The following is a guest post by Danielle K. Roberts, co-founder of Boomer Benefits, who’s an expert on Medicare costs and how to budget for Medicare costs. If you’d like to contribute a guest post to Money Q&A, be sure to check out the site’s guest posting guidelines. Many people are unaware of just how much Medicare costs are until they turn 65 and are preparing to enroll. After all, we see during our working years that the federal government is deducting FICA taxes from our payroll checks, and we assume that means that one day Medicare will be free. Unfortunately, that’s just not the case. While your payroll taxes do help to fund your future Medicare Part A hospital … Read more

One of the most sought-after American Express cards is undoubtedly the American Express Platinum Card, which offers a tremendous variety of benefits to its cardholders and a sweet introductory spending bonus as well (40-60,000 Membership Rewards® points or even 100,000 MR points if this is your first American Express Platinum Card and are able to find this elusive offer). Of course, these benefits come with a hefty annual fee – which is not waived during the first year the way many other cards do for new cardholders – yet the benefits could be worth the expense if you travel frequently by air and stay in hotels. Apply for an American Express Card. You can earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you … Read more