Personal finance

Fertnig | E+ | Getty Images Heidi Hansen was making $72,000 a year as a purchasing and warehouse manager in Emmetsburg, Iowa, until she was laid off last month. Her weekly state unemployment benefit of under $500 in Iowa wouldn’t be enough to cover her monthly bills, including her $830 mortgage, car insurance and utilities.

MARK RALSTON | AFP | Getty Images There’s a pretty good chance — okay, an overwhelming chance — that you won’t win the $475 million Mega Millions jackpot. Then again, someone at some point has to win. And, there’s generally no harm in daydreaming. “Buying a Mega Millions ticket gives our players ‘permission to dream’

Getty Images The May 17 extended tax filing deadline has arrived. Those who still aren’t ready may feel panicked, yet experts say there are options for people who aren’t prepared to file or pay. More from Personal Finance:2020 tax returns are due to the IRS on May 17. Here are some last-minute filing tipsAlmost 2

Hispanolistic Depending on where you live, cash or other financial aid from your state could be coming your way. As the U.S. economy continues recovering from the pandemic, some states are using (or plan to use) extra money in their budgets to either send out stimulus-type payments, provide tax cuts or otherwise give relief to

Hispanolistic | E+ | Getty Images Credit card balances have dropped during the Covid-19 pandemic. Now financial experts are hoping Americans can find the wiggle room to reach another financial goal: bulking up their emergency savings. Total credit card debt in the U.S. dropped by 13% by the end of the third quarter of 2020,

Steve Prezant | The Image Bank | Getty Images The interest rate on federal student loans is going up. The government sets annual interest rates on the debt once a year, and the percentage is based on the 10-year Treasury note. Despite the uptick, rates remain low by historical standards, said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz.

pinstock | E+ | Getty Images The government wants to cover high-speed internet for millions of low-income Americans.   The $3.2 billion Federal Communications Commission program, the Emergency Broadband Benefit, covers $50 per month for high-speed internet service for eligible households, with a $75 monthly discount for those in Native American tribal areas.  “High-speed internet service

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Thursday that the state would end its participation in federal unemployment programs June 26. Justin Merriman | Getty Images News | Getty Images More than a dozen states are withdrawing from pandemic-era unemployment programs — forgoing billions of dollars in federal funds that would otherwise flow to out-of-work residents. Here’s

In this article TVAG-FF Axel Hefer, CEO of Trivago Trivago It’s been said there’s no gain without pain and that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Online travel search firm Trivago seem to have taken the sentiment to heart amid an ongoing pandemic that’s put its industry through the wringer for some 14 months.

kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images Putting away enough savings for retirement has always been a struggle for many Americans. One reason workers tend to fall short: They often dip into the money they have set aside for their golden years. Now, some experts and lawmakers are discussing one idea that could help workers avoid

In this article IRSA3-AR FatCamera | E+ | Getty Images There are only a few days left for individuals to file their 2020 tax returns without risking a penalty from the IRS. This year, the deadline for tax returns is Monday, May 17. In March, the IRS pushed back the date for individual returns due

Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images The U.S. stock market is back in choppy waters. On Wednesday, all three major U.S. indices — the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq — slid on fears that rising inflation will lead to higher prices and boost interest rates, capping off a three-day losing streak in the market.

Sophie Evanoff, owner of Vanille Patisserie in Chicago, is having a hard time finding workers. Source: Sophie Evanoff She managed to keep her bakery business afloat during the pandemic, but now Sophie Evanoff, owner of Vanille Patisserie in Chicago, can’t keep up with demand. The culprit: her inability to find workers. “It is to the

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc | DigitalVision | Getty Images New York City has joined a short but growing list of jurisdictions aiming to get workers into a retirement plan. Mayor Bill de Blasio signed a bill into law this week that will require most employers not offering a workplace plan to automatically enroll their workers

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the state of his American Rescue Plan from the State Dining Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 5, 2021. Jonathan Ernst | Reuters President Joe Biden is calling for higher taxes on wealthy Americans to cover child care, paid family leave, education programs and other

kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images A new batch of $1,400 stimulus checks has been issued to Americans, bringing the total number of payments sent to about 165 million, or $388 billion. This marks the ninth set of payments since the $1,400 stimulus checks were authorized by Congress in March. The checks are for up

President Joe Biden makes remarks on the economy and the Colonial Pipeline network cyber attack on May 10, 2021 in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images President Joe Biden‘s plan to tax the wealthy may trigger a shift in charitable giving strategies. The administration

Luis Alvarez | DigitalVision | Getty Images The April jobs report has ignited controversy over what some see as competing interests: unemployment benefits and returning to work. But there’s a way to get both — including the extra $300 a week. “The $300 is what will attract people back to work,” Susan Houseman, research director

Justin Mackey, his wife, Cassie, and their three young children: Camdyn, 14, Connor, 7, and Charlie, 3. While Justin Mackey worked to rebuild his locksmith business, the 38-year-old was relying on getting a $420-a-week unemployment check for another four months. That money was a fraction of what he brought home before the pandemic shut down

In this article .COVID19 With the latest announcements from the State University of New York and the City University of New York, hundreds of thousands of students will now be required to get the Covid-19 vaccine. On Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the SUNY and CUNY boards will require proof of vaccination for