Author: budgethomepage

My investment journey started with a set of rules for buying stock. One of them was that I would only buy stocks that were under $30 a share. Today, almost 40 years later, my maximum price limit is $80 per share. These days, that rules out most semiconductor and tech

Applying for Social Security in 2026 is an adventure especially if you are trying to do something that is less common. This was my first experience with SS, as I was helping my girlfriend navigate the system. She had reached her full retirement age this year and was ready to

I have lived a modest lifestyle and saved for my retirement. Next year (2027), I plan to apply for social security. At the same time, I will apply for Medicare. No longer will I have to live on my investments. Life will be great, right? Not so fast. Uncle Sam

As usual, I invested in the housing market rebound too early it seems. I bought 100 shares of the iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB) last week. Today, the price is down 2.3%. I also have 100 shares of Fidelity National Financial (FNF) which has dropped 11.88% since late February.

This year my property tax refund will cover almost 80% of my 2026 property tax bill. This is bigger than last year’s refund because my co-occupant had no income to report. Qualifying for this state refund is one of the primary reasons that I have been able to afford early