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Despite a tight labor market, total nonfarm payroll employment rose by a surprisingly strong 678,000 in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Friday, March 4. This was well above the 440,000 jobs economists forecasted, Barron’s reported. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Nearly Half of Americans Quit Their Jobs Because They Feel Unappreciated by Management Find: Most US Employers Plan To Hike Pay and Address Pay Equity in 2022 — What Does It Mean for Workers?...

It’s National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, but before you satisfy your sweet tooth, make sure you are all caught up on today’s top financial stories. By Gary Dudak The Big Lead: Federal Student Loan Payments Set To Resume Soon Federal student loan borrowers have about a month to prepare for the resumption of payments following a payment pause of more than two years that began during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic....

Not surprisingly, we often think of government child benefit programs in financial terms. Government-sponsored programs like the Child Tax Credit and other tax breaks available to parents are highlighted prior to tax season and discussed throughout the year as reminders to families looking for financial relief. By David Nadelle However, one of America’s oldest child development programs gives more than a million children each year crucial benefits that can’t be bought — Head Start....

You’re checking in at a hotel for a weeklong stay at a luxury resort across the world, or across the country, and the agent at the front desk informs you that your credit card has been declined. How can that be, you wonder? You have plenty of credit available, and your monthly Netflix charge is the only action this card ever sees. By Jami Farkas Bingo. Given the sparse use of the card and the lack of any prior travel purchases, your issuer flagged your account for potential fraud....

Job-hunting site FlexJobs recently shared a list of 16 companies seeking seasonal help. From retail stores to financial firms, the comprehensive list showcased jobs in many different fields, including a plethora of remote jobs in finance, customer service and marketing. By Dawn Allcot See: 22 Tips for Landing a Job During the Health Crisis Find: 30 Odd Jobs That Pay Insanely Well “While it’s often the first area people think of and there are a lot of opportunities there, retail isn’t the only field to find seasonal job opportunities,” says Toni Frana, career coach and team lead at FlexJobs and Remote....

Waterfront property is generally considered to be some of the most desirable — and often carries a price tag to match. However, climate change is increasing the severity of hurricanes and leading to rising sea levels. But, like most things in life, the answer to whether waterfront property is a good buy is likely not a simple “yes” or “no.” There are many factors to consider. By Bob Haegele Traditionally, those who wanted to make their home and the beach one and the same wouldn’t think twice about scooping up an oceanfront property....

For many people, birth certificates are either tightly stowed away somewhere in mom’s basement or are a document we saw once 15 years ago – and haven’t since. By Georgina Tzanetos See: Every Document You Need To Defend Yourself During an Audit Find: How To Open a Checking Account: All the Documents You Need The last time a birth certificate may have been truly relevant was for college admissions, but there are several other things birth certificates are needed for as you age, including:...

The West Hollywood City Council has approved a minimum wage hike for hourly workers in hospitality, retail, food service, and other industries that is the highest in the nation. The hourly wage for West Hollywood rises to $17.64 an hour in January, the LA Times reported. Currently, minimum wage workers in West Hollywood earn between $13 and $14 an hour, depending on the business. By Dawn Allcot Some are calling the wage-hike “life-changing,” according to the LA Times....

Thanks to inflation, hosting for the holidays can get expensive. But with the right strategies and planning ahead, you can be sure you’re getting the best prices possible on food and decor during this festive season. By Gabrielle Olya Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsImportant: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Rachel Cruze, personal finance expert and the author of “Know Yourself, Know Your Money,” to get her best tips for staying on budget while entertaining during the holidays....

Reddit, the social network that spawned the user-driven GameStop stock frenzy in February, achieved a market valuation of $10 billion last week as the platform announced it would raise up to $700 million in a Series F fundraising round led by Fidelity Management, CNBC reported. The company has already raised $410 million through Fidelity, CNBC stated. By Dawn Allcot Job Hunting: 10 Social Media Companies Hiring Right Now — and Positions They’re Looking To FillRookie Moves: What Effect Could Rookie Investors, ‘Meme Stocks,’ Robinhood and More Have On The Market?...

