By Mike DuBose
I read a good bit and often come across interesting facts that might be helpful:
Top Tier 1 high-quality gasoline contains detergents which extend a car engine’s life, increases miles-per-gallon, and improves performance. Suppliers include Costco (exceptionally low prices), Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell. Check tire pressures every 60 days to reduce excessive wear and increase MPG by 15%. Your car’s pressure info is located inside the driver’s door panel. Consider buying hybrid cars with turbocharged engines which alternate between batteries and gasoline. Our Toyota RAV4 averages 40 city MPG!
Lowest-priced food stores are Aldi, Walmart, and Food Lion. Enroll in other brand memberships and apps to receive coupons/discount alerts. Look for weekly specials “Buy-One-Get-One-Free” promotions. However, stores may inflate prices to deceive you into thinking you’re getting good deals. Seniors receive an extra 5% discount at stores, like Publix, on Wednesday. Savvy shoppers report they save the most by following different stores’ weekly sales.
Cosco has the lowest-priced, premium prescription glasses. Visit your eye doctor or Cosco for an exam, obtain a written prescription, and buy your glasses for half price!
To support a relative’s college or technical school costs, even if they’re currently in school, invest in Family 529 College Savings Funds. South Carolina Future Scholar program allows residents to claim tax deductions for contributions. Online enrollment is easy and multiple family members can donate to a single account.
If you turn 73 years old in 2024 (or older), taxable Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) from IRA’s/401k’s are mandated beginning in 2025. However, request your financial institution holding the IRA/401k account to transfer donations directly to non-profit charities “without being taxed.” Checks are payable to non-profits but can be mailed to you for delivery.
Whole House Surge Protectors can extend the life of your home or business equipment and prevent fires. Contact local utility or electric companies for installation ($300). Attach surge protectors to each electrical appliance (Belkin and Tripp Lite available on Amazon are recommended).
Social Security recipients will receive an estimated 2.7% Cost of Living Increase in 2026.
Tired of aggravating calls and texts? Visit our non-profit website for details but install the Federal Trade Commission’s winner app “Nomorobo” ($25 annual fee) which blocks 12-million unwanted sources reaching my smartphone! Cellphone companies have Spam filters that can be downloaded to your phone. I eliminated 95% of the thieves, spammers, sellers, and suspicious calls and texts! Don’t respond to calls or texts you don’t recognize.
When you hear thunder, seek cover! On a cloudless day, 20 swimmers were struck by lightning in Lake Murray. In a recent study, “one bolt of lightning” measuring 515 miles long in a Mega Storm streaked across the US!
The Great Wall of China, one of the seven wonders of the world, expands 13,000 miles and took 2,000 years to build!
August is the best time to buy next year’s summer clothing with the lowest discounts.
For vino lovers, did you know it takes 700 grapes to make one bottle of wine?
German chocolate cake was invented by an American named Samual German.
If you look at the gas pump icon on your car’s fuel gauge, it points to the side where your gasoline cap is situated. This becomes useful if you own cars with different fuel input locations.
Zebras are black animals with white stripes.
Most sharks live about 30 years whereas Greenland species’ lifespan is 250+ years.
When purchasing new or used cars, avoid “trading in your automobile” with dealers. Instead, visit Kelly Blue Book’s website www.kbb.com, insert your car’s data/options, and select “Private Seller” for highest pricing. Then, go to www.carmax.com and enter your details to compare offers. We sold several cars to CarMax and were pleased with quoted prices. After scheduling an appointment with the local CarMax dealer, there was no haggling upon delivery, and we were paid within an hour.
Many have asked what’s included in Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”? It contains hundreds of costly provisions in the 974-page bill and experts predict the Act will cost more than $3 trillion to implement! The following are some key points: (1) Businesses can write off 100% of most equipment and small, pass-through firms, like Limited Liability Companies, can deduct 20% of their taxable profits; (2) Medicaid and Food stamps for the poor will be significantly reduced by 20% with work requirements; (3) Student loans will likely experience higher monthly payments, or reduced/eliminated; (4) Taxpayers who claim standard tax deductions without itemizing will see new amounts of $15,750 (singles) and $31,500 (couples) and can deduct $2,000 for charitable contributions. New senior additional deductions include $6,000 (singles) and $12,000 (couples) and those spouses 65+ filing jointly may deduct a whopping $46,700 after new tax inclusions; (5) Tips and overtime won’t be taxed for filers with incomes under $25,000 (singles) and 50,000 (couples); (6) Property taxes can be deducted up to $40,000; (7) New, “US-assembled” personal automobile loan interest is tax deductible; (8) Tax credits for electric cars (up to $7,500) and home solar panels (30%) will end December 31, 2025. If you’re thinking about solar in South Carolina, consider www.southeastsolarpros.com; (9) Babies born 2025-2028 will receive $1,000 tax-free government-funded investments and parents can donate $5,000 to their accounts; and, (10) The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) insurance premiums will increase in 2026.
Some parts of the Beautiful Act are attractive, but others are wasteful, limited, have income ceilings, and expire in a few years. Consult with tax professionals to ensure eligibility.
Hope you enjoyed these tidbits of information! More to come.
Mike voluntarily authors these articles for 5 newspapers to fulfill his purpose “Creating opportunities to improve lives.” Visit his nonprofit website www.mikedubose.com and register to receive his monthly articles or Daily Thoughts plus free access to his books, including “The Art of Building Great Businesses.” The website includes 100+ published articles he has written on business, travel, and personal topics, in addition to health research with Surb Guram, MD,
Allison Cashman, MD, and David Hurst, DMV
