Daniel Harper
Daniel is a finance writer covering personal finance topics including budgeting, credit, and beginner investing. He began his career contributing to his Substack, where he covered consumer finance trends and practical money topics for everyday readers. Since then, he has written for a range of personal finance blogs and fintech platforms, focusing on clear, straightforward content that helps readers make more informed financial decisions.
Latest Articles by Daniel Harper
California is swapping confusing “sell by” dates for clear “use by” labels to curb wasted groceries
Starting July 1, 2026, food sold in California will no longer carry consumer-facing “sell by” dates. Instead, products manufactured on or after that date must...
Every Medicare Advantage plan has left Alaska, stranding 106,000 seniors on original Medicare
Alaska’s roughly 106,000 Medicare beneficiaries have no Medicare Advantage plan available to them, making the state the only one in the country where the private-insurance...
The IRS now lets many filers submit a federal return online for free through Direct File
Millions of Americans who once paid commercial software fees or struggled through complex free-file portals now have a direct, no-cost path to file federal tax...
Who loses the new $6,000 senior tax deduction? Retirees whose income tops $75,000, or $150,000 for a couple
Retirees with modified adjusted gross income above $75,000, or $150,000 for married couples filing jointly, will not qualify for the new $6,000 senior tax deduction...
Low-cost index funds let small investors match the market for tiny fees
Every dollar a small investor pays in fund fees is a dollar that never compounds. That simple arithmetic has driven a measurable shift in how...
A 0% balance-transfer card can pause credit-card interest for over a year
Cardholders carrying revolving balances on high-rate credit cards can stop interest charges from growing for 15 to 21 months by transferring those balances to a...
Supplemental Security Income now pays up to $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple in 2026
Low-income seniors and people with disabilities who depend on Supplemental Security Income saw their federal payment rise to $994 a month for an individual and...
UnitedHealthcare is dropping some Medicare Advantage PPO plans next year, affecting about 600,000 members
Roughly 600,000 Medicare Advantage members enrolled in UnitedHealthcare preferred provider organization plans will need to find new coverage for 2026 after the insurer confirmed it...
Family caregivers of a disabled veteran can get a monthly VA stipend
Family caregivers who provide daily support to severely disabled veterans can receive a tax-free monthly payment from the Department of Veterans Affairs, yet many eligible...
About 3 million seniors are in Medicare Advantage plans set to be terminated
As many as 2.9 million Medicare Advantage (MA) enrollees face forced disenrollment in 2026, according to researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public...
Tens of millions of taxpayers could still claim a refund if they file a special claim by July 10
Tens of millions of taxpayers who paid penalties and interest during the COVID-19 federal disaster period can still claim refunds, but the window closes on...
A few hundred dollars a year buys a $1 million umbrella policy covering lawsuits your home and auto insurance won’t
A single car accident or a guest’s fall on a homeowner’s property can produce a lawsuit that exceeds the liability limits on a standard auto...
Gap insurance pays off your car loan if a new vehicle is totaled and you owe more than it’s worth
Car buyers who finance a new vehicle and total it within the first few years of ownership can find themselves owing thousands of dollars more...
A federal program will weatherize a low-income household’s home for free, cutting heating and cooling bills for good
Low-income households struggling with heating and cooling costs can get their homes weatherized at no charge through a federal program run by the U.S. Department...
Inflation climbed to 4.2% in May, its highest in three years, keeping pressure on grocery and gas bills
American families already stretching their budgets at the supermarket and the gas pump got unwelcome confirmation in June: consumer prices rose 4.2% over the 12...
Grandparents raising a grandchild can claim the $2,200 child tax credit if the child lives with them most of the year
Grandparents who have taken on the full-time job of raising a grandchild stand to receive up to $2,200 in federal tax relief for the 2025...