#cost-of-living

#cost-of-living

I think the reason a lot of real people watch the State of the Union is they want to know what it's going to mean to them, right? You get done with dinner, you put your kids to bed, and then you tune in to see if your president can tell you how he's going to make your life better, especially because this president has made your life worse, right?

Neither state will collect state income tax, which means any 401(k) withdrawals, IRA distributions, pension payouts, and Social Security benefits are all untouched at the state level. The advantage shared by both states is also what makes this comparison all the more interesting. If neither state takes a cut of your retirement income, then the real question isn't about your 401(k) at all.

The system is now at breaking point for graduates. I believe student loans have become a debt trap. Student loans have become a debt trap, and the system requires urgent reform to address unsustainable interest rates and unfair repayment conditions that burden graduates with excessive debt obligations.

UK inflation has fallen to 3%, its lowest level since March last year, increasing expectations that the Bank of England could begin cutting interest rates as soon as next month. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) dropped from 3.4% in December to 3% in January. The decline was driven by lower petrol prices, easing food costs and a reduction in airfares.

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

As young people bear the brunt of a downturn in the jobs market, figures show a significant number are leaving the UK. Although statisticians caution against comparing annual figures after a recent change in methodology and stress younger people are traditionally more drawn to emigration, a net 111,000 people aged 16 to 34 emigrated from the UK in the year to March 2025, according to the Office for National Statistics.

New research has revealed that 88% of the UK is struggling to cope with high living costs - equal to an estimated 48 million people nationwide. Of those in the survey, over two in five (45%) indicated that the country's high living costs are impacting them even more than last year, showing that things have been getting worse rather than better for most households' finances.

Over the past seven years, I've worked for multiple companies shipping blockchain integrations and production-grade financial infrastructure in Lagos, Amsterdam, and now Toronto. I started my career in Nigeria, where I was born and raised, and moved to Amsterdam in May 2023 after a short career break for a job as a senior software engineer. I returned to Nigeria after a year and worked until I received my Canadian work visa through my wife in October 2024.

After a day of turmoil where the Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, called for Starmer to resign, Labour MPs rallied around the prime minister after a speech in parliament. Miliband described Starmer as liberated, 24 hours after the departure of his chief of staff, Morgan McSweeney. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he hoped that the truest version of Starmer would now show itself to the country.

While we respect the ASA's decision, we fundamentally disagree with the characterisation of a campaign that critically reflects widely reported economic conditions as socially irresponsible,

Democratic Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-04) and Richard E. Neal (MA-01) even introduced a bill called the American Affordability Act, which promises to reduce housing, educational, and childcare costs with a variety of tax credits. Congressional campaign professionals have been urging candidates from coast to coast to adopt an "affordability agenda." And-for good reason-recent polling shows that the cost of living tops the list of voters' concerns.

The UK's poorest families are getting poorer, with record numbers of people classed as in very deep poverty meaning their annual household incomes fail to cover the cost of food, energy bills and clothing, according to analysis. Although overall relative poverty levels have flatlined in recent years at about 21% of the population, life for those below the breadline has got materially worse as they try to subsist on incomes many thousands of pounds beneath the poverty threshold.

Nationwide, wages have barely crept up over the last decade - rising by 21.24% between 2014 and 2024, according to the Federal Reserve. Over the same period, rent and home sale prices more than doubled, and healthcare and grocery costs rose 71.5% and 37.35%, respectively, according to the Fed. National home price-to-income ratios are at an all-time high, and coastal states like California and Hawaii are the most extreme examples.

I read with interest that mayor Mamdani was considering a baby basket scheme in New York and hope that, by sending a Scottish example, it will provide inspiration to help him to refine and develop his exciting policy. Scots share much in common with the people of New York; not least our history and heritage as celebrated every year during New York Tartan Week.

The idea of getting paid to move abroad sounds too good to be true, yet it's becoming a reality for many people. Around the world, countries and smaller regions are offering financial incentives to attract new residents. Whether it's to fight population decline, stimulate local economies, or revitalize rural towns, these programs are creating opportunities for adventurous individuals and families in 2026.

Located on the Samaná Peninsula, Las Terrenas first caught the attention of Christopher Columbus as he sailed past it's tropical shores in 1492. Hundreds of years later, French and Italian expats settled in the town, turning the once-rustic fishing village with little infrastructure into a popular destination for Europeans seeking Caribbean scenery without resort dominance along the coastline, according to International Living.

Revenue wrote to 34,000 family carers notifying them carer's allowance or carer's benefit have always been taxable and warning those who have not been declaring them as income they may face back-taxes. Payments to carers have always been subject to taxation but were previously self-declared. Under the new system, tax on income from the payments will be collected in real time, similar to other payments from the Department of Social Protection.

The governor has said for months that she plans to seek reelection, and her campaign kicked off this week with a revamped website and a splashy announcement video. "These are tough times, and Donald Trump is making everything worse," Healey said in the video. Healey highlighted actions she took in her first term: filing legislation meant to reduce energy costs, facilitating the construction of close to 100,000 new homes, capping health care deductibles and co-pays, investing in housing and services for veterans, protecting SNAP benefits, strengthening the MBTA system, and making community colleges free for some students.

However, if you're prioritizing affordability in this next chapter of your life, you'll need to narrow down your options even further. Recently, U.S. News & World Report compiled a ranking of the cheapest cities and towns for Americans to retire in 2025 and 2026, and a small city in Texas took the top spot. Based on annual housing costs for mortgage-paying homeowners and median gross rent, Eagle Pass is officially the No. 1 place in Texas-and the country-for retirees to live well on a budget.

There are cheaper rents to be found in Roscommon, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim and Cavan. But what about day-to-day costs? It's no secret that Dublin is an expensive place to live. In fact, a 2025 report by Tradingpedia found that it's the fifth most expensive capital city in Europe. But what about the other towns across Ireland? Where can you eke out a cheaper way of life, spending less on everything from your morning coffee to your yoga class?

Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum.