Sarah Mitchell
According to the IRS, most early filers who claimed the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit can expect their refunds by Monday, March 2, 2026, if they filed online, chose direct deposit, and had no issues on the return. That date matters because many households are now watching bank accounts after … Read more
According to Bloomberg, Bitcoin fell below $64,000 on Saturday after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran jolted crypto markets while stocks, bonds, and most other risk assets were closed. Reuters reported that Iran retaliated and that airspace restrictions spread across parts of the region as airlines suspended flights. The immediate selloff hit crypto first, but … Read more
According to the SSA payment calendar and Yahoo Finance, March 2026 SSI benefits were issued early on Feb. 27, 2026 because March 1 falls on a Sunday. The catch is timing: that early deposit can create a 33-day gap until the next SSI payment on April 1, and many people checking their accounts are now seeing “Pending” or slow portal access … Read more
WASHINGTON — According to the U.S. Department of Education, the government on Jan. 16, 2026, reversed course on its plan to begin garnishing wages from federal student loan borrowers in default, shelving the effort while new repayment rules take effect. The freeze has no end date. More than 5 million borrowers remain in default on … Read more
Investors are rotating toward cheaper and more defensive parts of the market as tech volatility reshapes risk appetite. Reuters reported that software stocks had lost $1 trillion in a week by early February, while dividend growth, equal-weighted indexes, and smaller companies were drawing fresh attention. That shift matters because if 2026 gets rougher, the better question may … Read more
According to Reuters, China’s central bank left its benchmark loan prime rates unchanged on Feb. 24, 2026, keeping the one-year LPR at 3.0% and the five-year LPR at 3.5% for a ninth straight month. The decision keeps borrowing benchmarks steady while Beijing balances weaker domestic demand against a firmer yuan, which can limit room for broad rate cuts. The next … Read more
Social Security benefits rose 2.8% in 2026, lifting checks that began paying in January 2026, the Social Security Administration says. The same SSA update also raised the Social Security taxable wage cap to $184,500 and reset the earnings test limits that can temporarily reduce benefits for people who claim early and keep working. For many new retirees, the “trap” is simple: … Read more
According to SEC Investor.gov and the FTC, claims of “guaranteed passive income” with little or no risk are a common warning sign tied to fraud and deceptive offers. Real passive income usually has a price: upfront capital, time to set up a system, or exposure to market and business risk. This guide breaks down which … Read more
According to the IRS, the federal government has already issued all first, second, and third COVID-era Economic Impact Payments, and the agency’s guidance does not describe a new nationwide “$2,000 check” program for February 2026. The $2,000 figure showing up in viral posts often blends together unrelated things—tax refunds, benefit-timing quirks, and a separate “tariff … Read more
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau guidance on budgeting starts with mapping income and expenses, then tracking results and adjusting over time. Yahoo Finance notes that simple frameworks like the 50/30/20 rule can help set category targets before the year gets busy and spending drifts. The most durable annual plan turns irregular bills into monthly set-asides and … Read more