A man looks at frozen foods for sale at a Dollar Store in Alhambra, California on August 23, 2022. Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images Among all rising costs, sky-high grocery bills have been espec...
Tag: Personal loans
A self-made millionaire shares 8 money secrets rich people know that ‘most of us don’t’
It took me 20 years of trial and error before I achieved a multimillion-dollar net worth. Now, at 64, I draw income from the 18 companies I started and the 12,000 apartment units I own. But I wish I h...
Amid inflation, more middle-class Americans struggle to make ends meet
As inflation spiked, Americans in the middle class were particularly hard hit. For them, prices increased faster than their income, according to a September report by the Congressional Budget Office. ...
Share of car buyers with monthly payments over $1,000 hits record high
Financing a new or used car is more expensive than ever, new research shows. Amid rising interest rates and elevated auto prices, the share of new car buyers with a monthly payment of more than $1,000...
Here are some strategies that can help you dig out of holiday debt
While some Americans are still recovering from holiday festivities, many others may have lingering effects of spending regrets. Overall U.S. retail sales increased 7.6% year-over-year between Nov. 1 a...
How to find the best used car for the money
Buying a used car has typically been considered a smart way to save by avoiding the steep depreciation costs that go hand in hand with new cars. However, a limited supply of new cars and trucks due to...
Amid inflation and market volatility, just 12% of adults feel wealthy
Inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and fears of a recession have undermined financial confidence across the board, according to a new report by Edelman Financial Engines. Less than one-quarter, or 23...
Goodwill helps bring thrifting into the mainstream with online store
Whether consumers are looking to save or are hunting for a buried treasure, the resale business is booming. During the Covid pandemic, secondhand stores such as eBay, the RealReal and ThredUp thrived ...
Household debt soars at fastest pace in 15 years as credit card use surges, Fed report says
Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images Households increased debt during the third quarter at the fastest pace in 15 years due to hefty increases in credit card usage and mortgage balances, the Fe...
The best ways to pay for holiday gifts ahead of Black Friday
What you buy this holiday season is just as important as how you buy it. In fact, the payment method you choose at checkout can go a long way toward helping you stick to a budget, save money and stay ...
Affluent shoppers embrace secondhand shopping
Bargain hunting is certainly not new. But with the Covid pandemic came a surge in “thrifting,” or buying and selling pre-owned goods. At first, some families under financial pressure looke...
Why to prepare your finances for recession despite strong GDP report
Dimitri Otis | Stone | Getty Images The U.S. economy grew in the third quarter, reversing a negative trend from the first half of the year — but weakness looms under the surface and households shouldn...
Here’s what the Wells Fargo cross selling scandal means for the bank
Wells Fargo is one of the oldest and most powerful banks in the United States. Its reputation today is in tatters, following a notorious scandal that is still unfolding. Reports of fraudulent activity...
‘Emily the Criminal’ director Ford takes on student loan crisis
Emily the Criminal Courtesy: John Patton Ford In the new film “Emily the Criminal,” the title character, played by actress Aubrey Plaza, is almost always in a state of fear. There are mome...
The 2022 holiday shopping season has started
Amazon’s Prime Early Access Sale may be over, but the discounts have only just begun. “Black Friday is here,” said Julie Ramhold, a consumer analyst at DealNews.com, noting that sale...
What to look for in your credit report to lower borrowing costs
vitapix | E+ | Getty Images Your credit score can make or break your ability to open a credit card or buy a new car or home at attractive interest rates. To boost your score, you need to know where yo...
Here are the best deals
Amazon’s Prime Early Access sale: What’s in store When Amazon’s sale kicks off Oct. 11, expect to find the best discounts on Amazon devices, such as the Kindle, Echo and Fire TV stre...
How to save money as food inflation jumps more than 11% in a year
Going to the grocery store isn’t getting any cheaper. Rising food costs helped push inflation higher again last month, despite a drop in gas prices. The food index alone rose 11.4% over the past...
How to avoid a penalty by making quarterly tax payments by Sept. 15
If you haven’t been sending part of your income to the IRS in recent months, this week is the last chance to avoid a tax penalty. The deadline for third-quarter estimated taxes is Sept. 15, appl...
Here’s how much you can save
Largely out of necessity, consumers are getting creative about stretching their dollars. After inflation hit back-to-school budgets hard and as families are feeling the weight of holiday expectations,...
You may owe taxes for federal student loan forgiveness in these states
Marko Geber | DigitalVision | Getty Images If you’re one of the millions of Americans expecting student loan forgiveness, you won’t owe federal taxes. But that doesn’t mean you’...
Inflation fears spur shoppers to get early jump on year-end holidays
Inflation is a Scrooge. Although the holiday season is still months away, consumers are already concerned about how they will afford this year’s gifts as prices continue to rise, several studies...
How to deal when you’re stressed out about credit card debt
london, uk Peter Muller | Image Source | Getty Images Few things cause more financial distress and anxiety than a large slug of high-interest rate credit card debt. Millions of Americans of all income...
These states may tax federal student loan forgiveness
dmphoto | E+ | Getty Images There’s good news if you’re eligible for student loan forgiveness: It won’t trigger a federal tax bill. And while some may still owe state taxes, it may b...
Post-pandemic, Americans are tipping less generously for takeout
At the Sweetly Bakery & Cafe in Battle Ground, Washington, near Portland, Oregon, customers seem to be feeling a little less generous lately. With inflation near record highs and consumers increas...
Education Dept. cancels $1.5 billion in loans for Westwood College borrowers
Tero Vesalainen | Istock | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday announced it will cancel all remaining federal student debt for former students of the now-defunct for-profit Westwo...
Fannie Mae says fixed mortgage rates could fall to 4.5% next year
The Good Brigade | Digitalvision | Getty Images Mortgage rates are projected to decline next year — but that doesn’t mean prospective homebuyers should necessarily delay a purchase for the prosp...
How the U.S. government can keep household debt in check
On Aug. 24, President Biden announced the cancellation of $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers making less than $125,000 annually. But student loans account for less than 10% of hou...