Retire with MONEY

Where Home Prices Are Heading in the Age of Coronavirus by Daniel Bortz Baltimore realtor Nicole Callender had five homes scheduled to hit the market April 1. Then the coronavirus struck and all of her clients decided to postpone. Now with home sales picking back up in the last two weeks, Callender is urging sellers to move forward, betting that life — and her city’s real estate market — will soon be back to normal.

Big-Name Stocks Are Boasting Huge Yields Now. But Here Are the Risks Investors Should Consider by Chris Taylor With interest rates near record lows, trying to live off investment income isn’t easy. Dividend yields — which rise as stock prices fall — can seem like a tempting alternative. But the strategy is a risky one. Fears of the coronavirus have been weighing on stock prices. As a result, payouts on some prominent companies have reached eye-popping levels.

How to Decide the 'Best' Way to Use Your Stimulus Check by Julia Glum Do you remember that children’s book "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie?" The gist is that there’s a boy who — as you might guess from the title — gives a mouse a cookie. It sets off a whole chain of events. The mouse eats the cookie, which makes him want a glass of milk, which makes him want a straw, which makes him want a mirror to check his milk mustache, and so on.

Coronavirus Is Forcing Domestic Workers to Choose: Protect Their Health or Pay Their Bills? by Kenadi Silcox When Emily Norde showed up for her nannying job in early March with her 10-month-old daughter in tow, she expected it to be a normal day of work. And it was, until the parents returned home that evening. “The mom had been running a fever of 103 degrees since that morning.

"Yes, You Can Still Claim Unemployment While Working Part-Time. Here's What You Need to Know" by Kaitlin Mulhere More than 26 million people have filed unemployment claims in the past month, a number that shatters previous records tenfold. The sheer size of the out-of-work population means many of those millions are likely navigating the unemployment process for the first time.

People Are Sharing Screenshots of Their Stimulus Check Deposits Online — and It Could Come Back to Haunt Them by Julia Glum In the era of “pics or it didn’t happen,” it’s natural to want to share proof online the second something happens. But you might want to think twice before you post a screenshot of your stimulus check.

Breaking a Car Lease Can Be Costly If You Aren't Careful. Here Are Your Best Moves by Ingrid Case When money is tight, a car lease can seem like an obvious expense to cut. But getting out of the deal isn’t always easy. About a third of the 274 million registered vehicles in the U.S. are leased, with average monthly payments of $450 lasting 36 months. Now with millions of Americans suddenly out of work, many of them are driven by people who can no longer afford their lease payments. Swapalease.

Is the Coronavirus Delaying Your Tax Refund? by Julia Glum Amid the pandemic, the unemployment boom and the confusion over stimulus checks, you may have forgotten about your 2019 taxes. Yes, tax season is still happening. And even though the IRS pushed back Tax Day to July 15, it’s a good idea to file your income taxes sooner rather than later — especially if you’re expecting a refund. Extra cash sounds nice right now given the ongoing economic crisis.

What to Know Before You Take a Gap Year From College During Coronavirus by Joanna Nesbit With the novel coronavirus creating uncertainty around a traditional campus experience this fall, some high school seniors are considering postponing college for a year. Curtis, a New York City senior, is excited to put down a deposit at the Northeast liberal arts college that accepted him. But he’s not sure fall 2020 is the right time to start.

Retirees Don't Have to Take Required Minimum Distributions This Year. But What If You Already Did? by Carla Fried The coronavirus stimulus bill that became law in late March suspended the RMD requirement for this year. But what if you already took your required minimum distribution for 2020, and now you wish you hadn’t? You may be able to put the money back into your retirement account.

The CARES Act Makes It Easier To Withdraw from Your 401(k). Here's What to Know Before You Do by Chris Taylor Typically for retirement plan savers, it’s extremely tough to get at your money early. Think of it as locked in a safe: To withdraw it before age 59.5, you have to crack multiple defenses like extra penalties and steep tax withholding. But now, with the Covid-19 crisis, the safe has been opened – at least temporarily.

It's Suddenly a Lot Harder to Find a New Credit Card. Here's How You Can Still Get Approved by Martha C. White Between the upheaval of regular work routines and the jaw-dropping loss of nearly 17 million jobs in three weeks alone, we wouldn’t blame you if you’re thinking about signing up for a new credit card so you can have a little extra financial security if your income takes a hit. Unless you act fast, though, you might be out of luck.

Coronavirus and Charity: How Can I Make the Most Impact with My (Kinda Small) Donation? by Julia Glum For a girl who has a LOT of opinions, it can be tough for me to make choices sometimes. Like if you ask me my favorite food or whether you should subscribe to your local newspaper, I have an immediate answer. (Lasagna and yes, obviously.) But if you want to know who the best Jonas brother is, I’m going to flounder.

"Taking College Courses in High School Is Supposed to Save You Money. Here's How Dual Enrollment Classes Really Work," by Mindy Charski There’s a question that’s been creating plenty of angst for me as a parent being sucked into the vortex that is high school: Should my incoming ninth grader take a version of Algebra 2 that would give him both high school and college credit? Word on the street is these types of advanced courses can help lower the bill for higher education.

How to Save Money on Your Car Insurance During Coronavirus — and Beyond by Brad Tuttle You’re probably driving a lot less because of the coronavirus pandemic. And if you’re no longer commuting to work or are simply abiding by social distancing guidelines and staying home, you’re probably paying too much for car insurance. Fortunately, it’s becoming increasingly likely you’ll be able to get a discount on your auto insurance this spring.