Stimulus Update: How to Check the Status of Your Unclaimed Stimulus Payments? (2024)

How Much of Your Retirement Savings Should You Keep in Cash?

To live comfortably as a senior, you'll need savings. And it's a good idea to house the bulk of your savings in an IRA or 401(k) for the tax benefits involved. Both of these accounts allow you to invest your money so it ideally grows into a much larger sum over time.But should you invest all of the money you're earmarking for retirement? Or should some of it sit in a savings account so you have some cash on hand?Your strategy should hinge on your ageWhen retirement is many decades away, it's smart to invest your money -- pretty much all of it. Keeping it in cash might earn you around 2% a year or so in interest (keeping in mind that today's bank account APYs of 4% and higher really aren't the norm). But investing it might earn you 10% a year, since that's the stock market's average return over the past 50 years. So you want to capitalize on that growth opportunity.However, as you get closer to retirement, it's a good idea to move some of your long-term savings into cash instead of keeping it invested. The reason? Once you retire, you're likely going to be withdrawing from your nest egg regularly. But what if the stock market suddenly tanks?In that case, you risk taking permanent losses by having to sell investments for money at the wrong time. The same thing could happen to the bond market, too. If you own a lot of bonds and have to sell them at a loss, you're in the same unfavorable position.That's why it's important to keep some of your retirement savings in cash -- but only once you're nearing retirement. You probably don't want to keep a portion of your nest egg in cash in your 30s or 40s. But if you're 62 years old and expect to retire at 65, that's a good age to start turning some of your assets into cash.The right amount of cash to have on handDuring your working years, you should aim to have enough cash in an emergency fund to cover three months' worth of living costs at a minimum. For retirement, you'll really want more like one to two years' worth.The reason? Any market downturn that impacts your portfolio could be lengthy. You want to give yourself the opportunity to ride out a downturn while still being able to cover your bills.If you keep one to two years' worth of expenses in cash, you'll be able to avoid selling assets for that long. In fact, if you're the more conservative type when it comes to risk, you could even opt to keep three years' worth of expenses in cash. You'll lose out on some growth by doing that, but it might give you more peace of mind.With that said, different people have access to different income streams in retirement. If you own a rental property that generates steady income, for example, you may be able to get away with keeping a little less cash on hand.But for the typical person, one to two years' worth of cash in the bank is generally best. Just don't make the mistake of moving that money over too early in life.

How to Find Items That Are Marked Down to 1 Penny at Dollar General

If you're trying to keep your credit card bills down, buying something for a penny may seem like a dream scenario. After all, what could be friendlier to your bank account than purchasing an item you want or need that costs only a cent?In today's day and age, it may seem impossible to find anything to purchase so cheaply, but that's not necessarily the case. In fact, it may be possible to find penny items at Dollar General.That's because the store has a system in which items that are supposed to be removed from stock are priced at $0.01. If employees do not remove these items from the shelves before the price adjustment happens, they'll ring up for only a penny.So, how can you find these items? Here are the steps you'll need to take.1. Go shopping on the correct dayItems are marked down to a penny only when it's determined that they need to be removed from stock. Typically, this markdown process happens on a Tuesday, so if you want to be able to buy one of these deeply discounted products, you'll want to go shopping then.Since others may also be on the lookout for the penny products, it can help to go early in the morning before all of the items you might want are bought up.2. Check the penny lists onlinePenny items are not advertised, since they are not really supposed to be for sale at that price. This means you can't just consult the Dollar General sales flyer to see what's on discount. You also shouldn't ask cashiers, as they not only won't help you find the items but instead are more likely to remove them from the shelves before you can purchase them.Since these products are like hidden gems, you'll want a guide to discovering them -- and there are a few lists online that can help you do that. The Krazy Coupon lady publishes a weekly list of penny items. You can also join Facebook groups dedicated to finding them.Since penny items change regularly, you'll want to check out these resources every week to see what's on discount.3. Load up your cartWhen you are lucky enough to find a penny list item on the shelves, you should bring up as many of the items as you want to purchase.As soon as you have alerted the store to the fact the items were left on the shelf, they will be pulled so you won't have a chance to get any more of them. If they ring up for a higher price, you can just say you changed your mind.4. Get lucky with your cashierFinally, you need to hope that the cashier you have ringing up your items allows you to actually buy them. Official store policy is that they should not be purchased, so you may well be told you can't actually get the item for a penny and may have to put the item back.While there's an element of luck involved in both finding the penny items and being able to buy them, it may be worth the effort to try if there's something on the penny list you are excited about purchasing -- or if you happen to be at Dollar General anyway.

