Retire with MONEY

How a 35-Year-Old "Credit Card Nerd" with 10 Million Rewards Points Travels the World for Free by Alix Langone Chris Hutchins was in college when he realized he had a passion for traveling. But he quickly came to another realization: he couldn’t afford to globe-trot. So he tried a clever — and increasingly popular — way to book a vacation when you’re on a budget.

How to Care for Aging Parents Without Sacrificing Your Career by Erika Parker-Price Liz O’Donnell had a full life with a husband, two kids, and a career when she got crushing news: On the same day her mother was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer in 2014, O’Donnell learned her dad had Alzheimer’s and would need to move into a memory care facility. Then 47, O’Donnell became a caregiver, one of 34 million U.S.

I Gave Myself an Adult Allowance and It Radically Changed How I Spend Money by Nina Semczuk Travel almost clobbered my savings this summer. Taking a cue from Shonda Rhimes’s bestselling book Year of Yes, I dubbed 2019 my own year of yes, but with one specific theme: travel. I vowed to say yes to any travel opportunity that came my way. In January, I went to Philadelphia — very exotic, I know — and in February, I spent a hot and sunny 10 days scootering around Thailand.

Social Security Is Giving Seniors a 1.6% Raise for 2020 by Elizabeth O'Brien The Social Security Administration announced Thursday that seniors would get a 1.6% raise for 2020, a tiny bump that won’t keep pace with the rising cost of prescription drugs and other essentials. The boost would increase the average monthly Social Security check of $1,460 by about $23.40, less than the extra $40.90 that seniors received for 2019 after a raise of 2.8%.

Celebrities Are Rushing to Invest in CBD. Should You? by Paul Schrodt CBD is in the middle of a business boom. Sometimes known as “the other weed,” cannabis-derived cannabidiol is quickly catching on in products marketed and sold throughout the U.S., ranging from infused tinctures and oils to premium chocolate bars and even a $50 jar of “rejuvenating” clay mask that claims to utilize the anti-inflammatory properties of the cannabinoid to reduce redness and breakouts.

President Trump Is Promoting Medicare Advantage Plans. Here's What's at Stake for You by Elizabeth O'Brien The Trump Administration has actively promoted Medicare Advantage, the privately managed alternative to Original Medicare that has become increasingly popular with beneficiaries in recent years. The President spoke Thursday about improving the program and protecting patients’ access to their doctors in a speech at The Villages, a large retirement community in central Florida.

The Best Credit Cards in Every Category — Cash Back, Travel Rewards, Lowest Rates, and More by Martha C. White With the U.S. economy still chugging, credit card companies have spent 2019 locked in fierce competition for borrowers. That means if you take the time to look, there are some pretty sweet deals out there. What’s more, the types of rewards you can earn has expanded too, with more perks tailored to match American’s new digital spending habits.

Wine, Cheese, Scotch, and Other Stuff You Love Is About to Cost More Because of Tariffs by Prachi Bhardwaj New tariffs on imports from Europe might make you reevaluate your next wine and cheese party. On Wednesday, the Trump administration announced 10% and 25% tariffs on various European goods, to take effect on October 18. While the 10% tariff is being imposed on new airplanes and will mostly be a pain point for U.S.

Charles Schwab Just Made Stock Trading Free. Here's Why That Might Be Bad News for Investors by Rob Curran Charles Schwab just made it cheaper to buy and sell stocks whenever you want. That doesn’t mean you should. On Tuesday, the discount brokerage said it was offering clients unlimited commission-free online trades on all stocks, exchange-traded funds and options. (Trading options will still cost 65 cents a contract.

This Start-Up Helps You Sell Unwanted Furniture in a Sustainable Way by Shaina Mishkin When Alpay Koralturk and his wife Basak moved into a new New York City apartment in 2014, they wanted to do so sustainably — a task that turned out to be more difficult than expected. “She and I are both quite passionate about the environment and sustainability, so we wanted to get [furniture] secondhand,” Koralturk said in an interview with MONEY.

"Does Your Teen Want to Become a VSCO Girl? It'll Cost You $1,200" by Prachi Bhardwaj You might have noticed over the summer, that video-sharing app TikTok and the rest of Gen Z internet birthed the VSCO girl. The what? Pronounced “visco,” the name is derived from a photo-editing and sharing app that’s been around for years.

3 Reasons Why Renting Can Be Smarter Than Owning a Home in Retirement by Carla Fried If you’re nearing retirement, it’s likely that renting is a distant memory. But if your retirement plan includes making a move, renting might be a sweeter financial and lifestyle fit. Among households with someone at least 65 years old, 8 in 10 are homeowners, according to Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies.

Asking These 5 Questions Can Instantly Upgrade Your In-Flight Experience by Paul Schrodt I didn’t see it coming: I was flying back to Los Angeles from New York City on my favorite airline, when a small delay snowballed into a multi-hour annoyance. But that wasn’t the surprising part.

IRAs Offer You More Flexibility for Early Withdrawals Than 401(k)s by Alix Langone The golden rule of retirement planning is to leave your nest egg alone until you’re retired. But life happens, and if you find yourself in need of cash, it pays to know the difference between an IRA and a 401(k). Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s are tax-deferred savings accounts that have strict rules for when you can and can’t take your money out.

Iceland — Yes, Iceland — Is the Best Place in the World For Retirement by Elizabeth O'Brien Step aside, Sunshine State — the best place to retire is chilly year-round and has about 19 hours of darkness each day in winter, according to a study released on Thursday. Iceland ranked first among 44 developed countries in retiree wellbeing in the seventh annual Global Retirement Index released by Natixis Investment Managers. The U.S. slipped two spots to 18th.