Flipboard 2025 Finance Tips

Man at airport

I bought my brother a plane ticket for a job interview. He used it to visit his girlfriend. Should I confront him or just move on?

Buying a plane ticket for a sibling is rarely just about the ticket. It usually represents support and a willingness to step in when someone needs help. If the reason for the trip involves a job interview, the gesture carries even more weight. It suggests hope for stability and a better future. Learning later that the ticket was used for a personal visit instead can feel jarring. The money matters, but the emotional reaction often runs deeper than the cost. Family help often relies on shared assumptions rather than formal agreements, which makes moments like this especially tricky. Speaking up could feel awkward or tense, while staying silent could allow resentment to settle in and quietly change how the relationship feels over time.
January 8, 2026 Miles Brucker
Intro image

That old credit card that you kept open is doing more than you think.

Many people don’t remember the first credit card they received, although, sitting in a drawer, it can carry more influence than expected. Long-standing accounts influence more than most people realize, as they affect trust and future options.
January 7, 2026 Miles Brucker
1854581986 - Andrey_Popov - Holding Paycheck Or Payroll Check Or Insurance Cheque In Hand

I discovered my brother’s been cashing my disabled father’s pension checks. What can I legally do without destroying the family?

The discovery often starts quietly, with a missing deposit or an explanation that fails to line up. For a disabled parent, that pension represents dignity and stability, so learning that a sibling may be diverting it turns a financial concern into something painfully personal. The urge to act quickly collides with fear of fracturing the family, leaving many people stuck between urgency and restraint. Moving forward rarely starts with accusations or courtrooms. It begins with understanding how to assert responsibility carefully, protect a vulnerable parent, and preserve the chance for family relationships to endure.
January 8, 2026 Miles Brucker
Woman doing dropshipping

I tried “dropshipping” to make extra cash. Now I owe $9,000 in returns. How do I get out of this?

Dropshipping looks like the perfect side hustle—no inventory, no warehouse, just set up a store and watch the money roll in. That's what all those YouTube videos promised anyway. But when things go wrong, they go really wrong. Imagine waking up to dozens of angry emails from customers who never got their orders. Now picture those complaints turning into refund requests, chargebacks piling up, and suddenly there's a $9,000 hole that needs filling. This isn't some rare horror story—it happens more often than anyone wants to admit, and getting out requires understanding what went wrong and taking real action fast.
January 8, 2026 Miles Brucker
Dad Listening

I loaned my dad $25,000 to start a business. He bought a truck and a boat instead. How do I get my money back?

Lending money to a parent often feels safe, yet family loans carry a higher risk than most people expect, with non-repayment rates historically hovering between 14 and 20 percent. This unspoken assumption tends to follow the idea that family money is governed by family rules. When the loan was meant to launch a business, it likely felt justified, almost like an investment in a shared future. Confusion sets in quickly once that money reappears as a truck or a boat. The problem is not the purchase alone, but the realization that expectations never aligned. Before frustration takes over, slowing down and treating the situation as a financial issue that needs structure can change the entire tone.
January 6, 2026 Miles Brucker

My elderly mom’s basement tenant told neighbors he owns her house. He’s made unauthorized changes to the suite. Should I be concerned?

When a tenant begins telling neighbors that he is the building owner, the real owner needs to step in and set the record straight to prevent confusion.
January 7, 2026 Sammy Tran

A collection agency called me about my deceased dad’s credit card debt. I blocked them, but now I get calls from multiple numbers. What do I do?

If collection agencies are demanding that you pay back the debt of a deceased relatives, you need to know your rights before you do anything else.
January 7, 2026 Alex Summers
Landlord - Fb

I’m tired of managing tenants in my investment properties. Should I just hire a property manager or sell everything?

Managing rental properties sounds simple until you're dealing with midnight maintenance calls, late rent payments, and tenant disputes that eat up entire weekends. What started as a solid investment strategy can quickly turn into an exhausting second job nobody signed up for. The frustration is real, and it's pushed plenty of landlords to consider either handing the reins to a professional property manager or selling off the portfolio entirely. Both options solve the immediate headache but come with totally different financial implications and long-term consequences. Understanding what each path actually costs and delivers helps make a decision based on numbers rather than just exhaustion.
January 7, 2026 Marlon Wright
Flooded House - Fb

I bought a house only to discover the basement floods every time it rains. The seller never disclosed it. Can I sue?

Many homeowners discover problems after moving in, but hidden water issues create some of the most serious financial stress. A basement that floods during rain can damage property, lead to mold growth, weaken a home’s structure, and reduce a property’s market value. When a seller fails to disclose a known flooding problem, it raises questions about legal responsibility. Every state requires sellers to follow certain disclosure rules, and many require sellers to report any known water intrusion. Because laws vary, the best approach involves understanding what counts as “known”, what counts as “concealed”, and what legal options become available when a seller keeps problems quiet.
January 7, 2026 Marlon Wright
Investment - Fb

I invested $8,000 in my friend’s “luxury candle business.” Now she’s ghosted me and posting vacations on Instagram. What are my options?

A friend launches a small business, and you decide to help because the idea sounds promising and the friendship feels strong. You hand over money with the hope that the business will grow, and you trust the person behind it even more than the plan. Then the updates slow down, while your friend seems to vanish from every conversation that involves the investment. Meanwhile, her social media shows sunny beach photos and pricey resorts that feel wildly out of sync with the story you were told. Well, that’s an uncomfortable place to stand. Luckily, there are practical paths forward; each one starts with understanding your true position.
January 7, 2026 Marlon Wright

Money Mistakes Baby Boomers Tried To Warn Millennials About—But They Didn’t Listen

Baby boomers didn’t always explain money well—but many of their warnings came from hard-earned mistakes. To millennials, that advice often sounded outdated, annoying, or incomprehensible in a Charlie Brown–teacher sort of way. Now, a lot of millennials are realizing—usually mid-budget crisis—that those warnings weren’t totally wrong after all.
January 6, 2026 Jesse Singer

We're getting ready to sell our home, but my in-laws said the outdated kitchen will scare off buyers. Do we really need to renovate before selling?

You're looking to sell your home, but the kitchen and some of the other rooms are looking dated. Does it make sense to renovate before putting the house on the market?
January 6, 2026 Sasha Wren