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It’s been a busy year for rate hikes. The Federal Reserve has raised interest rates seven times since March, surging from a targeted range of 0.25% – 0.5% to 4.25% – 4.5%. By Jennifer Taylor Current Federal Funds Rate Interest Rates and Inflation Impact on Savings Rates Opening a Savings Account Maximizing Interest This likely has you wondering what a Fed rate increase means for savings accounts. Chances are, your money hasn’t been earning much interest in recent years, so you’re probably hoping that will soon change....

When it comes to the possibility of receiving financial aid for college, you don’t want to leave any money sources untapped. By David Nadelle Student Debt: Education Dept. Cancels $3.9 Billion — Is Your Loan Included?Explore: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans Federal student loans have been in the news all year as President Joe Biden continues to extend the loan repayment moratorium each time it expires (the current payment pause ends August 31)....

Americans have an $887 billion credit card balance. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the country charged $46 billion more this year than last, the biggest year-over-year increase in two decades. By Andrew Lisa Find Out: Stimulus Payments Are Coming to These States in OctoberStudent Loan Forgiveness: Mark These 4 Dates on Your Calendar Now A lot of that debt is held by responsible cardholders who make their purchases strategically, within their budgets and in pursuit of rewards that pay them back....

Successful investing isn’t just about what you earn, it’s also about what you keep. Investment taxes can take a significant bite out of the profits you generate, greatly reducing your actual rate of return. However, there are multiple ways that you can minimize the tax liability on your investments, from the types of securities you buy to how and when you sell them. While not all of these strategies will apply to all investors, here’s a range of options for you to consider when looking at reducing the tax liability on your 2021 taxes....

FlexJobs recently released a report of eight companies hiring remote workers with an associate degree, rather than a bachelor’s degree or higher. These jobs pay anywhere from $17 an hour up to $70 an hour, or annual salaries of roughly $38,000 up to $110,000. By Dawn Allcot See: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time JobFind: Remote Workers: These Towns Are Giving You $10,000 in Cash to Move...

The holiday shopping season may be over, but there are still plenty of sales to check out during your next Target shopping trip. Throughout January, shoppers can find deals on their favorite tech and electronic brands across categories including headphones, wearable tech and more. By Heather Taylor Grab your cart and get ready to shop. Here are some of Target’s best tech and electronics deals to snag in January. Save 30% on Headphones Whether you need new headphones to take Zoom calls at work or to listen to music in your off time, Target has you covered with up to 30% off select brands....

If you’ve set aside money for savings and investment, you’ve taken the first huge step towards achieving your financial goals. After all, most Americans couldn’t pay for a $1,000 emergency expense, and only 15% of American families own stock directly (although this number jumps to 53% when retirement plans are included). The point is, beginning to save and invest is a huge hurdle, so you’re to be congratulated if you’ve made it this far....

Families who qualify for the enhanced Child Tax Credit benefits may see their final advanced payments as the program is scheduled to end Dec.15 unless Congress extends it. By Josephine Nesbit But is ending payments a wise decision as the economy continues to struggle? Explore: Stimulus Update: Child Tax Credit Payments Still Aren’t Getting to Those Who Need Them MostLearn: Didn’t Get Your Child Tax Credit? Here’s How to Track It Down...

ESG investing is quite the buzzword in 2021, as it’s finally taking the leap from a fringe, specialty-type investment to a force that can actually change how a business operates. ESG stands for environmental, social and governance, and it refers to how a company affects the environment, its workers and the world as a whole. Whereas shareholders used to be concerned nearly exclusively with a company’s financial returns, a rising tide of investors will only buy shares of businesses that also operate as responsible corporate citizens....

In a sign of the times, reflecting last year’s rise of retail investors and increased crypto interest, entrepreneurs are taking notice. There’s a new crop of crypto exchanges appearing, but these are of the brick-and-mortar variety. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Discover: What Is the Next Big Cryptocurrency To Explode in 2021?Learn More: Competitor Investing Platform to Robinhood Adds Crypto Trading Capabilities “We plan on opening one store in Miami, FL in the first phase, which will be Q1 2022, at which point we will observe market demand and utilization,” Hack said....

