16 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE^ 10/AHEADISTOCKPHOTO.COM (2)CALENDAR
10/▲ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1
The Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) goes live for
the fall 2020 academic year. File as
early as possible, using your most
recent tax return. Interested in
schools that don’t load graduates
with a lot of student debt? Go to
kiplinger.com/links/lowdebt.SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12
National Savings Day. Most of us
know it’s important to save for
retirement, but how about for a
rainy day? Nearly 40% of American
families can’t come up with $
for an emergency, according to the
Federal Reserve. For tips on building
an emergency fund, go to kiplinger
.com/links/emergency.TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15
Medicare open enrollment starts
today. For Medicare Advantage
or Part D prescription-drug plan
participants who aren’t happy with
the changes noted in their Annual
Notice of Change, now is the time
to shop around for a new plan.
Advantage enrollees can switchto original Medicare—and vice versa.FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25
Do news stories have you worried
about safety during fall vacation
trips? Turn to page 67 for strategies
to objectively judge security at your
destination before you decide to
cancel.THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
October is Estate Planning Month.
More than 50% of Americans don’t
have a will. If you die without a will,
the state will decide who will inherit
your savings and other assets. If you
have a will, make sure it’s updated
to reflect changes such as marriage,
childbirth or divorce (see “Estate
Planning: A Family Affair,” Dec.
2018). RIVAN STINSON* DEAL OF THE MONTH
Mid October is the perfect
time to replenish your fall
staples, with clothing
discounts of up to 40%
for top brands, according
to experts at Bospar.TRAVELERS WHO SHOP AROUND FOR GOOD
deals on hotels are often surprised to dis-
cover that their rooms cost more than ex-
pected. The culprit: resort fees, which add
about $23 per day, according to ResortFee
Checker.com. But those fees could soon
become extinct, or at least harder for
hotels to conceal.
In July, the attorneys general of Wash-
ington, D.C., and Nebraska filed lawsuits
against Marriott International and Hilton,
respectively, charging them with deceiv-
ing customers. The courts must decide
whether the hotels provide adequate
disclosure of the fees or whether they’re
illegally withholding fees until customers
book their rooms, says Bjorn Hanson, a
hotel industry consultant. If the lawsuits
succeed, hotels may scrap the fees or dis-
close them more prominently, Hanson says.
Opponents of the fees argue that they’re
illegal, even if they’re disclosed, because
consumers can’t opt out of
them. And often hotels
charge for amenities
guests wouldn’t
associate with
a resort get-
away, such as
local calls or
notary ser-
vices. You
can look
up fees at
ResortFee
Checker.com.
Before you
book a room,
ask the hotel to
waive them. It also
helps to reserve with
points; Hilton and Hyatt generally don’t
charge resort fees for award reservations.
SABRINA MEDLERHIDDEN FIGURESRESORT FEES: NO
DAY AT THE BEACH
Lawsuits may force hotels to make
costs more transparent.