HOME EQUITY ROSE sharply since 2020 for most states, up 450% in West Virginia, the biggest change in the US.
The average homeowner currently has $313,000 of equity, according to the Mortgage Monitor report.
While that number is likely skewed, we all can agree that many homeowners are sitting on large equity.
And, there likely will come a time when you have to sell your home to either move elsewhere, upgrade, or downgrade. With such large equity also comes another problem –

Thank you Peter for posting on August 29, 2025
Looking Back on Jonathan Clements’ Best Moments

I’m someone who’s been investing for almost 8 years and am early in my life and investing journey. I have only experienced the 2020 drop, along with the April 2025 drop. Of course, both were short-lived and I continued sticking to my investment plan.
A lot of HD forum members have been through more downturn seasons. How did you deal with that? Did you “automate” your investment (a relatively new concept) and delete any phone/web apps to “trick”

I play a bit of golf – thankfully I’m not a fanatic about it, I had a game this morning. It’s definitely an enjoyable way to waste a few hours, have a good dander and a bit of craic, as you would say in my neck of the woods.
I’m not brilliant at it, and it doesn’t really bother me. I still get around the course eventually, and a 27 handicap is grand by me. Some of my mates and fellow players have a completely different approach,

There is a world of reality beyond the HD community.
The Census Bureau reports that poverty among adults at least 65 years old rose in 2024 from the prior year. The poverty rate rose from 14.2% to 15%, the highest level among all age groups.
The 2026  COLA is projected between 2.7 and 2.9% (even though there is no inflation🙄) while the Medicare Part B premium is projected to increase $21.50 plus higher Part D premiums and higher supplemental coverage premiums.

Humble Dollar frequently posts articles about TIPS – Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities. This post is not about inflation protected bonds.
The OBBBA includes new code 224, a deduction for tax years 2025-2028, for up to $25,000 in qualified tips received during the year for cash tips received by an individual in an occupation that customarily and regularly received tips before 2024. That code section also includes subsection 224(d)(2)(B) which provides that tips do not qualify for the deduction if they are received in the course of certain specified trades or businesses —

Everyone wants more security for their retirement savings, and outside of Social Security, the most reliable way to achieve this is often the much-maligned annuity. The main issue for many people is losing control of a large chunk of their retirement pot—they simply don’t like the idea. But what if you could get some of the security an annuity provides without giving up control of your cash?
No solution is perfect, but this idea might be of interest.

Twenty-four years ago today, I was still confused about my routine since retiring the prior month.  My spouse had the tv on she and called to me to come to the family room to see coverage of the 1st tower on fire in New York.   I was really aghast.  The stock market had cratered, and looking at the video, I knew that the building would ultimately collapse.  Who could know about the profound impact this event would have on our society.  

You do not need $1,000,000 to retire or $1.5 million or any number some expert throws out on YouTube or social media. Those numbers are generated by people selling advice, investments or videos.
Having a simple dollar target makes planning appear easy, but IMO more likely to scare people into inaction because they see an impossible quest. Besides, we know very few people come near that amount and given they still retire, demonstrates the value of such assumptions. 

Recently, I have been fascinated with maximizing credit card rewards, but of course, it’s a balance between complexity (i.e. mental overload) vs cost/benefits.
Here’s my current stack:

Chase Freedom Flex – I was able to get the 10% cash back grocery bonus for 1 year. Since my wife and I live downtown, we shop majority of groceries at Trader Joe’s. The 10% grocery reward is certainly nice, but it’s expiring in a few months. We were planning to open another one of these,

Hot of the press: Poor Elon Musk, he’s lost his richest person crown, down to second place behind Larry Ellison no less. I feel his pain and understand all about losing top dog status. Last week I was the richest real estate tycoon on the block and then lost my place to a young pretender, my cash vanished before my eyes and I had to do a distressed sale of a few of my properties. Hard times.

Has anyone heard about this Network?
With my wife dealing with the financial aspects of her mother’s recent passing she has been dealing with the final hospital bill. When she received the final EOB from the insurance company at the bottom there was the following:
“(Her hospital) participates in the USA senior Care Network program. The part A deductible of $1,676 will be waived by the hospital. No benefits are due.”
From what I have been able to glean from the website many insurance companies participate in this program in which participating hospitals will waive all or part of many deductibles.

When I was out for a run this morning I had a breakthrough thought as to why I’m not mega-rich. It’s quite simple: I didn’t follow all the conventional financial wisdom with the dedication needed to reach those lofty heights. Apparently I’ve failed because I thought differently about some normal pearls of wisdom.
Take the often-touted phrase, “If it appreciates, buy it; if it depreciates, lease it.” Unfortunately, I don’t think this way. I like owning my cars outright,

Laughter, the Best Medicine
We all know that laughter is the best medicine. And while Humble Dollar usually gives us wisdom about money, markets, and life, maybe it’s time to add a little humor to the mix. Let’s send Jonathan a laugh.
Now, humor is always a risk—especially across cultures. The Brits, after all, are famous for their love of irony and wordplay. But clean, clever jokes never go out of style. Here’s a start:
How many financial advisors does it take to sell an ETF?

One of the biggest surprises in retirement is how the tax rules around charitable giving shift. During your working years, you might have claimed a deduction for every gift you made. But now, with the standard deduction so high—$32,300 for couples 65 and older in 2025—many retirees no longer itemize. That means the tax benefit from donations often disappears.
Still, there are strategies that can help you get more impact—for yourself and for the causes you care about.