Personal finance

Romolotavani | Istock | Getty Images As talk about the possibility of a recession heats up, so may your anxiety. While a downturn is not a foregone conclusion, some experts have recently boosted the odds of a recession happening in the near-term. Citigroup, assessing global economic growth over the next 18 months, sees a 50%

In this article AMZN As Amazon gears up for Prime Day on July 12 and 13, shoppers may be less enthusiastic this year about the big annual sale. “The explosive sort of growth year over year that we’ve seen with Prime Day, we may not see that any longer,” said Nathan Burrow, senior deals editor at Wirecutter.

A Social Security Administration office in San Francisco. Getty Images The clock is ticking when it comes to implementing changes to shore up Social Security’s funds, which will not be able to pay full benefits in 13 years’ time. Potential voters are aware of the program’s woes, according to a June survey by Social Security

Courtneyk | E+ | Getty Images Over the past few years, there’s been no shortage of ways to give to charity. And there’s a special tax break for retirees who transfer funds from individual retirement accounts. Individual Americans donated an estimated $326.87 billion to charity in 2021, a 4.9% rise compared to the prior year,

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images The number of Americans who want to work full-time but are forced to work part-time jobs declined in June to its lowest in more than 20 years, according to federal data issued Friday, underscoring the strength of the labor market and the bargaining power of workers. There were

Lifestylevisuals | E+ | Getty Images Homebuyers are feeling the squeeze of rising mortgage rates. On top of that, housing prices remain high. That may lead many to rethink their budget. “As mortgage rates go up, it raises the cost of buying a home with a mortgage,” explained Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “For

A restaurant worker at a May 26, 2021 “Wage Strike” demonstration organized by One Fair Wage in Washington, D.C. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images News | Getty Images Workers earning minimum wage are getting an income boost in some parts of the U.S., thanks to new higher minimum pay rates that went into effect in

Whether it’s an effort to support women’s rights or gun control, fight climate change or help Ukrainian refugees, more Americans are giving to charity this year in response to global challenges. However, there are just as many scammers trying to capitalize on the current environmental, social and geopolitical unrest. “Any time there’s something that is in

The U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Caroline Brehman | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it was moving to make sweeping changes to the federal student loan system, including making it easier for public servants to get debt forgiveness and setting new limits on the accrual

designer491 | iStock | Getty Images With the threat of a recession looming, more financial experts are sharing how to prepare — including how much cash it may be smart to set aside.   The end of June marked a turbulent six months for the S&P 500 Index, which dropped by more than 20% since January,

Mixetto | E+ | Getty Images Workers are still reaping the benefits of a hot job market characterized by few layoffs, ample job openings and a high level of voluntary departures, according to U.S. Department of Labor data issued Wednesday. The numbers reveal that the pandemic-era trend known as the “Great Resignation” is still in

John Lund | Blend Images | Getty Images The end of June marked the worst first six months of a year since 1970 for the S&P 500 Index, which plummeted by more than 20% since January. But there’s a silver lining: the chance to turn losses into tax breaks — as long as you follow

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images Congressional leaders can agree on one thing — Social Security needs to be fixed before the program’s funds are unable to pay full benefits in 2035. But that is where the consensus ends. Leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties have each recently discussed the issue on Capitol

If you can even find a new car to buy, actually purchasing it is going to cost you. “It’s a really difficult time to buy a car,” said Jessica Caldwell, executive director of insights for Edmunds. Limited inventory due to a persistent shortage of computer chips, along with other supply-chain challenges, helped propel new car

For years, fewer teenagers were looking for summer jobs, opting instead to bolster their college applications with academic programs or unpaid internships. But as the economy bounced back from the pandemic, employers were almost begging for workers and some opportunities were too good to pass up. With more flexible work arrangements and better pay, the

Carol Yepes | Moment | Getty Images It’s right there on the U.S. Department of Education’s website: Student loan payments to restart after Aug. 31, 2022. Skeptical? It’s understandable. The Education Department has repeatedly set an end date for the payment pause on federal student loans, which began in March 2020, and then revised it

Emmanuel Faure | Getty Images Understanding the ins and outs of Social Security’s many rules around claims will help you make the best decisions when accessing retirement benefits. But a recent MassMutual poll given to people near or already in retirement shows that many have some brushing up to do on the program’s rules. The

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images For employees today, job satisfaction is about much more than just pay and benefits. New hires are increasingly looking for companies that affirm their values. Tyrese Thomas, who graduated from college in May with a bachelor’s degree in sociology, East Asian studies and business management, was careful in

Phonlamaiphoto | Istock | Getty Images Months of stock market volatility, surging inflation and rising interest rates have left many investors wondering if a recession is coming.  The stock market tumbled again on Thursday, with the S&P 500 capping its worst six-month start to a year since 1970. In all, it’s down more than 20%

miodrag ignjatovic | E+ | Getty Images If medical debt you’ve already paid has been lingering on your credit report, you may want to see if that has changed. As of Friday, the first phase of changes to when such debt will show up on credit reports takes effect. Specifically, the three large credit reporting