Money

Groceries: May, June, July, August 2025 August Groceries H8tE3A4rcppRZws/view

FROM THE ARTICLE. These steps can help protect your savings as rising prices erode retirees’ purchasing power. By Cameron Huddleston, AARP. Published November 04, 2025. Your wallet isn’t the only thing feeling the impact of inflation. Your retirement savings are too. More than half of 401(k) participants say inflation is their primary obstacle to saving for a comfortable retirement, according to a July 2025 survey by Charles Schwab. “It’s no surprise that inflation tops the worry list for today’s 401(k) savers,” says Patrick Huey, a certified financial planner and owner of Victory Independent Planning in Naples, Florida. “Everything from groceries to health care reminds us that a dollar just doesn’t go as far as it used to.” USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/personal-finance/protect-nest-egg/

FROM THE ARTICLE. AARP-backed bill aims to tweak SSA wording to help older adults decide when to start benefits. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. Published November 06, 2025. Could a little wordsmithing by the Social Security Administration (SSA) help older Americans make better decisions about when to claim their retirement benefit — and potentially get a bigger lifetime payment? That’s the idea behind a bipartisan bill now before Congress. If enacted, the Claiming Age Clarity Act would tweak the terms the SSA uses on its website and in other communications to help prospective beneficiaries decide when to apply for Social Security. Supporters — including AARP, which has endorsed the bill — say these small changes could make a big difference for soon-to-be beneficiaries by clarifying the pros and cons of claiming Social Security at various ages. USE THE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/retirement-age-clarity-act/

I have had my minor son for 6 months now during that time his mother was his payee and he did not see a dime. A few years back I can remember she got some lump sum payments.  I just got control of his funds yesterday and now they are saying there was an overpayment and he has to pay it back Seems like the payee should be responsible during that time period?

 Interesting Social Security Scenario - What’s your take on this?  👍  or  👎  A (breadwinner) parent divorced a real deadbeat parent after 14 years of marriage -and (2) kids.  Neither ever remarried.   The deadbeat never worked a reportable income job after the divorce, so, of course, they earned no Social Security benefit on their own earnings record and never paid any child support either.  Called the kids every few years as proof of life.  That’s it -    With the Kids, now older but not yet out of the nest, but almost, the breadwinning parent decides to retire at their full retirement age.  Their financial success at their job thru the years produced a good Social Security Retirement Benefit and they had also been able to save for their retirement via retirement accounts and other investment/savings.  They had also paid off the house which took a lot of stress off the monthly budget.   They receive

Your post was removed because it violated our community guidelines. Please review the rules before posting again to ensure your content follows our policies.

FROM THE ARTICLE. Social Security Weighs Major Changes to Disability Rules. Advocates say regulations could affect hundreds of thousands of older adults sidelined from work by illness or injury. By Sharon Jayson, AARP. Published October 30, 2025. Potential changes in how the Social Security Administration (SSA) evaluates disability claims could deny benefits to hundreds of thousands of people and disproportionately affect older adults, according to a new study. The September analysis by the Urban Institute, a Washington, D.C.–based think tank, reports that the SSA is drafting rule changes that could lessen the weight the agency gives to age in considering applications for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Those are the two Social Security–administered benefits for people whose ability to work is limited by a severe medical condition. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-secur

Personal Safety Resources - 3 Websites +++++++ 1) Google - "Crime Prevention and Safety Tips - from the NYPD"The NYPD has produced a number of crime prevention and safety tips to help residents, businesses, and visitors identify and prevent unlawful acts such as fraud, identity theft, auto theft, telephone scams, and other types of crime. +++++ 2) Google - "FBI Webpage on Scams and Safety" +++ 3) Google - "FBI on Cyber Crime" ++++ 

For many of  us trips are a hopeful benefit of retirement.  But traveling isn’t cheap, and we know that vacations can be lost to plain ole bad luck. So, it was when a tsunami hit Hawaii on July 30, delaying our flight by three days. No problem, I thought . That is why I had invested in a travel insurance plan — expensive at. $ 260 , but worth it for the cost of a six person family trip.i am not so sure now, with a claim a few months old and requests from the insurance company that seem diabolically designed to frustrate the insured. After producing a multitude of required proofs of expenses incurred, I am now being asked to get short statements that neither hotel.com nor Avis have issued any “ refunds” for the 3 days we missed, but had paid for. As if!!! Needless to say, speaking to a human who is actually willing to compose and send this evidence is damned near impossible. And the insurance carrier knows this as well as any of us do.Since when did providing more that th

