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Live a richer life.
Authors
Vawn Himmelsbach
Vawn Himmelsbach

Vawn Himmelsbach

Contributor

Vawn Himmelsbach is a veteran journalist who covers tech, business, finance and travel. Her work has been featured in publications such as The Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, National Post, CBC News, Yahoo Finance, MSN, CAA Magazine, Travelweek, Explore Magazine and Consumer Reports.

Beyond journalism, she has written content for major consulting and tech firms globally. Earlier in her career, she spent three years as an Asian correspondent, including a stint editing in China. When not moderating industry panels or lecturing, Vawn travels extensively—from old Tbilisi to the ancient Guge Kingdom in Tibet. A personal highlight was publishing a short story in the anthology Emails From India: Women Write Home.

Their Top Finance Tip Once we understand the role our emotions play in managing money, we can start making better decisions.

Vawn Himmelsbach's Expertise

An EV charges at an EVgo electric charger in California.

Auto • Apr 06

Electric cars look tempting as gas prices skyrocket from the Iran war. Should you switch to an EV or wait it out?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Middle-aged couple smiling next to new car at dealership.

Auto • Mar 02

Car buyers are paying $1K extra to avoid haggling. These negotiating tactics could save you big money on your next car

By Vawn Himmelsbach
You’ll want to steer clear of these pricey car brands.

Auto • Dec 18

Automotive pros warn against buying these 5 luxury car models. Are you eyeing 1 of them?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
President Donald Trump has bipartisan support for his proposal to cap credit card interest rates at 10%.

Credit Cards • Feb 24

Congress is mulling credit card reforms that could hit your loyalty rewards. Why to redeem (and not hoard) your points

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Man sitting at desk while on the phone, holding a credit card in one hand and looking at the back of it.

Credit Cards • Feb 20

Millions of Americans are trapped in credit card debt. Here's why asking for a lower interest rate is worth a try

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Your credit card rewards are shrinking

Credit Cards • Nov 03

You're not imagining things — your credit card rewards are shrinking. Here’s what’s behind the alarming slide

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Group of young people discussing their salaries.

Employment • Mar 17

Who knows your annual salary (other than your boss)? Why talking about it can help secure your financial future

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Reese Witherspoon posted an inspirational message on her Instagram.

Employment • Mar 16

Reese Witherspoon's advice offers hope in the bleak 2026 job market — what she says to chase instead of your dreams

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Experts are calling this job market "frozen" because there's very little hiring or firing.

Employment • Feb 26

‘Reverse recruiting’: With employment at a standstill, job seekers are paying recruiters to find their next gig

By Vawn Himmelsbach
For certain life events, liquid assets are essential.

Loans • Nov 27

Washington money writer can afford to pay off his student loans, but he won't. How to know if his logic works for you

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Dave Ramsey explains to a caller why he needs to pay back a $10,000 loan that he took out from his uncle.

Loans • Oct 30

Houston man’s uncle loaned him $10K — but the funds came from fraud. Dave Ramsey says he still owes the money back

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Man speaking in video (left), a calculation on piece of paper (right).

Loans • Sep 13

Florida man reveals that he still owes $100 more than original student loan after years of paying — here’s why

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An elderly couple welcomes the next generation to their home.

Real Estate • Sep 17

Boomers get heat for their big homes, but this couple downsized into a 'granny pod.'  Would it work for you?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of a woman signing a will

Real Estate • Aug 10

A caregiver niece lost the family home to an absent cousin in her aunt's will — here are her real options

By Vawn Himmelsbach
San Francisco California Russian Hill colorful Victorian houses on Hyde and Broadway Streets in sunshine with abstract windows.

Real Estate • Apr 30

A Bay Area banker won't take cash for his $4.85 million estate — only Anthropic stock

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A woman hesitates to buy a new purse at a store.

Retirement • 21h ago

Wealthy and middle-class retirees are scared to touch their savings — and the whole economy is suffering as a result

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Ramit Sethi speaks with a couple on his podcast

Retirement • 15664 views

Ramit Sethi tells couple earning $185K they're headed for a $12K-a-year retirement — but 6 changes could net $1.7M

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An elderly woman plays slot machines in a casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk on in New Jersey.

