Jack Hawkins articles

1982 Pennies - Tn

My grandmother saved pennies all her life. She passed recently and I inherited $5,000 in pennies, but they're not legal tender. What do I do now?

Inherited $5,000 in old pennies that are no longer legal tender? Learn how to sort, value, appraise, and sell them without making costly mistakes.
April 3, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I installed wind chimes on my deck, but the HOA says they've had complaints about noise from my neighbors. Should I take them down?

HOA says your wind chimes are causing noise complaints? Learn whether you should take them down, check the rules, and handle the dispute without making deck drama worse.
April 3, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I wanted to have an in-house funeral for my father before the cemetery, but the HOA says we can't park funeral cars on the street. Can they do that?

A family wanted an in-house funeral before heading to the cemetery, but their HOA said funeral cars could not park on the street. Here is what HOAs can and cannot usually control, and how families can handle the dispute with less stress.
April 2, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I want to install solar panels on my roof. My HOA says that violates their "aesthetics" clause in my contract. Can they stop me?

Can an HOA block solar panels because of an aesthetics clause? Learn when HOA rules apply, how state solar laws protect homeowners, and what to do if your board says no.
April 2, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I heat with a woodstove and want to fell some trees to use for firewood. My HOA says I can't and that the trees belong to them. Are they serious?

Can an HOA stop you from cutting trees for firewood? Here’s what homeowners need to know about woodstoves, HOA rules, common-area trees, and when “those trees belong to us” is actually true.
April 1, 2026 Jack Hawkins

My dad says I should always pay cash for houses. But my financial advisor says I need to get a credit card to apply for a mortgage. Who's right?

My dad says to always pay cash for a house, but my advisor says I need a credit card to get a mortgage. Here’s who’s right, how credit really works, and what future homebuyers should do.
April 1, 2026 Jack Hawkins
Internal - Power Bill Hack

Our power company was hacked and they delayed billing by 3 months to fix it. Now, my bill is over $1,000. Are they just guessing how much I owe?

Power bill delayed after a utility hack? Learn whether your electric company is estimating what you owe, how to read a catch-up bill, and what to do if a surprise $1,000 charge lands in your mailbox.
April 1, 2026 Jack Hawkins

My Dad is an oil exec. He promised me a job once I completed OJT in a different state. I got back, and the position was filled. What can I do?

My dad promised me a job at his oil company—but the role was filled when I returned. Here’s what to do next, how to navigate the situation, and how to build your career independently.
March 27, 2026 Jack Hawkins

My wife and I just sold our home. She thinks we can deduct up to $500,000 from our income taxes. I think we're playing with fire. Is she right?

Can married couples really exclude $500,000 in home sale profits from taxes? Learn how the IRS home sale exclusion works, key rules to qualify, and common mistakes to avoid when selling your house.
March 27, 2026 Jack Hawkins