Navigating Taxes as a Widow: Understanding and Overcoming the Widow Penalty

woman-doing-taxes

Navigating the tax system can be a daunting headache even under normal circumstances, but for widows dealing with the emotional and financial aftermath of losing a spouse, it can feel overwhelming. At The Widow Collaborative (TWC), we understand these challenges and are here to offer support. Here’s a comprehensive guide to understanding and managing the “widow penalty” (survivor’s penalty), designed to help you avoid unexpected tax increases and further financial …

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Clearing the Fog: Understanding and Managing “Widow’s Brain”

A grieving woman with her head in her hands, experiencing "widow's brain" and emotional distress.

Grieving the loss of a spouse is one of the most profound and challenging experiences one can face. Alongside the emotional turmoil, many widows and widowers report experiencing cognitive difficulties often referred to as “widow’s brain” or “widow fog.” This term encapsulates a range of cognitive challenges, including memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and a general sense of mental fogginess. Understanding and managing these challenges is crucial for anyone navigating the …

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Supporting Grieving Students in the Classroom Through Grief Education

student-grieving

Grief education is a vital component of creating a supportive environment for students navigating loss. Despite its universal nature, grief’s impact on students is often overlooked in the classroom. Educators need to understand and address the needs of grieving students. Let’s explore grief education, highlight current options in Minnesota, and examine recent changes in other states, like New Jersey, where new legislation has been passed to prioritize grief education in …

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Home Energy Rebates

The Home Energy Rebates program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, helps households save on energy bills and cut carbon emissions. Managed by Minnesota’s Department of Commerce, it offers rebates for energy-saving upgrades like insulation and efficient appliances, focusing on low- and moderate-income families. Eligibility and rebate amounts depend on income, with the program expected to start in late 2024 or early 2025 after DOE approval. Meanwhile, people can explore …

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How To Help Kids with Anxiety (6 Ways) / Calm Caterpillar

Anxiety is experienced by all humans. Every person, child, and adult, is going to feel anxious at some point, says Eli R. Lebowitz, PhD, director of the Program for Anxiety Disorders at the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine. Anxiety is a normal emotion that has a dual purpose. “It prevents us from doing something dangerous and can motivate us as well.” So how do we keep it from …

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Finding Power in Doing the “Next Right Thing”. A reminder that we can do anything.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans say their lives have been permanently changed by the pandemic, making decisions almost impossible. The uncertainty people feel because of this can lead to stress, and the more uncertain people are, the more they struggle to gain control. This article speaks to uncertainty and how doing the “next and most necessary thing,” will allow us to always feel we are doing something meaningful.

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Grief Groceries

Supporting a widow during the time of grief can be as simple as a text, call, or helping to the lighten their load in some way. Hugh’s Blog post shares thoughtful ways to offer support during those early months of grief. 

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Terrible, Thanks for Asking by Nora Mcinerny

Terrible, Thanks for Asking is more than just a podcast (but yeah, it’s a podcast). It’s a show that makes space for how it really feels to go through the hard things in life, and a community of people who get it. This is show by author Nora McInerny that lets real people get real honest about how they’re really doing. It’s sometimes sad, sometimes funny, and almost always both.  

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Hot Widows Club Podcast

The Hot Widows Club Podcast chronicles Crystal & Allie’s grief journey, navigating a life they didn’t choose. Widows who are tired as heck from raising kids, wiping bottoms, making decisions & being both parents; if you know, you know. Speaking freely about why being a widow sucks, they are simply pining for the love of their lives to come through the door one more time. Madly in love with their …

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The Widowed Mom Podcast with Krista St-Germain

The Widowed Mom Podcast offers practical and empowering strategies for widowed moms who believe in the possibility of loving life again but sometimes worry their best days are behind them. If you want more than traditional therapy and grief groups can offer, if you’re stuck in an emotional pattern and feel like you can’t get free, if you want help navigating the unique challenges of being a widowed mom with …

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