Don’t retire until you’ve hit these key milestones
Most people spend countless hours planning their retirement before the big day finally arrives. After all, it’s not always easy to feel completely confident before you exit the workforce and enter your golden years. With that in mind, here are six milestones you should aim to hit in order to feel more confident in your retirement plan.
Most people spend countless hours planning their retirement before the big day finally arrives. After all, it’s not always easy to feel completely confident before you exit the workforce and enter your golden years. With that in mind, here are six milestones you should aim to hit in order to feel more confident in your retirement plan.
Locals report checks stolen from MD post offices
When you write out a check and put it in the mail, you expect it to arrive at its proper destination and to get cashed by its intended recipient. But a number of Maryland customers recently learned the hard way that this outcome isn't always a given. According to WMAR-2 News, several people mailed checks and money orders from their local post offices only to learn that those payments were later altered and stolen. In fact, three customers reportedly had their checks stolen at two local post offices during the span of a few weeks. Darlene Mclean sent payments through the post office to cover her mortgage and a BJ’s credit card bill, but those money orders were altered and cashed by a criminal. Now, Mclean is struggling in the absence of those funds. "I'm without money. Mortgage not paid, and now they're coming after me," Mclean told WMAR-2 News. "I'm suffering from it. I'm depressed behind it. I can't sleep. I'm really upset."
When you write out a check and put it in the mail, you expect it to arrive at its proper destination and to get cashed by its intended recipient. But a number of Maryland customers recently learned the hard way that this outcome isn't always a given. According to WMAR-2 News, several people mailed checks and money orders from their local post offices only to learn that those payments were later altered and stolen. In fact, three customers reportedly had their checks stolen at two local post offices during the span of a few weeks. Darlene Mclean sent payments through the post office to cover her mortgage and a BJ’s credit card bill, but those money orders were altered and cashed by a criminal. Now, Mclean is struggling in the absence of those funds. "I'm without money. Mortgage not paid, and now they're coming after me," Mclean told WMAR-2 News. "I'm suffering from it. I'm depressed behind it. I can't sleep. I'm really upset."
Using AI to appeal health insurance denials
Remi Lee was born with “medical stuff.” She has caudal regression syndrome, a condition that affects the development of the lower part of a child’s body. It affects one to two out of every 100,000 newborns worldwide. In a mini-documentary for The News Movement (TNM) published on April 18, Lee revealed she “needs a lot of help to continue going.” She has only one kidney, no calf muscles, her ovaries didn’t develop properly and her feet had to be rebuilt when she was a baby. She is constantly in need of care and relies on a lot of medication, equipment and frequent hospitalizations. But her experience with health insurance has been a “profoundly not positive one,” she told TNM. “They deny and deny and deny.” Lee described an incident when her insurance company denied wound care supplies as a “luxury.” But, from a young age, she began learning from her mother how to fight the denials. “If we get a denial and we turn in an appeal, almost every single time it’s, like, ‘Oh, okay, yes this is really needed,’” Lee’s mother, Roxanne, told TNM. “But because it doesn’t fit in the normal parameters, the system has an automatic, ‘No we won’t cover that.’”
Remi Lee was born with “medical stuff.” She has caudal regression syndrome, a condition that affects the development of the lower part of a child’s body. It affects one to two out of every 100,000 newborns worldwide. In a mini-documentary for The News Movement (TNM) published on April 18, Lee revealed she “needs a lot of help to continue going.” She has only one kidney, no calf muscles, her ovaries didn’t develop properly and her feet had to be rebuilt when she was a baby. She is constantly in need of care and relies on a lot of medication, equipment and frequent hospitalizations. But her experience with health insurance has been a “profoundly not positive one,” she told TNM. “They deny and deny and deny.” Lee described an incident when her insurance company denied wound care supplies as a “luxury.” But, from a young age, she began learning from her mother how to fight the denials. “If we get a denial and we turn in an appeal, almost every single time it’s, like, ‘Oh, okay, yes this is really needed,’” Lee’s mother, Roxanne, told TNM. “But because it doesn’t fit in the normal parameters, the system has an automatic, ‘No we won’t cover that.’”
