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Money & Security
Protect what you've saved and make it last — scam defense, budgeting, Social Security, and the money decisions that matter most in retirement.
Articles in Money & Security
Social Security
Social Security COLA 2027: What It Means for Your Budget
Estimates put the 2027 COLA at about 3.5%–3.6%, but it's not official until October 14 — and a raise on paper doesn't always feel like one. Here's how to plan.
Can I Claim Social Security on My Ex-Husband's Record?
Married 10+ years and 62 or older? You can claim on your ex-husband's Social Security record — and it won't touch his check or his wife's. Here's the myth, busted.
Social Security Survivor Benefits: How to Claim Without Losing $20,000+
SSA's own watchdog found 5,367 widows lost an average $21,212 each by claiming in the wrong order. The fix is one sequencing rule — here's how it works.
What Happens to Social Security When Your Spouse Dies
A spouse's death changes Social Security in specific ways — what stops, what you may now qualify for, and why the claiming-order decision is worth slowing down for.
What Social Security Am I Entitled To as a Divorced Woman?
The 10-year line, the remarriage rule, deemed filing, and what changes if your ex has died — the Social Security rules for divorced women, in plain English.
Which Social Security Benefit Should You Claim, and When?
Widowed or divorced after 10+ years? A free interactive flowchart walks through exactly which Social Security benefit to claim first, based on SSA's own rules.
The Best Social Security Books for Women (2026): What to Read Before You Claim as a Widow or Ex-Wife
Which Social Security book actually covers survivor and divorced-spouse claiming — compared honestly, including where a general guide beats a specialist one.
Divorce After 50
What Happens to the Money in a Gray Divorce?
The house, the retirement accounts, support, health coverage and Social Security after 50 — what actually happens to each, the deadlines nobody starts for you, and who has the authority to answer.
Is My Husband Hiding Money in the Divorce?
Nobody can tell you from the outside. Here's how to state an unexplained observation so a professional can evaluate it, why a correct picture can still look wrong, and who answers what.
What If You Can't Afford a Divorce Lawyer?
Civil legal aid, limited-scope representation, bar referral and modest-means panels, law school clinics, court self-help centers, fee waivers, and the fee-contribution order that turns on his money instead of yours.
The Best Divorce Books for Women (2026): What to Read If You're Divorcing After 50
Which divorce book actually covers a woman's case after 50 — the money, the legal process, or the first six months — compared honestly, including where a competitor beats ours.
Medicare & Health Coverage
Health Insurance Before Medicare: Your Options Before 65
Retiring before 65 leaves a coverage gap until Medicare. The four ways to bridge it — and why your income is the biggest lever in 2026.
The Best Health Insurance Books for Early Retirees (2026): What to Read Before You Retire at 58
Nearly every retirement healthcare book starts at 65 — the day your problem ends. What actually covers the gap before Medicare, compared honestly, plus the free sources that beat a book.
Medicare Open Enrollment: Dates and What You Can Change
Medicare open enrollment runs October 15–December 7 and changes take effect January 1. What you can change in the fall Annual Enrollment Period, the January–March Advantage window, and how to decide whether your current plan still fits.
Medicare Open Enrollment Checklist: What to Do Before October 15
Open enrollment runs October 15–December 7, but the work that gets you the right plan happens before it opens. The five things to gather — your Annual Notice of Change, drug list, doctors, real costs, and any life changes — so comparing plans is quick and calm.
How to Compare Medicare Part D Plans
The cheapest premium often hides the priciest year. How to compare Part D drug plans by your real total cost, what the 2026 $2,100 out-of-pocket cap changes, and the step-by-step on Medicare's Plan Finder.
Medicare Advantage vs. Medigap: How to Choose
The biggest choice on Medicare, explained without the sales pitch: how Medicare Advantage and Medigap actually work, what each costs, and the switching trap that makes the decision harder to undo than most people realize.
How Do I Spot a Medicare Scam and Protect My Number?
How to recognize Medicare scams and scam phone calls, protect your Medicare number, and report fraud — the red flags and the exact numbers to call.
Planning & Budget
What Should I Do in the 5 Years Before I Retire?
The pre-retirement checklist for the five-year countdown — confirm your income covers real spending, solve healthcare before and at 65, time Social Security, clear debt, and get the documents done — in priority order, not a random to-do list.
How Do I Prepare for Retirement in My 60s?
A calm, year-by-year plan for your 60s — catch-up savings, bridging health coverage to Medicare, when to claim Social Security, and the paperwork — so day one feels like freedom, not a cliff.
The Best Retirement Books If You're Behind (2026): What to Read at 55 With Not Enough Saved
Retirement books are mostly written for people who saved enough. Which ones are actually about closing a gap at 50-something — compared honestly, including where a competitor beats ours.
How to Live on a Budget in Retirement: A Practical Guide
A simple, step-by-step way to build a retirement budget on a fixed income — add up your income, track your spending, match the two, and trim costs without feeling deprived.
How Can Seniors Save Money on a Fixed Income?
25 down-to-earth ways to stretch a fixed income — groceries, bills, discounts you've earned, and benefits worth thousands a year.
What Free Stuff Can Seniors Actually Get by Mail?
The honest list of genuinely free guides, kits, and services seniors can request by mail — plus how to spot the scam versions.
What VA Benefits Can an Aging Veteran Get?
The VA benefits aging veterans most often miss — needs-based Veterans Pension, the Aid & Attendance enhanced benefit for those needing daily help, survivors pension, the net-worth limit, and the 3-year look-back.
Scams & Safety
How to Shop Online Safely: A Senior's Guide to Avoiding Scams
Simple, plain-English steps to shop online without getting scammed — spot fake stores, pay safely, dodge phishing, and know what to do if it happens.
How Do Seniors Stay Safe Online?
Plain-English internet safety for seniors — strong passwords, spotting scam emails and texts, safe browsing, protecting your privacy, and what to do if something goes wrong.
Planners & Books
Gift guides
The Best Gifts for Retirees: 23 Christmas Ideas They'll Actually Use
15 gift ideas a new retiree will actually use — for travelers, homebodies, and hobbyists, plus gifts that aren't stuff.
Practical Christmas Gifts for Seniors: 20 Useful Ideas They'll Actually Use
22 practical, useful gift ideas for seniors — easier everyday living, comfort and mobility, staying safe at home, and the parent or grandparent who has everything.
Funny Retirement Gifts: 15 That Actually Get a Laugh
Gag mugs, witty tees, and novelty picks that actually land — for the new retiree, a coworker, mom, or dad. Funny, with a couple secretly useful.
More to explore
Estate & Legacy
Estate, end-of-life, the emergency binder
Caregiving
Aging parents, the sandwich generation & caregiver care
Health & Aging Well
Fall prevention, staying active & sharp
Home & Place
Downsizing, decluttering, aging in place
Live Your Best Life
Travel, hobbies, friendship, and purpose