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If you’re planning to downsize and fund your golden years with the equity in your home, you might want to check the calendar. It turns out that when it comes to real estate, timing isn’t just about the market — it’s about your age. A recent study suggests that once a seller hits 70, the price they get for their home starts to drop. And it’s not a small dip. By the time a seller reaches 80, they’…

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Most people treat the price tag like it’s a law of nature. It’s not. In most cases, that number is just a suggestion—a “starting point” for the conversation. If you’re not negotiating your recurring bills, your big-ticket purchases, and even your medical expenses, you’re essentially leaving a pile of cash on the sidewalk. I’ve spent years haggling over everything from hotel rooms to hospital…

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Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links within this article, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend. Mark and Sarah stared at a number that made their stomachs turn: $42,500. They weren’t reckless. But life, a roof repair here, tuition there had turned their balances into a suffocating weight. “We didn’t have an…