Personal finance

Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images Renters looking for a better deal may need to rethink the kind of properties they’re focused on in their search.  As of January, median single-family home rent prices are up about 41% since before the pandemic, according to a recent report by Zillow. Meanwhile, multi-family rents are up

Elon Musk speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., Feb. 20, 2025.  Nathan Howard | Reuters A federal judge in Maryland on Monday granted a temporary restraining order barring staffers from Elon Musk‘s secretive government-slashing effort, the Department of Government Efficiency, from accessing the personal information of millions of student loan

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images There’s a lesser-known tax break for low- to moderate-income Americans who save for retirement. However, most eligible taxpayers don’t claim it, experts say. The retirement savings contributions credit, or saver’s credit, helps offset funds added to an individual retirement account, 401(k) plan or another workplace plan. The tax break

Nitat Termmee | Moment | Getty Images The Trump administration’s tariff policies may raise auto insurance premiums for motorists, according to a new Insurify analysis. This at a time when drivers continue to see costs soar amid pandemic-era inflation. A 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico — which may take effect as soon

Protestors in New York City demonstrate against the push by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to gut federal services and impose mass layoffs, Feb. 19, 2025. Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images The Trump administration’s purge of federal workers may ultimately amount to the biggest job

Although inflation has eased considerably, in many ways, it is still alive and well. The consumer price index, which measures the cost of a wide-ranging basket of goods and services, has fallen gradually from a 9.1% pandemic-era peak in June 2022 to 3% in January. But it is still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. “The progress toward 2%

Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Student loan borrowers who expected smaller monthly payments under the new Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan received some bad news on Feb. 18, when a U.S. appeals court blocked the program. As a result, millions of people will need to switch to a new repayment plan

Vithun Khamsong | Moment | Getty Images Thousands of IRS employees are expected to lose their jobs as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, continues widespread cuts to federal spending.  The move comes roughly three weeks since the opening of tax season and could impact millions of taxpayers who will file before the

Protesters demonstrate in support of federal workers outside of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images On Feb. 11, Elizabeth Aniskevich, an attorney at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, received a notice that she was being terminated immediately. “I was completely shocked,”

Images By Tang Ming Tung | Digitalvision | Getty Images Whether you’re expecting a refund or balance due this tax season, there’s a key reason to file your return promptly, experts say: thwarting tax-related identity theft.     Nearly 33% of Americans procrastinate filing their taxes, according to a survey from real estate company IPX1031, which polled

Americans are racking up more and more credit card debt. Collectively, consumers owe a record $1.21 trillion on their credit cards, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently reported. The average balance per consumer now stands at $6,580, up 3.5% year over year, according to a separate quarterly credit industry insights report from TransUnion. Despite the

monkeybusinessimages | Getty There are signs that the housing market is swinging to favor buyers. However, renewed worries about the economy are holding some buyers back. On the upside for homebuyers, home price growth has slowed and mortgage rates have retreated from recent peaks. The median sale price for homes was $375,475 in the four

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to a crowd gathered in front of the U.S. Treasury Department in protest of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency on Feb. 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Rose Layden | Getty Images In response to a request from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Elon Musk speaks as one of his young sons and President Donald Trump listen in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 11, 2025. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters As Elon Musk continues to look for ways to cut federal spending through the Department of Government Efficiency, he has raised questions as

President Donald Trump‘s order to suspend all U.S. foreign aid, which was announced on January 20, is currently on hold amid a legal review. But for nonprofits, charities and public service organizations that rely on federal funding, some damage has already been done. “Foreign assistance programs don’t operate with an on/off switch,” said Mitchell Warren, executive director

Busà Photography | Moment | Getty Images There’s no shortage of social media influencers sharing real estate advice, and some make renting out your home seem like a clear “yes” when you move elsewhere. Managing a rental property, however, can be complicated — and changing your primary residence could impact your taxes later, experts say. 

While inflation and high interest rates are still taking a toll on consumers, more Americans are able to set aside money in an emergency fund, according to a recent report. This year, 30% of adults said they have more emergency savings now compared to one year ago, the report by Bankrate found. More than half

Former U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about student loan debt relief at Madison Area Technical College in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 8, 2024. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday blocked the Biden administration’s student loan relief plan known as SAVE, a move that will likely lead to higher

Martin Barraud | Ojo Images | Getty Images As U.S. home equity climbs, owners are more likely to face capital gains taxes from selling property. But a lesser-known tax strategy could help shrink your bill, experts say. When selling your main home, there’s a special tax break that shields up to $250,000 of profits for

President Joe Biden after he signed the Social Security Fairness Act at the White House on Jan. 5 in Washington, D.C.  Kent Nishimura | Getty Images News | Getty Images The biggest changes to Social Security in years were signed into law on Jan. 5. For more than 3.2 million individuals, that will mean bigger