MONEY: MAXIMIZE YOUR BENEFITS TO OFFSET INFLATION
AppleMagazine|AppleMagazine #575
Employee benefits are one of the most attractive things about a prospective job and can determine whether you take an opportunity or leave it. When you do decide to take the job, do you maximize the benefits?
MONEY: MAXIMIZE YOUR BENEFITS TO OFFSET INFLATION

If not, you may be leaving money on the table. And in this time of high inflation, you need all the cash you can get to offset rising prices.

In the spirit of focusing on what you can control, let’s talk about employee benefits and how you may be able to use them to your advantage during these uncertain times.

KNOW YOUR BENEFITS

Before you can maximize your employee benefits, you have to know what they are, says Samantha Gorelick, a certified financial planner at Brunch and Budget, a financial consulting firm based in New York City.

“A lot of people don’t actually know how much their employer will match, or what their employer even offers in terms of 401(k)s, contributions to (a health savings account) or (a flexible spending account), or even short-term, long-term disability,” she says.

Gorelick says knowing what you have access to can affect your financial situation.

FYI, this also happens to be open enrollment season for some companies, so it’s a great time to understand your benefits better. Open enrollment provides a limited window for you to opt into the benefits you may not be receiving, evaluate your plan and its costs, and opt out of benefits you may no longer need. It usually takes place between October and January, depending on your company.

THINK ABOUT HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

Assessing your healthcare options isn’t always the most glamorous task, but it can have financial perks.

For instance, if you realize you haven’t used many healthcare services in the past year and you’re relatively healthy, contributing to a healthcare FSA or HSA may be more cost-effective than paying a high monthly premium.

This story is from the AppleMagazine #575 edition of AppleMagazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the AppleMagazine #575 edition of AppleMagazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM APPLEMAGAZINEView All
UBER TEAMS UP WITH WAYMO TO START SELLING DRIVERLESS RIDES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS
AppleMagazine

UBER TEAMS UP WITH WAYMO TO START SELLING DRIVERLESS RIDES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

Uber shifted gears in Austin, Texas, earlier this week, launching a landmark service that lets riders hail driverless cars through its app, thanks to a partnership with Waymo, the autonomous vehicle arm of Google’s parent company, Alphabet.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 07, 2025
Invites A HANDY NEW IPHONE APP FOR EVENT PLANNING
AppleMagazine

Invites A HANDY NEW IPHONE APP FOR EVENT PLANNING

Apple is taking social gatherings to the next level with Invites, a dynamic app designed to help users create custom invitations, manage events, and engage in shared moments.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 07, 2025
SOCIAL MEDIA BLOCKS FOR MINORS IN THE U.S.: A NATIONAL DEBATE ON KIDS AND TECH
AppleMagazine

SOCIAL MEDIA BLOCKS FOR MINORS IN THE U.S.: A NATIONAL DEBATE ON KIDS AND TECH

Across the United States, lawmakers and families alike are wrestling with a critical question: should minors be barred from social media to protect their well-being?

time-read
6 mins  |
March 07, 2025
SEVERANCE SEASON 2 ON APPLE TV+: MIND-BENDING DRAMA HITS NEW HEIGHTS
AppleMagazine

SEVERANCE SEASON 2 ON APPLE TV+: MIND-BENDING DRAMA HITS NEW HEIGHTS

Apple TV+’s Severance has taken the streaming world by storm this week, solidifying its place as the platform’s most-watched series ever, surpassing even Ted Lasso’s three-season run, Apple proudly announced last month.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 07, 2025
PRIVATE LUNAR LANDER BLUE GHOST TOUCHES DOWN: A NEW MOON MILESTONE
AppleMagazine

PRIVATE LUNAR LANDER BLUE GHOST TOUCHES DOWN: A NEW MOON MILESTONE

Earlier this week, the moon welcomed a new visitor as Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander nailed a soft touchdown, marking a historic win for private space exploration.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 07, 2025
TESLA MODEL Y: ELECTRIC CHAMP RECHARGES ITS CROWN WITH NEW UPGRADE
AppleMagazine

TESLA MODEL Y: ELECTRIC CHAMP RECHARGES ITS CROWN WITH NEW UPGRADE

Tesla’s Model Y has roared through the automotive landscape like an electric juggernaut, clinching the title of the world’s best-selling vehicle in 2023 and solidifying its dominance with a sleek upgrade that rolled out recently.

time-read
2 mins  |
March 07, 2025
IOS 18.4 BETA 2: HERE'S EVERYTHING NEW
AppleMagazine

IOS 18.4 BETA 2: HERE'S EVERYTHING NEW

Apple has rolled out the second developer beta of iOS 18.4 this Monday, March 3, offering a fresh batch of enhancements and refinements to its mobile operating system, now available for testing among registered developers.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 07, 2025
MICROSOFT SHUTTING DOWN SKYPE IN MAY: A 22-YEAR LEGACY ENDS
AppleMagazine

MICROSOFT SHUTTING DOWN SKYPE IN MAY: A 22-YEAR LEGACY ENDS

Microsoft dropped a seismic announcement confirming it will shutter Skype, the pioneering internet calling service, on May 5, 2025— ending a 22-year run that reshaped how the world connects. The company is steering users toward Microsoft Teams’ free consumer version, part of a broader strategy to streamline its communications offerings under a single banner.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 07, 2025
TSMC'S BIG U.S. BET: $100 BILLION FUELS CHIPMAKING SURGE
AppleMagazine

TSMC'S BIG U.S. BET: $100 BILLION FUELS CHIPMAKING SURGE

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the world’s top chipmaker, unveiled a massive $100 billion investment to expand its U.S. operations this Monday, March 3, standing alongside President Donald Trump at the White House.

time-read
3 mins  |
March 07, 2025
NEW MACBOOK AIR AND MAC STUDIO UNLEASH M4 MIGHT
AppleMagazine

NEW MACBOOK AIR AND MAC STUDIO UNLEASH M4 MIGHT

Apple sprang into action earlier this week, unveiling two powerhouse Macs that redefine performance in their respective lanes: the MacBook Air with the M4 chip and the Mac Studio armed with M4 Max and M3 Ultra processors.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 07, 2025