Author: Money Mechanics

Rewards credit cards can be a powerful way to get more value from your everyday spending. Each purchase can earn you points, miles or cash back that you can redeem for travel, statement credits, gift cards and more.However, simply having a rewards credit card is not enough to unlock its full potential. The way you use your card and the strategy behind it determine how much value you actually receive from your rewards.To help you get the most from your credit card, we’ve highlighted six common mistakes that could be holding back your rewards strategy and offer tips on how…

Sitting on shares of Nvidia Corp. from before the chipmaker got into AI and its stock gained 35,000%? Have a cabin in the mountains that’s appreciated in value and then some? It’s only natural to want to cash out and sell those assets in retirement, even if you don’t need the cash.But before you do, it pays to take a moment and think about what selling them gets you. Whether it’s an appreciated stock or a piece of real estate, there are financial and emotional implications to selling assets that can be detrimental to your retirement.“One big component of this…

Unlock the Editor’s Digest for freeRoula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.I am changing my mid-October priorities. They used to be cutting back flower borders, taking half-hardy flowers under cover and having one last blitz on weeds while they were still green and visible. October 13 was the marker in Britain: frost would probably come soon after and it was no use expecting marginally hardy salvias to survive it. Mid-October was the time for a big to and fro: new planting was never in my mind until the turnaround was finished. Of the…

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 May 9 column, she answered five questions on QCDs. This week, she’s looking at seven more questions on the topic. (Get a free issue of The Kiplinger Tax Letter or subscribe.)1. Itemizing and doing a QCDQuestion: Can I itemize on Schedule A of the Form 1040 and do a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) this year? And does this make sense? Joy Taylor: People age 70½ and older can transfer up to $108,000 in…

Annual Medicare Cost Increases for 2026 2025 Projected Cost 2026 Projected Cost Increase Part B deductible $257 $288 +$31 Part D deductible $590 $615 +$25 Part D catastrophic threshold $2,000 $2,100 +$100 2. Part D’s Catastrophic Threshold Is Going Up The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) instituted a cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for people with Medicare Part D. This catastrophic threshold is similar to an out-of-pocket maximum in other health plans, but it just applies to prescription drugs. After you meet it, the plan pays 100% of your costs. The threshold will increase in 2026 from $2,000 to $2,100. Even…

Key Takeaways Retiring in a state that doesn’t tax 401(k), IRA, or Social Security withdrawals lets you keep more of your income and stretch your savings further. Of the top 50 U.S. cities to retire, 18 are located in states with no state tax on retirement income. From low housing costs to access to health care, arts, and entertainment, these tax-friendly cities provide a balance of financial security and quality of life. When you’re on a fixed retirement income, every dollar counts. That’s why it pays to live in a state that won’t tax your 401(k), IRA, or Social Security…

1. The Psychology Behind It and are not just market instruments — they’re mirrors of human emotion. They embody fear, security, and the desire for control during uncertainty. When prices rise sharply, human nature takes over: Traders want to be smarter than the crowd. They feel the rally has gone “too far.” They want to call the top — to prove foresight, not to make money. This leads to ego trading, not probability trading. Markets don’t reward prediction — they reward discipline and adaptability. 2. Why “Top-Calling” Is Financially Dangerous ❌ You Fight the Trend Gold can stay overbought for…

Reddit announced Thursday that it is expanding its AI-powered search experience to five new languages: French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese. With this expansion, the feature is now available in countries like Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, Mexico, and Italy. Users who have set one of these languages as their default, instead of English, can now chat with the AI in question-and-answer format. Reddit uses a Google AI model to power the feature. Reddit first debuted AI-powered search last year and has been working to expand it in different ways. The feature is part of Reddit Answers, which lives alongside the…

(World Oil)– TotalEnergies SE said its third-quarter profit and cash flow may rise slightly after oil and gas output increased and refining margins jumped from a year earlier, outweighing a drop in crude prices. Despite a drop in oil price of $10 per barrel year-on-year, the results and cash flow from business segments should be flat to 5% higher thanks to accretive hydrocarbon production growth and improved results of the downstream businesses, the French energy giant said in a trading update on Wednesday. Oil and gas production for the third quarter is estimated to have risen by 4% from a…

Key Takeaways One of Oneida County’s most popular leisure activities is riding the Adirondack Railroad, with numerous other excursions tailored to personal interests. The county’s Office for Aging & Continuing Care provides several helpful services to seniors. The state of New York imposes a high tax rate, but the cost of living in Oneida County is below the national average. Tucked between Albany and Syracuse in central New York State, Oneida County enjoys a rich and storied history. The county was established by the New York State Legislature back in 1798, and it captured international attention in the 18th and…