Couple snags 37-acre farm for $390K in Kentucky
As home prices soar and dreams of ownership slip away for many Americans, one couple decided to stop chasing the market and a new life from the ground up. In spring 2024, Sophie Hilaire Goldie, 37, and her husband Rocky Goldie, 50, purchased a 37.5-acre fixer-upper homestead in rural Kentucky for $390,000 and began transforming it into their forever home. They are now dedicating their energy, time, and skills to remodeling the property into a self-sustaining lifestyle. Their plans include raising chickens, starting a dairy goat farm and launching a new skincare business. “We are not moving,” Sophie said. “It’s weird even to think that’s an option because it’s not how we think. I have no interest in leaving — ever.”
As home prices soar and dreams of ownership slip away for many Americans, one couple decided to stop chasing the market and a new life from the ground up. In spring 2024, Sophie Hilaire Goldie, 37, and her husband Rocky Goldie, 50, purchased a 37.5-acre fixer-upper homestead in rural Kentucky for $390,000 and began transforming it into their forever home. They are now dedicating their energy, time, and skills to remodeling the property into a self-sustaining lifestyle. Their plans include raising chickens, starting a dairy goat farm and launching a new skincare business. “We are not moving,” Sophie said. “It’s weird even to think that’s an option because it’s not how we think. I have no interest in leaving — ever.”
College student sent DOGE-style email to staff
With the annual price of attending Brown University approaching six figures, sophomore Alex Shieh wanted to know where all that money was going. In particular, he wanted to know what the school’s thousands of non-faculty employees were doing each day. So, he sent them a DOGE-style email asking that exact question. Now, he’s facing disciplinary action. “The inspiration for this is the rising cost of tuition,” Shieh told Fox News in a story published April 4. “Next year, it's set to be $93,064 to go to Brown.” This figure reflects the direct costs associated with attending Brown for one year, as shown on the school’s website, including tuition, fees and allowances for food and housing. First-time students are billed an extra $100. Brown’s undergraduate enrollment stands at 7,272. To illustrate what he saw as administrative bloat, Shieh compiled a database of 3,805 non-faculty employees, according to Fox News. In an email similar to those sent by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to federal workers, he asked them: “What do you do all day?” Shieh says only 20 people responded — some with profane replies — and soon after the university moved to discipline him. "Brown is charging me for misrepresentation — for saying I am affiliated with The Brown Spectator," Shieh said in a follow-up story published by Fox News on April 30. In his emails, Shieh identified himself as a journalist for The Spectator — a long-inactive student journal that Shieh claims he and other students are trying to bring back. “Brown is also charging me for violating their IT policies for publishing Brown employee data,” Shieh said. A website was created identifying what was deemed to be wasteful spending at Brown, and the names and titles of employees were published. Shieh insisted to the Brown Daily Herald all of the information was publicly available. Brown University, however, expressed a different view. “In spite of what has been reported publicly framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not,” a university spokesperson told Fox News. “At the center of Brown's review are questions focused on whether improper use of non-public Brown data, non-public data systems and/or targeting of individual employees violated law or policy.” Whether or not you agree Shieh’s approach was an appropriate way to investigate wastefulness, it’s an issue many of us deal with in our everyday lives, including in our personal finances. Here are three simple ways to cut waste in your own life in 2025.
