Social Security recipients are usually already working on a shoestring budget. However, policy shifts from the Trump administration mean those monthly funds could shrink due to a pair of new(ish) benefit offsets – one that is already taking a bite out of checks, and another looming on the horizon.
That means people could be looking at smaller monthly payments. Keep reading to find out what is being proposed and whether or not it could impact your Social Security payments. Continue reading
The first inflation report under new Federal Reserve chief Kevin Warsh shows consumer prices in April were at their highest level in almost three years.
The personal consumption expenditures price index — the Fed’s preferred inflation measure — rose last month at an annual rate of 3.8%, the Commerce Department reported on Thursday. That’s up from 3.5% in March and 2.8% from February, and the highest since May 2023. Continue reading
The US debt surpassed $31.27 trillion, exceeding the country’s $31.22 trillion in GDP. This represents a debt-to-GDP ratio of 100.2%, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, compiled by the Committee on a Responsible Federal Budget and released in April. This level is well above the historical average. Debt-to-GDP ratios, in principle, are not a cause for concern, but other economic conditions in the US aggravate the situation. Continue reading
The price of gold has been consistently rising for so long that even savvy investors may have missed something in recent months – a considerable decline in the precious metal’s price.
In fact, the price of gold per ounce is down close to 20% from its January peak. Now priced at $4,510.96 per ounce, according to Priority Gold, the precious metal is worth around $1,000 less than it was earlier in 2026, when it was selling at $5,589.38 for the same amount.
While multiple factors have contributed to that decline, the reality is that this opportunity to get invested at a more affordable price may not last very long. So it’s important that investors who have yet to get started with the metal, as well as those who want to boost their holdings, take advantage while they still can. Continue reading
There are pools of capital in the world so large that they cannot be parked just anywhere.
Pension funds, foreign governments and central banks, giant commercial banks – they are collectively sitting on tens of trillions of dollars worth of capital that they have to invest in a safe, stable asset.
The stock market doesn’t really work – it’s far too volatile. Real estate doesn’t really work either – it’s not liquid.
That is where the bond market comes in: it’s both massive (far larger than the stock market), so it can absorb enormous flows of capital. And it’s highly liquid. This allows large investors to quickly move huge sums of money in/out of the bond market. Continue reading
Americans, living in what is called the richest nation on earth, seem always to be short of money. Wives are working in unprecedented numbers, husbands hope for overtime hours to earn more, or take part-time jobs evenings and weekends, children look for odd jobs for spending money, the family debt climbs higher, and psychologists say one of the biggest causes of family quarrels and breakups is “arguments over money.” Much of this trouble can be traced to our present “debt-money” system.
Too few Americans realize why Christian Statesmen wrote into Article I of the U.S. Constitution: Congress shall have the Power to Coin Money and Regulate the Value Thereof.
Henry VIII probably thought he was being extremely clever when he started debasing his currency in 1544… and assumed that, if he reduced the silver content slowly and gradually enough, perhaps no one would notice.
But the King was hilariously wrong.
Despite centuries of warfare, invasions, and plagues, English rulers prior to Henry had been remarkably disciplined in maintaining 92.5% silver in their coins. Continue reading
“To hold a coin or medal produced by the Mint is to connect to the founding principles of our nation,” the U.S. Mint declares. That is a lie. In 1985 Congress passed a law prohibiting the Mint from making coins and bullion bars from foreign gold because it wanted to divorce that process from human rights abuses like South African apartheid practices.
An investigation team of reporters from the New York Times, Justin Scheck, Simón Posada, and Federico Rios, have exposed the Mint scam in an article published on 27 April. Much of my data here is taken from that article. Continue reading
What if electricity was once free – and widely available – before the modern grid took over? Some theories suggest that before 1900, power systems operated very differently, possibly allowing energy to be accessed without the billing structures we know today.
In this video, we explore the idea that early electrical systems may have been more open and experimental, before large-scale infrastructure and private control reshaped how energy is distributed and paid for. From early inventions to the rise of centralized grids, something clearly changed.
