These changes can make a bathroom safer, especially for older people. bbernard / Shutterstock.com
As we age, we face challenges with performing familiar tasks. Your bathroom, if not thoughtfully adapted for an elder’s use, can be especially hazardous. For seniors, a broken bone can trigger a cascade of more serious health problems and end in long-term disability, warns the National Institute on Aging. Vertigo and other issues affect balance for some seniors, making even stepping in and out of…
Auto insurance can provide coverage for a stolen car, but only if the right protections are in place before the theft occurs. Here’s what you need to know.
Image source: Getty Images
Car thefts are on the rise. In fact, there was a 7% increase in vehicles stolen in 2022 compared to 2021. And the number of vehicles stolen surpassed 1 million for the first time since 2008.
With so many cars being stolen, it’s important for drivers to understand what the rules are for when auto insurance will cover a vehicle taken by a thief. After all, if auto insurance doesn’t pay, the car’s owner could find themselves with a lot less money in their checking account after they’re forced to cover the losses out of pocket.
Car insurance will provide coverage for a stolen car only if the vehicle’s owner has purchased optional coverage for this type of situation.
See, most states only require liability coverage, which only pays claims if the policyholder harms others. A different type of insurance would be necessary to pay to replace the policyholder’s own vehicle if it was stolen. This type of insurance is called comprehensive coverage.
Comprehensive coverage pays claims whenever the policyholder experiences covered non-crash losses such as damage from vandalism, falling objects, or windshield chips and cracks. It also pays for stolen vehicles, up to the policy limits.
Comprehensive coverage is typically optional, although if a driver has a car loan or is leasing a car, then the lender or lease provider would generally mandate that this insurance coverage be purchased.
When a comprehensive policy is put into place, it will pay for the fair market value of the vehicle, minus any deductible that applies. Since this can be less than the amount owed on the car (due to the fact cars often depreciate in value more quickly than a loan can be paid down), vehicle owners with a car loan may also want to buy gap insurance. That would cover the difference between the fair market value and the amount outstanding on the loan.
With gap insurance and comprehensive coverage, drivers could ensure the losses they incur out of pocket are limited to their deductible and anything extra they want to pay to replace their old car with a new one.
Without comprehensive coverage, a driver could be left with no insurer to turn to if their car is stolen. If it is never recovered, they’d be out all the money for the vehicle — and would still have to pay any outstanding balance on the car loan. They’d get no help from an insurer to replace the car, either.
Most people can’t afford to just pay off a loan for a stolen car and buy a new one out of their bank account. As a result, drivers should not go without comprehensive coverage — even if there is no lender requiring it. Once the car theft has already occurred, it will be too late to add coverage after the fact so don’t wait to sign up for a comprehensive policy.
Drivers can call their current auto insurers to ask if they have this protection (or can check their policy contract). Any driver without it should seriously consider adding it before something goes wrong — especially with auto thefts on the rise.
Ready to shop for car insurance? Whether you’re focused on price, claims handling, or customer service, we’ve researched insurers nationwide to provide our best-in-class picks for car insurance coverage. Read our free expert review today to get started.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Often, buying season passes can actually be a better deal than buying two-day tickets. Here’s what you need to keep in mind.
Image source: Getty Images
Recently, I visited an amusement park out of town. We planned to go for two days in a row. Although we only intended to visit twice (since we live several hours from the amusement park), I ended up paying for season passes.
Here’s why this decision made good financial sense.
There was a very simple reason why I decided to break out my credit card and purchase season passes for an amusement park I did not plan to visit all season long. It was actually a better deal to do that than it would have been to pay the day price for tickets for two days.
See, the season passes cost $66 per person, and that included access to the water park as well as to the main theme park. By contrast, a daily ticket was $37 per person and no water park access was included. Since we were planning to visit the park for a total of two days, buying daily tickets would have cost us $74 — $66 for a season pass was the better deal. Plus, we would not have been able to visit the water park without ponying up extra cash out of our bank account.
This may seem odd, but the reality is that many theme parks want you to buy season tickets because they benefit when you come back often. Most people who visit a theme park end up spending even more money while they are there, so the park makes more if they can convince you to buy a pass for the entire season and visit multiple times to eat food, get drinks, and play games.
Buying a season pass is just one way you could reduce the cost of theme park tickets. There are other options to lower the price of a magical experience, including:
Look for offers from local businesses. Sometimes, grocery stores or other local stores will provide exclusive deals on tickets to parks. For example, a local market near the park I went to provides a $29.99 evening pass available only at that supermarket that gives you access to the park after 5 p.m. all summer long.Join a warehouse club. Costco has limited-time deals on vacation packages that often include discounted theme park tickets. If you’re traveling to a park and you’re a Costco member, check out what the club has to offer. Visit for multiple days. Most park tickets get cheaper the more days you visit, since the parks want to encourage you to come back. Qualify for resident discounts. If you are a resident of the state where the theme park is located, you may be able to get a specially priced package exclusively available to locals.
