Personal finance

Tomas Vargas, Jr., of Stockton, Calif., says that receiving money through the city’s universal basic income experiment has been life changing. Snap Jackson Photography A few years ago, Tomas Vargas, Jr., was having a tough time supporting his family. The Stockton, California, resident, a part-time supervisor at UPS, found his paychecks were not enough to

PeopleImages Your insurance is up for renewal. Your cell phone contract could be coming to an end after a few years. Cable rates rise as regularly as the sun. Once or twice a year, the clock resets on various contracts. And there’s one thing you can pretty much count on. “Prices go up without fail,” said

Morsa Images If your income has taken a hit during the coronavirus pandemic, you may be trying to figure out ways to bring in some cash. One option is to tap  your 401(k) plan or individual retirement account under the new rules enacted in the federal coronavirus stimulus package, or CARES Act. Experts often say  taking money

Changes to Medicare that advocates have been seeking may end up in the next federal coronavirus relief legislation,  experts say. The Republican-controlled Senate is expected to unveil its version of the next stimulus package in late July as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to slow economic recovery and unemployment remains high. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,

Demonstrators gather in front of the Texas State Capital during a protest in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Sergio Flores/Bloomberg via Getty Images More states may take similar steps as outbreaks expand, mostly across the American South and West. The United States reported a daily record of 63,247 new cases of Covid-19 on

A newly erected fence blocks the front of a vacant home that Moms 4 Housing activists occupied during a months-long protest that ended in a court-ordered eviction, in Oakland, California. PHILIP PACHECO Emily Benfer began her career representing homeless families in Washington, D.C. Her first case involved a family that had been evicted after complaining to

Crisserbug | Getty Images With more Americans under financial pressure due to the coronavirus, paying for college is a growing problem. Nearly 70% of families are worried about how they will cover the cost and more than half now say their higher education plans have changed due to Covid-19. By necessity, some students will attend a community college close to

The University of California announced plans to sue the government over a policy that could bar international students from studying in the U.S. The move comes on the heels of a joint lawsuit filed by Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology against the Trump administration. The guidelines issued Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Michelle Wang Source: Michelle Wang On July 1, Michelle Wang moved from San Diego to Atlanta to begin her doctorate program in physics at Emory University. Less than a week after she settled into her new apartment, she heard the news: International students will have to leave the U.S. if all their classes are taught online.

Employee Linda Tarkenton holds a blank U.S. Treasury check before it’s run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia. Getty Images Another batch of one-time stimulus checks could be coming. But this time, far fewer Americans could get paid. President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to include

Mount Rushmore National Monument in South Dakota was a top road trip draw over the July 4 holiday weekend, according to data from Arrivalist. Photo by Mike Kline (notkalvin) Travel during the July 4th weekend was busier than predicted, but states’ Covid-19 infection rates impacted how much of an increase in activity they saw over

Justin Sullivan | Getty Images For many older folks, enrolling in Medicare leads to the conclusion that a supplemental plan — aka “Medigap” — is the best fit for their circumstances.  However, that decision generally isn’t the end of the process. Although Medigap policies are standardized in most places, regardless of which insurance company offers

Harvard University and MIT pushed back on Wednesday against a new rule that would require international students to take classes in-person this fall in order to stay in the country. The guidelines issued Monday by Immigration and Customs Enforcement said “students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the

People line up outside of the Social Security Administration office in San Francisco. Getty Images Prospective retirees often face one big question: How long can my funds last? Now, a mainstay for retirement — Social Security — is facing the very same question. Social Security relies on the money in its trust funds, from which it

Paul Hennessy | NurPhoto | Getty Images For Medicare beneficiaries who are eyeing a move to another state, be sure to consider what your coverage would look like once you get there. Whether you already were planning to relocate or the coronavirus pandemic has sparked the idea, it’s important to know the various Medicare rules

With a growing number of colleges planning to offer fall classes online, many international students will not be able to stay in U.S., according to new rules issued Monday. That could mean a significant hit to school budgets — and student aid. Under the guidelines issued by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, “students attending schools operating

Unemployed Kentucky residents enter the Kentucky Career Center for help with their unemployment claims on June 19, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. John Sommers II/Getty Images Certain groups of workers, like the self-employed and those in the gig economy, are pulling in an increasing share of jobless benefits relative to others. Around 12.9 million Americans are

If you’re in the market for a house and are considering an “interest-only” mortgage, proceed with caution. With tightened lending standards amid ongoing economic uncertainty — coupled with continually rising home prices and persistent low interest rates — some borrowers may gravitate to these so-called interest-only loans, experts say. These are loans where you only

Nils Hendrik Mueller | Cultura | Getty Images The economic downturn prompted by the coronavirus has been harsh for many American workers. About 47.2% of Americans are jobless, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Meanwhile, many of those who are employed have had to abruptly pivot to remote work and may face pay

When Diane Pearson’s sons both attended Robert Morris University, buying a condo for them in the suburb of Pittsburgh made financial sense. Pearson, who is a certified financial planner, took out a home equity line of credit to purchase the property with cash in 2013.  Three years later, the family sold it at a $5,000