We dive into the history of electrification, the key figures involved, and how control over energy shifted into the hands of a few powerful entities. Was this simply progress and standardization – or did it mark the end of a very different way of accessing power?
If you’re fascinated by hidden history, energy systems, and theories that challenge what we’ve been taught, this video is for you.
California Farmers to Destroy 420,000 Peach Trees After Del Monte Collapses
Officials say cutting 50,000 tons of peaches from production could prevent $30m in losses for farmers
Central California peach farmers are preparing to destroy around 420,000 clingstone peach trees afterDel Monte Foods shut down its canneries earlier this year.
Del Monte, the 139-year-old canned fruit and vegetable company, permanently closed its canneries in Modesto and Hughson in April following a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing last July.
The closures left hundreds of workers without jobs and devastated growers, many of whom lost 20-year contracts with Del Monte and had few alternative buyers for their crops. Farmers could face an estimated $550 million in lost revenue… (Continue to full article)
Back in 1980, Groceries Were Cheap — Here’s How Prices Compare Today
Walking into a grocery store in 1980 felt wildly different from today’s wallet-bruising experience. A gallon of milk cost around $1.60, a loaf of bread hovered near 50 cents, and ground beef often sold for less than $2 per pound. Families could fill a shopping cart without mentally calculating whether cereal or paper towels needed to wait until next payday. Bright orange price stickers and old-school paper coupons made grocery shopping feel less like financial strategy and more like a routine errand.
Fast-forward to today, and grocery receipts can trigger instant regret before the bags even hit the kitchen counter. Inflation, supply chain issues, labor costs, climate disruptions, and changing consumer habits pushed prices sharply upward over the decades.
Milk and Bread tell the whole story…. (Continue to full article)
Are Rare Coins Worth the Investment for Retirees in 2026?
A stash of rare gold coins
Coin collecting can be a fun hobby for retirees who are old enough to remember what it was like to walk around with coins jangling in your pocket or purse.
Whether they make a good investment depends on many factors — including what you’re willing to spend. Here’s a look at whether rare coins are worth the investment for retirees in 2026.
For another, gold and silver prices have hit record highs in recent months. This usually bodes well for coin collectors, according to Cristiano Bierrenbach, executive vice president of international numismatics at Heritage Auctions.
While rare coin investments can lead to tidy profits for some collectors, they also pose challenges for retirees.
The rarest coins are very expensive, which means you need a certain amount of wealth to afford them. In addition, rare coins tend to make better long-term than short-term investments — and seniors on fixed budgets are more geared towards short-term investments.
But those challenges have eased a bit in 2026… (Continue to full article)
10 Dimes That Are Worth Way More Than 10 Cents
There are an array of ways to make extra money online, from selling your vintage clothing, furniture, and toys to offering freelance services like writing or graphic design. You may also be able to make serious money off coins you already have in your change drawer by way of reselling valuable collectible coins.
Some rare coins have been known to sell for hundreds (even thousands) of dollars. So, check your change drawer, look between the couch cushions, and dump your wallet to look for these 10 dimes.
While it’s rare to find a dime or any coin worth thousands of dollars, it does happen. Carefully assessing the coins you have in your change jar could be a surprisingly simple way to eliminate some money stress.
…and there are numerous examples in this article – YOU may have one or two!!! (Continue to full article)
The “Quantum Ledger”: Why Central Banks are Quietly Migrating Gold Reserves Before June 2026
Something significant has been happening in the world’s gold vaults, and it hasn’t made many front pages. Central banks across Europe, Asia, and the emerging world have been quietly but systematically pulling their physical gold out of foreign custody and moving it closer to home. The pace of this shift, and the reasons driving it, tell a story that goes far beyond routine reserve management.
Two converging forces are at work right now: a real and documented wave of gold repatriation driven by geopolitical caution, and a quieter but parallel effort by the financial system to future-proof its infrastructure against quantum-era threats. Neither story, on its own, fully explains what’s happening. Together, they reshape how we think about sovereign money in 2026.