FROM THE ARTICLE. 9 Steps Gen Xers Should Take to Prepare for Retirement.Shore up your emergency fund, prepare for medical costs and other moves to make before leaving your 9-to-5. By Cameron Huddleston, AARP. Published October 23, 2025. Forgive the Generation X movie reference, but reality could bite for those born from 1965 to 1980 as they close in on retirement. More than half of Gen Xers don’t think they’ll be financially prepared when the time comes to retire, according to Northwestern Mutual’s 2025 Planning & Progress Study.“They are absolutely behind on saving for retirement,” says Mindy Wilke, wealth management adviser with Wilke Wealth and Investment Planning, a Northwestern Mutual affiliate in Franklin, Wisconsin. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/retirement/gen-x-prepare-to-retire/

FROM THE ARTICLE. Pushed out of the workforce? Take these steps to land on your feet. By Martha C. White, AARP. Published October 29, 2025. Looking ahead to retirement might sometimes feel like being a kid wishing for Christmas to come sooner. In reality, having to retire before you anticipated it, thanks to a job loss, health issue or other unforeseen event, is often stressful and financially challenging. It’s also quite common. A 2024 report from the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies found that nearly 3 out of 5 retirees left the workforce sooner than they expected. And in a 2023 survey of its retiree clients, financial services company Edward Jones found that 40 percent were “forced into” retirement. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/retirement/forced-into-early-retirement/ 

FROM THE ARTICLE. Are Workers Warming Up to In-Plan Annuities?Surveys show growing interest in 401(k) plans with a guaranteed-income option. By Maya Dollarhide and Tamara E. Holmes, AARP. Published October 27, 2025. For most of today’s workers, pensions are a relic of the past. But the appetite for a guaranteed monthly retirement check to supplement Social Security appears to be growing.According to a recent survey by asset management firm Nuveen and the TIAA Institute, both subsidiaries of financial services company TIAA, more than 9 in 10 workers with 401(k) plans would like the option to convert their savings into a fixed annuity that provides guaranteed lifetime payments. Nearly 9 in 10 say their employers have an obligation to help them achieve retirement security. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/retirement/in-plan-annuity-401k-planning/

FROM THE ARTICLE. 6 Big Social Security Changes for 2026.COLA increase, higher Medicare costs and a new tax break will affect beneficiaries’ bottom lines in the year to come. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. Published October 28, 2025. From the highly anticipated cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to a less-welcome hike in Medicare premiums, Social Security beneficiaries will see several big changes in 2026.The developments are driven by new federal policies and economic shifts, such as inflation and income trends, that affect the more than 70 million people receiving Social Security benefits, as well as the estimated 185 million workers (and future beneficiaries) paying into the system.Here’s what you need to know about Social Security in 2026: USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/biggest-2026-changes/

 

My wife and I have particular circumstances. I don’t understand exactly where we can get exploit certain social security advantages. My wife is 61, and I am 56. I am the main breadwinner at 115k per year. Wife makes 36k. While we love the idea of retiring and enjoying life, We only have about 350k in 401k so are inclined to keep working to acquire more $ before retiring. With her reaching retirement age significantly sooner than me, I don’t know if she should just plan to keep working until 70 or what advantages exist, allowing her to retire sooner. Someone was explaining something about how her SS benefits might receive credit for my greater income(?) I’m having a hard time formulating any kind of plan, and I think one with the knowledge of the SS laws could perhaps help.

Source:  SSA.gov 10/24/2025 - blog - Social Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2026    excerpts from the link Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for 75 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2026. On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $56 per month starting in January. Nearly 71 million Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8 percent COLA beginning in January 2026. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on December 31, 2025. (Note: Some recipients receive both Social Security benefits and SSI). Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $184,500 from $176,100. more info at the link ~ This SSA site will also give more details on th

[Tuesday 10/21/25 8:34am ET] Yes, I had heard "various" versions of what would happen with my RETIREMENT Social Security Payments during the October 1st shutdown. But I ALWAYS call or visit Social Security when I want to KNOW something = reliable source. Lol, now I can RELAX and NOT worry about paying rent NEXT month. Hopefully things return to NORMAL so folks who are are RETIRING THIS YEAR 2025 can get their benefits TOO. Nicole!  

