Financial
How Your Credit Score Is Calculated, and 5 Moves That Help
Five factors set a FICO score. What each one weighs and what to do about it.
Your Year End Money Review: 7 Checks Before December
Several money deadlines land on December 31. Seven checks to make in October, while you still have time to act on them.
HSA vs. FSA: Which One Should You Pick This Year?
Both accounts cut your tax bill on medical costs. One rolls over forever, one mostly does not. How to choose.
Travel
Rental Car Extras: 6 Charges to Check Before You Book
The daily rate is rarely the price you pay. Six charges to check first.
TSA PreCheck vs. Global Entry: Which One Is Worth It?
Both last five years for under $25 a year. One adds customs. A simple rule to pick.
Holiday Week Travel: A Game Plan for the Busiest Days
The Sunday after Thanksgiving set an airport record last year. Seven moves for getting through the busiest travel days calmly.
Shopping
Holiday Shopping Scams: 6 Checks Before You Enter Your Card
Fake stores look real. Six quick checks before you pay.
How to Spot Fake Reviews Before You Buy
A federal rule bans fake reviews, but they persist. Six checks before you buy.
Buy Now, Pay Later: 5 Questions to Ask at Checkout
Splitting a purchase into four payments feels free. Five questions that show when buy now, pay later helps and when it costs you.
Health
Added Sugar: How Much Is Too Much and Where It Hides
The daily limits, where added sugar hides, and six moves to cut it.
Vitamin D in Winter: Myths, Facts, and What to Do
Less winter sun, more myths. What official sources say about how much you need.
Flu Shot Timing: Why the End of October Matters
Protection takes about two weeks to build. That lag is what makes when you go almost as important as whether you go.
The Sunday dispatch.
The best new piece from each pillar, straight to your inbox once a week.