With the annual price of attending Brown University approaching six figures, sophomore Alex Shieh wanted to know where all that money was going. In particular, he wanted to know what the school’s thousands of non-faculty employees were doing each day. So, he sent them a DOGE-style email asking that exact question. Now, he’s facing disciplinary action. “The inspiration for this is the rising cost of tuition,” Shieh told Fox News in a story published April 4. “Next year, it's set to be $93,064 to go to Brown.” This figure reflects the direct costs associated with attending Brown for one year, as shown on the school’s website, including tuition, fees and allowances for food and housing. First-time students are billed an extra $100. Brown’s undergraduate enrollment stands at 7,272. To illustrate what he saw as administrative bloat, Shieh compiled a database of 3,805 non-faculty employees, according to Fox News. In an email similar to those sent by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to federal workers, he asked them: “What do you do all day?” Shieh says only 20 people responded — some with profane replies — and soon after the university moved to discipline him. "Brown is charging me for misrepresentation — for saying I am affiliated with The Brown Spectator," Shieh said in a follow-up story published by Fox News on April 30. In his emails, Shieh identified himself as a journalist for The Spectator — a long-inactive student journal that Shieh claims he and other students are trying to bring back. “Brown is also charging me for violating their IT policies for publishing Brown employee data,” Shieh said. A website was created identifying what was deemed to be wasteful spending at Brown, and the names and titles of employees were published. Shieh insisted to the Brown Daily Herald all of the information was publicly available. Brown University, however, expressed a different view. “In spite of what has been reported publicly framing this as a free speech issue, it absolutely is not,” a university spokesperson told Fox News. “At the center of Brown's review are questions focused on whether improper use of non-public Brown data, non-public data systems and/or targeting of individual employees violated law or policy.” Whether or not you agree Shieh’s approach was an appropriate way to investigate wastefulness, it’s an issue many of us deal with in our everyday lives, including in our personal finances. Here are three simple ways to cut waste in your own life in 2025.
Gas station mix-up brings dozens of cars to a stop
You probably don’t give much thought to filling up your gas tank during your weekly errands. Swipe your card, fill the tank and be on your merry way. But danger lurked underground for Phoenix resident Clarissa Amoroso. On Feb. 9, Amoroso headed to a Circle K on 75th Avenue and Thomas Road to fill up her vehicle, which she inherited from her late father. Soon after, the engine “started cutting out, acting like it wasn’t getting fuel,” she told reporters at AZFamily’s On Your Side. The damage to her vehicle prevented her from getting to work. She tried to work with Circle K to resolve the problem but said the company gave her different timelines of when her claim could be paid out. “It’s a lot on your shoulders when you’re the breadwinner of your family,” she told reporters in tears. “Just feeling you’re not being heard, that’s what hurts the most.”
You probably don’t give much thought to filling up your gas tank during your weekly errands. Swipe your card, fill the tank and be on your merry way. But danger lurked underground for Phoenix resident Clarissa Amoroso. On Feb. 9, Amoroso headed to a Circle K on 75th Avenue and Thomas Road to fill up her vehicle, which she inherited from her late father. Soon after, the engine “started cutting out, acting like it wasn’t getting fuel,” she told reporters at AZFamily’s On Your Side. The damage to her vehicle prevented her from getting to work. She tried to work with Circle K to resolve the problem but said the company gave her different timelines of when her claim could be paid out. “It’s a lot on your shoulders when you’re the breadwinner of your family,” she told reporters in tears. “Just feeling you’re not being heard, that’s what hurts the most.”
Squatter sues Texas woman to legally take her home
A decades-old family home is now the center of a high-stakes legal showdown after a Houston woman says a man squatting on the property filed an adverse possession lawsuit, essentially claiming it as his own. Glory Gendrett says her family's roots run deep in the Sunnyside neighborhood, where her father built the home on Clover Street nearly 70 years ago. Now, she’s fighting tooth and nail to keep what’s hers. “It’s a huge part of my family because my father built that house,” Gendrett shared with KPRC 2. But what was once a symbol of generational legacy is now tangled up in unpaid taxes and a legal quagmire that’s pushed Gendrett, 73, to the edge. Gendrett said she moved out in 2014 after a break-in left her shaken. Making matters worse, she found that she was unable to keep up with the rising property taxes. And while the deed to the property was later transferred to her and one of her sisters, the unpaid taxes ballooned into the tens of thousands, which opened the door for trouble.
