5-figure EV discounts emerge amid bloated inventories
Electric vehicles on average were discounted nearly $6,000 in the first quarter, according to Cox Automotive.
Base '25 Toyota Camry, now hybrid only, gets 50+ mpg and priced below '24 hybrid
Toyota’s retooled 2025 Camry features an exclusive hybrid powertrain with fuel economy estimated at 53 mpg city, 50 mpg highway and 51 mpg combined, nearly as good as the Prius.
The Savings Game: When to notify Social Security about starting benefits
Q. I am waiting until my 70th birthday to initiate taking my Social Security benefit based on my work record. When should I notify Social Security regarding the initiation of my benefit to obtain the maximum amount?
A. You can make your request as early as four months prior to your 70th birthday. Your benefit will not be initiated automatically. You must notify Social Security when you wish to start your benefit. To obtain the maximum benefit, you should request that the benefit should start the month you turn 70. There will be a one-month waiting period before you start receiving your benefit.
Q. I am approaching 70 and will be initiating my Social Security benefit at that time. My wife is 72 and is receiving a pension from her work outside the Social Security system. She also receives a small Social Security benefit from her work record under Social Security. My wife has named me as a beneficiary for part of her pension for work outside of Social Security. Can you explain what benefit would be available to either of us when predeceased by the other? My Social Security benefit exceeds my wife’s Social Security benefit by a great deal.
Ask a real estate pro: How can I get my HOA to allow car covers?
Q: I recently moved and am now, for the first time, dealing with a homeowners association. I have a classic Cadillac that I used to keep covered at my previous residence. The rules in place at my new residence forbid car covers. Other nearby communities seem to allow covered cars, but not mine, so this rule was established by my association only. How can I get my car covered? — Mike
A: There are many good reasons to live in a community association. Planned developments have a specific look that many people find attractive, with good landscaping and design, and offer amenities, including everything from pools to clubhouses to golf courses. When deciding where to live, buyers decide on the lifestyle they want. To have the look and feel your neighborhood wants, rules were established that you agreed to abide by when you bought the house. And you might not like some of the established rules and need to balance the negatives with the reasons you choose to live there in the first place.
Your first step is to learn the rules for your community. You will need to do more than ask the property manager about the rules. Instead, get a copy of your community’s restrictions and other documents and read them.
Rivian cuts more jobs with woes mounting for electric vehicle market
Rivian Automotive Inc. will cut an another 1 percent of its workforce, the second round of layoffs this year as the electric vehicle industry grapples with flagging consumer demand.