Bunching Deductions Into One Year Can Beat the Standard Deduction
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage26d ago
If your itemized deductions hover just below the standard deduction threshold most years, try bunching.
Money Crashers
moneycrashers.comadded August 2026
top 30%Free Tax Filing Software Exists - Most People Who Qualify Don’t Use It
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage26d ago
The IRS Free File program offers free federal tax preparation software to anyone earning below a set income threshold, plus free fillable forms for everyone else.
A Carrier’s Free Phone Is Priced Into the Plan - Run the 36-Month Math First
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage26d ago
A carrier’s free phone is 36 monthly bill credits that stop if you cancel, pay the phone off early, or drop to a plan the deal doesn’t cover.
Should You Buy Your Leased Car - Run These Two Numbers First
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage27d ago
Before your lease ends, compare the buyout price in your contract against what the car sells for today. If the car is worth more, keeping it beats handing it back and the gap is yours.
Beneficiary Designations Override Your Will - Review Them Every Few Years
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage27d ago
The beneficiary listed on your 401k, IRA, and life insurance policy receives those assets regardless of what your will says.
Your Employer’s Life Insurance Coverage Is Probably Not Enough
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage27d ago
Most employer-provided life insurance covers one to two times your annual salary. The guideline is 10-12 times your income to replace earnings and cover debts, childcare, and future expenses for...
Lease End Review - Online Lease Buyouts That Cost You Nothing to Arrange
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage27d ago
Lease End - Best for: Drivers coming out of an auto lease who want to purchase the car without paying dealer fees, whether or not they have positive equity - What Sets It Apart: Costs the customer...
Student Loan Autopay Now Cuts Your Rate a Full Point - Enroll by September 30
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage27d ago
Federal student loan autopay now cuts your interest rate by a full percentage point, up from a quarter point, but only if you’re enrolled by September 30.
Raising Your Auto and Home Deductibles Can Cut Premiums 15-30%
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage28d ago
Raising your deductible from $500 to $1,000 or higher cuts your annual premium, sometimes by 15-30%.
Sequence of Returns Risk - Why Early Retirement Losses Hit Hardest
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage28d ago
A market downturn early in retirement, when you’re actively withdrawing from your portfolio, does far more damage than the same downturn mid-career.
The Home Sale Exclusion Is One of the Largest Tax Breaks Available
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage28d ago
Live in your primary residence for at least two of the last five years and you can exclude up to $250,000 of profit from capital gains tax when you sell, or $500,000 for married couples.
Your Marginal Tax Rate Is Not What You Pay on All Your Income
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage28d ago
The US tax system is progressive. You pay each bracket’s rate only on the income that falls within it.
The Comcast Breach Settlement Pays About $50 - Claim It by September 14
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage28d ago
If Comcast told you your data was exposed in the October 2023 breach, you have until September 14 to file a claim. The no-receipt option pays an estimated $50.
Your Mortgage Rate Affects Your Total Cost More Than the Purchase Price
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage29d ago
A 1% difference in mortgage rate on a $350,000 loan costs or saves roughly $70,000 in total interest over 30 years.
Re-Shop Your Health Plan Every Open Enrollment - The Default Costs You
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage29d ago
Most employees auto-renew last year’s health plan without checking whether their premiums, deductible, or covered providers changed.
An Independent Home Inspection Is Non-Negotiable Before Closing
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage29d ago
A professional home inspection surfaces structural, mechanical, and safety issues before you’re legally committed to the purchase.
Your 401k Contribution Limit Resets Every January - Max It If You Can
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage8 Sept 2026
The IRS sets an annual contribution limit for 401k plans, and once the year ends, you can’t go back and contribute more.
Combine Finances With Your Partner - But Keep Some Money Separate
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage8 Sept 2026
The most financially stable couples run a hybrid system: a joint account for shared expenses like rent, utilities, and groceries, plus individual accounts for personal spending.
A Will Is Not Just for the Wealthy - Everyone With Dependents Needs One
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage8 Sept 2026
Without a will, state law decides who raises your children and who receives your assets, and the outcome may not match your wishes at all.
Term Life Insurance Is Almost Always the Right Choice Over Whole Life
Money Crashersby Andrew Schrage7 Sept 2026
The price gap is wider than most people guess. NerdWallet’s 2026 rate data puts a 20-year, $500,000 term policy at about $53 a month for a healthy 40-year-old.