Retirement • Oct 09

Slot machines ring more on Social Security days, WV report finds  — 1 online casino had 43M bets from about 16K players

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Dan and Carol Webster

Taxes • Apr 29

Montana couple built their dream home 21 years ago — now a 107% spike to their property taxes could push them out

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A middle-aged woman hugs her mother at home.

Taxes • Mar 14

Inherit an IRA? If you don't follow the latest tax rules, it could cost you thousands — here's how to limit the damage

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Millionaires use tax tricks many of us have never heard of to minimize their liability.

Taxes • Mar 08

Millionaires use hacks to keep more money. Here’s how you can, too — and take advantage of new tax tricks in 2026

By Vawn Himmelsbach
family

News • 15172 views

Families of 4 need $200K a year to live comfortably in the US in 2026, research shows. Are you keeping up or getting by?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
President Donald Trump boarding a plane.

News • Oct 14

Trump's DOT exempts airlines from compensating passengers for 10 more types of delays and cancellations

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Passengers disembark from a Ryanair flight on the busy airport apron while flight crew look out from the cockpit in September 2026.

News • Oct 09

Ryanair earns second-highest safety score in Europe despite passenger being partially sucked out of a window

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A sign is seen in front of a foreclosed home.

Mortgages • Aug 30

Michigan woman to dip into her $50,000 in stocks to cover her brother-in-law's unpaid HOA fees or face foreclosure

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Happy dad picking up his 3 kids from their mom's house.

Mortgages • Mar 11

I pay my ex’s mortgage to protect my kids. Will lenders count that against me?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Wondering whether to pay off your mortgage early or keep extra savings on hand? Dave Ramsey weighs in on a Boston couple's dilemma.

Mortgages • Sep 08

'Insanity': Dave Ramsey tells Boston couple to sell stocks and put $250K into their mortgage. Is that wise?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
L: Sydney Sweeney in Novig ad, R: Alex Call in dugout

Investing • 18h ago

Dodgers player wants racy playoff ads pulled — but the app Sydney Sweeney invested in says new depositors are up 362%

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Close up of teenage boy holding $100 bills outside.

Investing • Jul 18

Meet the 17-year-old who's helping his parents retire — but is it risky to put your finances in a kids hands?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Two HBM4 chips on display, along with a photo of Jim Cramer.

Investing • Jul 16

‘You don’t want to be left holding the bag’: Jim Cramer is bullish on SK Hynix, but warns of a boom-and-bust risk

By Vawn Himmelsbach
This Illinois man’s wife wants to keep $75K in a safe at home — here’s why The Ramsey Show says this is risky and what they should do instead.

Banking • Oct 18

Illinois man’s wife wants to keep $75K in a home safe — but Ramsey Show says her scarcity mindset only creates more risk

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Seemingly annoyed woman at a bank ATM.

Banking • Mar 03

After 20 years, my wife’s irrevocable trust account was locked when her trustee died. How can we access the funds?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A father and mother take their daughter to school.

Banking • Sep 26

Should you move your 529 to a Roth IRA?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
People walk along the beach looking at property damaged by Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Insurance • Oct 08

Florida homeowner dropped by her insurer says she’ll go without — even in hurricane season. How risky is ‘going bare’?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An older woman meets with her doctor.

Insurance • Aug 17

Health insurers are dropping Medicare Advantage plans — and nearly 3 million older Americans will be affected

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Eric Tennant, seen here in hospital before his death, had been a candidate for a relatively new treatment that was denied four times by his insurer.

Insurance • Apr 14

West Virginia dad dies waiting for $50,000 cancer treatment his insurer ruled 'not medically necessary'

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A businessman in a dapper suit looks at his watch while crossing the road.