Criminals have stolen almost $100 billion in COVID-19 benefits, the Secret Service said. While fraud related to personal protective equipment was of primary concern to law enforcement early in the pandemic, the release of federal funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act has attracted the attention of individuals and organized criminal networks worldwide, according to a statement. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Stimulus Checks Totaled Over $850 Billion — See How That Money Was Spread OutFind: Build Back Better Postponed Until 2022 — What Financial Impacts Could Families Face?...

When it comes to financial scams, seniors are among the most frequent targets — to the tune of $2.9 billion in lost money a year in the United States, according to the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. The U.S. House took a step toward addressing that problem this week by approving a bipartisan measure to fight scams involving older Americans. By Vance Cariaga See: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security EarlyFind: 27 Ugly Truths About Retirement...

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) distributes benefits in Montana from the Montana Department of Human and Health Services. By Georgina Tzanetos See: How Much You Should Have in Your Savings Account at Every Stage of LifeFind: 5 Bulk Food Items You Need To Be Buying at Costco This Winter SNAP program benefits are available to low-income households who meet certain eligibility requirements to purchase food items at participating grocery stores and farmer’s markets....

Despite similar reliance on Social Security and high poverty rates for income support, LGBTQ+ senior couples were not equally eligible to claim Social Security benefits until 2015, when the U.S. Supreme Court issued a judgment in the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges case. By David Nadelle Social Security Number: SSA to Allow Self-Selection of Sex to Better Accommodate LGBTQ+ CommunityLGBTQ+ Social Security: What Survivor Benefits Are You Eligible For? The case defended the constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry in all states and have their marriage recognized by other states....

The 2022 tax filing season began Jan. 24 and for a majority of taxpayers, the deadline to file your 2021 tax return is April 18. By Josephine Nesbit See: Inflation and Your Taxes — How Do Higher Prices Impact Your Tax Bracket?Find: Child Tax Credit: I Received Money, But Don’t Usually Submit a Return — Do I Need To File Taxes This Year? This start date is allowing the IRS “time to perform programming and testing that is critical to ensuring IRS systems run smoothly....

Parents sometimes set their teens up with investments ranging from dividend-earning stocks to college savings plans. If your teen works, they might even have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or a 401(k) through their employer. You might be wondering if your teen needs to file taxes reporting their investment income. By Dawn Allcot See: Teens & Taxes: What Tax Form Should My Teenager File? Find: Teens & Taxes: Are My Teenager’s Scholarships and Grants Taxable?...

Tesla revealed it received another Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) subpoena in November, “seeking information on our governance processes around compliance with the SEC settlement, as amended,” according to an SEC filing. The development sent Elon Musk on a Twitter rant on Feb. 7., making him wonder “Why is the “traditional” media such a relentless hatestream? Real question.” By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Elon Musk Stands by 2018 Tweet Saying Tesla Was Going Private in New Court Filing Find: Elon Musk: Tesla Bot Optimus is The Year’s ‘Most Important Product Development’...

Whatever your reason for buying a new car — it’s your first set of wheels, your family size has changed or your old vehicle has become a liability — timing is everything. Although a major part of your search for a new car will likely revolve around the make, model and style of vehicle that appeals to you, affordability and availability are important, too. By Daria Uhlig When looking for new car deals, timing can have a big impact on the overall price you’ll pay....

Your bags are packed and you’re counting down the minutes until vacation starts. The only thing left on your to-do list is to figure out if you need to bring cash tip money on your all-inclusive trip. By Jennifer Taylor Important: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on AutopayFind Out: 7 Things You Should Never Do When Planning for Retirement On the surface, it might seem like you can leave your wallet at home for this vacation, but that’s probably not the case....

If you’re like most dedicated holiday shoppers, you like to take your time to ensure you get just the right gift, maybe even waiting until the last minute to — oh, just kidding. It’s November, and you’re ready to ring those purchases up! Walmart aims to help you hit the ground running by starting its Black Friday deals right now, three weeks before Thanksgiving. By Vance Cariaga See: Catch Early Black Friday Deals at Target in Just 2 Days — Stock Up To Save Hundreds by Nov....