Personal finance

Brand X Pictures | Stockbyte | Getty Images When faced with an unexpected $1,000 expense, more than one-third of Americans would borrow the money, according to a new Bankrate survey. That may include tapping their credit cards, seeking money from friends or family or taking out a personal loan. Most would not turn to cash

In this article ZG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Maskot | Digitalvision | Getty Images With high mortgage rates and home prices, would-be buyers are understandably looking for deals — even if they have to move to a different city, state or region to find them. Last year, consumers moving interstate tended to pick

In this article ZG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Grace Cary | Moment | Getty Images The top 10 hottest housing markets are expected to be spread across the South, Northeast and Midwest this year, according to an analysis by real estate marketplace Zillow. But a “hot” market isn’t always great for would-be buyers.

In this article INTU Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images As the opening of tax season approaches, the Federal Trade Commission has cracked down on “deceptive advertising” from Intuit, maker of tax filing software TurboTax. The FTC on Monday upheld a September ruling that found Intuit violated federal

A caucus worker checks in voters at a caucus site at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa, on Jan. 15, 2024. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images Former President Donald Trump won the Iowa caucus by a landslide, due in part to strong turnout by older voters. “While the turnout overall was low, 70% of

People walk through the Financial District by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on the last day of trading for the year on December 29, 2023 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty Images The S&P 500 stock index climbed to a new all-time high on Monday. A bull market — by two definitions

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Federal student loan bills resumed in the fall after a pause of more than three years. Borrowers should monitor how that financial change affects their credit, experts say. Here’s what to know. On-ramp period should protect your credit Generally, failing to make timely payments on debts, including your student

Luis Alvarez | Digitalvision | Getty Images While rent payments do not traditionally affect your credit, a growing number of so-called rent-reporting services are trying to change that. These services track users’ rent-paying habits and report them to one or more of the big credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — with the aim

GlobalStock | Getty Images When you invest toward retirement, experts often like to say you are letting your money work for you. But how much can you realistically expect to earn on your money? The annual rate of return — defined as the percentage change in an investment’s value — is an estimate of the

A customer shops for eggs in a Kroger grocery store in Houston, Texas. Brandon Bell | Getty Images News | Getty Images Egg prices are on the rise again, after having fallen from record highs hit in 2023. Average egg prices jumped by 8.9% from November to December, following a 2.2% rise the prior month,

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images The cost to raise a child has become expensive for parents in the U.S. As tax season approaches, it’s smart to pay attention to tax breaks related to children and care expenses. Costs for child care have increased significantly due to inflation. Many child care centers also bumped their

US President Joe Biden speaks at Abbotts Creek Community Center during an event to promote his economic agenda in Raleigh, North Carolina, on January 18, 2024.  Saul Loeb | AFP | Getty Images The Biden administration announced on Friday that it would forgive $4.9 billion in student debt for 73,600 borrowers. The relief is a

5M3photos | Moment | Getty Images As the start of tax season approaches, experts are warning filers about tax-related identity theft, an issue that often halts returns and delays refunds. Tax identity theft happens when criminals use your personal information to file a return in your name and claim your refund — and “it continues

Gen Zers are having a harder time making ends meet, let alone building wealth. Roughly 38% of Generation Z adults and millennials believe they face more difficulty feeling financially secure than their parents did at the same age, largely due to the economy, according to a recent Bankrate report. Gen Z is generally defined as those born between 1996 and

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images Growing up in the age of the internet and technology, online shopping is second nature for Gen Zers. One-third, 32%, of Gen Z consumers shop online at least once a day, according to data from marketing firm Tinuiti. Yet, 80% of Gen Z drivers prefer to shop for

Pixelfit | E+ | Getty Images The labor market may be cooling but there are opportunities ahead, especially for new-collar workers. So called “new-collar” jobs typically require highly skilled workers and often come with salaries in the top half of the U.S. wage scale — but they don’t require a college degree. The term was

Chris Tobin | Digitalvision | Getty Images Beginning in February, certain student loan borrowers who have spent a decade in repayment will get their federal student loan debt forgiven, the Biden administration recently announced. Most borrowers need to make payments for 20 years or 25 years on an income-driven repayment plan before their debt is

Simpleimages | Moment | Getty Images Higher interest rates were good news in 2023 for savers who were able to earn the best rates on their cash in years. Even with the possibility of looming rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, 2024 still stands to be a great year for returns on cash. “Yields are

Hinterhaus Productions Senior lawmakers on Tuesday announced a $78 billion bipartisan tax agreement — including retroactive boosts to the child tax credit that could affect families filing this season. But the proposed legislation could still face hurdles, experts say. Retroactive to 2023, the plan would expand the child tax credit by broadening access, increasing the

Fg Trade | E+ | Getty Images Rising inventory is helping push rent prices down. For young adults, building credit is a smart step to take as they prepare to enter the rental housing market. The median U.S. asking rent price in December was $1,964, a 0.8% decline from a year ago, according to real