FROM THE ARTICLE. Lengthy stoppage would delay release of inflation data that’s key to calculating the Social Security benefit boost. By Andy Markowitz and Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. Published October 01, 2025. The government shutdown that began Oct. 1 will not prevent Social Security recipients from getting their monthly payments, but it might keep them in suspense about how much those payments will increase next year.The Social Security Administration (SSA) was set to announce the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2026 on Oct. 15, when the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is slated to release its report on September inflation. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/will-shutdown-affect-cola-announcement/

This is getting ridiculous - This is one of our major credit bureaus - they have all of our information and now they have been hacked.  They possibly got Social Security numbers and dates or birth - Yes, I am involved - got the letter yesterday.  My credit has been frozen for years and years but still I do not understand why this keeps happening especially at a business of this type.  What they are offering is free credit monitoring for 24 months and with some monetary offset if something happens - up to $ 1 million I think it said.I think I am just gonna have a continuous fraud alert on my credit bureau accounts - all of them . CNET.com - 09/09/2025 - More Than 4.4 Million Exposed in Credit Bureau TransUnion Breach: What to Know  Anybody else involved in this one?

FROM THE ARTICLE. Don’t let rising expenses derail your plans. By Sharon Wu, AARP. Published October 09, 2025. Key takeaways![*] Budget for out-of-pocket health care costs and consider a dedicated health savings account to cover future medical needs.[*] Rising car insurance rates and vehicle maintenance costs make community ride programs and transport services for older adults worth exploring.[*] Review your home insurance policy annually and shop around for better rates to avoid premium hikes. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/money/retirement/prepare-for-rising-expenses/

At this moment my wife and I are are surviving on my SSDI benefits alone, and we do not have any other sources of income.  Also, my wife is currently receiving chemo to combat her cancer, and she is unable to work.  The doctor says she will continue chemo until late December, and then she will start radiation therapy sometime in January of 2026.  Her radiation therapy is expected to last until Febraury of next year.  Additonally, my wife's medical coverage is through Medicaid, and we are living in the state of North Carolina. Also, My wife has not worked since 2012, and it appears doubtful that she will ever be able to return to work.  We have been advised that my wife, who is now 61, should apply for SSDI.  However, since my wife is now receiving Medicaid, what will happen to medical coverage if she gets approved to receive SSDI?  Will she stay on Medicaid, or will her existing Medicaid be transformed into Medicare?  Additionally, I'm recei

FROM THE ARTICLE. Surveys show a generation closing in on retirement is increasingly anxious about the program’s fiscal health. By Deirdre Shesgreen, AARP. Published October 02, 2025. Corriveau, a 59-year-old from Florida, says he’s “extremely worried” about whether Social Security will be there for him when he retires. He plans to keep working for several more years, possibly past the traditional retirement age of 65.John Quinn, a 60-year-old from North Carolina, says he’s never even checked his Social Security account because he’s not convinced his benefit will be a reliable — or sufficient — source of retirement income. He estimates he’ll be working until he’s 75. USE LINK BELOW TO READ THE ARTICLE. https://www.aarp.org/social-security/will-gen-x-have-social-security/

@nctarheel @papawofbooSame people, same stores, same general diet. What we weigh is irrelevant. Of course the identical items are not bought each week nor even in the same month. That's why this is a continuing series that, come April, will reflect an actual year. Asked: is that all the money you spent on groceries in a month?That question would not be asked by someone who read beyond the chart.

 If on October 15th, The COLA increase is 2.7%, there is good news and bad news. Now, remember I said If . That would be okay, if formula has not changed. The very bad news, is that Your MEDICARE rate would go from $ 185.00 to $ 206.00 . An increase of $ 21.50.  If You are getting below average SSA Benefits the amount will be adjusted. I just received My book from My Medicare Advantage Plan. No bargains here. Everything has increased as expected. Drug prices are insane.  So, hypothetically, if You get a projected $ 55 boost per month, it is now going to be $ 34.00 You end up with.  I  suppose not getting a COLA increase would be better, that way,  Your Check would hold steady, as MEDICARE cannot raise their rate if You don't get a raise in Your COLA.

We need to get our Congress Representatives to support the 'You earned it you keep it' bill. This allows for raising the cap on the taxable earnings and stopping the federal taxes on SSN.  This would keep the trust fund solvent until 2054 and decrease the long range deficit.  This is a win for all retirees..  We need AARP support.