Rain, rain go away..... I did, somewhat belatedly turn off the sprinklers. They run so early I tend to forget about them. Our poor lawn is soaked. John and I had a productive visit down with Mom. Her bank closed their branch in her town so we helped her find a new local bank and went through the process of helping her open accounts and close out the others. Then there was the fun of notifying the direct deposits. Throw in a visit with her attorney for some estate planning and it was a productive visit. We did get to play Mexican Train a couple of evenings. I still love that game. We also watched the new Hercule Pirot movie (A Haunting in Venice). It was a dark movie on several levels, but excellent. We have stopped at Universal Studios for a couple of days to refresh before heading home and back to work.
Here is what is going on in our area this weekend:
Nosh on local seafood, sample a variety of beer and wine, enjoy live music and browse antiques and collectibles at the 40th annual Kingsland Catfish Festival. Add in 150+ vendor booths, a children’s amusement area, and it adds up to one of the area’s most popular and longest-running events! On November 18th, join locals and visitors on the streets of historic downtown Kingsland for the 40th year of the town's most beloved festival!
For more information, visit:
www.KingslandCatfishFestival.org / www.KingslandDDA.com / www.VisitKingsland.com.
Event by Molly's Old South Tours
St. Mary's Howard Gilman Memorial Waterfront Park
Tickets
mollysoldsouth.com/scoundrels-scalawags-and-speakeasies-st-marys-founding-anniversary-tour
Murderers and bigamists, spies and perpetrators of fraud.
These were St. Marys’ founders! As we celebrate the town’s founding over 200 years ago this month, stroll St. Marys’ quaint streets named after its founders and discover the escapades of these colorful men. You will never view the streets of St. Marys the same way again!
Then, end up at a local speakeasy for special wine the founders would have drunk offered exclusively to our tour guests!
Date
Friday, November 17
Time
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Price
$20 per adult, $10 per child
Starting Location
Oak Grove Cemetery
Gate at Bryant and Bartlett Sts.
Ending Location
Seagle’s Restaurant
105 Osborne St.
St. Marys, Georgia
*Wine not included in price of tour
It's been too long, St. Marys! Come on out and listen to all your favorites!
November 17, 7-10pm
Sweet Luncheonette LLC
Tickets
www.sweet-luncheonette.com/event-details/sweet-sundaez-mimosas-and-gourmet-grazing-2023-11-19-12-00
Sunday 12:30
Delight your ever-present friend with a meaningful experience - show your appreciation today!
You can either make new connections or enjoy some alone time in a stylish manner.
Why You Can't-Miss This:
Sip and Celebrate: Dive into the world of bubbly delight with our premium mimosas
Gourmet Grazing: Indulge in our artisanal grazing boards featuring fine cheeses, charcuterie, and mouth-watering pastries.
Network with Style: Meet new people and expand your network in a sophisticated atmosphere.
A Moment for Yourself: Recharge your spirit and start your upcoming week on a high note.
Spaces are limited, so please book your ticket today to make sure you're at this unique event and transform your Sunday.
Diamond D Ranch
COVID-19 health and safety requirements:
Outdoors
Learn more about COVID-19 guidelines
Tickets
www.diamonddranchinc.com/copy-of-diamonds-in-the-rust-market
Drive to the rural side of Jacksonville and savor the country roads along the way.
Bring your friends and come shop some of the South's favorite vendors, located in our beautiful barns pavilions and under the shaded oak hammocks. Come discover your newest fall finds. There will be one-of-a-kind pickins’ such as vintage treasures, farmhouse finds, home décor, re-loved furniture, handcrafted items, unique relics, antiques, tasty treats, unique gifts, and more. Our show is a unique shopping experience that you and your shopping gals and pals won’t want to skip out on.
PARKING
- We have complimentary parking with shuttles that will take you to and from the entrance gates.
- We also have VIP parking for $20. Don't worry about trying to lug your bags around all day. VIP is located near the front door of our market and allows you close-up access. It is convenient for dropping your bags off while shop.