A decades-old family home is now the center of a high-stakes legal showdown after a Houston woman says a man squatting on the property filed an adverse possession lawsuit, essentially claiming it as his own. Glory Gendrett says her family's roots run deep in the Sunnyside neighborhood, where her father built the home on Clover Street nearly 70 years ago. Now, she’s fighting tooth and nail to keep what’s hers. “It’s a huge part of my family because my father built that house,” Gendrett shared with KPRC 2. But what was once a symbol of generational legacy is now tangled up in unpaid taxes and a legal quagmire that’s pushed Gendrett, 73, to the edge. Gendrett said she moved out in 2014 after a break-in left her shaken. Making matters worse, she found that she was unable to keep up with the rising property taxes. And while the deed to the property was later transferred to her and one of her sisters, the unpaid taxes ballooned into the tens of thousands, which opened the door for trouble.
Dad reveals $1.4K price-tag for day trip to Disney
Walt Disney World is often called the “Happiest Place on Earth,” but lately it’s also looking like one of the most expensive. In a recent viral video on X, formerly Twitter, an unnamed father of three shared his family’s total expenses for a trip to the theme park, which left many users shocked. Altogether, the man says he spent $1,391 for a single day at the flagship park in Orlando. That doesn’t include the family’s expenses for traveling to the park since they live in Florida. “This place was my literal hell,” lamented the visibly tired father. For many, the video validated their choice to avoid the theme park altogether. “I've been fighting with my wife on this,” said one X user. “She wants to take the kids to Disney when they get older and I'm trying to tell her that it's outrageous and it will NOT be fun.” Here’s why Disney’s rapidly escalating costs are driving away many potential visitors.
Walt Disney World is often called the “Happiest Place on Earth,” but lately it’s also looking like one of the most expensive. In a recent viral video on X, formerly Twitter, an unnamed father of three shared his family’s total expenses for a trip to the theme park, which left many users shocked. Altogether, the man says he spent $1,391 for a single day at the flagship park in Orlando. That doesn’t include the family’s expenses for traveling to the park since they live in Florida. “This place was my literal hell,” lamented the visibly tired father. For many, the video validated their choice to avoid the theme park altogether. “I've been fighting with my wife on this,” said one X user. “She wants to take the kids to Disney when they get older and I'm trying to tell her that it's outrageous and it will NOT be fun.” Here’s why Disney’s rapidly escalating costs are driving away many potential visitors.
Adidas: Tariffs are taking your shoes for a hike
A fresh pair of Adidas kicks might leave you light on your feet. Your wallet may feel the same. The German footwear giant, which makes the popular Samba, Stan Smiths and carbon-plated racing shoes setting running records across the globe, is warning customers that U.S. tariffs on imports from China and other Asian countries will drive the cost of its shoes higher. Even as the company announced better-than-expected first quarter earnings, CEO Bjørn Gulden said Adidas will cost more in the U.S. “Although we had already reduced the China exports to the US to a minimum, we are somewhat exposed to those currently very high tariffs,” Gulden said. “What is even worse for us is the general increase in US tariffs from all other countries of origin.” He added that Adidas cannot currently make its shoes in the U.S.
A fresh pair of Adidas kicks might leave you light on your feet. Your wallet may feel the same. The German footwear giant, which makes the popular Samba, Stan Smiths and carbon-plated racing shoes setting running records across the globe, is warning customers that U.S. tariffs on imports from China and other Asian countries will drive the cost of its shoes higher. Even as the company announced better-than-expected first quarter earnings, CEO Bjørn Gulden said Adidas will cost more in the U.S. “Although we had already reduced the China exports to the US to a minimum, we are somewhat exposed to those currently very high tariffs,” Gulden said. “What is even worse for us is the general increase in US tariffs from all other countries of origin.” He added that Adidas cannot currently make its shoes in the U.S.
