Good morning. Some of the biggest leaks in your finances aren't dramatic — they're the number that looks safe on paper, the cash that isn't earning anything, the price nobody thought to compare. Today's stories are about what you miss when you don't look twice.
On The Money Today:
Why hitting your retirement "number" may not guarantee the income you're picturing
The hidden cost of keeping too much cash sitting in your checking account
One couple's medical bill dropped by more than $1,800 after a few phone calls
Let's get into it.
That $1.46 million "magic number" everyone's chasing assumes it's all sitting in cash, ready to spend. Most people's money isn't. Half of it's likely tied up in the house, which means your real withdrawal pool is smaller than you think, and the number that felt safe on paper suddenly doesn't stretch nearly as far. So how much do you really need?
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH Arrived
Rental properties have long been a proven source of steady, passive income, but the time, effort and cost of managing them can be a deterrent for many.
Backed by billionaire investor Jeff Bezos, Arrived lets you invest in shares of rental homes and vacation rentals for as little as $100, without the hassle of property management.
That means no maintenance issues, tenant complaints or operational headaches, just the potential for consistent income and portfolio diversification with minimal effort
The average American family keeps over $62,000 sitting in a checking account earning next to nothing, while inflation quietly eats away at its value every year. That gap between what your bank pays you and what prices are actually rising by adds up fast. There's a simple move that closes it without touching your safety net.
Stacy Cox and her husband lost ACA subsidies and switched to a high-deductible plan, then got hit with a bill that felt less like healthcare and more like a shakedown. A few phone calls later, they found the exact same scan for a fraction of the price, 90 minutes away. The price of the same test can swing by thousands depending only on where you walk in.
MONEY IQ
Roughly what percentage of Americans have skipped a doctor's visit or medical test in the last year because of the cost?
ALSO MAKING THE ROUNDS TODAY
BUDGETING: A new QR code trick has already cost California utility customers $211,000 this year alone
RETIREMENT: Suze Orman says popular Social Security advice is pushing people into a mistake they can never undo
MONEY IQ ANSWER: HOW DID YOU DO?
The answer is C) 30%. A November 2025 West Health-Gallup survey found that about a third of U.S. adults put off medical care over the past year because of what it would cost them. Gallup has tracked this question since 1991, and the rate climbs even higher in states like Texas, Montana and Alaska, where over 4 in 10 reported doing the same.
That's a wrap for today! Before you go, we'd love to know what you thought of today's newsletter. Hit REPLY if you have more to share — we read every one.
See you soon with another quick roundup of the financial news that matters.
