Smart Money Links 4U

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . If you’re selling a house, you’re probably pumped about how much money you could be making when the deal closes. But before you go all Scrooge McDuck and start diving into a pile of money, remember the costs that come with selling a home — like commission fees. And they can be significant. In Florida, for example, closing costs can be around 7% of the total selling price. That’s about 1% for taxes, fees, etc. that are mandatory, plus a whopping 6% in agent commissions (3% for each agent). Let’s say you sell your house for $600,000. The commission fees alone will be $36,000 (split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent). That’s a huge chunk of equity you’re giving up. Real estate is way more efficient than it used to be, but brokerages haven’t passed their savings on to consumers. Until recently, ...

Dear Penny, My boyfriend and I have been together for seven years now. Unfortunately, we are not doing too well financially and are paying off debt with a debt relief company. Even with this, we still struggle to get by.  I make $40,000 a year. He barely makes $30,000 a year as a construction contractor who isn’t even on a W-2, so his taxes are very expensive come tax season. He also purchases cigarettes and weed on a weekly basis, which is a chunk of change as well. He claims he wants to get ahead, but he won’t budget or look for a better job.  What should I do? I've tried talking to him, but he gets defensive about this stuff and then walks away. Should I just end the relationship because he’s not willing to grow up?  -Stressed Girlfriend Dear Stressed, The problem with being in a relationship with someone who won’t grow up is that you feel more like a parent than a partner. It’s been seven years. Based on what you’ve told me, I’m not holding out hope that your b...

You can now order four free at-home COVID tests from the federal government, regardless of whether you have health insurance. A new website, covidtests.gov , went live on Tuesday, Jan. 18, one day ahead of schedule. The website allows every home in the U.S. to order four free rapid antigen tests that deliver results in 30 minutes. PCR tests aren’t available. Tests are expected to ship within seven to 12 days, according to the website. How to Get 4 Free COVID Tests Signing up for your free tests is incredibly simple. All you need to do is go to covidtests.gov and provide your name and address, plus an email address if you want shipping notifications. And that’s it. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver the tests. Currently, the website limits you to four free tests for each residential address, no matter how many household members you have. Technically as of Tuesday, the website was in beta mode, which means it’s being tested for possible hiccups. Though there have been concerns tha...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . Wouldn’t it be great to be the first millionaire in your family? Think of the bragging rights! None of your relatives would ever be able to question your judgment again. You could brush them off by asking, “I’m sorry, are YOU a millionaire?” Also, as a millionaire, you’d be able to help the rest of your family, if you’re into that sort of thing. Ah, but how to make your first million? A lucrative job and good investments would help. But we’ve got some other tips for how to improve your financial bottom line, both immediately and over the long run. Try these: 1. Stop Putting It Off and Become an Investor Ultimately, investing is how you really build wealth — including that first million. If you feel like you don’t have enough money to start investing right now, you’re not alone. But guess what? You real...

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . When banks advertise themselves as fee-free, you’ve got to question how truly fee-free they really are. For example, major banks that boast no monthly maintenance fees can still get you with overdraft fees, foreign transaction fees and even paper check fees. ATM fees are a different breed. Your own personal bank isn’t benefiting from the ATM surcharges you pay when using out-of-network ATMs (the ATM operator is), but the best banks help you avoid ATM fees by offering vast networks of fee-free ATMs or, even better, reimbursements for ATM fees. If you frequently use an ATM, whether to deposit cash or checks for an account with an online bank or to withdraw money for cash-only purchases, consider switching to a financial institution that helps you avoid ATM fees most easily. In researching banks that offer AT...