Financial inequity threatens relationship
For some, the road to marriage can look financially lopsided. Those in their 30s earning their fair share — say, more than $100,000 a year — may be used to covering 100% of their individual household expenses. However, it doesn't typically feel good when a fiance refuses to contribute, claiming their money is only for “fun,” not “responsibilities.” This scenario isn't as uncommon as you might think. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American household spent about $77,280 annually on expenses in 2023, including housing, transportation, food, insurance and health care. In a two-person household, those costs can quickly add up. And when only one person is footing the bill, the financial and emotional burden becomes even heavier.
For some, the road to marriage can look financially lopsided. Those in their 30s earning their fair share — say, more than $100,000 a year — may be used to covering 100% of their individual household expenses. However, it doesn't typically feel good when a fiance refuses to contribute, claiming their money is only for “fun,” not “responsibilities.” This scenario isn't as uncommon as you might think. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American household spent about $77,280 annually on expenses in 2023, including housing, transportation, food, insurance and health care. In a two-person household, those costs can quickly add up. And when only one person is footing the bill, the financial and emotional burden becomes even heavier.
US Millionaires Tend to Own These 5 Things
According to the Federal Reserve, the average net worth among U.S. households in 2022 was $1,063,700. However, the median net worth was only $192,900, which suggests that most Americans are not that close to being millionaires. That being said, millionaires tend to have similar money habits to everyday Americans that helped them get to where they are today. For example, they usually avoid spending their entire paycheck, they invest money they aren’t using and they create clear financial goals instead of leaving things to chance. There are also certain things that millionaires tend to own — and some may surprise you.
According to the Federal Reserve, the average net worth among U.S. households in 2022 was $1,063,700. However, the median net worth was only $192,900, which suggests that most Americans are not that close to being millionaires. That being said, millionaires tend to have similar money habits to everyday Americans that helped them get to where they are today. For example, they usually avoid spending their entire paycheck, they invest money they aren’t using and they create clear financial goals instead of leaving things to chance. There are also certain things that millionaires tend to own — and some may surprise you.
Saks shuts iconic San Francisco store
Saks Fifth Avenue joins a string of legacy stores, including Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Old Navy and Nordstrom, in an exodus from Union Square in San Francisco. The store has been a landmark in the area since 1981. But after nearly 45 years, the high-end retailer said it would close its doors on May 10. “While the closing of Saks marks the end of an era, this was not an unforeseen development considering their recent changes to an appointment-only model, and Neiman Marcus acquisition,” said Will Reisman, a spokesperson for the Union Square Alliance in a statement. Reisman continued in the statement, "We expect the path to downtown revitalization to have its twists and turns — still we are extremely optimistic about the future of Union Square.”
Saks Fifth Avenue joins a string of legacy stores, including Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Old Navy and Nordstrom, in an exodus from Union Square in San Francisco. The store has been a landmark in the area since 1981. But after nearly 45 years, the high-end retailer said it would close its doors on May 10. “While the closing of Saks marks the end of an era, this was not an unforeseen development considering their recent changes to an appointment-only model, and Neiman Marcus acquisition,” said Will Reisman, a spokesperson for the Union Square Alliance in a statement. Reisman continued in the statement, "We expect the path to downtown revitalization to have its twists and turns — still we are extremely optimistic about the future of Union Square.”
LA ramps up homeless initiatives but do they work?
In 2024, Los Angeles County's homeless population reached about 75,000, according to the city’s Homeless Services Authority. Now, efforts are underway to remove dozens of RVs in the East Gardena-West Rancho Dominguez area of LA County. For years, residents have been complaining about an influx of trailers that has created overcrowding in the area, claiming there's also been an increase in crime. The Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), which is run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, is leading an outreach and cleanup operation in the area, with help from several other county agencies. The effort is part of the Pathway Home Program, which is led by the LA County Homeless Initiative. The goal is to bring people out of homelessness and help them establish safe, permanent housing while improving public safety. "It’s an amazing feeling," said Kimberly Barnette, director of the Pathway Home Program in an interview with FOX 11 LA. “It’s very rare we get to see an immediate impact on people’s lives, but it takes a lot of coordination and work.”