- We allow up to 13 passenger vehicles in the VIP parking lot. This does not include admission. Carpool to save!
- Handicap parking is available, PERMIT REQUIRED.
CHILDREN
- Children under 12 years old are FREE ADMISSION.
- There are several children's activities available for $10 for children 10yr & under - (includes: pony rides, bounce houses, and animal meet & greet). Only available Saturday and Sunday.
TICKETS
All admission tickets are available online and at the gate. Buy your tickets ahead of time and skip the line.
$15 -FIRST FINDS FRIDAY- This is Friday's admission. Be the first to shop the best pickins'! Get in all three days! Take a picture in front of the Diamond in the Rust photo booth, inside the market on Friday, and show at the gate for FREE entry on Saturday and Sunday. Please have your photo ready and visible. The ticket is only scan-able for Friday 11/17/2023.
$10- SATURDAY ADMISSION- Get both Saturday and Sunday! Take a picture in front of the Diamond in the Rust photo booth, inside the market on Friday, and show at the gate for FREE entry on Saturday and Sunday. Please have your photo ready and visible. The ticket is only scan-able for Saturday 11/18/2023
$10 -SUNDAY ADMISSION- Ticket is only scan-able for Sunday 11/19/2023
Tax included in ticket pricing.
FOOD
You will want to arrive at the market hungry. Don't miss munching with the fabulous food vendors.
LOADING
There will be a designated loading zone for you to self-load your large purchased items. Ask about renting a pack mule.
PLEASE NOTE
- No PETS - Service Animals Only
- ATM are available at the front gate and inside market
- Some vendors may only accept cash.
- NO alcohol is permitted
- Security will be present at all times
- You could be on Camera
First Baptist Church St. Marys
Giving thanks for all of our blessings just got easier! When you are surrounded by great friends, food, and followers of Jesus, how can you not be thankful?
Children, kindergarten-5th grade, are welcome to join us for crafts, movie, pizza, and fellowship! Children 4 and under are welcome to join the fun, but a parent/guardian must remain with them at all times!
We will be watching “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving” and celebrating all of the things we’re thankful for!
Kids are encouraged to bring friends!
If you have any questions or want to learn how you can help, please reach out to Sarah Nelson at 727-312-8566 (texts are preferred).
This is a FREE event.
Register online here:
https://onrealm.org/fbcstmarys/PublicRegistrations/Event...
Thank you and God Bless
Southern Saint Boutique
3rd Annual Pink Friday
|shop small before all the box stores|
:Never Before Seen New Arrivals On Deep Sales
:Doorbusters
:Swag Bags
:Giveaways
...more details to come!
Make it a girls night and invite your friends to come shop with us for this special event!
#shopsmallfirst
#pinkfriday
NOVEMBER 15, 2023
Many Adults Can’t Afford a House After a Spouse Dies
By Liz Weston
The “widow penalty” hurts a surviving spouse by cutting benefits, including Social Security. And widows, many times, can’t afford to keep their home.
NEW YORK – After a spouse dies, the survivor often ends up paying higher taxes on less income – something known by accountants and financial planners as the “widow’s penalty,” because women typically outlive their husbands.
Couples who know what’s coming often can take steps to soften the penalty’s effect, but too many don’t think far enough ahead, says Barbara O’Neill, a certified financial planner and educator in Ocala, Florida.
“A lot of people just underestimate what the impact will be financially,” O’Neil says.
Incomes plunge but expenses may not
A spouse’s death often leads to a substantial drop in income. Wages or salary typically end if the deceased spouse was still working, and many people don’t have enough life insurance to replace that loss.
If a couple is retired and receiving Social Security, the benefit amount can drop by one third to one half. The survivor gets the larger of the two checks the couple received, and the smaller benefit goes away. If the deceased spouse received pension or annuity payments, the survivor may get a reduced amount or nothing at all, depending on what payout option the couple chose.