Managing Money • Oct 16

Americans are taking on side hustles to pay off debt — could passive income offer a better way out?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
couple and lottery

Managing Money • Oct 16

Couple nets $475K payday off $3 scratch card — nearly a decade after winning $1.8M in Canadian lottery

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Young people sitting on couch looking at smartphone

Managing Money • Oct 03

One-third of young investors say their $492/month market contributions would vanish without family help

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Ryanair logo is seen at Krakow Airport as passengers wait for boarding in Krakow, Poland.

Life • Sep 04

Ryanair warns airfares will rise and budget carriers go bust if fuel prices stay high — what this means for your travel

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Woman on vacation beside cruise ship

Life • Aug 26

Cruises are now charging automatic tips as high as $25 per day, per person — you can get out of paying, but should you?

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of a couple at a waterpark

Life • Aug 15

Groupon's $199 mystery vacations give only 6 out of every 2,000 buyers a gold-tier trip — the rest get weekend getaways.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
More articles from Vawn Himmelsbach

Vawn's favorite resources

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Bloomberg

2

CNBC

3

Forbes

4

Fortune

5

Reuters

6

The Globe and Mail

7

The New York Times

8

The Wall Street Journal

9

The Toronto Star

10

Yahoo Finance

11

The Guardian

More from Vawn Himmelsbach

LATEST

L: Sydney Sweeney in Novig ad, R: Alex Call in dugout

Investing • 18h ago

Dodgers player wants racy playoff ads pulled — but the app Sydney Sweeney invested in says new depositors are up 362%

From a regulatory point of view, event contracts are treated more like investments, rather than gambling. But they’re not investments — and they come with a high amount of risk.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A woman hesitates to buy a new purse at a store.

Retirement • 21h ago

Wealthy and middle-class retirees are scared to touch their savings — and the whole economy is suffering as a result

Here’s how retirees can create a steady, stable stream of income in retirement, while helping boost the U.S. economy.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A businessman in a dapper suit looks at his watch while crossing the road.

Managing Money • Oct 16

Americans are taking on side hustles to pay off debt — could passive income offer a better way out?

From online businesses to income-generating assets, here's what it really takes to earn money without working more hours.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
couple and lottery

Managing Money • Oct 16

Couple nets $475K payday off $3 scratch card — nearly a decade after winning $1.8M in Canadian lottery

Playing the lottery at the expense of your retirement savings is most likely a losing proposition.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
family

News • 15172 views

Families of 4 need $200K a year to live comfortably in the US in 2026, research shows. Are you keeping up or getting by?

Americans are reproducing less these days, and one of the reasons is related to the high costs of raising a family.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
President Donald Trump boarding a plane.

News • Oct 14

Trump's DOT exempts airlines from compensating passengers for 10 more types of delays and cancellations

In light of these changes, passengers may have fewer protections than they once had. Here’s how to protect your travel plans — and your pocketbook.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Ramit Sethi speaks with a couple on his podcast

Retirement • 15664 views

Ramit Sethi tells couple earning $185K they're headed for a $12K-a-year retirement — but 6 changes could net $1.7M

A budget can help you pay down debt and save for the future — and it doesn’t have to be completely restrictive, either.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Passengers disembark from a Ryanair flight on the busy airport apron while flight crew look out from the cockpit in September 2026.

News • Oct 09

Ryanair earns second-highest safety score in Europe despite passenger being partially sucked out of a window

People assume a cheap flight means accepting safety risk, but the data doesn’t support that, industry watchers say.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An elderly woman plays slot machines in a casino on the Atlantic City Boardwalk on in New Jersey.

Retirement • Oct 09

Slot machines ring more on Social Security days, WV report finds  — 1 online casino had 43M bets from about 16K players

For those on a fixed income, a gambling addiction can be financially devastating. Here are the signs to look out for and how to get help.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
People walk along the beach looking at property damaged by Hurricane Ian on September 29, 2022 in Bonita Springs, Florida.

Insurance • Oct 08

Florida homeowner dropped by her insurer says she’ll go without — even in hurricane season. How risky is ‘going bare’?

Homeowners insurance can help you weather some of the financial storms that come along with natural disasters, but some are walking away.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Interior of the rental property after the fire.