In 2024, Los Angeles County's homeless population reached about 75,000, according to the city’s Homeless Services Authority. Now, efforts are underway to remove dozens of RVs in the East Gardena-West Rancho Dominguez area of LA County. For years, residents have been complaining about an influx of trailers that has created overcrowding in the area, claiming there's also been an increase in crime. The Homeless Outreach Services Team (HOST), which is run by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, is leading an outreach and cleanup operation in the area, with help from several other county agencies. The effort is part of the Pathway Home Program, which is led by the LA County Homeless Initiative. The goal is to bring people out of homelessness and help them establish safe, permanent housing while improving public safety. "It’s an amazing feeling," said Kimberly Barnette, director of the Pathway Home Program in an interview with FOX 11 LA. “It’s very rare we get to see an immediate impact on people’s lives, but it takes a lot of coordination and work.”
Auctioned car delivered missing items
In 2023, Emily Howell bid $1,026 on a 1996 GMC Sierra listed for auction by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) — largely because the photos showed a kayak, fishing poles and a toolbox she was interested in. But when the truck was delivered she says all those items were gone. Her experience now appears to be part of a larger problem at the LMPD tow lot, with employees having allegedly removed items from impounded cars before they went to auction. Howell calls it theft, but the law might not be so clear. "You don't steal from people, you don't take things that aren't yours," Howell told WHAS11 News. "Surely when you sign on for a job like that, you have to sign some paperwork that says, 'Hey, we don't steal from the community.'”
In 2023, Emily Howell bid $1,026 on a 1996 GMC Sierra listed for auction by the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) — largely because the photos showed a kayak, fishing poles and a toolbox she was interested in. But when the truck was delivered she says all those items were gone. Her experience now appears to be part of a larger problem at the LMPD tow lot, with employees having allegedly removed items from impounded cars before they went to auction. Howell calls it theft, but the law might not be so clear. "You don't steal from people, you don't take things that aren't yours," Howell told WHAS11 News. "Surely when you sign on for a job like that, you have to sign some paperwork that says, 'Hey, we don't steal from the community.'”
House rich, cash-strapped: How to stay afloat
Picture this: A young couple has just closed on their dream home. They’re debt-free and have $80,000 in savings. The wife is on maternity leave, and after crunching the numbers, they realize they’ll have just $200 left over each month after paying their bills. It’s a classic case of being house poor — a financial situation where mortgage payments leave little room for anything else. This hypothetical family isn’t really that hypothetical. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. households spent an average of 32.9% of their income on housing in 2023. That’s a significant chunk, but still manageable. But, if that number creeps closer to 40% — especially with tight cash flow and limited income — it’s time to reassess. Here are four ways this couple could stay on track financially.
Picture this: A young couple has just closed on their dream home. They’re debt-free and have $80,000 in savings. The wife is on maternity leave, and after crunching the numbers, they realize they’ll have just $200 left over each month after paying their bills. It’s a classic case of being house poor — a financial situation where mortgage payments leave little room for anything else. This hypothetical family isn’t really that hypothetical. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. households spent an average of 32.9% of their income on housing in 2023. That’s a significant chunk, but still manageable. But, if that number creeps closer to 40% — especially with tight cash flow and limited income — it’s time to reassess. Here are four ways this couple could stay on track financially.
