Author: Money Mechanics

Key Takeaways Though a tax refund feels like a welcome bonus, it generally reflects money you could have received in paychecks throughout the year.Based on the average tax refund, adjusting your withholding could add about $250 a month to your budget for bills, saving, or spending.Changing your withholding isn’t permanent—you can modify it again if your situation changes or you decide you still want to receive a refund. Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. In a typical year, over 100 million U.S. tax filers receive a refund—and the average amount is more than $3,000. But…

Key Takeaways Omak, Washington offers retirees a cost of living that’s lower than the national average, including its housing and food costs.There are dozens of health care establishments in the county, including multiple hospitals, helping retirees get quality medical care without too much travel.Omak’s proximity to rivers, lakes, and national forests makes it an ideal retirement destination for those who enjoy an outdoor lifestyle.Despite its small size, Omak offers plenty of entertainment and community events, helping to foster an active and engaged retirement. The small town of Omak, Washington made our 2025 list of the best places for retirees. It’s…

The 2026 filing season is shaping up to be a year of “refund whiplash.” While the IRS reports an average federal tax refund of $2,548 (so far), state-level checks are moving at a snail’s pace in several parts of the country. For many households, these delayed funds are needed to cover essentials like groceries, rent, and other bills.Why the delays? Well, some state software and forms have to be updated to accommodate (or exclude) the new, temporary tax breaks introduced by the 2025 Trump tax and spending bill.For example, in South Carolina, taxpayers are being forced into a manual “add-back”…

It’s been only a few days since the United States Supreme Court struck down most of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. But businesses and lawmakers are already racing to figure out what happens next.Some in Congress are weighing potential legislation. Importers are exploring lawsuits. And amid the uncertainty, a key question looms: Will any of the tariff money be returned, and if so, to whom?This is important since millions of U.S. households have paid higher prices since Trump enacted broad tariffs, as many companies passed along the cost of the levies. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become…

When you’re short on cash, pawn loans can offer a quick solution. You can put an item you already own up as collateral with a pawn shop, and the shop will loan you cash based on the value of the item, without a waiting period or credit check. When you pay the shop back (with interest), you’ll get your item back. But, like many short-term lending options, a pawn loan comes with plenty of risks. Here’s what to know before you consider a pawn shop loan for extra cash, and alternatives that may better suit your goals. A pawn shop…

In-brief analysis February 24, 2026 Ten years ago, on February 24, 2016, the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the Sabine Pass Terminal was exported from the United States, marking the beginning of a new era in U.S. LNG exports. Today, the United States is the world’s largest LNG exporter, ahead of both Australia and Qatar. LNG exports surged from 0.5 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in 2016 to 15.0 Bcf/d in 2025, and in our February Short-Term Energy Outlook, we forecast U.S. LNG exports to exceed 18.1 Bcf/d in 2027. LNG exports…

Key PointsTexas is about to unseat Virginia as the world’s largest data market, according to a new report from JLL.Data center vacancies at the end of 2025 remained at a historic low of 1% for the second year in a row.The demand is now being driven by hyperscalers and AI, and headwinds to new development are keeping construction less robust than it could be.A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Property Play newsletter with Diana Olick. Property Play covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, from individuals to venture capitalists, private equity funds, family…

ZDNET’s key takeaways 0patch costs about $30 per year for its Pro plan, and includes a free tier that provides zero-day patches. It’s easy to install and runs quietly in the background, automatically applying updates the moment they come in. Some users have reported performance issues after installing patches. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.In early 2023, Microsoft announced that it would end all official support for Windows 10 in 2025, giving users just over two years to migrate to Windows 11. As of October 14, 2025, Microsoft officially ceased regular updates and security patches for Windows 10,…

KEY TAKEAWAYS College graduates with a theology and religion major generally have the lowest return on their investment when comparing their student debt versus their wages after 10 years.Computer science graduates typically have the highest ROI and profit post-graduation.While investing in college is a risk, most college graduates will earn more than their high school graduate counterparts. A bachelor’s degree is a risk. College students must pay thousands in tuition and, in many cases, take on student debt to cover the rest. However, some majors are better suited to ensure your degree will give you a good return on your…

Key Takeaways Compared to other generations, baby boomers are the least prepared for retirement (just 40% are), followed closely by Gen X (41%) and millennials (42%). Gen Z (47%) is a little better prepared, but not by much.For boomers, this lack of retirement readiness is due to limited early access to defined contribution retirement plans (like 401(k)s) and less time to recover from under-saving.  Get personalized, AI-powered answers built on 27+ years of trusted expertise. Less than half (42%) of Americans are on track for retirement, according to Vanguard research. Of all the generations, baby boomers are among the least…