How To Maximize Credit Card Rewards When Holiday Shopping

Stepping Into Budgeting | A Disability Doesn t Have to Force an Early Retirement | How Controlling Your Living Expenses Can Lead to Financial Freedom Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( December 1, 2023 CONNECT WITH KIPLINGER  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [Instagram ]( [Youtube]( [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [WEBSITE]( [] INTRODUCTION [] - [Stepping Into Budgeting]( LIfe can change in a flash. For instance, one in four workers who are still healthy in their mid-50s will experience a disability in the next few years. Kiplinger contributing writer [Alina Tugend]( has advice to help you guide you through having a disability in the workplace — whether you need accommodation or not. We can’t predict when something life changing will happen. However, we can prepare ourselves financially for the expected and [unexpected expenses]( we encounter in life. An expert from the [Kiplinger Advisor Collective]( lays out why taming your living expenses now will allow you to acquire the lifestyle you want later. To that end, we can use our daily expenses to earn points, miles or cash back and help us inch closer to those goals. Personal finance editor [Ellen Kennedy]( is also our credit card expert, and she has a list of the best credit cards to use during the holidays. These cards deliver on rewards you can use to get yourself a gift. - Donna LeValley, personal finance writer P.S. I welcome your questions and suggestions about this newsletter – you can reach me at d.levalley@futurenet.com [Is It Better to Take RMDs Monthly or Annually?]( If you have tax-deferred retirement accounts, you'll need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) eventually. These are usually taken annually, quarterly or monthly. But which makes the most sense? A financial advisor can help when factoring tax implications for your situation. Learn more. [LEARN MORE]( ADVERTISEMENT [] TOP STORY [] [A Disability Doesn’t Have to Force an Early Retirement]( [A Disability Doesn t Have to Force an Early Retirement]( (Getty Images) Did you know that the percentage of employees aged 55 and over now make up 24% of the workforce, up from 12% 25 years ago? With age comes experience, but also wear and tear, and that’s something I can attest to without reservation. A disability can be the result of something sudden or a chronic condition; it doesn’t have to be the end of a career. [We have a round-up of your rights and advice on how to work with your employer to stay at your job](. [] BUDGETS [] [How Controlling Your Living Expenses Can Lead to Financial Freedom]( [How Controlling Your Living Expenses Can Lead to Financial Freedom]( (Getty Images) Do you have a budget? Is it realistic? CFP Mario R. Hernandez, encourages us all to take a look at our living expenses and determine what our must-have lifestyle expenses are. I’ve cut back on buying coffee and dining out in favor of more traveling. [Read on to see how you can fit your aspirations into a budget that leads you to financial freedom to have and enjoy that lifestyle](. [How automated tech makes investing easy]( Stay chill while your money works for you, with Betterment's tax-smart tools and automated technology. Investing involves risk. Performance not guaranteed. [LEARN MORE]( ADVERTISEMENT [Advertisement] [] CREDIT CARD REWARDS [] [3 Best Cards for Holiday Shopping]( [3 Best Cards for Holiday Shopping]( (Getty Images) Were you part of the army of shoppers that spent $9.8 billion last weekend? I was, and I made sure to scour my cards for any additional cashback opportunities when I was shopping. These sweeteners don’t compare to the rewards you can earn by these three credit cards to do your holiday shopping. [Keep reading to find out which cards will help you turn your gift shopping into an earning opportunity](. [Free Retirement Tools Here]( Find out how much you can afford each month with our data-driven spending plan. [READ MORE]( ADVERTISEMENT [] ALSO ON KIPLINGER [] - Amazon to offer students [flights under $50 for the holidays]( — but you must act fast - Tennis Channel to [serve up new streaming service]( next year - [Use this thermostat setting to save]([money]( this winter - [Nine financial tips]( these experts wish they knew a long time ago ABOUT KIPLINGER When we write about money, we get it right. So the decisions you make with your dollars are also right. Kiplinger is a trusted provider of unbiased financial advice, objective business and economic forecasts, and practical help to millions of business professionals, investors, and individuals seeking to make more profitable decisions with their money. Our [flagship publications]( include [Kiplinger Personal Finance]( magazine, [The Kiplinger Letter]( [The Kiplinger Tax Letter]( [Kiplinger Retirement Report]( and [Kiplinger Investing for Income.]( All are regarded as the leading publications in their respective fields. Every day, millions of readers rely on our [free e-newsletters]( for help on everything from getting the best rate on a mortgage or car loan, to managing their businesses in an uncertain world, avoiding an IRS audit, building wealth for a secure retirement, or investing wisely in any kind of market. Now it’s your turn to reap all the rewards Kiplinger has to offer. Visit [Kiplinger.com](, your gateway to all of the above and much more. Check in any time for our latest advice on how to make more money, and keep more of the money you make. Stay right on the money, with Kiplinger. [Sign Up]( | [Print Publications]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( | [Cookies Policy]( | [Terms and Conditions]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](concat('mailto:',$brief_feedback_email)) | [ADVERTISE]( [Future]( Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036