Does Your Income Make You Upper Class, Middle Class, or Lower Class?

Incomes vary widely across the United States, with some people making many times the amount that others earn. If you've ever wondered how your personal finances stack up, and what "class" your income officially puts you in, here's what you need to know.What income do you need to be upper, middle, or lower class?Based on 2021 data, here's what you would need to earn in order to be in each class:Lower class: This is defined as the bottom 20% of earners. Those in the lower class have an income at or below $28,007.Lower middle class: This is defined as individuals in the 20th to 40th percentile of household income. Earnings among this group are between $28,008 and $55,000Middle class: The middle class is officially those whose earnings put them in the 40th to 60th percentile of household income. The income range is $55,001 to $89,744.Upper middle class: Anyone with earnings in the 60th to 80th percentile would be considered upper middle class. Those in the upper middle class have incomes between $89,745 and $149,131.Upper class: Finally, the upper class is the top 20% of earners and they have incomes of $149,132 or higher.Take a look at these numbers and see where you fall based on your own earnings. And remember, this is a snapshot in time -- your earnings can change throughout your life, and so can your class designation.Will your success be determined by your income and class?It's probably not a surprise that those in the upper classes or in the upper middle class do have a higher net worth than those in the lower class or the lower middle class. But the disparity is greater than you might think. While the median net worth of those with incomes of $149,132 or higher is $805,400, the median net worth of those in the lower class is just $12,000.Your income impacts how easy it is for you to build wealth. If you make more money, it is easier to save it and invest it in a brokerage account where it can work for you. If you make less money, then you may struggle even to cover the necessities out of your checking account, much less to buy valuable assets that help you grow richer over time.But that doesn't mean people who don't make a lot of money can't be a financial success. A lot depends on what you do with the money you actually have, including how much you spend and how much you save.There are plenty of people who make over $100,000 a year who live paycheck to paycheck, and plenty of people with incomes that put them squarely in the lower or lower middle class who have diligently saved and grown quite wealthy over many years.Here's how you can improve your standingDon't be discouraged if you aren't in the class you hope to be. For one thing, you have opportunities to increase your income by taking the following steps:Learning new job skills: You could obtain a certification, take part in a management training program at work, or take some classes to develop skills that may help you get promoted (such as computer training courses or public speaking classes), depending on your industry.Take on a side hustle: The average side hustle brings in $483 per month, which is a good amount of extra money that could make a meaningful difference in your income.Work some extra hours: If your company allows you to work overtime, take advantage of it, as many people are paid time and a half for overtime hours.Negotiate your salary: According to Pew Research, when workers negotiated for higher pay, 28% said they received the extra money they asked for and 38% indicated they were given more than originally offered but less than their ask. Whether you are getting a new job or staying at your current job but feel you're underpaid, it doesn't hurt to make a request for more money -- especially if you can find salary data to back up the fact that others in your industry are paid more.And even if your earnings never put you in the top 20% of earners, you can still have a rich life and end up with the financial security you deserve -- especially if you prioritize saving as much as you can for as long as you can.