The Great Gold Homecoming: By the Numbers… (Continue to full article)
The Oldest Store Of Value Is Leaving The US In Record Numbers
The top U.S. export in the last few months has not been oil, or AI, or any other headline-grabbing product, but rather gold. The oldest store of value, export value, has surged, shifting the composition of exports and raising questions about the ultimate destination of the metal.
The surge in exports, arguably, reflects the weakening confidence in traditional financial systems toward the safety of the oldest monetary metal. Investors and institutions, including central banks, increasingly favor physical gold over paper assets, moving large quantities of metal out of American vaults.
The scale of the movement is historic. In February alone, U.S. gold exports reached $17.88 billion, the highest monthly total recorded in at least two decades and likely the highest ever.
Precious metals accounted for roughly 12.7% of all U.S. exports during the first two months of 2026, nearly triple the historical norm of around 4.5%.
High prices are only part of the explanation. Gold had its strongest annual performance since 1979 last year as investors sought protection from political instability, inflation concerns, and financial volatility… (Continue to full article)
Gold And Silver Reach Highest Prices In Weeks Amid Iran Peace Hopes
Gold and silver prices are approaching their highest levels in months, a surge some analysts have attributed to falling oil prices, a softening dollar and hopes the United States and Iran will strike a deal to end the war.
The price of silver is $81.50 as of 9:15 a.m., up nearly 6% but slightly down from an intraday high of $82.24.
The price of gold is up more than 1% as of 9:15 a.m., reaching a price of $4,741.70, but slightly back from a high of $4,763.60 earlier in the day…. (Continue to full article)
Couple Finds a Gold Nugget Measuring 7.5 Inches Across and Weighing More Than 9 Pounds
They were just out for a little adventure with a metal detector. Few imagined that a casual pastime would lead to an astonishing item destined for auction.
This enormous piece, famously labeled the Golden Beauty, was discovered in 1979 by John and Frances Aggiss in the Kalgoorlie Goldfields of Western Australia.
It is now on display for interested collectors and enthusiasts, with an opening bid that has already reached $400,000.
This piece of gold measures nearly 7.5 inches across and weighs more than 9 pounds. It ended up in a private Swiss collection after its discovery and has retained a legendary status among experts… (Continue to full article)
Gold, Silver Spike In Precious Metals Rally As Iran War Cooling Sends Oil Prices Lower
Gold and silver prices climbed higher in the overnight session heading into Wednesday, as a weaker U.S. dollar amid geopolitical uncertainty in the Middle East has once again boosted demand for precious metals.
Spot gold climbed more than 2% to $4,650.33 per ounce at the time of writing, while silver climbed more than 4% to breach the $75 per ounce mark, extending a historic rally that has already pushed precious metals to record highs in 2026.
The uptick in precious metals comes after U.S. President Donald Trump said that the country had temporarily paused “Project Freedom,” Washington’s efforts to escort stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Oil prices declined after the announcement, with Brent crude futures dipping nearly 2% and WTI crude futures expiring down 1.60%… (Continue to full article)
Man Grabs Shovel to Start Pool Project, Digs Up $800,000 Reward: ‘Treasure Belongs to the One Who Finds It’
In 2025, a man digging a hole for a swimming pool in his garden uncovered a massive gold treasure worth $800,000. This incredible discovery happened in the eastern French town of Neuville-sur-Saone.
The subterreanean stash included five gold bars and many coins. After making the discovery in May, the man did the right thing and immediately informed local authorities. The local council later confirmed that he was allowed to keep the gold because it did not originate from an archaeological site.
It is honestly a dream scenario for any homeowner. Police investigated the find and determined that the gold had been acquired legally. They believe it was melted down at a nearby refinery roughly 15 or 20 years ago. Because the gold bars featured unique numbers that police could trace, they were able to verify that the items had not been stolen… (Continue to full article)
