Your Money: Your mail that hasn’t come yet

March 2, 2026

	by Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard

Hi Everyone —

Many thanks to those of you who wrote in recently to tell me about a service that I wasn’t aware of: Informed Delivery by U.S.P.S.

This U.S. Postal Service program scans letter-sized mail and packages that are supposed to arrive at your door shortly and gives you a digital preview of what’s coming. That can help you figure out what doesn’t end up arriving that is supposed to — like tax forms, for instance.

If you have a tale to share about specific reasons you signed up — and how the service worked for you — please send it to yourmoney_newsletter@nytimes.com. I may write more about this soon.

Meanwhile, a clarification about individual retirement contributions, which we mentioned in last week’s newsletter.

You can continue to make contributions to your individual retirement accounts (both Roth I.R.A. and traditional) for the 2025 tax year until the federal tax filing deadline of April 15, 2026 — even if you file your return before that.

But if you intend to make a 2025 contribution to a traditional I.R.A., which may be tax deductible, it’s probably wise to do that before you file your 2025 return. That way, if you fail to make that contribution for any reason, you won’t have to amend your return later.

Below, you’ll find the usual list of headlines from money articles that The New York Times has published recently. Have a good week.

An illustration shows a couple in a hot-air balloon, with the balloon shaped like an “at” symbol, dropping pages that look like tax forms down to the ground.

Till Lauer

your money adviser

The I.R.S. Shut Its Direct File, but Here Are Other Free Filing Options

The agency still offers a Free File program that works with commercial tax software firms. Some companies also offer free tools for certain filers.

By Ann Carrns

A large classical building with tall columns and sculptures. American flags hang from its facade, with silhouetted people, one in a light-colored, fluffy coat, in the foreground.

Stocks Seesaw as Investors Brace for Iran War’s Economic Repercussions

The strikes come at a precarious time for stocks, forcing investors to weigh the fallout of a potential prolonged disruption to oil supplies and logistics.

By Joe Rennison, River Akira Davis and Eshe Nelson

Oil Prices Jump After Iran Attack, Pointing to Economic Risks

How long prices remain high will depend on what the United States, Israel and Iran do next.

By Rebecca F. Elliott

Dr. Oz speaks from a lectern in the White House and gestures with his hands.

New A.C.A. Plans Could Increase Family Deductibles to $31,000

The Trump administration is proposing Obamacare plans that it says will lower health insurance premiums. But critics warn they would make care unaffordable.

By Reed Abelson

U.S. Mortgage Rates Fall Below 6% for First Time in Years

The evidence is patchy on whether lower rates have meaningfully spurred more activity, as the Trump administration floats measures it says will make housing more affordable.

By Gregory Schmidt

Home Depot Says Homeowners Are Weary From Economic Pressures

The retailer said same-store sales were nearly flat as homeowners shied away from big-ticket projects amid worries about housing costs and the job market.

By Kim Bhasin

The Warning Signs Flashing From the Tech-Heavy Bloat of the S&P 500

The shifting composition of big public companies in the stock index shows how lopsided and less dynamic the American economy has become.

By Jacqueline Gu

FedEx employees on a city sidewalk next to a white truck delivering packages. Boxes are piled up around them.

FedEx Says It Could Return Any Money From Tariff Refunds to Customers

The company sued the administration days after the Supreme Court ruled against the president’s duties.

By Tony Romm

Trump Proposed a New Retirement Plan With Up to a $1,000 Match. How Might It Work?

An existing law could help create new retirement savings plans for people who lack them. But there may be income restrictions on any match.

By Ron Lieber and Tara Siegel Bernard

LeeAnn Smith. left, wearing a blue and white patterned vest over a navy sweater, stands next to Randy Smith, wearing a gray sweater over a blue shirt. Behind them is a snowy landscape.

retiring

4 Ways to Enjoy Your Savings in Retirement Without Going Broke

Once paychecks stop, it can be frightening to shift out of the savings habit. But there are strategies to enjoy your nest egg and make it last.

By Lisa Rabasca Roepe

the new old age

Banks Are Becoming Bulwarks for Vulnerable Seniors

Older Americans are losing billions of dollars annually to financial exploitation. Banks and investment firms are training employees to spot red flags and stop the transactions.

By Paula Span

Everette Taylor sits on a white sofa, wearing a white shirt and white trousers, next to a large plant in a terra-cotta pot. A stone table in front of him has art books on it.

Corner Office

What It’s Like to Run a Fully Remote Company With a Four-Day Workweek

Everette Taylor took over Kickstarter at a low moment for the crowdfunding pioneer, which made its name with small projects but now attracts major multinationals and celebrities.

By Jordyn Holman

An illustration of a laptop with eyeballs attached from the back popping out to gaze at the screen.

Are ‘Bossware’ Tools Tracking You?

In recent years, the technologies used to surveil workers have become more sophisticated and widespread.

By Lora Kelley

A World Where All Is Free? That’s Elon Musk’s Theory of ‘Sustainable Abundance.’

The Tesla and SpaceX chief has told his followers that they will live in a world where robots will take care of every need and people do not have to work, in what has become his latest slogan.

By Ryan Mac

Frugal Traveler

A Cheapskate in Honolulu

Hawaii is expensive, but basing yourself in the capital, where local culture and nature are within easy reach, can save you money on lodgings and food, leaving funds for a few splurges.

By Elaine Glusac and Michelle Mishina Kunz

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