I’d love to hear what other people are doing.  Here are some things I do:*I forgot to mention that I am allergic to meat, so I can’t help with any meat ideas.​​​​​​​I bought a toaster oven, so that I don’t have to turn on the big oven for just one piece of fish, etc.  When frozen pizza is on sale, I cut it into fourths before I put it in the freezer.  The personal size

NO matter what age we are, handling our finances can be a challenge at times!!! [1] Do you have a budget? If yes, lol - do you stick to it? [2] What has/is helping you to keep your head above water each year? Hope to hear from you!!! Thanks,Nicole  🤑  (Budget & Savings Forum)

Good Afternoon!  i just heard about the new Maryland FAMLI tax that will start on January 1, 2027 but the program doesn’t start until January 1, 2028.  How did this get approved?  we don’t need another tax that I will never use!  My company already has an FMLA program but I am about 4 - 5 years away from retirement.  So, like Social Security being threatened to be cut at the time i retire (after i have paid soo much into it!), now I am losing more of my precious paycheck for another program that i can’t use.  Can someone explain what this tax is really for and is there a way to stop it?  Thanks!

Taxes on sales of property  

We moved to consumer cellular in 2022. The service has degraded to the point of being unusable as of July 2026. Tech support is poor. The coverage in So. California is poor at best. Tech support makes excuses to the ATT partner services (towers) they rely on. Customer service support is a joke. We had a supervisor actually hang up during a call when we asked for his supervisor. They read from scripts, and have little knowledge when it comes to coverage issues. BEWARE OF CONSUMER CELLULAR!!!!

AARP Article 08/26/2026 - 10 Often-Underestimated Expenses in RetirementI am specifically going to point to the 1. Health care and wellness costs in this article. From the link:  [QUOTE]‘Of all the spending categories in retirement, this one, over time, will likely be the big tamale. A healthy 65-year-old man retiring in 2026 with original Medicare and a Medigap plan is projected to spend $297,000 on health care and medical treatment through the rest of his life, according to the 2026 Milliman Retiree health cost index. A healthy 65-year-old woman retiring in 2026 is projected to spend $340,000 for health care over the course of her life.If you’re in reasonably good health, these costs typically will be relatively low when you retire but can add up quickly as you age into your 80s and beyond . . . . Health care costs continue to rise — up 2.9 percent for the 12 months ending June 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).. . . . .  that trend is likely to continu

AARP is advertising a supposed great deal where they will give you one year of membership for $15 if you sign up for automatic renewal at whatever the price will be next year. WHAT A RIP OFF!!!! And from an organization that is supposed to protect its membership from RIP OFFS. I renewed recently and by calling to negotiate my membership fees, I got renewed at $9 a year for 5 years WITHOUT having to agree to automatic renewal, a 40% savings over their supposed great deal they are presently running. I negotiate all subscriptions. I get Time magazine for a three year period at $10 a year saving hundreds over what the offers are. I have gotten XM Radio for hundreds less than their membership offers. My landline phone (yes, I am old fashioned) was just re-negotiated at 30-40% off advertised rates.  But there is one difference between AARP and the other examples. The other examples are for profit entities and do not have as a policy protection of their constituency.&

trying to help a friend and her elderly mother (100 y/o) with a financial issue.  the mother maintains an AT+T land line...attempts to move her to a smartphone have been unsuccessful.  the daughter knows she can manage the landline if an emergency should arise.they maintain the landline AND ITS $75 MONTHLY CHARGE for an emergency which may or may not arise.I reached out to AT+T to see if assistance was available.  AT+T did appear on the findhelp.org with a Lifeline assistance program.  However, 2 calls ended with the same result:  they do not provide assistance.I know - the mother should just drop the landline and save the money.  BUT the same can be said of AT+T.  they should just drop the service and stop taking the money.  its $75 a month and year to date they have made 0 calls on the line.  AT+T is providing nothing and taking retail fees.does anyone know of a credible means for this senior who is low-income save on a landline bill???fin

I switched to Consumer Cellular via AARP. While vacationing in Mexico, I could not make calls, take calls, send texts or receive texts. I could not log into their web site to get help. Needless to say, Consumer Cellular was a total let down for this Senior citizen. THEN, as soon as I got back to the States, I went and switched back to the cell service I had before. I paid the balance for the usage and owed NOTHING MORE. I switched at the start of a new billing cycle and Consumer Cellular wants me to pay for the whole month. The only reason I used them at the start of the new billing cycle was to get the exit codes to this HORRIBLE service. I will NOT pay for services NOT RENDERED. SENIORS BEWARE of CONSUMER CELLULAR.