Theme parks are undoubtedly expensive, but you can also make great memories there. By searching for ways to save on entry, you can have a fun outing with your loved ones without busting your budget.
If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.
In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Christy Bieber has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Costco may be looking to shake up its food courts. Read on to learn more.
Image source: Getty Images
Dining at Costco isn’t exactly the same thing as dining at a casual restaurant. With the latter, you might at least get to enjoy a smidge of ambiance. At Costco, dining at the food court usually means chowing down on inexpensive food while being surrounded by screaming children (or adults) and oversized shopping carts. It may be a cost-effective way to eat lunch, but it’s generally not the most soothing dining experience.
But now, reports are popping up of changes to Costco’s food court overseas. And if a similar setup hits the U.S., it might make you even less inclined to dine at a Costco food court.
The Costco food court isn’t really the sort of place you’d want to linger. But Costco is trying to do its best to keep customers from taking up residence at its food courts overseas.
It’s been reported that in South Korea, Costco has begun the practice of eliminating the usual food court seating arrangement and instead bringing in tall, standing-only tables. The point is no doubt to send the message that customers who choose to eat at Costco should do so quickly and move on.
Now so far, there are no reports of Costco getting rid of seating in the U.S. But on a Costco subreddit, one Montana user did mention that Costco had added those tall tables to its food court area, albeit without taking the seated tables away. While it’s too soon to say with any certainty that Costco is looking to revamp its U.S. food courts, the possibility could exist.
Most people don’t head to Costco for the express purpose of having a meal. Rather, members tend to take advantage of the food court on the days they’re already doing their shopping.
If you’re at Costco and happen to get hungry, then grabbing a quick meal at the food court could be a way to free up more money for your savings account.
For one thing, there’s the $1.50 hot dog and soda combo you really can’t argue with. It may not be the healthiest lunch, but you’d be hard-pressed to find a cheaper version, even if you were to make it at home (keep in mind that your hot dog also includes all of the fixings you may want to pile on top).
Costco’s food court also features large slices of pizza for $1.99. And if you’re shopping with your family, you can grab an entire pie for $9.95.
Now, one of Costco’s more newly introduced food court items — the roast beef sandwich — has a price tag of $9.99. That’s not exactly a bargain. But the $3.99 chicken bake might offer a decent amount of bang for your buck.
All told, Costco’s food court could be a source of a cheap meal when you need one. So even if Costco decides to implement changes to its food courts that make it harder to sit and enjoy some grub, you may still want to take advantage of those great deals — even if it means grabbing your meal to go and eating it in your car or bringing it home.
If you’re using the wrong credit or debit card, it could be costing you serious money. Our experts love this top pick, which features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, an insane cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee.
In fact, this card is so good that our experts even use it personally. Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Worried your employer is going under? Read on for tips on managing your 401(k).
Image source: Getty Images
Certain signs may indicate that your company is on the verge of going under. For one thing, you can surmise that things are amiss if your employer implements pay cuts or starts laying off staff members at a rapid pace. Similarly, if your company won’t approve new projects or initiatives, it may be a sign of serious financial problems at hand — problems significant enough to cause your company to fold.
That’s not a great situation to be in, as it could leave you out of a job. So if you have reason to believe that your company may be folding, it’s a good idea to dust off your resume and start reaching out to professional contacts for job-related leads.
It’s also a good idea to move your money out of your 401(k) plan in that situation. If your company goes under, you might have to do that at some point. But it’s a good idea to be proactive, especially if you plan to look for a new job.
But while it’s smart to find a new home for your retirement savings in this scenario, cashing out your 401(k) is a different story. That’s a move you might sorely regret.
There are a couple of problems with cashing out a 401(k) — whether because you’re leaving your job or because your company is dissolving and won’t be around much longer. For one thing, if you have money in a traditional 401(k), as opposed to a Roth, any distribution you take will be subject to being taxed. This is the case no matter how old you are when you take a withdrawal from a 401(k).
But here’s where age does come into play. If you take a 401(k) plan distribution prior to reaching 59 1/2, you’ll be hit with a 10% early withdrawal penalty. So if you have a $25,000 balance and you cash out your 401(k) at age 42, you’ll lose $2,500 right off the bat. When you’ve worked hard to save up money for retirement, you don’t want to lose a big chunk of it to penalties.
If you think your company is folding and you plan to look for a new job but don’t have one yet, then your best bet is generally to roll your 401(k) into an IRA. IRAs are not tied to employers. Rather, you’re in charge of managing your account. You can open an IRA at any financial institution that offers one.