News • Oct 08

Families sue Vrbo and Expedia after deadly vacation rental fire killed 4 — here's who actually pays

What to do before you book — and after you’ve already arrived at your destination — to keep your family safe and recoup your losses if something goes wrong.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A young woman smiling between her two older parents at a breakfast table

News • Oct 06

Higher wages help men move out of their parents' homes — but make no difference for women, Boston College study finds

For younger generations flying the coop, thinking outside the box — such as buying a home with a friend or sibling — may help them reach milestones faster.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Two older parents or grandparents help their children or children ride their bikes.

Retirement • Oct 04

A major Social Security benefit may come your way if you have kids later in life — ‘We were really floored’

If you’re an older parent or grandparent raising young children, deciding when to claim your Social Security retirement benefit becomes more complicated.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Young people sitting on couch looking at smartphone

Managing Money • Oct 03

One-third of young investors say their $492/month market contributions would vanish without family help

Financially supporting adult children while putting your own savings at risk — or going into debt over it — isn’t a long-term approach for success.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Frustrated woman driving

News • Oct 03

10-year Treasury yield hits 5.34% — a 24-year high now driving mortgage rates, car loans and your portfolio

If you’re looking to buy a home or a car, a rise in yields can impact your rate.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Seniors looking at their finances.

Retirement • Oct 02

IRS notifies Americans they could get up to $2,000 in free retirement contributions under new Saver's Match program

Many workers don’t have access to a workplace retirement savings plan. A new program could help — but there are some kinks to work out first.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
senior home and man

Retirement • Sep 30

He was supposed to get back 90% of his mother’s $400K retirement home ‘entrance fee’ — then it went bankrupt

If you’re considering moving into a continuing care retirement community in your golden years, then you’ll want to do your homework before signing on the dotted line.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
An adult man with gray hair and glasses sits outdoors in what appears to be a city setting, looking off to the side.

Retirement • Sep 28

What’s a ‘normal’ age to retire? Americans can’t decide between 4 milestones — the wrong call could cost you thousands

Choosing when to retire — and ensure you have enough money to last throughout your golden years — is a critical decision.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A photo of a financial expert explaining a concept to a client

Retirement • Sep 27

Franklin Templeton's retirement head flags the 'biggest behavioral mistake' investors make during market volatility

Moving your money to cash comes with risks, too. Here’s what to consider instead.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Group of friends having fun.

Retirement • Sep 27

Canadian doctor cracks the ‘science of a healthy, happy retirement’ — and anyone can do it

While you might be focused on your financial portfolio, don’t forget to make contributions to your ‘life’ portfolio.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
woman at work

Retirement • Sep 26

What happens to American workers who are laid off at 60 — and what to do if it happens to you

If you’re laid off in your late 50s or early 60s, finding a new job could be challenging. But retiring may not be an option, either.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
A middle-aged man sits at his kitchen table looking pensive.

Retirement • Sep 24

Americans are throwing a 'stock-fueled retirement party', but when the music stops, it's back to work

A market downturn could be particularly detrimental for new retirees unless they have a strategic plan to manage their assets throughout their retirement.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Grandparents are increasingly helping with everyday expenses like groceries.

Retirement • Sep 22

92% of grandparents give financial help to grandkids — and it's draining their retirement savings

Heed their advice or risk pushing the Bank of Gram and Gramps into a crash.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Photo of a happy couple

Retirement • Sep 20

‘Two timelines with one balance sheet’: Why big age-gap marriages can make retirement planning even more complicated

Here’s what to consider if you’re planning a staggered retirement — from healthcare costs to survivor benefits.

By Vawn Himmelsbach
Woman stares off into the distance, stressing about the future of Social Security.

Retirement • Sep 19

‘Don't quit. Keep your job': Expert says Social Security will 'go away' — and the thing to protect isn't your 401(k)

But maybe this isn’t such a bad thing, as older Americans increasingly face loneliness, social isolation and a lack of purpose.

By Vawn Himmelsbach

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