The Savvy RabbitsMagazineSmart Reads. Better Living.
Social Security benefits rise 3.6% for 2027, about $75 a month on average for retirees. The 2027 Medicare Part B premium had not been announced as of November 6, 2026, so the final take-home amount was still unknown on that date.
November 6, 2026
Three to six months of essential bills is still a reasonable target for many households, but it will not cover every layoff. More than a quarter of unemployed people have been out of work for over six months, and a much smaller cushion still helps.
November 6, 2026
EIA's October 6 forecast shows heating oil homes facing the biggest jump this winter, electric homes a smaller rise, and most gas and propane homes paying less. Here is what to check, and where to get help if the bill is out of reach.
November 6, 2026
Alaska's yearly dividend goes to residents who applied and qualified. Here's who is eligible, how the amount is set, and where to check your status.
November 5, 2026
A Roth conversion at 75 is still legal and sometimes useful, but the window for it to pay off is narrower. Here's how to tell.
November 2, 2026
Charitable gifts can lower a tax bill, but never by as much as the gift costs. Here is how the deduction works and who gets it.
November 1, 2026
Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov for 2027 coverage runs November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Insurers asked for a median 15% premium increase, so it pays to check the numbers before letting a plan renew on its own.
October 30, 2026
Gas has eased a little in October, but September inflation hit 3.7% and pay has not kept up. Here is what the latest numbers mean for a household budget, and what to do about it.
October 29, 2026
A Pittsburgh-area convenience store alert this week was about health violations, not prices. Here is how to check that you are charged the shelf price, and where to report it in Pennsylvania.
October 29, 2026
When money runs short, pay for shelter, food, utilities, and transport first. Cards and medical bills usually come later, with real costs.
October 25, 2026
A Visual Capitalist chart pits quality of life against cost in 99 cities. Here is what such rankings show, and what they miss.
October 21, 2026
Even when inflation slows, prices don't come back down, and in September 2026 it sped up again in both the US and the euro area. Europe's cost-of-living anger shows why bills still sting, and how to measure your own.
October 20, 2026
Protests in Belgium, Italy, Portugal and France point to a squeeze that US households know well: wages that lag prices, and prices that stay high even after inflation cools.
October 19, 2026
Protests over housing, food prices, low wages, schools and public services have spread across several European countries. Looking back at the 2022 energy crisis, the article explains how a European price squeeze can reach US households, mostly indirectly.
October 18, 2026
United Way's ALICE research finds about four in ten US households earn too little to cover basic local costs. Here is how that happens.
October 17, 2026