You should know that the IRS limits the amount of money you can contribute to an IRA each year. In 2023, for example, contributions are capped at $6,500 for savers under age 50 and $7,500 for those 50 and older.
But these limits apply to contributions you make out of your earnings. They don’t apply to 401(k) rollovers. You’re allowed to roll your entire 401(k) balance into an IRA if you’re closing out that account and need a new home for your retirement savings.
It’s unfortunate when a company folds, as it could mean the loss of many jobs. That’s a hard enough blow as it is. So don’t make things harder by leaving your 401(k) in limbo or, worse yet, cashing it out early and paying a penalty for doing so. Instead, open an IRA and roll your savings into that account directly so there’s one less thing to worry about as you seek out new employment opportunities.
We pored over the data and user reviews to find the select rare picks that landed a spot on our list of the best stock brokers. Some of these best-in-class picks pack in valuable perks, including $0 stock and ETF commissions. Get started and review our best stock brokers.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Buying a home in these states will cost you around half the national average. Read on to find out where your money will go the furthest.
Image source: Getty Images
Rising home prices and soaring mortgage rates over the past few years have left potential home buyers looking for some relief. According to Redfin, 20.5% of Americans would be willing to relocate if it meant getting a good deal on a home.
Thankfully, some locations across the country are still relatively inexpensive, according to a home price report by The Ascent. Here are five of the best states to buy a home, based on price and how each area stacks up to the rest of the country based on its property taxes and cost of living.
Typical home price: $158,172
West Virginia is the most affordable state to buy a home, according to The Ascent report, considering that the typical single-family home price in the state is $158,172 — which is 45% of the average U.S. home price.
Making West Virginia even more affordable is the fact that its property tax rate is just 0.58%, making it one of the best states for low property taxes. In addition to lower housing costs, data from RentCafe also shows that West Virginia’s overall cost of living is 8% lower than the national average.
Typical home price: $176,725
The next cheapest state to have a mortgage in is Mississippi, with the typical home price of $176,725 being half the cost of the typical home nationwide.
Property taxes in Mississippi aren’t as low as in West Virginia, but they’re still affordable. Homeowners in the state pay an average of $1,097 per year in property taxes — from a 0.75% tax rate — which is half the national average. The cost of living in Mississippi is 16% lower than the national average too, making homeowners’ budgets go even further.
Typical home price: $197,627
A single-family home in Kentucky is 56% of the price of the typical U.S. home, costing home buyers $197,627.
The cost of living is significantly lower in Kentucky than in most of the country, as residents will pay 8% less than the national average for everyday expenses. However, homeowners will pay about 3% more for utilities. Property taxes shouldn’t be a problem in the state, as the tax rate is just 0.80%.
Typical home price: $198,511
Getting a mortgage in Arkansas will be much cheaper than in many other states, with the typical home price being 57% of the U.S. average. Property taxes are also low in the state, with residents paying 0.57%.
Some residents may find it easier to pay for everyday expenses as well, considering that the cost of living is 8% lower than the national average. However, one higher monthly expense is groceries — which is 2% higher than the average.
Typical home price: $199,599
Though its average home price is slightly higher than Arkansas, Oklahoma ties the state for having a typical home price that’s 57% of the national average. Property taxes are also relatively low in the state, with an effective rate of 0.85%.
Homebuyers will also find everyday expenses generally affordable, with the cost of living being 13% below the national average.
If you don’t want to move to a new state for cheaper housing, there are a few steps you can take to try to get the best mortgage:
Take the time to compare lenders: Not all lenders will look at your credit history, employment, debt, and savings the same way. Getting mortgage quotes from different lenders will help you find the best deal possible. This may be especially important if you’re a first-time home buyer trying to figure out the process.Pay off debt and save money: Mortgage lenders want a low debt-to-income ratio, so paying down credit card balances and other debt is essential. They’ll also want to see that you have money in your savings account for the down payment and to potentially cover home repairs or future payments.Watch your credit history: You can’t do much to improve your credit overnight, but consistently paying your bills on time and eliminating debt will help improve your score. The better your credit score, the better chance you have at getting the best mortgage interest rates, so do everything you can to raise your score.
While homes aren’t cheap right now and interest rates aren’t exactly favorable, remember that buying a home is a personal decision, not just a financial one. Be smart about how much you spend, and try to find a home that has at least a couple of features that are important to you.
Our experts vetted the most popular offers to land on the select picks that are worthy of a spot in your wallet. These best-in-class cards pack in rich perks, such as big sign-up bonuses, long 0% intro APR offers, and robust rewards. Get started today with our recommended credit cards.
We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
© 2026 Madam Money®. All Rights Reserved. | Designed by SRJWebsites.com
