a note from Bob on March 31, 2020 Congress and the President have been working overtime passing legislation to fight the effects of the Coronavirus. One recent item (the CARES Act) allows you to completely forgo your Required Minimum Distribution for 2020. This is an RMD holiday and presents some... read more →
May
12
May
12
A note from Bob on March 21, 2020 A couple of weeks ago, the S&P 500 entered “bear market territory” by closing down 20% below its previous all-time high. We have been reminded what seems to be hourly of this truth by the financial press. Maybe it’s just me, but... read more →
Feb
05
How do income and consumer spending in the Greater Tampa Bay Area in Florida compare to the country? Findings from a new report help to answer that question. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics surveyed households in the Tampa - St. Petersburg - Clearwater area analyzing income and spending patterns... read more →
Nov
15
Considering listing your property on sites such as Airbnb or VRBO? Living in Florida makes for a desirable destination vacation due to its generally warm climate and beaches. There is a reason why there are more than 7 million listings worldwide on Airbnb and more than 2 million on VRBO... read more →
Nov
07
The numbers are here - Americans spent $61,224 on average in 2018, a slight increase from 2017. Where exactly was that money spent? The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has issued its most recent consumer spending report with the findings of spending per consumer unit.* Where is our money going?... read more →
Nov
01
Cost and Lifestyle Comparisons of City versus Country Living Considering making a move to the country? Maybe you want more quiet days, or you want to reduce your spending. Or maybe you just want a change in the pace of life. No matter your reasons, relocating to the country extends... read more →
Oct
07
Need a vacation? There’s nothing worse than feeling guilty after a trip for spending too much. But you don’t need to spend thousands on airfare and hotels to take time for yourself. The below tips are an easy way to take a vacation while staying within your budget. How (and... read more →
Sep
30
The most common natural disaster in the United States? Flooding. And it’s also the most costly, according to FEMA, where one inch of water can amount to $25,000 in damage. Specifically, one natural disaster that has the potential to bring flood damage is a hurricane. According to the National Oceanic... read more →
Sep
03
Are parents paying their adult children’s bills, even despite them being employed? Short answer: Yes. According to a 2017 survey of 800 millennials by Instamotor, close to a quarter reported their parents paying at least one of their bills. Each person surveyed was employed - working at least 35 hours... read more →
Aug
26
Knowing where we spend our money is the most important step for knowing where to begin with saving. So, where does our money go? The 2018 Mid-Year Consumer Expenditure Report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) looked at the average spending of surveyed participants between July 2017 and June... read more →