The income decline may be offset by lower expenses, such as reduced bills for groceries or auto insurance for one vehicle instead of two, says O’Neill, author of “Flipping a Switch: Your Guide to Happiness and Financial Security in Later Life.” But some expenses could go up. The survivor may hire help to perform some of the chores the deceased previously handled, for example. Or they may want to subscribe to a medical alert service now that they’re living alone, she says.
And then there are the tax bills.
Taxes and Medicare premiums can change after a death
A surviving spouse can use the favorable “married filing jointly” status in the year their partner dies, as long as the survivor doesn’t remarry before the year ends. After that, survivors without dependent children are typically forced to use the less favorable “single” filing status.
The standard deduction for a married couple – $27,700 in 2023 – is twice that of a single person. Plus, taxpayers who are married filing jointly can have taxable income up to $89,450 and remain in the 12% federal tax bracket. That bracket ends at $44,725 for single filers. The next tax bracket is 22%.
Survivors receiving Social Security can find that more of their benefit gets taxed. Up to 85% of Social Security benefits are taxable if “combined income” – adjusted gross income, plus nontaxable interest, plus half of Social Security benefits – exceeds $44,000 for a couple. For a single person, the limit is $34,000.
Survivors on Medicare might see their premiums rise, thanks to a surcharge known as the income-related monthly adjustment amount, or IRMAA. The surcharge is based on the tax return from two years prior. So couples with incomes over $194,000 on their 2021 tax returns faced a surcharge in 2023 that ranged from $65.90 to $395.60 per month. The surcharges kicked in for singles when their income exceeded $97,000.
Planning can help reduce the penalty
Couples can help reduce the survivor’s penalty by adding tax-free sources of income, financial planners say. Life insurance – which can provide tax-free proceeds to the survivor – is one option, but buying a sufficiently large policy may not be affordable for older people, O’Neill notes. Another possibility is having at least some money in tax-free accounts, such as Roth IRAs and health savings accounts, so survivors can better manage their tax bills.
If most of the couple’s savings is in traditional retirement accounts, such as regular IRAs and 401(k)s, couples could consider converting at least some of the funds to a Roth IRA while they still enjoy favorable married filing jointly rates, says (18) Marianela Collado, chief executive of Tobias Financial Advisors in Plantation, Florida.
Many people balk at paying the income taxes conversions require, not realizing the tax situation could be worse for the survivor, says Collado, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ personal financial planning executive committee.
Conversions not only would increase the pool of tax-free money the survivor could draw on, but also reduce any future required minimum withdrawals the survivor might otherwise face. Required minimum withdrawals typically must start at age 73 for traditional IRAs, 401(k)s and other non-Roth retirement plans.
A series of partial conversions over several years could spread out the tax bill, Collado says. Consider getting tax advice before proceeding, however, since conversions could push you into a higher tax bracket and affect other aspects of your finances, including Medicare premiums or Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
It's a good idea to know your credit score. The better your credit, the better the lending terms you'll receive if and when you decide to apply for a mortgage or mortgage refinance.
You should be aware of what information is on your credit report by obtaining and reviewing copies of your credit report from the three main credit report agencies:
Equifax
www.equifax.com
1.888.766.0008
TransUnion
www.transunion.com
1.800.888.4213
Experian
www.experian.com
1.888.397.3742
How Does Your Score Rate?
Remember that there are several factors that affect your credit report including your payment history, your current ratio of debt to income and signs of responsibility and stability. And since not all creditors report to all three agencies, it's best to order a report from all three institutions.
Your goal in ordering all three credit reports is to make sure that all of the information stated on each report is accurate and correct.
Cathy Holman
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hodnett Cooper RE
717-801-5900
912-673-7373
cathy@holmansellhomes.com
HolmanSellHomes.com
If you have a brokerage relationship with another agency, this is not intended as a solicitation. All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. ©2022 BHH Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate. Equal Housing Opportunity.