Author: Money Mechanics

Picture this scenario: You’re sitting on the sofa with a bag of pretzels, cookies, or your favorite salty or savory snack of choice. You eat one, two, just a couple more, and before you know it, you look down and the entire bag is gone.If this is a common occurrence in your home, your eating habits may not just be unhealthy. They may actually have been shaped by a surprising force that’s caused you to become one of the many Americans who, a new study found, suffer from ultra-processed food addiction (UPFA).The study addressed addiction rates, as well as the…

Nothing takes the fun out of vacation planning faster than realizing you’ll have to leave your pet behind. It’s tough being without them, and finding the right person to care for your four-legged family member can be stressful.Instead of saying goodbye, why not plan a trip they can enjoy too? More hotels are embracing pet-friendly travel, offering perks and amenities designed for both you and your companion.From New York to Mexico City and beyond, these destinations make it easy to bring your pet along for the adventure. In fact, these hotels don’t just allow pets, they welcome them. From just…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the Life & Arts myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox.There are three basic ways of being a nationalist leader. One is maximalism: you break all constraints and govern as you like. That’s where Donald Trump is headed. Few European systems allow scope for Trumpian maximalism, but Viktor Orbán in Hungary has got close. The second way is compromise: you moderate in government, like Giorgia Meloni in Italy. She works with other parties, follows sensible economic policies, acts like a good European and quietly increases legal immigration. We’re about to see…

If you haven’t yet picked up a paddle, pickleball might just win you over. The fast-paced social game is easy to learn and low impact, making it a favorite among kids, adults and retirees alike. Its accessibility and fun factor have helped it become the nation’s fastest-growing sport.But with millions of new players flooding the courts, injuries are becoming more common and more costly. While overuse injuries like sore knees and elbows are typical, a new study highlights a surprising trend: a sharp rise in pickleball-related eye injuries.These accidents are sending more players to the emergency room and driving up…

Key Takeaways Retirement savers in their 50s have average 401(k) account balances of around $200,000 to $245,000, and over 87% of workers age 50 and older participate in a qualified retirement plan. Contribution rates for this age group are among the highest across all age groups, with an average savings rate of 11.7% of gross salary. Catch-up rules supercharge late momentum: Starting at age 50, you can defer up to $31,000 to a 401(k) in 2025. Your 50s can bring about a new sense of urgency: Have I waited too long to build my retirement savings? With a mix of…

Some Social Security recipients recently had to find a new way to receive their payments. The Social Security Administration phased out paper checks starting September 30, opting to send payments only electronically, except as a last resort for recipients who have no other option.Whether you’ve already been receiving Social Security payments by direct deposit or if you’ll be starting to receive them that way soon, it’s worth taking time to consider where your payments are being deposited. This decision could earn you valuable interest — or cost you in fees and missed opportunity.That’s because some bank accounts offer generous APYs,…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.Those who have done well investing in cryptocurrencies are finding high tax liabilities on the flipside of the digital coin. The price of bitcoin has surged by over 350 per cent in the past three years. Even UK-based investors like me who bought a small amount of crypto as an experiment years ago could now have the problem of a capital gains tax bill to contend with if they decide to trade or cash out their stake. Those who built up much…

A new residential complex under construction in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China on October 20, 2025. Cfoto | Future Publishing | Getty ImagesBEIJING — Chinese policymakers are unlikely to shore up the country’s struggling real estate sector, analysts told CNBC, even as the housing slump drags on economic growth.The assessment comes as China’s top leaders, called the Central Committee, are due to wrap up a four-day meeting Thursday, which will outline priorities for the next five years.In Beijing’s view, the property sector’s drag on growth has eased, while technological development is a more urgent priority in the current geopolitical landscape, said…

As the world races to stay ahead in the deep tech revolution — from AI and semiconductors to quantum computing — innovation has become the new currency of power. For many companies, that pressure has translated into heavier workloads and more intense work cultures. Yet they face a real dilemma: they can’t simply ease up while competitors across the globe push harder to win. When I came across news about the intense “996” work culture — working 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week, a 72-hour work week — spreading from China to Silicon Valley, it made me…

(Investing)– U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday that current oil prices are low, making it a “great time to be a buyer” as he discussed plans to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). Speaking on Fox News, Wright indicated the government will “gradually fill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve up,” following the Department of Energy’s announcement Tuesday of a solicitation to purchase one million barrels of crude oil for delivery to the SPR’s Bryan Mound site. The purchase is part of efforts aligned with the Working Families Tax Cut signed by President Trump earlier this year, which appropriated $171 million to begin refilling…