Cryptohopper Overview Unlike normal stocks, crypto trading takes place 24/7 and that is why traders must be always aware to take advantage of any probable price changes. However, it might not be possible for a user to stay online at all times. Trading bots can offer a convenient solution to this problem by facilitating automated trades according to the instructions provided by the user. By Suchetana Bhattacharyea Overview Features How It Stands Out...

Homebuilders are in a bullish state of mind these days even in the face of a host of industry challenges, with all signs pointing to continued price increases into the new year. By Vance Cariaga See: Building a House — Where You Should and Shouldn’t Cut CostsFind: Should You Refinance Now With the Low Mortgage Rates? Homebuilder sentiment in November climbed three points from the previous month to 83 on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), which was released on Tuesday, Nov....

Building an emergency fund is important in any economy, but it takes on added importance during a recession because of the higher risk of being laid off. The rising likelihood of a recession has many Americans wondering if they have enough money saved up to cover their bills in case the worst happens. By Vance Cariaga See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsFind Out: Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed If a National Emergency Happens...

Inflation has hit Americans where it hurts most: our wallets. Though inflation looks like it’s cooling down, it’s still untenable for families who are barely getting by — and that’s a lot of families. According to a recent report by LendingClub, 61% of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck in April 2022 — up from 52% in April 2021. By Nicole Spector Dollar Tree: 5 High-Quality Items To Buy NowZelle Facebook Marketplace Scam: How To Recognize and Avoid This Scam...

Banana Republic is one of four stores under the Gap Inc. umbrella. The store has been providing shoppers with upscale clothing and accessories since 1978. It also offers shoppers the opportunity to apply for a store credit card. This card comes with a variety of perks, including a special offer for new card members; points for purchases at Banana Republic, Gap, Old Navy and Athleta; and free shipping on orders over $50....

The COVID-19 pandemic altered the way we travel both domestically and internationally over the past two years. We booked flights, made hotel reservations, and kept fingers crossed that a positive test within our traveling party or an outbreak at our destination wouldn’t force us to cancel long-anticipated plans. By Jami Farkas Travel Prep: 10 Financial To-Dos Before Going on a TripExplore: Cheap Places To Travel On $100 a Day Or Less...

If you’re here, you’ve likely decided on — or are strongly considering — opening a Citi account. As a leader in personal banking, credit cards and wealth management, Citi® is a global financial institution that’s been around for more than 200 years. By Levi Leidy How To Open Checking Fees and Features Savings Fees and Features Avoid Unwanted Fees Pros and Cons Bank Comparison Choosing Citi Whether you’re a first-time bank account owner or you have experience across multiple banks, learning how to open a Citi account is as simple as spending a few minutes on this article....

Fall has officially begun, meaning pumpkin spice season is in full swing. You may not be able to get enough of this delicious fall flavor, but your wallet feels differently. By Jennifer Taylor Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions AnsweredFind Out: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans Due to the overwhelming popularity of pumpkin spice everything, many retailers charge a premium for this delicacy. However, there are plenty of clever ways to indulge — a lot — this season without breaking your budget....

Every year people stride into the new year with the hopes of eliminating debt. This noble resolution can be difficult to live up to, if only because our capitalist society is designed around accumulating more, more, more — at the cost of racking up debt. By Nicole Spector Save More: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity BillGood To Know: $1M Is No Longer the Standard Nest Egg – Here’s How Much Most Americans Think You Actually Need To Retire...

Prepared meal delivery is big business. It’s easy, convenient and — a particular perk during the pandemic — it means not having to go grocery shopping. However, it can get expensive fast. By Joshua Rodriguez About Meal Kits About HelloFresh Cost of HelloFresh Cost of Cooking When It’s Worth It When It’s Not Worth It HelloFresh is one popular company that provides such services, but is HelloFresh worth it? See: If Your Credit Score is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now...