Tamara Holmes

Washington, D.C.

Freelance Writer and Editor at Freelance

Writer/Editor for @aarp, @sistersletter, @usatoday, @diversitywoman, @goodrx and more. @HowardU alum. I cover personal finance, business, careers & health.💗💚

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Articles

5 Social Security Claiming Options for Married Couples

May 1, 2024 | aarp.org | Tamara Holmes

Federico Gastaldi Facebook Twitter LinkedIn One of the most important retirement decisions you and your spouse will make is when to collect Social Security benefits. As of this year, a once-popular way for married couples to make the most of that dual decision is fully off the table.
How Sisterpreneurs Drive 5- and 6-Figure Earnings

Apr 24, 2024 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

Have you patronized a sister-owned business? Do you have or want a side hustle? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Business ownership may not be for everyone – but don’t tell that to Black women. Not only are we the queens of the side hustle, but we’re opening full-fledged businesses at a higher rate than any other group. And between 2019 and 2023 – despite the pandemic – our businesses saw revenues increase on average 32.7 percent compared to 12.1 percent among all women-owned businesses.
Your House Could Help You Produce Passive Income

Mar 6, 2024 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

Watching your kids grow up and move out can be bittersweet. You want them to be independent, but you'll miss having them under your wing. As an empty nester, you'll definitely have newfound time and freedom on your hands — but you'll also have newfound space. Recent housing trends may offer opportunities to put your home to work and generate income. There’s a race for space, with more folks seeking dwellings than there are people selling.
Small Business? Sleuth out Brilliant Deductions

Feb 27, 2024 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

You've done the legwork or created the plan to turn your passion into a money-making venture. Whether your dream is to teach yoga, monetize your cooking or sell homemade jewelry online, you love your business idea so much you would do it for free.
Keeping Big Mama's House: How Families Fight Back

Jan 31, 2024 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

Last week, in an article titled Don’t Assume Big Mama's House Will Stay in the Family, the editors of Sisters From AARP shared how easily Black families are losing land and homes that were intended as their legacy. With over 2 trillion dollars’ worth of real estate owned by African Americans, these threats to our generational wealth can be devastating.
Why are so Many Black Families Losing Their Ancestral Homes?

Jan 24, 2024 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

When a relative joins the ancestors, you expect to experience feelings of grief. What you may not be prepared for is being blindsided by property loss or financially devastating disputes over what was intended to be a blessed legacy. Yet many Black families are finding themselves in that unfortunate situation. Consider the following scenarios:After caring for a now deceased parent, you're evicted from the childhood home you assumed you would inherit.
How To Fight Medical Billing Errors

Dec 4, 2023 | blackenterprise.com | Tamara Holmes

How To Fight Medical Billing Errors While no one denies that medical billing errors exist, there are varying estimates about their number. The best way to protect yourself from billing errors is to scrutinize bills. Originally Published Sep. 10, 2010 When Beverly Browning of Mesa, Arizona, got the results of her breast biopsy in 2003, she was thrilled that the test revealed no trace of cancer. Then she got the $9,500 bill.
Why 'Pretirement' is Our Time to Shine

Nov 8, 2023 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

When it comes to making money, Black women are among the most creative people I know. We embraced the side hustle long before it was a thing, whether we were selling our sweet potato pies after church, hosting lingerie parties or planning trips for our family and friends.
Are Weight Loss Drugs for You?

Oct 26, 2023 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

Recently, a friend posted pictures on Facebook of her body transformation as she dropped a sizable amount of weight. While I had assumed she'd started a new exercise regimen, she confided that Ozempic was responsible for her success. She was the first person I knew who had taken that buzzed-about drug to lose weight, but this wasn't the first time I was hearing about how certain drugs used to treat diabetes were proving to be effective at fighting obesity, as well.
Save Up to 90 Percent When You Buy It Used!

Oct 11, 2023 | sistersletter.com | Tamara Holmes

One of my favorite feelings in the world is having the money to buy something expensive – but not having to spend my money to get it. So when my editor asked me to scour the internet for used items to see how prices of used goods compared to their new counterparts, I jumped at the chance. Shoppers who buy secondhand items at thrift shops save, on average, $1,760 per year.