business

In January, my family and I arrived at Pomerelle Mountain Resort in southern Idaho to find fresh powder, inexpensive lift tickets, no lines and bargain burgers grilling at the base. What more could a skier ask for? Perhaps a faster chair, but we chalked that up to vintage charm. Last fall when I purchased the … Read more

Extra nights in cushy hotel suites, free premium air travel and even stays on private islands. Loyalty points and frequent flier miles, when strategically collected, can fund trips well beyond a traveler’s usual expectations and budget. But it isn’t easy to get these deals. Luckily for us, there’s an entire universe of experts who share … Read more

How much would you pay to go to the Super Bowl? Luxury packages for events like the presidential inauguration, the Olympic Games and the Super Bowl are nothing new, but in recent years, industry professionals have noticed a rise in “ultraluxe” travel — very expensive, private and customizable V.V.I.P. travel and event services. Take the … Read more

Ms. Harris suggests that her clients try “Frugal February” — avoiding discretionary spending and impulse purchases, and putting the money toward debt reduction or savings — because it’s a short month, and people often stay home anyway because of cold weather. The steps can be small, she said, like watching a movie on a streaming … Read more

It’s possible to amass $1 million in special health savings accounts to use in retirement, a new analysis finds, with several big caveats. You have to start young, contribute the maximum each year and leave the money untouched for decades instead of spending it on medical needs. Health savings accounts, known as H.S.A.s, let people … Read more

Halfway into his presidency, Jimmy Carter’s back was against the wall. It was July 1979, the height of the energy crisis, and the beleaguered president went on national television to deliver not a speech, but a kind of sermon. The address — called “Crisis of Confidence” — challenged Americans to acknowledge personal failings that he … Read more

Visions of champagne and lie-flat seats danced in my head when Azores Airlines accepted my 500-euro bid to upgrade my husband and me to business class during our kid-free vacation this past August. But the reality was far less cushy: Our seats reclined only a few inches more than regular coach seats. There was no … Read more

The Social Security Administration receives billions in free money each year from an unexpected source: undocumented immigrants. This group paid an estimated $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes in 2022, according to a recent analysis from the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning tax research group. Since unauthorized workers cannot collect retirement and … Read more

Traveling off-season, booking early, playing with flexible dates and going somewhere off the beaten path are tried-and-true budget travel strategies. But each year brings traffic patterns and perennial sales that can cue savvy travelers on when to book and when to travel. Whatever the timing, it pays to shop for travel during low-demand spots on … Read more

By checking in early and getting to the gate with plenty of time, you’ve done everything right. But then the airline throws a curveball, announcing an overbooked flight. Instead of boarding passengers, gate agents ask for volunteers to give up their seats. Then they stop asking and start bumping passengers off the flight. And they … Read more