Tax-Loss Harvesting Can Offset Your Capital Gains Tax
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
Sell an investment at a loss and you can use that loss to offset capital gains from your winners.
Money Crashers
moneycrashers.comadded August 2026
top 29%Delaying Social Security to 70 Can Raise Your Check More Than 75%
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
You can claim Social Security as early as 62, but your benefit grows every year you wait, including 8% per year between full retirement age and 70.
Required Minimum Distributions Can Push You Into a Higher Tax Bracket
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
Once you turn 73, the IRS requires you to withdraw a minimum amount from traditional IRAs and 401ks each year, and those withdrawals are taxed as ordinary income.
An HSA Is the Only Triple-Tax-Advantaged Account Available
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
A Health Savings Account, available with a high-deductible health plan, lets you contribute pre-tax, grow tax-free, and withdraw tax-free for qualified medical expenses.
A Roth IRA and a Traditional IRA Are Taxed at Opposite Ends
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
A traditional IRA gives you a tax deduction now and taxes your withdrawals in retirement, while a Roth IRA gives you no deduction now but lets your money grow and come out tax-free.
Self-Employment Tax Is 15.3% on Top of Income Tax - Plan for It
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
When you work for yourself, you pay both the employee and employer share of Social Security and Medicare taxes. That comes to 15.3% on net self-employment income, on top of your regular income tax.
Separate Your Bills Account From Your Spending Account
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
Open a second checking account dedicated solely to fixed monthly bills: rent, utilities, subscriptions, and loan payments.
Rebalancing Your Portfolio Once a Year Keeps Your Risk in Check
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
As markets move, your asset allocation drifts. A portfolio that started 80% stocks and 20% bonds can become 90/10 after a bull run.
A Robo-Advisor Is the Lowest-Friction Way to Start Investing
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
A robo-advisor automatically builds and manages a diversified investment portfolio based on your goals and risk tolerance, rebalancing as markets move.
Start Investing Early - The Gap Between 25 and 35 Is Enormous
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
$5,000 invested at age 25 grows to roughly $70,000 by age 65 at a 7% average return. The same amount invested at 35 grows to about $35,000.
Home Equity Is an Asset - But Tapping It Carelessly Is Dangerous
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
A home equity line of credit lets you borrow against the equity you’ve built at rates lower than personal loans or credit cards.
Grocery Apps and Digital Coupons Cut Your Food Bill for Free
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage6 Sept 2026
Most major grocery chains offer a free loyalty app with personalized digital coupons loaded before you shop. Standalone cash back apps add rebates on specific products at checkout.
Crypto Is a Speculation, Not an Investment Strategy
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage6 Sept 2026
Cryptocurrency has no earnings, no dividends, and no underlying cash flow. Its value rests entirely on what someone else will pay for it later. That makes it speculation, not investing.
Hospital and Medical Bills Are Negotiable - Most People Never Ask
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage5 Sept 2026
Hospitals and medical providers routinely accept less than the billed amount, especially for uninsured or underinsured patients.
Cash Back Shopping Portals Pay You to Shop Where You Were Already Going
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage5 Sept 2026
Cash back portals are free websites that pay you a percentage of your purchase when you click through to a retailer before buying.
Expense and Mileage Tracking Apps Pay for Themselves at Tax Time
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage5 Sept 2026
Self-employed people who track expenses and mileage manually, or not at all, routinely miss legitimate deductions.
Staying With Your Employer Is a Financial Choice - Make It On Purpose
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage5 Sept 2026
Employers price new hires at market rate but base your raises on your current salary, which is why job switching out-earned staying for most of the past decade.
Get Mortgage Pre-Approval Before You Start House Hunting
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage4 Sept 2026
A pre-approval letter tells you exactly how much you can borrow and signals to sellers that you’re a serious buyer.
Buy Used Cars Two to Three Years Old to Avoid the Steepest Depreciation
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage4 Sept 2026
New cars lose 15-25% of their value in the first year and up to 50% by year four. A two or three-year-old certified pre-owned vehicle gives you most of the useful life at a significantly lower...
A Business Credit Card Separates Expenses and Earns Rewards Automatically
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage4 Sept 2026
A dedicated business credit card makes expense tracking and tax preparation easier, builds business credit separately from your personal score, and earns rewards on spending your business was going...