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File taxes online: Tools, tips, deadlines and more

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

It’s now the norm for Americans to file their taxes online — the IRS reports that more than 90% of individual tax returns were e-filed in 2023, the most recent data available. Even most professional tax preparers are required to electronically file returns on behalf of their clients.

If you file your own taxes, you have a few different ...Read more

Melina Mara/Abaca Press/TNS

Trump's back in office -- here's what to expect for your taxes in 2025 and beyond

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

With President Donald Trump back in the White House for a second term, Americans can expect to see major tax-law changes in the years ahead.

During his first stint in office, Trump massively overhauled the tax code by passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017. Now, many of those tax provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025, ...Read more

Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register/TNS

Five major banks offering mortgage relief in fire-ravaged LA region areas, Newsom announces

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

LOS ANGELES — Five major banks are offering homeowners up to three months of mortgage payment relief in areas devastated by the Southern California wildfires, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Saturday.

In a statement, Newsom's office said the banks will have a streamlined process that will not require submitting forms or documents and when the ...Read more

Jeff Gritchen/The Orange County Register/TNS

California Gov. Gavin Newsom extends rental price gouging protections until early March

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

California Gov. Gavin Newsom extended price gouging protections on rental housing Thursday amid calls for authorities to prosecute landlords jacking up rent in the wake of Los Angeles County's devastating fires.

Under California law, price gouging protections kick in during a state of emergency and generally bar landlords, hotel and motels from...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Who should replace aging fence?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: I live in a zero-lot-line community. The side of our house, a patio wall, and a wood fence extension on the end of our patio wall form the property line with our neighbor. The builder installed the wood fence extension to meet city code and enclose the neighbor’s yard since it has an open, non-enclosed pool. We do not have a pool. The fence...Read more

Jerry Jackson/The Baltimore Sun/TNS

Maryland's emissions reduction requirements for large buildings challenged in federal court

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Trade organizations representing builders, developers and building owners joined Washington Gas & Light in filing a lawsuit Monday challenging Maryland’s emissions reduction requirements for large buildings.

The suit alleges that Maryland’s regulation requiring buildings of at least 35,000 square feet to reduce their globe-warming emissions...Read more

Brian van der Brug/Los Angeles Times/TNS

California and Bay Area hotel development flops as market nosedives

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

SAN JOSE, Calif — Hotel development nosedived in California and the Bay Area in 2024, fresh evidence the statewide lodging market still suffers from an array of post-coronavirus economic maladies, a new report shows.

Atlas Hospitality Group disclosed in a new report that the decline affected three types of hotel projects: hotels that were ...Read more

Sarayut Thaneerat/Dreamstime/TNS

The reluctant investor's guide to smart, low-effort investing

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

A calf taught Laura Kuntz the power of investing.

Growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, she and her eight siblings each received a heifer when they reached sixth grade. They’d work to reimburse their parents for the price of the animal and to cover costs like lodging and feed, then build up savings from the milk revenue.

“The idea was that...Read more

Mr.phonlawat Chaicheevinlikit/Dreamstime/TNS

What are the different types of index funds?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Index funds are one of the most popular types of investments because of their simplicity, low cost and diversification benefits. In general, index funds seek to replicate the performance of an underlying index comprised of stocks or bonds, which means they aren’t managed by costly portfolio managers with teams of analysts.

There are various ...Read more

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12 ways to save money every day

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Key takeaways

— One of the easiest ways to save money daily is to cut unnecessary expenses, such as unused subscriptions.

— Save money by joining loyalty programs at stores you visit often and using cashback credit cards to earn rewards on your spending.

— Set up automatic bill payments to avoid late fees and switch to a fee-free bank ...Read more

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10 apps that will help you save money on food

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Food costs represent a significant portion of household budgets, and rising grocery prices make strategic shopping essential. While cutting back isn’t the only solution, smartphone apps can provide substantial grocery savings through cash-back rewards, digital coupons, discounts and loyalty programs.

Here’s a comprehensive guide to 10 ...Read more

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'Middle class' feels more confusing than ever. Here's how you can avoid being caught in the middle

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Marcos Cabello, a writer at Bankrate, makes around $170,000 a year when combining finances with his fiancee. Unfortunately, that doesn’t go as far as he’d like in pricey Boston.

Cabello and his fiancee consider themselves middle class, but in a city where homes are typically over $1 million, traditional middle-class benchmarks, like ...Read more

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12 simple ways to make $100 fast

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Whether you’re looking to pay down debt, cover an unexpected expense or just add a little cushion to your bank account, there are numerous ways to make $100 fast. From leveraging your skills to utilizing apps and services, these methods can help you achieve that goal without a major time commitment.

Here are 12 practical ways to earn that ...Read more

Real estate Q&A: Why do I need two types of title insurance?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Q: We are buying our first home and are stretching our savings to pay for the down payment and closing costs, not to mention the moving expenses. Our lender sent us our closing cost estimate, which showed that “owner's title insurance” was optional, even though we were required to purchase “lender's title insurance.” What is the ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

A complete guide to 401(k) retirement plans: What is a 401(k)?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

If you’re working and already saving for retirement or plan to start socking away money soon, investing in a 401(k) plan can help you build a sizable nest egg.

If you’re thinking about signing up for a 401(k), or simply want to know more about how to take full advantage of this type of retirement savings vehicle, here’s everything you ...Read more

Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS

If you lost your home or business in the wildfires, here's what to do next

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

With more than 1,100 structures already destroyed by three wildfires that continue to rage out of control around Los Angeles, homeowners and business owners face a long road ahead to recoup their losses.

Filing an insurance claim is one of the many tasks to take care of after the loss of a home or business. It is lengthy process that has become...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Keep yourself and your money safe from these four scams

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

The holiday season often includes gift-giving to loved ones and charitable causes, but authorities say the threat of scammers seeking to trick victims into giving them large sums of money and personal information persists year-round.

Here are some common scams and how to protect yourself from them:

'Pig butchering'

“Pig butchering” refers...Read more

Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Before and after: A California garage is now a serene Kyoto-style ADU

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Elizabeth Altounian’s South Pasadena accessory dwelling unit is more than just a living space. It’s a manifestation of beauty, wonder and spirituality, all intertwined. This 400-square-foot former garage, adorned with traditional Japanese shoji screens, a platform bed with a tatami mat and a covered engawa porch running along the entrance of...Read more

Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Home insurance costs in Florida spiked in third quarter. Are more increases on the way?

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

Those stabilized home insurance costs that industry leaders and state insurance regulators touted over most of 2024?

It looks like premiums might be heading up again.

That’s what a South Florida Sun Sentinel analysis of insurance market share data from the third quarter of 2024 shows.

The statewide average premium paid for an all-perils ...Read more

DREAMSTIME/TNS

6 best investments for beginners

Consumer / Home and Consumer News /

The idea of investing can be intimidating if you’re just starting out, but it’s an important part of saving for various financial goals and building wealth. You’ll encounter many different market environments throughout your investing life, so don’t get too caught up in whether now is the perfect time to get started.

But before making ...Read more