Hobby or Business? The Rule That Decides Whether You Can Deduct Anything
Quick Answer The IRS draws a hard line between a hobby and a business, and in 2026, that line costs real money. If your side activity is a business, you can deduct your expenses against your income. If it’s a hobby, you report every dollar you earn and deduct nothing. There is no middle ground. […]
The 1099-K Threshold for 2026 Is $20,000, Not $600 (Here’s Why Your AI Assistant Says Otherwise)
Quick Answer: For the 2026 tax year, a payment platform or online marketplace is only required to send you a Form 1099-K, a tax form reporting the gross payments you received through that platform, if BOTH of these are true: your gross payments exceed $20,000 AND your transactions exceed 200. Both conditions must be met. […]
Rank and Rent Is Sold as Passive Income. Nobody Mentions the Phone Calls.
Here is the verdict up front. Rank and rent is a real business model, not a scam, and some people do make money at it. But it is not passive, and the website is not the hard part. The hard part is calling local contractors you have never met and persuading them to pay you […]
How to Check If an AI Income Program Is Real: A 6-Point Method
If you’re looking at an AI income program and trying to decide whether to pay for it, here’s the short answer: you can settle most of it yourself in about fifteen minutes, for free, before you spend a dollar. Three questions do most of the work. Can you explain in one sentence how the program […]
How to Spot Online Income Scams Before They Cost You Money
The Federal Trade Commission receives millions of fraud reports every year, with online income scams targeting older adults at an alarming rate. If you’re exploring ways to earn realistic extra income online, knowing how to spot online income scams can save you from financial loss and protect your personal information. The internet offers legitimate opportunities […]
How to Remove Your Personal Information From the Internet: A Plain-English Guide for Seniors
Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I’ve used or genuinely evaluated. Full disclosure here. Here’s something most people over 60 never find out until a scam call gets a little too personal: your […]
Identity Theft Protection for Retirees: Step‑by‑Step Plan to Freeze, Lock, and Monitor Your Accounts After 60
Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I’ve used or genuinely evaluated. Full disclosure here. Between 2020 and 2024, reported losses of $10,000 or more to scams among adults 60 and older increased more […]
Remote Work After Retirement: Online Jobs Older Adults Can Do With Help From AI Tools
More than half of workers aged 50 and older — 53%, according to a May 2026 AARP study — now say they’re knowledgeable about AI tools. [1] That number keeps climbing. And it matters, because AI has quietly lowered the barrier to entry for remote work in ways that make part-time online jobs genuinely realistic […]
Online Safety for Seniors: A Step‑by‑Step Guide to Spotting AI‑Powered Scams
Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I’ve used or genuinely evaluated. Full disclosure here. Deepfake fraud in the U.S. jumped 700% in early 2025, costing victims $1.1 billion — and seniors are the […]
Online Scam Red Flags for Seniors — and What to Do If You’ve Already Been Hit
Heads up: this post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend what I’ve used or genuinely evaluated. Full disclosure here. My neighbor Betty almost lost $3,000 last spring. 📺 Prefer to watch instead of read? I’m working on a […]