This Week’s Money Map:

• 🎃 Scariest money story: How to make sure it never happens to you

• 💵 Halloween spending is about to hit $13.5 billion. Grab your slice

• 👵 You could get paid to care for Mom or Dad

• 🏡 Down payment help isn’t always free money. Know what to check

🎃 Scariest money story: How to make sure it never happens to you

Last week, we asked which money horror story scares you the most. Your top answer wasn't a market crash or a surprise medical bill. It was this: your insurer refusing to pay after a disaster hits your home.

We get it. You pay your premium for years. Then a storm, fire or burst pipe tears through your house, and the check is tiny or never comes.

The twist: Most of these stories are decided before the disaster ever happens, the day you buy the policy, not the day it strikes. And even after a “no,” you have more power than you think.

Some insurers say “no” far more than others

MoneyGeek's analysis of 2025 claim data found big gaps between companies. One home insurer closed 78.4% of its claims with no payment. Another closed just 7.5% that way. See where yours lands in this home insurance claim denial study.

To be fair, "no payment" includes claims below the deductible and claims people withdrew. But a pattern like that is worth knowing before you renew.

The 4 "no" letters nobody sees coming

• "That's not covered." Most homeowners and renters policies don't cover flood damage, per FEMA. One inch of water can cause about $25,000 in damage. More than 40% of flood claims come from outside high-risk zones. And flood policies usually have a 30-day wait, so buying when the forecast turns scary is too late. This article explains when home insurance covers flood damage.

• "You're not insured for enough." After the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, 69% of survivors whose homes were destroyed said they were underinsured, per a United Policyholders survey. Their average shortfall was $542,000. Building costs went up. Their coverage didn't.

• "Your couch was worth $80." Many policies pay "actual cash value" for belongings. That’s what your belongings are worth used, not what it costs to replace them.

• "Prove you owned it." No receipts or photos? You're stuck arguing from memory in the middle of a disaster.

Got a "no"? It doesn't have to be the last word

A denial or lowball offer is the start of the conversation, not the end.

• Ask for the denial in writing, with the exact policy language it relies on.

• Check it against your declarations page.

• Send proof: photos, receipts and a written repair estimate from a contractor.

• Ask for a second adjuster. Many policies also include an appraisal process for disputes over the amount.

• Still stuck? File a complaint with your state's insurance department. It's free.

Watch this video before you file a claim. It shows how to document damage and challenge a lowball settlement.

Do this before the trick-or-treaters show up

Grab your declarations page, and check your dwelling limit and the words next to personal property. If you see "actual cash value," ask what an upgrade costs. Then walk through your home with your phone recording video. Open every closet and drawer, and save the video to the cloud. It's 10 boring minutes. It's also the difference between a horror story and a happy ending.

💵 Halloween spending is about to hit $13.5 billion. Grab your slice

Halloween isn't just for kids anymore. Shoppers plan to spend a record $13.5 billion this year, per the National Retail Federation. That's about $115 per person.

The fun part? Some of that money can land in your pocket before Oct. 31.

Where the money's going

• Costumes: $4.4 billion, including $920 million on pet costumes (pumpkin is the top pick for pets)

• Decorations: $4.3 billion

• Candy: $4.1 billion

6 Halloween side hustles that pay

• Face painting. Painters charge about $75 to $125 an hour. A single party gig averages around $269. Festivals pay less per painting, but lines run all day.

• Scare actor. Haunted attractions in big cities pay about $15 to $20 an hour. Bring your best scream.

• Seasonal retail. Spirit Halloween is hiring more than 52,000 seasonal workers this year. Bonus: a 30% employee discount on your own costume.

• Halloween photo sessions. Photographers charge about $110 to $225 for a 10- to 15-minute mini session. Set up a spooky backdrop and book families back-to-back.

• Yard haunt setup. Lots of people buy giant skeletons and fog machines but hate setting them up. Charge by the hour to build the display and take it down in November.

• Costume rentals. If you sew or collect costumes, rent them out. Ask for a deposit so damaged items don't cost you.

Watch these traps

Selling homemade treats? Check your state's cottage food laws first. They vary a lot. Some states cap sales or ban certain foods.

Parties and kids add risk. Face paint can cause a skin reaction. A rented costume can get ruined. Some venues require proof of insurance before booking you, so know how much general liability insurance your side hustle needs.

One more catch: the season is short. Most Halloween gigs end Oct. 31, so line up a holiday follow-up now. A face painter can work holiday parties. A haunt builder can hang Christmas lights.

The tax trick or treat

A paycheck from a store or haunted house withholds taxes for you. Gig income doesn't. If you net $400 or more from face painting, photos or rentals, you'll owe 15.3% self-employment tax. Track your supplies, since many costs are deductible. This video covers tax deductions for freelancers.

Not sure which gig fits you? Pick the one you'd happily do for free at a friend's party. That's usually the one people will pay for. Put a price on it and post it on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist today. Keep every receipt in one folder, because tax season shows up right after the candy runs out. Start this week, and Halloween could pay for your holiday shopping.

