Jane O'Shea articles

You find a reasonably priced appliance, head toward checkout, and suddenly face another expensive decision. The retailer offers an extended warranty that promises protection against unexpected repairs, but the price seems surprisingly high compared with the appliance itself. Spending hundreds to protect something that costs only a few hundred dollars raises an obvious question. Are you buying valuable peace of mind or paying too much to avoid a relatively small financial risk?

There was a time when families could arrive at the airport with several suitcases without worrying about another charge appearing on their travel bill. Checked luggage was generally included with standard airline tickets, making vacation budgeting considerably simpler. Today, those same suitcases can add hundreds of dollars to a family trip, even before anyone reaches the departure gate.

My sister lived in our parents' house without paying rent for 15 years, while I paid for my own housing. Now that we're discussing our inheritance, I can't stop thinking about how much money she saved during that time. Should those years of free housing count against her share, or was it simply a gift our parents were entitled to give?

Your parents worked for decades, but now retirement is approaching and their savings are alarmingly small. Instead of discussing how they plan to manage, they seem to assume you will cover whatever they cannot afford. You love them, but you also have bills, financial goals, and a future to protect. So where does your responsibility actually begin, and where should it end?

Discover how the cost of family movie night has changed since the 1980s. Compare movie ticket prices, popcorn, VHS rentals, inflation, and streaming costs to see what's cheaper today.

There was a time when a few dollars could buy a surprisingly satisfying fast-food meal, and the 1980s helped make that experience unforgettable. Burger chains competed with discounted sandwiches, inexpensive sides, and increasingly attractive meal combinations. By the end of the decade, Wendy's had introduced a 99 cent menu that would influence the entire industry. Those prices look almost unbelievable today, although the dollars themselves were worth considerably more back then.

It started with a simple agreement: your adult child could use your credit card when something unexpected happened. But now the emergencies seem endless, the balance keeps climbing, and you're left wondering how to say no without damaging your relationship. The good news is that you can take practical steps to stop additional spending, address the existing debt, and establish healthier financial boundaries.

When my parents helped one of my siblings buy a house, nobody thought much about the paperwork. Years later, as we began sorting out their estate, that money suddenly became a major source of tension. Was it a generous gift, a loan that should be repaid, or an advance on an inheritance? The answer could affect how much every sibling receives, and it may depend on evidence nobody thought to preserve.