Texas construction delays hurt local business
Road construction is always disruptive. But for Houston businessman Kent Edwards, years-long roadwork has cost him so much that he’s suing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). “This is a long-term saga going back to 2015 for me,” Edwards told Moneywise. Edwards has run Motorcars Limited, his restoration shop for luxury and classic cars, on Hempstead Road since the mid ’80s. As he shared with KHOU, it used to be full of cars. Now it’s nearly empty. It’s hard for customers to drive in. That’s because for 10 years, Hempstead Road has been under construction with repeated roadwork delays and no end date in sight. Edwards has not only lost customers but had to sell a commercial property across the street when all his tenants moved out due to the disruption. As for his auto body shop, “I can’t sell it. I can’t rent it. I can’t do anything with it.” Now he’s filed an “inverse condemnation” lawsuit against TxDOT seeking compensation for lost profits and business damages. Meanwhile, the road construction is also costing the state a lot of money. TxDOT has to pay for ongoing delays with tax dollars. What is TxDOT doing to recover the cost of delays?
Road construction is always disruptive. But for Houston businessman Kent Edwards, years-long roadwork has cost him so much that he’s suing the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). “This is a long-term saga going back to 2015 for me,” Edwards told Moneywise. Edwards has run Motorcars Limited, his restoration shop for luxury and classic cars, on Hempstead Road since the mid ’80s. As he shared with KHOU, it used to be full of cars. Now it’s nearly empty. It’s hard for customers to drive in. That’s because for 10 years, Hempstead Road has been under construction with repeated roadwork delays and no end date in sight. Edwards has not only lost customers but had to sell a commercial property across the street when all his tenants moved out due to the disruption. As for his auto body shop, “I can’t sell it. I can’t rent it. I can’t do anything with it.” Now he’s filed an “inverse condemnation” lawsuit against TxDOT seeking compensation for lost profits and business damages. Meanwhile, the road construction is also costing the state a lot of money. TxDOT has to pay for ongoing delays with tax dollars. What is TxDOT doing to recover the cost of delays?
From ashes to adobe: Building fire-resistant homes
In the wake of destruction from the January wildfires, some residents in Greater Los Angeles are looking to build back better. And, for some, that means turning to the past for future solutions. Ellen Snortland and her husband have now lost a home to fire, another to flooding and another to a mudslide — and they’re tired of fighting the elements. “We are going to have to deal with extreme weather for the rest of our lives. To pretend otherwise is really folly,” Snortland told KCAL News. “I don’t see anybody doing anything radical. So what I can do is make my home radical.” Radical how? SuperAdobe, developed by a company called CalEarth, is a form of architecture that uses long sandbags, barbed wire and earth, which the company says can withstand fire, flooding, earthquakes and even hurricanes. Think of it as adobe 2.0. “The key is not the usage of material so much, but the understanding of geometry and forces of physics,” said late founder Nader Khalili to The Earth & I. The need for fire-resistant homes is only going to increase as the frequency and severity of wildfires continues to increase. So far this year, 24,415 fires have burned through more than a million acres across the U.S., both significantly above the 10-year average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
In the wake of destruction from the January wildfires, some residents in Greater Los Angeles are looking to build back better. And, for some, that means turning to the past for future solutions. Ellen Snortland and her husband have now lost a home to fire, another to flooding and another to a mudslide — and they’re tired of fighting the elements. “We are going to have to deal with extreme weather for the rest of our lives. To pretend otherwise is really folly,” Snortland told KCAL News. “I don’t see anybody doing anything radical. So what I can do is make my home radical.” Radical how? SuperAdobe, developed by a company called CalEarth, is a form of architecture that uses long sandbags, barbed wire and earth, which the company says can withstand fire, flooding, earthquakes and even hurricanes. Think of it as adobe 2.0. “The key is not the usage of material so much, but the understanding of geometry and forces of physics,” said late founder Nader Khalili to The Earth & I. The need for fire-resistant homes is only going to increase as the frequency and severity of wildfires continues to increase. So far this year, 24,415 fires have burned through more than a million acres across the U.S., both significantly above the 10-year average, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Invest in vacation and rental homes for just $100
Rental properties have proved to be a lucrative long-term investment providing consistent, passive income. Of course, the responsibility, time and cost that come along with rental property management and ownership might prohibit the average investor from diving into the real estate asset class. But Arrived is lowering the barrier to entry for rental property investing, making it simpler and more cost effective. Arrived is an online platform where you can invest in shares of rental homes and vacation rentals without taking on the responsibilities of property management. In other words, you won’t be in charge of fixing freezers or managing noise complaints, but still get to generate potential regular income and diversify your portfolio.
