Author: Money Mechanics

(Image credit: Getty Images)You just retired and are sitting on a pile of cash in your retirement accounts thanks to a decades-long bull run in the stock market.It’s only natural to want to spread the wealth and give some of that nest egg to the kids or grandkids. In fact, 69% of retirees do, according to a recent MetLife study. But gifting some of your 401(k) right out the gate may cause more harm than good. Here’s why and how to be generous without putting your retirement at risk.What could go wrong with gifting from a 401(k)? Few people think…

In the competitive world of corporate travel, every dollar matters. Business flights are often unavoidable, yet they carry substantial expenses that can erode profit margins.But what if you could unlock a hidden strategy that fundamentally changes how much your business spends on travel? This could be the solution to transform your corporate travel budget from a source of stress into a competitive advantage.I’ll break down a simple trick that can save your company on flights. I’ll also outline things to keep in mind before using this approach, and when it doesn’t benefit your business. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Between streaming services, fitness apps, retail memberships and software tools, it’s surprisingly easy for subscriptions to pile up quietly in the background.Add in free trials that roll into paid plans and annual renewals that hit once a year, many households are spending far more than they realize.But thankfully, you don’t need a spreadsheet marathon or a full weekend overhaul. A focused, 30-minute subscription audit can reset your spending and potentially save you hundreds of dollars this year. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus…

(Image credit: Getty Images)No matter how well you stick to your list, make lower cost substitutes and scour the apps for deals and discounts, it feels like your grocery bill is just getting higher and higher. Typically, no single store has the lowest price in every category. One chain might have the best prices for meat while another offers the best deal on your favorite cheese or cereal.Usually, the time and gas used to drive around from one store to another chasing the lowest prices is one of those frugal habits that aren’t worth it. Instead, picking a single store…

March 06, 2026 08:37 AM EST Jobs Levels Fall in February FROM Just Now The U.S. economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, according to a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. That was a major decline from the unexpectedly high 126,000 added in January and far below economists’ expectations that the economy would add 50,000 jobs.  The unemployment rate ticked up to 4.4% from 4.3% in January. March 06, 2026 08:21 AM EST Federal Reserve Officials Will Keep a Close Eye on Today’s Data FROM 15 minutes ago The Federal Reserve’s policy committee members will likely have…

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. In the Ask the Editor July 18, 2025 column, she answered four questions on the new $6,000 senior deduction. This week she’s looking at five more questions on the topic. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. What is the new $6,000 senior deduction?Question: I heard that there is a new $6,000 tax deduction for seniors. Can you explain it?Joy Taylor: Last July’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” created a new senior deduction of $6,000…

Nearly 45,000 sellers who delisted their homes last year relisted them in January—the highest January number in records dating back a decade. This could further boost housing supply, enabling homebuyers to score even bigger discounts than they’re already getting. Relistings are most common in pricey West Coast markets like the Bay Area, and least common in affordable parts of the Northeast and Midwest, such as Pittsburgh.  Nearly 45,000 U.S. homes that were delisted last year were relisted for sale in January 2026—the highest January figure in records dating back to 2016. That represents a record 3.6% of homes that were…

Dario Amodei said Thursday that Anthropic plans to challenge the Department of Defense’s decision to label the AI firm a supply-chain risk in court, a designation he has called “legally unsound.” The statement comes a few hours after the DOD officially designated Anthropic a supply-chain risk following a weeks-long dispute over how much control the military should have over AI systems. A supply-chain risk designation can bar a company from working with the Pentagon and its contractors. Amodei drew a firm line that Anthropic’s AI will not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or for fully autonomous weapons, but…

Key Takeaways Systemic barriers continue to prevent women from building as much wealth as men.For many women, career interruptions, pay gaps, and lower investment participation compound over time, limiting wealth and affecting retirement security.Individual action plus supportive policies like retirement access and pay equity can help close the gap. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Women now earn more college degrees than men and make up nearly half the U.S. workforce. Yet when it comes to building and controlling valuable assets, the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances shows that they still lag behind. Longstanding…

(Oil Price) – The global LNG shipping market has turned sharply higher in recent days, with charter rates for modern LNG carriers surging from roughly $40,000 last week to around $300,000 per day as traders scramble to secure vessels amid escalating disruption in the Middle East. According to shipbroker Fearnleys’ latest weekly LNG report, cited by Riviera Maritime Media, daily spot charter rates for 174,000-cubic-meter LNG carriers along the U.S. Gulf-Europe route have climbed to approximately $300,000 per day, up about $260,000 compared with last week. Rates on the key U.S. Gulf-Asia route covering Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China have also…