Jack Hawkins articles

Serious mature man wearing glasses sitting on table home office

I'm being pushed out of the company I've worked at for 20 years. They're letting me go with only a year's salary. What now?

Being let go from a job you've worked at for a long time is a very difficult experience. Even if they've given you the grace of one year's salary, it's still hard to know what to do with yourself after all that time. Let's explore your options with a year's salary in your bank account.
June 22, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I helped my grandson pay for college, and now it’s affecting my retirement plans. Did I make a mistake?

A grandparent helped her grandson pay for college and now worries about retirement. Here is how to decide whether it was a mistake, repair the financial impact, set family boundaries, and protect retirement savings without guilt.
June 19, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I paid my sibling’s rent to help them out, and now they expect it every month. How do I cut them off?

Paid your sibling’s rent once and now they expect monthly help? Here’s how to set financial boundaries, stop paying, handle guilt, and protect your relationship.
June 11, 2026 Jack Hawkins

My spouse secretly signed up for “buy now, pay later” plans, and the debt exploded. Am I on the hook for this?

Is your spouse’s secret buy now, pay later debt suddenly haunting your finances? Learn when you may be responsible, when you may not be, and what steps to take now.
June 8, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I tried to park my new boat in my own driveway, but my HOA told me I couldn't. There's more than enough space. What can I do?

Bought a boat but your HOA says you can’t park it in your driveway? Here’s how to check the rules, appeal the decision, avoid fines, and find a smart compromise.
May 29, 2026 Jack Hawkins

The company made me call a 1-800 number to cancel my subscription. I was on hold for an hour. Are companies really allowed to make you do that?

Can a company make you call a 1-800 number and wait on hold just to cancel a subscription? Here’s what consumers should know about cancellation rules, click-to-cancel laws, and what to do when quitting feels harder than joining.
May 27, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I was charged an overdraft fee even though I had the money. The teller at the bank couldn't help me, can I still dispute the charge?

Charged an overdraft fee even though you had money? Learn why it can happen, how to dispute the fee, what records to gather, and when to escalate your complaint.
May 26, 2026 Jack Hawkins

My wife, children, and I went out to a fine-dining restaurant. They refused to serve us because we had the kids with us. Can they really do that?

A fine-dining restaurant refused to serve a family because they brought children. Can restaurants legally ban kids? Here’s what parents should know about age rules, private business policies, discrimination, and what to do next.
May 22, 2026 Jack Hawkins

I loaned a friend $5,000 to buy a car via an informal payment arrangement. He recently tragically died. Can I still ask his widow to keep paying me?

Loaned a friend $5,000 before he passed away? Learn whether you can ask his widow to keep paying, how estate debts work, and how to handle the situation with compassion and proof.
May 22, 2026 Jack Hawkins