Rental properties have proved to be a lucrative long-term investment providing consistent, passive income. Of course, the responsibility, time and cost that come along with rental property management and ownership might prohibit the average investor from diving into the real estate asset class. But Arrived is lowering the barrier to entry for rental property investing, making it simpler and more cost effective. Arrived is an online platform where you can invest in shares of rental homes and vacation rentals without taking on the responsibilities of property management. In other words, you won’t be in charge of fixing freezers or managing noise complaints, but still get to generate potential regular income and diversify your portfolio.
Why your net worth might jump after you retire
Are you expecting to see your net worth grow after you retire? Many don’t — because, after all, you expect to be drawing down the nest egg you’ve built during your working years. But surprisingly, many seniors do see their net worth grow in the first decade of retirement. The median net worth of a household where the reference person is 55 to 64 is $364.5K, according to data from the latest Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) conducted by the U.S. Federal Reserve in 2022. But the median net worth of a household where the reference person is 65 to 74 is $409.9K — even though the average retirement age in the U.S. is 62, according to a recent MassMutual study. Average net worths are significantly higher, according to the Federal Reserve, but represent a similar spike: $1,566,900 for those 55 to 64 and $1,794,600 for those 65 to 74. That means net worth is increasing for many seniors over the first years of their retirement. Why would this be?
Are you expecting to see your net worth grow after you retire? Many don’t — because, after all, you expect to be drawing down the nest egg you’ve built during your working years. But surprisingly, many seniors do see their net worth grow in the first decade of retirement. The median net worth of a household where the reference person is 55 to 64 is $364.5K, according to data from the latest Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) conducted by the U.S. Federal Reserve in 2022. But the median net worth of a household where the reference person is 65 to 74 is $409.9K — even though the average retirement age in the U.S. is 62, according to a recent MassMutual study. Average net worths are significantly higher, according to the Federal Reserve, but represent a similar spike: $1,566,900 for those 55 to 64 and $1,794,600 for those 65 to 74. That means net worth is increasing for many seniors over the first years of their retirement. Why would this be?
CO woman pays $725/month to live in a tiny home
When Jen Gressett’s 18-year marriage ended in 2018, she didn’t just need a new place to live — she needed a fresh start. But after selling her 3,000-square-foot home near Boulder, Colorado, she found that traditional housing options were simply out of reach financially. So she got creative. Inspired by the tiny home trend she’d seen on social media, Gressett decided to build her own compact dream home from the ground up. Today, she lives in a 520-square-foot luxury tiny home on wheels parked in someone’s backyard. Her $725 monthly housing cost covers rent, utilities, internet and water — a far cry from the expense of her previous home. While downsizing was initially a daunting idea, it’s now what she says makes her feel more content than ever. “When I lived in the bigger house, I’d constantly buy things that I never ended up using,” she told CNBC. “They took over drawers and spare closets. Our basement looked like a junkyard.”
When Jen Gressett’s 18-year marriage ended in 2018, she didn’t just need a new place to live — she needed a fresh start. But after selling her 3,000-square-foot home near Boulder, Colorado, she found that traditional housing options were simply out of reach financially. So she got creative. Inspired by the tiny home trend she’d seen on social media, Gressett decided to build her own compact dream home from the ground up. Today, she lives in a 520-square-foot luxury tiny home on wheels parked in someone’s backyard. Her $725 monthly housing cost covers rent, utilities, internet and water — a far cry from the expense of her previous home. While downsizing was initially a daunting idea, it’s now what she says makes her feel more content than ever. “When I lived in the bigger house, I’d constantly buy things that I never ended up using,” she told CNBC. “They took over drawers and spare closets. Our basement looked like a junkyard.”
Moneywise Digest