Saving money for your grandchildren: Best ways to get started now
René Bennett | (TNS) Bankrate.com
Saving for your grandchildren can help to minimize the financial burdens they may encounter as they mature. Whether it’s paying for college, buying a first home or providing a safety net in an uncertain job market, these funds can make a significant difference.
New rocket, new spacecraft and new moon landers on tap for 2025
The Space Coast is set for another busy year in 2025 with new moon missions, new spacecraft and the debut of a new rocket.
Meanwhile, NASA could see billionaire Jared Isaacman confirmed as its new administrator while prep continues for the Artemis II human spaceflight to orbit the moon in 2026.
Coming off a record 93 launches in 2024 among pads at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the Space Coast launch total in 2025 could climb past 100 with the continued frenetic pace set by SpaceX, an increase from United Launch Alliance and the debut of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
Among the missions are at least four human spaceflights, including one with a new SpaceX Crew Dragon, three commercial lunar landers and the debut of Sierra Space’s Dream Chaser spacecraft on a cargo mission to the International Space Station.
Here’s a rundown of the top space stories coming in 2025:
A new rocket: Jeff Bezos’ game of catchup to Elon Musk could get a big push with the debut launch of Blue Origin’s heavy-lift New Glenn rocket. The first launch could come soon with the Federal Aviation Administration approving its license at the end of 2024.
Home insurance costs in Florida spiked in third quarter. Are more increases on the way?
Those stabilized home insurance costs that industry leaders and state insurance regulators touted over most of 2024?
It looks like premiums might be heading up again.
That’s what a South Florida Sun Sentinel analysis of insurance market share data from the third quarter of 2024 shows.
The statewide average premium paid for an all-perils single-family home policy in Florida increased by 3.1% between the second and third quarters, the data shows. That follows two straight quarters that saw increases of 1.3%, a reduced rate that experts attributed to a decrease in lawsuits, a mild 2023 hurricane season and lower hikes in the cost of reinsurance.
In 2022, Florida’s Legislature required that insurers release the statewide data to the public as part of a series of insurance reforms that imposed restrictions on what insurers described as runaway litigation. Prior to the mid-2010s, county-level data was publicly available through the Office of Insurance Regulation until State Farm Florida won a lawsuit that sought to shield it as a “trade secret.”
Cirque Italia’s Water Circus Gold Is Coming to Fort Myers—Don’t Miss It!
Cirque Italia’s Water Circus Gold is coming to Fort Myers this January, and I couldn’t be more excited to share this unique experience with my family and with all of you. One of the best parts? They’re offering an amazing deal—one free child admission with every full-priced adult ticket in Levels 2 or 3! It’s a perfect opportunity to plan a fun family outing without breaking the bank.
This isn’t your ordinary circus. Something I really like about Cirque Italia is its commitment to being completely animal-free. Instead of relying on animals, the show celebrates human talent and creativity, making it a guilt-free experience for everyone. The performances are packed with energy, and the artists are so incredibly skilled that you’ll be on the edge of your seat the entire time.
Why Cirque Italia Is Unique!
This year’s show combines a 1950s dream theme with incredible acts, creating a story that’s as entertaining as it is nostalgic. You’ll follow a teenager dreaming of life in the era of jukeboxes, greasers, and classic cars, all while being amazed by Cirque Italia’s talented performers.
You can now access your credit report once a week for free, rather than just once a year
By Dave Lieber, The Dallas Morning News (TNS)
If you’re someone who manages the family’s finances, worries about identity theft and values maintaining a good credit score, The Watchdog has the latest updates for you.
Specifically, let’s dive into what credit reports and scores really mean, how you can access them and why staying on top of them is so important.
I recently tuned in to a town hall on consumerism sponsored by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Much of it was old hat, but my ears perked when I heard one speaker casually mention that you could get a free copy of your credit report once a week.
Bam! It used to be you get a free copy of your credit reports every 12 months.
How did this happen? The rules were temporarily suspended during the pandemic. Afterward, they were kept in place.
It’s a little confusing because the government-sponsored website — AnnualCreditReport.com — is still keeping its name. It should be WeeklyCreditReport.com, but the feds have spent a lot of time and money promoting the website.