We know the equity in a home can be important and is part of net worth. It can be used to purchase with cash when downsizing. It can be sold and the cash used for living expenses – tax-free income up to a point. It can be used as income via a reverse mortgage. It seems a growing number of seniors are using home equity to pay an entrance fee to a CCRC. Or it may be part of inheritance.

Now we’ve all had a little reminder over the last few weeks of what it feels like when Mr Market smacks us in the face with a loss, I think it’s an excellent time for everyone to assess how they truly feel about their losses. Are you indifferent? Maybe it’s made you slightly stressed, a bit edgy about the future? Or are you constantly checking your account and wishing you had done something before the losses piled up?

Dear HumbleDollar Community,
Last week there was a forum post penned by Dick Quinn on shopping carts.  This post was an inappropriate and unkind rant/lament that had no place on HumbleDollar.  We can all agree that this post should have been better moderated and that the comment thread which turned acrimonious should have been stopped. 
Going forward, I kindly ask commentors take a mindful pause before commenting to prevent further igniting an already incendiary post.  And I kindly ask those who pen forum posts to think carefully about the personal finance lessons or observations they are sharing. 

Recently, we needed a new dishwasher.
The appliance company crew went about removing the old unit, making adjustments in order to install the new unit, then installing the new unit.  They provided a quick explanation of the controls.
After the crew left, I realized there was only a single basket for the knives, forks, spoons, etc.
Realization:  I should have pulled out the multiple baskets in the old unit!  Those baskets  might have saved the need to find and buy some after market baskets.

FOR DECADES, RESEARCHERS have been looking at the link between money and happiness. The findings? In short, it’s a mixed bag.
To be sure, there are ways that money can boost happiness, and below are some ideas to consider. But there are also obstacles to contend with. We’ll look first at the obstacles before turning to the recommendations. 
The most significant challenge is the fact that—to a great extent—our happiness level is hard-wired into us.

NOVEMBER IS A GOOD time for tax planning. You still have enough time left in the year to make tax moves, but you’re close enough to December 31st to know what your income, deductions and credits might look like.
Here are some tax moves to consider:
 
1. Maximizing retirement contributions
Before the year ends, if you have the means, consider contributing the maximum allowed $23,500 to traditional 401(k), Roth 401(k), and similar workplace plans.

In a recent post about a child who doesn’t seem to have it all together, Molly McIlhenny reminded us that kids are likely more savvy than we give them credit for. That got me thinking about my younger self. Maybe my story can help in some small way.
I have always had a good work ethic. You can ask my high school sweetheart if you like. She would get so frustrated because I would often pick up extra hours at the supermarket and destroy whatever plans we had made.

I just looked at my investments for the last month. It’s not a pretty picture and I have a big chunk in bonds and cash. 
Have we entered a period of concern? Are assumptions under stress? Do we do anything or nothing? Should short-term spending be adjusted? 
For those who are relying on investments in retirement what are your thoughts – just an anticipated blip or something more?

My father-in-law, while certainly not a wealthy man, holds assets in the mid six-figure range. The subject of inheritance came up during a recent visit to his home in Spain, sparked by a conversation that my wife, Suzie, and I had just finalized updates to our own will due to the sale of my business.
I raised a specific suggestion for his estate planning: given that his three children are all financially secure and truly don’t need the inheritance money,

Every year, like clockwork, I gripe over cost of health insurance premiums. Am I paying too much?
The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics measures year over year changes in the health care component of the consumer price index (CPI). The monthly health care inflation rate for September, 2025 reflected a 3.28% annual rise. Our perception is that this is a relatively high increase, although in reality the current rate represent is slower annual growth when compared to the past 50 year average rate of 5.09%.

People and money, especially when not actually their money, generates some interesting points of view and confusion. It sometimes seems to bring out the illogical. 
Health care and health insurance are especially volatile topics. I spend a great deal of time writing about health care on my blog and I spent most of my working life dealing with health insurance and related health care issues. I helped organize three HMOs. 
The cost of healthcare is a significant issue for most people and yet finding a workable solution is greatly hampered by misinformation and what people want to believe.

From September 2023 to October 2024 I penned nine articles for HumbleDollar, all were all edited by Jonathan. With each article submitted, I asked Jonathan if he thought my stories fit in with HDs mission. You see, they provided scant financial advice, and leaned heavily on humorous things I picked up at places like my tax office or even the local watering holes where I used to sell beer. Still, Jonathan liked them because they leaned on the human side of money and relationships. 

I seem to fit the profile of a typical guy who had the good fortune of retiring in his late fifties. I spend a considerable amount of time doing physical activities: racket sports, cycling, running, hiking. I’m also a keen reader of history, science and financial content. I volunteer my time coaching sports development courses and volunteering at a local church youth group, lots of very fruitful and productive activities to be getting on with.
When you add in working in my large garden,

 
The Wall Street Journal reported last week that the brokerage Robinhood is partnering with Gopuff to deliver cash directly to customers’ homes. For $6.99 (or $2.99 if you’ve got over $100K in your account), skip the teller, skip the ATM, and get your money in a sealed paper bag at your doorstep.
I’m already picturing it: an alert pops up—“Your money has been delivered!”—complete with a photo of a cash bag on my front stoop next to the Amazon delivery.

A Cautionary Tale: What I Learned Trying to Leave an Employer-Sponsored Medicare Advantage Plan
This is the story of a friend I helped when she tried to move from her employer’s Group Medicare Advantage plan to Original Medicare and a Supplement. Her experience is a cautionary tale.
I want to share this story because I don’t want others to go through the stress, confusion, and sleepless nights that we did.
When I retired, the company I worked for offered my husband and I a Medicare Advantage plan ,along with a $50,000 Future Health Account credit.