3 Reasons I Don't Shop at Dollar Stores

Does it feel as if everything is so much more expensive than it used to be? Well, you're not imagining it. We're still coping with higher inflation than usual (thankfully lower than it was during summer 2022, at least). As of the last Consumer Price Index Summary report, inflation was holding steady at 3.2% between October 2022 and October 2023. So if you're hoping to spend less money on your everyday purchases (and who among us isn't?), shopping at dollar stores seems like the natural choice.Dollar stores are everywhere -- Statista reports that there were over 37,000 of them in the U.S. last year. Plus, shopping at dollar stores comes with some perks -- for example, they can be a great place to buy low-cost gift wrap and greeting cards (why spend more for something that will be thrown out in short order?).If dollar store shopping works well for you and your personal finances, I absolutely get it, and think you should keep saving money in any way you can. But my own issues with dollar stores supersede my desire to save money. Here's why I avoid dollar stores.1. I have concerns about product safetyChances are good that you've been impacted by a product recall at least once in your life -- manufacturers and sellers implement these to get potentially unsafe products out of the hands of consumers. Earlier this year, Family Dollar undertook a recall of almost 300 drugs and other medical products that had been stored improperly and then sold at stores in almost two dozen states.The fact that so many different products, from toothpastes to allergy medicines to painkillers, were affected is extremely concerning and points to bigger issues with how dollar stores handle their supply lines and distribution. (Some of this relates to staffing problems; see below for more on that.) Dollar stores certainly aren't the only retailers who occasionally have to recall products for safety issues, but it's definitely a reason I would never buy medication or similar items from a dollar store.2. I don't like the way they operateDollar stores have a nasty habit of moving into rural areas of our country and undercutting local small businesses with their seemingly lower prices on essential items. In some places, they can even push out grocery stores, making dollar stores the only place to buy grocery items. And since the number and types of items sold are limited (particularly the selection of fresh produce, assuming it's available at all) at dollar stores, this can be extremely limiting for consumers.Going beyond the impact on local businesses and the food supply, dollar stores have also gotten in trouble with the federal government for not providing a safe working environment for staff members. As recently covered by Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (as well as other outlets), dollar stores can be severely understaffed, terribly disorganized, and even beset by rats and violent criminals. I've lived and worked in small rural towns, and the residents there deserve better. In some places, locals are fighting back -- NPR reported that 50 communities in the U.S. have put limits on new dollar stores opening in their area.3. I'd rather spend more upfront for items that lastWhile paying less for an item you buy is a more straightforward way to find savings, dollar stores don't always sell the highest quality of a given item. I'm fortunate that I am able to put a bigger charge on my credit card for a purchase and in exchange, have it last for longer. Batteries, tools, and toys are all examples of items best avoided from dollar stores because they just aren't as well made or long lasting as items you might pay more for from brands you've heard of.I can buy an eight pack of AAA batteries from Dollar Tree for $1.25. But if those batteries end up leaking, or even just not lasting very long, I'll use them up more quickly than I would if I sprung for Duracells from Amazon. There are other ways for me to save on higher-quality items, such as waiting for holiday sales or buying in bulk, rather than buying them at dollar stores.Personal finances are just that -- personal. So just because dollar store shopping isn't a fit for me doesn't mean it isn't for you. I do recommend taking the time to compare prices using product sizes, however, as this is one way you might be fooled into thinking dollar store prices are lower. That way, you'll be able to tell in real numbers whether you're saving money.

3 Reasons to Cancel Your Costco Membership in 2024

If you're a member of Costco, you're in good company. As of September 2023, the warehouse club giant had an impressive 127.9 million cardholders and 71 million member households.You may be well aware that a Costco membership has the potential to result in a lot of money for your savings account. But if these things apply to you, you may not want to keep your Costco membership in the new year.1. You really haven't been using itIf you spend a lot of money on grocery purchases at Costco, then it can be pretty easy to justify the cost of a membership. But if you only visited Costco a handful of times this year, then it may be that you're not saving enough money to make that membership worth paying for.Be realistic about how often you're likely to use your membership in 2024. If you only tend to visit Costco a couple of times a year, it could be worth seeing if you could just tag along with a family member or friend when you need to go rather than pay for a membership yourself.2. You're downsizingOne of the benefits of having a Costco membership is getting to reap savings by buying household essentials in bulk. But if you're making plans to downsize your living space in the new year, then having a Costco membership might stop making sense.Buying things like cleaning supplies and paper towels in bulk really only works if you have a place to store them. You don't want to end up having to house your supplies in the middle of your dining room because you no longer have the storage space to keep them tucked away.Also, sometimes, a smaller living space means a smaller kitchen -- and a smaller fridge to go along with it. That could make it harder to buy large quantities of perishable food.3. You're moving someplace where there's no Costco nearbyCostco has an impressive 600 warehouse club locations across 47 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. But if you're moving in 2024 and your new home won't be located anywhere close to a Costco store, then it could make sense to cancel your membership.Let's say a typical Costco trip saves you $20 compared to what you'd spend at a regular supermarket. If you move far away from a Costco location, you might spend that $20 in gas back and forth just to get there. Plus, you're spending lots of time on the road.Now, you could decide to keep your Costco membership for online shopping purposes. That's not necessarily a poor choice. But do know that Costco prices tend to be higher online than in stores. And sometimes, there's a considerable price difference. So you'll need to decide whether you're willing to still spend that money if it means saving less.You may have loved having a Costco membership until now. But if these factors apply to you, then you may be better off canceling your Costco membership in the new year rather than continuing to pay.