Author: Money Mechanics

Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNETFollow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET’s key takeaways Netflix has hidden settings that make it instantly more powerful.There are also cheat codes, buried toggles, and obscure features.Unlock more content and upgrade your experience – today.Netflix seems pretty straightforward and easy to use, right? You open the app on your TV, phone, or laptop, scroll for 15 minutes to find something new to watch, only to end up rewatching the same comfort show, and call it a night. But beneath Netflix’s familiar rows of movies and TV shows lies a world of…

Key Takeaways Researchers have found evidence suggesting that the housing affordability crisis is directly linked to incomes rather than to housing supply, casting doubt on whether the government can bring down housing costs by encouraging new construction.The research, by a team at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, challenges common assumptions about the housing market. A new analysis from researchers at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco challenges the common assumption that homes have gotten more expensive because too few have been built.The analysis published this week, showed that cities across the country have built housing faster than…

KEY TAKEAWAYS The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects millions of job openings through 2034 for workers with degrees in fields like business administration, nursing, accounting, and computer science.Four of the top 10 pay more than $100,000.A business administration degree qualifies you for six of the 10 occupations with the most projected openings. This year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics identified the top 10 jobs with the most projected openings from 2024 to 2034 for workers with a bachelor’s degree—and four of them pay six figures. For students weighing whether college is still worth it, this list offers a roadmap to…

Stock futures pointed higher Friday, a day after major indexes sank amid risk-off sentiment. Still, the Nasdaq and S&P 500 were poised to register sharp weekly losses. Nasdaq 100, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures were up a respective 0.6%, 0.5%, and 0.5%. Yesterday, the tech-heavy Nasdaq and benchmark S&P 500 posted their third straight losing sessions, falling 1.6% and 1.2%, respectively, while the blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average finished down 1.2%, or nearly 600 points. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 entered Friday down a respective 4% and 2% for the week, while the Dow was fractionally higher. The Nasdaq—which was on pace for…

Key Takeaways Waiting until age 70 to claim Social Security benefits maximizes the amount of your monthly payments.Monthly benefits can be up to 132% higher when claiming at age 70 compared with claiming early at age 62.Retirement savings, pensions, and part-time income can bridge the gap to make the delay financially feasible. Deciding when to start taking Social Security can be a financial planning challenge. It requires everyone to weigh their individual circumstances—their salary, their retirement savings and other investments, their expenses, how long they’re able to work, and more—to determine the best strategy. A post on Reddit captured the…

(Image credit: Getty Images)If you plan to retire in the next year, the most important period of preparation is right now. When retirement shifts from a distant goal to an operational reality, time takes on a different meaning.Yet this is often when planning becomes unintentionally narrow, with attention focused almost exclusively on investment performance and market returns — just as the role of money is about to change.That focus is understandable. For decades, the primary objective has been growth: Accumulate more, save more, invest more. But retirement doesn’t reward the same behaviors that helped you get there. From just $107.88…

Each week, in our Ask the Editor series, Joy Taylor, The Kiplinger Tax Letter editor, answers questions on topics submitted by readers. This week she’s looking at five questions on the whether moving expenses and more are tax-deductible. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. Moving expense deductionQuestion: Can I deduct moving expenses on my 2025 Form 1040? I’m talking about the cost of the moving van, mileage, food, lodging, etc.Joy Taylor: Unfortunately, moving expenses are generally not deductible. It used to be that when you relocated for a new job, you could deduct the cost…

(Image credit: Getty Images)In most states, car insurance follows an at-fault or tort system, where the driver who caused an accident is responsible for paying for damages. But if you live in one of the 13 states below, you’re subject to what’s called a no-fault system.In a no-fault system, it’s not that no one is responsible for an accident. In fact, in most states, the driver who caused the accident is still on the hook for property damage. Instead, states with these laws handle injury claims differently and place restrictions on your right to sue the at-fault driver.Beyond these high…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Bitcoin proponents often describe the cryptocurrency as “digital gold” and a hedge against currency debasement. In practice, its recent behavior has looked much different, more like a speculative risk asset.Bitcoin finished 2025 down more than 6% and has continued to slide in 2026, even as concerns around fiat currency debasement remain front and center.The so-called “debasement trade” refers to the gradual loss of purchasing power in fiat currencies as governments rely on monetary expansion, rising debt and fiscal intervention. This trend can be seen over both long and short time horizons. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger…

(Image credit: Getty Images)You’ve finally skimped and saved your way to financial security. Now it’s time to enjoy your wealth by splurging on all of those luxuries you denied yourself in the past.While you’ve earned the right to treat yourself, it’s just as important now to avoid wasteful spending as it was before (albeit for different reasons). Being intentional about your money will ensure that every dollar is spent on something that adds real value to your life.Some frugal habits are never worth it. But others are so worthwhile that you should keep them even when you’ve achieved the financial…