Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Sirtravelalot / Shutterstock.comMost retirement advice assumes that everyone wants the same thing: stop working at 65, spend less, maybe travel a little, and hope your money lasts. But real life does not look like this. People retire early, late, abroad, at home, with passion projects, with heartbreak, with courage, with second chances, and with dreams that don’t look like the “traditional” model. And each of these paths teaches…

Kroger is set to pay more than $1 million to settle a California lawsuit that alleges the Ohio-based supermarket giant cut calorie counts on many of its store-branded CarbMaster bread products. The lawsuit against Kroger accuses the company of violating California’s false advertising and unfair competition laws, according to a news release from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors alleged that Kroger used false calorie information on five varieties of its CarbMaster bread online and on the product’s packaging. Officials said the products were sold at Kroger-owned Ralphs, Food 4 Less and Foods Co. stores throughout the state.…

Market-linked insurance plans combine life insurance coverage with market-linked investments within the same product structure. In these plans, a portion of your premium goes into the life cover, while the remaining amount is invested in funds such as equity, debt or hybrid funds. in india, Unit Linked Insurance Plans ULIPs are one of the most recognized market-linked insurance products regulated by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).Today long-term financial planning is not limited to just saving money regularly. Investors also look for products that can support wealth creation, financial security, tax efficiency and disciplined investments over time.…

Kroger has been adding cutting-edge price tag technology to several locations over the past month, the grocer told The Cincinnati Enquirer, part of the USA TODAY Network. Electronic shelf labels, or ESL, allows a grocer to change prices of goods in stores via computer without a clerk changing stick-on labels. Kroger said nationally about one in four of its stores has it. The Cincinnati-based supermarket giant said the move will save it countless hours of work and free up associates to help customers more. Critics of the technology fear it could open the door to predatory pricing practices, such as…

Getting a visa to visit the US may soon take less time – but will cost more money for some travelers. Starting July 1, travelers applying for B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas for business and tourism will be able to pay extra to get ahead of others in the queue for a visa interview. According to the State Department, it is part of a “proof-of-concept” pilot program designed to assess demand for expedited services, which it will introduce by the end of the year. How the Fast-Track Program Works According to a temporary final rule published in the Federal Register…

Pizza Hut wants to celebrate readers of all generations. On Wednesday, June 10, Pizza Hut is offering a free personal pan pizza to any customer who brings BOOK IT! Button, which was distributed to participants of the series’ long-running reading program for decades. Introduced in 1984, Book It! Pizza Hut has a free reading incentive program for students in preschool through sixth grade. Students are encouraged to set a monthly reading goal, and if they achieve it, they receive a reward certificate for a free personal pan pizza. book it! Offers programming during the school year and summer. Book it!…

Costco has cut prices on some Kirkland Signature items across several shopping categories, including home goods, the company announced during a recent earnings call. The cuts were made during the company’s third quarter, which ended in early June, and also included Kirkland Signature offerings like groceries and sporting equipment. “Our goal is to lower prices first where we see opportunities to do so,” Gary Millerchip, Costco executive vice president and chief financial officer, said during the call Friday, May 29. According to Millerchip, the price cuts include: Kirkland Signature Crispy Wings – $16.99 to $14.99 Kirkland Signature Milk Chocolate Almonds…

Additional products have been added to the list of recalled pet foods that may cause life-threatening nutritional deficiencies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday, June 8, issued an updated notice for certain freeze-dried and frozen raw pet food products made by GO Raw LLC. The company initially issued a voluntary recall in February after it was discovered that its food had extremely low levels of thiamine, also known as vitamin B1. Thiamine is an essential nutrient for dogs and cats, which use it to maintain normal neurological function and to properly digest and metabolize carbohydrates. Without it, pets,…

Representative Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Chairman of the Democratic Caucus, speaks during a press conference with House Democratic leadership at the U.S. Capitol on January 10, 2023 in Washington, DC.Sarah Silbiger | reutersA months-long standoff over immigration enforcement could end Tuesday as the U.S. House is set to vote on a $70 billion funding package despite Democrats’ pledge to fight back. It’s a major test for House Speaker Mike Johnson as he tries to solidify one of President Donald Trump’s top domestic priorities.Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, called the package “a $70 billion blank check for…

Tom Homan, White House border czar, speaks to members of the media outside the White House on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, in Washington, DC, US. Daniel Heuer | Bloomberg | getty imageswhite House Border czar Tom Homan blamed New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for the surge she promised on Tuesday Immigration and Customs Enforcement New York City officials.But Homan did not say when he expected to see an increase in the number of ICE agents when asked by reporters at the White House.”You can expect more ICE agents to go to New York because Governor (Kathy) Hochul “Signed legislation that…