👵 You could get paid to care for Mom or Dad

If you help an aging parent with meals, rides, baths or bills, you're not alone. About 63 million people gave ongoing care to someone in the past year, per AARP. Many spend about $7,200 a year of their own money doing it.

Most caregivers don’t know this: some programs will pay you for it. The money isn't huge, and the rules are tricky. But it's real.

Option 1: Medicaid self-directed care

Nearly every state lets family members get paid for care in at least some cases, per KFF. These programs let your parent choose their own caregiver, and that can be you.

The pay often runs about $13 to $18 an hour, per the National Council on Aging. Compare that with the $35-an-hour median cost of hiring a home care agency, per CareScout.

The catches:

• Your parent must qualify for Medicaid, which has strict income and asset limits.

• Many states won't pay spouses.

• Your hours are capped by your parent's care plan, even if you work more.

Start by calling your state Medicaid office or your local Area Agency on Aging.

Option 2: Veterans programs

If your parent is a veteran, ask the VA about two programs. The caregiver stipend program pays family caregivers of veterans with a 70% or higher service-connected disability rating. Veteran Directed Care gives some veterans a budget to hire their own helpers, including family.

Option 3: Your parent pays you

If your parent has savings, they can pay you directly. Put it in a written personal care agreement. It protects you both and can matter if your parent later applies for Medicaid. Private pay counts as taxable income for you.

Know what Medicare won't cover

Many families assume Medicare pays for this. It doesn't. No Medicare plan covers long-term custodial care, like help with bathing or dressing. MoneyGeek's guides to Medicare Part C and what Medigap covers spell out the gaps.

Protect your future, too

Caregiving can drain your retirement. If you cut hours at work, you save less and may earn fewer Social Security credits. Some Medicaid caregiver pay is tax-free if you live with your parent. That's nice now, but it may not count toward your Social Security record. Ask your program how it handles payroll taxes.

Start with one phone call

Your local Area Agency on Aging knows the programs near you better than anyone. Call and ask: "Can family caregivers get paid here?" While you wait for answers, start writing down the hours you give each week. Programs will ask for it. And seeing that number in black and white might change how you value your own time.

You're already doing the work. Find out if someone should be paying for it.

🏡 Down payment help isn’t always free money. Know what to check

Saving for a home down payment can feel impossible. The median existing-home price was $429,100 in August 2026, according to the National Association of Realtors. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.4% the week of Oct. 15, according to Freddie Mac.

NAR’s 2025 buyer profile puts the median age of first-time buyers at 40, a record high. The same report found that 22% received down payment help through a gift or loan from family or friends. But personal connections aren’t the only place to find support.

There’s more help than you might think

Down Payment Resource counted 2,746 homeownership assistance programs nationwide as of July 1, 2026. Of those, 2,046 offered down payment or closing cost assistance. The broader total also includes affordable mortgages, tax credits and other programs.

You don’t necessarily have to earn a low income to qualify. Down Payment Resource reports that many programs allow six-figure household incomes. Its Q4 2025 analysis found that 62% had average income limits above $100,000. Your eligibility still depends on the program and where you’re buying.

“Assistance” often means a loan

Of the 2,746 programs in the midyear count, 234 (about 9%) were classified as grants requiring no repayment. Second mortgages were far more common. They made up 56% of the total.

Common forms of help include:

• Forgivable loans: Some or all of the balance is forgiven if you meet the program’s requirements, such as living in the home for a set number of years.

• Deferred-payment loans: You make no monthly payments, but repayment may be due when you sell, refinance, move out or reach the end of the loan term.

• Loans with monthly payments: You repay the assistance alongside your main mortgage.

Check the terms before accepting help. A forgivable loan may cost you nothing if you meet every condition. A deferred loan can reduce your upfront costs, but it can leave you with a bill later.

Refinancing deserves special attention. Some programs require repayment when you refinance. Others may let you keep the assistance loan with approval. Ask how your program handles it before counting on future refinancing savings.

Ask what you could owe later

Get written answers to these three questions before you sign:

1. Under what circumstances would I have to repay this money?

2. Will the assistance put a lien on my home?

3. What happens if I sell, refinance or move out before the forgiveness period ends?

A program’s name won’t tell you everything. Even assistance described as a grant may come with repayment conditions, so read the agreement carefully.

Know your numbers first

Work out a monthly payment you can comfortably afford before you apply. MoneyGeek’s mortgage calculator lets you include property taxes, homeowners insurance, private mortgage insurance and HOA fees. Treat the result as an estimate, and budget separately for repairs and maintenance.

Where to start looking

Start with your state’s housing finance agency. Then check your city and county housing websites. Ask lenders which assistance programs they work with, and consider speaking with a HUD-approved housing counselor.

The right program could help you buy sooner. Know what it covers, what you could owe later and whether the full monthly payment fits your budget before you commit.

Smart Cents gives you actionable tips and mindset shifts to help you reach your financial happy place. Thanks for being a part of our community.

The MoneyGeek Team

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