The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Smart ways to pay less on rising healthcare cost

   1044. Are rising healthcare costs ruining your budget? Laura answers a listener’s question about how to maximize every tax advantage available for healthcare costs. You’ll learn the rules for deducting them on your tax return or paying them with tax-advantaged savings accounts like HSAs and FSAs. We’ll cover which expenses are tax-free and simple strategies to optimize your healthcare spending. Key Takeaways:You can only claim the medical tax deduction if you itemize deductions on Schedule A instead of claiming the standard deduction on your tax return.You can only deduct unreimbursed healthcare expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), making the medical deduction best for years with high medical bills.Tax-advantaged medical savings accounts are powerful because they allow you to save 20% to 35% on qualified costs without claiming a medical deduction.Health savings account (HSA) balances roll over forever, can be invested for tax-free growth, and can be withdrawn penalty-free for non-medical expenses after age 65 (subject to ordinary income tax).Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) are employer-sponsored perks for cutting healthcare costs.You cannot claim an itemized medical deduction on Schedule A for any healthcare expense paid for or reimbursed using pre-tax funds from an HSA, FSA, or HRA.Lawmakers have expanded HSA, FSA, and HRA qualified expenses to cover various over-the-counter (OTC) medications and products.Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: [email protected] or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

   August 21, 2026·22min
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   Number 2: Medicare 101: How to avoid pricey mistakes and choose the right plan

   1047. Host Laura Adams cuts through the confusion and explains the basics of Medicare for anyone approaching 65 or helping a relative compare options. You’ll learn how parts of Medicare work, which expenses Medicare doesn’t cover, how to fill insurance gaps, avoid lifetime penalties, and the truth about costly Medicare myths. Key Takeaways:Medicare Part A covers hospital and inpatient care (premium-free for most), while Part B covers doctor visits and outpatient services for a monthly premium ($202.90 in 2026).Medicare Advantage (Part C) is an all-in-one alternative that bundles Parts A, B, and usually D into a single plan with network restrictions and out-of-pocket caps, often adding basic dental and vision coverage.Original Medicare doesn't cover long-term care such as assisted living or nursing home stays, or routine dental, vision, and hearing care.Medigap protects against out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and 20% coinsurance left behind by Original Medicare, but it cannot be combined with Medicare Advantage.Missing your Initial Enrollment Period triggers lifetime penalties unless you have active, creditable employer health coverage. Enrollment isn't automatic unless you already receive Social Security benefits when you turn 65. Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: [email protected] or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

   September 02, 2026·15min
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   Number 3: Inherited money? Ways to share wealth without paying extra taxes

   1048. Receiving an inheritance can be a life-changing financial event, but passing a portion of those funds along to family members comes with a unique set of tax rules. Host Laura Adams breaks down the federal tax consequences of sharing an inheritance. You’ll learn how inherited assets are taxed at receipt, how the federal annual gift tax exclusion works, and smart tax-free strategies to help your loved ones without triggering extra tax paperwork. Key Takeaways:Receiving plain cash or life insurance proceeds does not trigger federal income tax, and you do not need to report it on your federal return. However, a gift giver could owe state tax depending on where they live. As a gift giver, you can exclude up to $19,000 per person per year (or $38,000 if married) without reporting it. Gifts above the exclusion simply require filing IRS Form 709 to count against your $15 million lifetime exemption, meaning almost no one owes actual gift tax.Inheriting property or taxable investments adjusts the asset’s cost basis to its fair market value on the owner's date of death, erasing past appreciation.If you want to pay tuition or medical bills directly for someone else, it does not count toward your $19,000 annual exclusion or require Form 709 reporting.You can superfund a 529 savings plan for someone else and use five years’ worth of annual exclusions at once. Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: [email protected] or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

   September 04, 2026·12min
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   Number 4: Workplace Roth vs. Roth IRA–what’s the difference?

   1045. Are you taking full advantage of tax-free retirement growth? While both workplace Roth plans and Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth, they come with vastly different eligibility limits, withdrawal rules, and investment options. Laura breaks down the key Roth differences so you can decide which option is right for you. Key Takeaways:You can contribute up to $24,500 to $32,750 in a workplace Roth for 2026—over triple the $7,500 to $8,600 limit for a Roth IRA, depending on your age.Roth contributions make sense if you believe your income or tax rate will be higher in the future when you can take tax-free withdrawals. High earners who exceed the 2026 Roth IRA MAGI limits can not make full contributions to a Roth IRA. You can withdraw 100% of your original Roth IRA contributions anytime, tax- and penalty-free, but that’s not possible with a workplace Roth. A Roth IRA offers better investment choices and early liquidity compared to a workplace Roth. Workers over 50 and earning over $150,000 in prior-year wages must make any workplace catch-up contributions on a post-tax Roth basis.Most investors should prioritize contributions to a workplace retirement plan to receive 100% of any employer match.Discover more from Money Girl! Facebook Newsletter Transcripts available at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Email: [email protected] or leave a voicemail: (302) 364-0308. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

   August 26, 2026·19min
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   Number 5: 8 money rules for happy couples

   On a road trip, tackling a summer cleanup, or just catching up on podcasts? QDT has you covered with Summer Saturday encores from your favorite shows. See the full Summer Saturday lineup on Spotify and enjoy this episode, which first aired in November, 2024. Laura reviews money rules for couples who want to avoid common pitfalls and have a healthy financial life. Money Girl is hosted by Laura Adams. A transcript is available at Simplecast. Have a money question? Send an email to [email protected] or leave a voicemail at 302-365-0308. Find Money Girl on Facebook and Twitter, or subscribe to the newsletter for more personal finance tips. Money Girl is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Links: https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/ https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/money-girl-newsletter https://www.facebook.com/MoneyGirlQDT https://lauradadams.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

   August 15, 2026·13min
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