Will the AARP Federal Tax Calculator for estimating taxes be updated to reflect the new tax laws that were just passed? If so, when will that happen?

For reasons I don't know, two attempts to make a purchase were "denied".Subsequently, I received an eMail from each issuer asking whether it was I trying to make a purchase. Yes. There was no fraud but I appreciate the protection despite the considerable inconvenience.

Just introduced: "H.R. 9064: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily increase the capital gains exclusion for any qualifying senior who sells a principal residence during a qualifying year, and for other purposes." I'm a 33 year Pasadena homeowner and am now retired and looking to move to a life care community but am facing a huge amount of capital gains that will make it difficult for me to afford. I understand that the $250,000 exclusion for a single person covered a good amount of the tax bite in the past, but now it's woefully inadequate to fund retirement. I think it's totally reasonable to grant a higher exclusion. I hope we can help it to pass, and perhaps even make it permanent.

I’m thinking on reducing my hours by changing jobs for less stress. Can I do partial retirement without losing social security benefits?  

I just opened a Barclays Savings account after an offer from AARP. I can't believe that AARP would be affiliated with a company like this. First it took almost 20 days to open a new account and in the interim, customer service was no help as to whether my application was in process. Then after it was active I sent on online question about how to set up alerts and 2-step authentication. The answer was to call customer service.I called CS and there was so much background noise and a person with a difficult accent. I gave her my name (definitely a woman's name) and she kept calling me MR. It turns out that Barclays DOES NOT HAVE 2-step authentication. I was very surprised. And you cannot set any alerts. I don't know that I trust adding any more money to this account. AARP - you need to reevaluate recommending this bank.

A YEAR OF GROCERIESIN SAN FRANCISCOMay 1, 2025-April 30, 2026Conclusion: A 17.89% increase = $486 

I always pay my Hartford homeowner & auto bills annually with a credit card in order to earn reward points. This year there was a notice that they're using a third-party vendor to process CC payments, and when you select credit card as payment, it states there "may" be a 2.95% charge. Obviously this would negate any advantage of earning points. There has never been a credit charge surcharge in prior years. Anyone else notice this?  

 I am 79 years old. I have $4000 left in CDs set aside to pay my taxes for the next two years. I owe $60,000 on my mortgage with a relatively small monthly payment. My income is $1800 a month, combined SS and retirement payments. Recent medical bills have set me behind in my budgeting. There is no wiggle room and I am starting to worry. My original plan was to sell the house when I got to this point. The house is very conducive for aging and I have a strong social network. I am try to negotiate this next step in the most optimal way. I am seeking guidance. Thank you. LynneaH149711

 I was just informed my job will be ending on May 29th. I am 64 years old and am wondering if it's better to take my 12 weeks' severance and use it to try to find another full-time job, or if I'm better off taking my SSI now (knowing I'll only earn roughly $1,350 a month) and then looking for a part time job to supplement. The SSI I'd make would be roughly what one of my two monthly paychecks is, after taxes. I don't own a car but do have a bus pass I automatically put $100 on when the limit goes down to $5, right now my employer pays for my pass so that will be another expense.  I know finding a job at my age is extremely difficult, and since my skill set is administrative assistant / receptionist / secretary, I also know AI will probably be taking over those jobs sooner rather than later.  The good news is that my condo is completely paid off, but I have a HELOC I've taken out for $65,000 that will need to be paid in full in 15 years. My husband's finances ar

Pay more toward the principal on your mortgage to pay it off faster. This will save on the interest paid over the life of the loan.

Hello,I am wondering if anyone knows how to figure the historical price of a stock. I looked up one of my shares of stock on a historical price lookup tool online and the price did not match the amount that was listed on my receipt for when the original stock share was bought. I am thinking it has something to do with the Split Adjustment Factor column listed on the historical price table and that I have to do some figuring to get the true original price. Does anyone know about this? I have to look up prices for other shares for which I do not have receipts so want to get the cost basis correct.thank you.

I'm a retired blue collar worker whoseFederal income tax bill increased by 0.618%!Income tax 2024 = 8.547%Income tax 2025 = 9.165%

 

Hello.My retired cousin is a Massachusetts resident and has gotten into financial trouble. Apparently there are credit card bills, utilities, taxes and insurance that are impossible to all pay.  There is apparently a reverse mortgage that is also a problem.  They are not techno savvy.I have offered to help them find a way out.  Is there a counselor or organization that helps people get on a solid path?  Hopefully there is a person or place they can visit in person.  Specific advice rather than generalities.  I can help with the fees that may be charged.  Thanks in advance.