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By Jaime Catmull Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsLook: If Your Credit Score Is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now While inflation is certainly making gifts more expensive this year, there are still strategies that this social media- and tech-savvy generation can implement to save on holiday shopping. Here’s a look at a few of these money-saving strategies. Stick To a Budget The first step toward responsible holiday shopping is setting a budget, said Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K and author of “Financial Feminist....

If your home is overflowing with stuff you’re having trouble putting in its place, it may be time to rethink your storage situation. Half the time the problem is not that you have too much stuff, it’s how you’re organizing it. With some creative storage solutions, you might be able to find room for everything, without having to pay a mint, either. Here are some creative and affordable home storage solutions that won’t cost too much....

When people think of investing, they usually start by looking at the stock market. But there are lots of other ways to invest your savings than just stocks, or even mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. In fact, diversifying your portfolio with investments that aren’t correlated to how the stock market performs — or even negatively correlated — is usually a wise course to take. By Michael Keenan Retirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of LifeLooking To Diversify in a Bear Market?...

Americans may not agree on much these days, but there’s one thing most of us can: the cost of living has gotten mighty expensive. Politicians throw around the word “inflation” as though it’s inevitable or can’t be helped, but all that translates to is more money being spent on the same essentials we’ve always paid for. By Jordan Rosenfeld As of October 2021, the inflation rate was 6.2%. By June of 2022, it had reached an astonishing peak of 9....

If your job, your kids’ activities or your frequent travels mean you spend a lot of time on the road, you’re accustomed to pulling into the gas station frequently. And the card you carry in your wallet can make all the difference in what that gas ultimately costs you. What is the best card for gas? Probably the one that rewards you in cash, statement credits, merchandise credits or even free hotel nights, depending on your spending priorities....

Your backyard has great potential, but let’s be honest — you’re not currently maximizing it. Right now, it’s not much more than the outdoor area behind your house, but you want to turn it into an extension of your home. By Jennifer Taylor Whether you’re hoping to create a relaxing space for yourself or a beautiful area to entertain, you’re ready to bring your vision to life. However, you don’t have a ton of extra cash to dedicate to an expensive backyard renovation....

The 41-year high inflation and the soaring gas prices are taking a toll across the nation. Now, a new survey shows that American hourly workers are bearing the brunt of these challenges, with a staggering 81% of them reporting that record prices at the gas pump have had a negative effect on their ability to pay other expenses. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Stimulus Update: When $1,050 California Gas Tax Rebate Checks Will Reach ResidentsUber Lost and Found Index 2022: The Strangest (and Most Common) Items People Leave Behind...

Gas prices, along with the price of groceries and many consumer goods, are rising with the 7.5% inflation rates of the past month. But the value of money isn’t the only factor driving fuel prices. Domestic production, oil imports and supply and demand are also to blame. By Dawn Allcot See: White House Considers Federal Gas Tax Holiday as Oil Prices Approach $100 a BarrelGas Prices: How Filling Up on Specific Days Could Save You $100 Annually...

Cryptocurrency has boomed in popularity over the past few years, to the point that the alternative investment class has essentially gone mainstream. While Bitcoin was the first and still remains the best-known cryptocurrency, literally thousands of other cryptos have entered the scene. Part of the reason for the hype surrounding the asset class is the tremendous returns that have been earned by some investors. Bitcoin, for example, was the best-performing asset from March 2011 to March 2021, with a staggering 230% annualized return....

Discover it Student Cash Back Card Overview The Discover it Student Cash Back is a cash-back credit card for students. It has several perks, including no late fee on your first late payment. It forgoes the sign-up bonuses other credit cards have in favor of cash-back matching for your first year, which may be preferable for students with a limited budget. Discover will match all of the cash back you earn in your first year, dollar for dollar, with no minimums or maximums on spending....

Several economists are sounding the alarm, saying that inflation might be a bigger threat than what the Federal Reserve is anticipating, triggering difficult markets for the quarter ahead. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Learn: 4th Stimulus Payment of $1,400 Not Off the Table Entirely Thanks to InflationFind: Bringing Home the Bacon Is 28% More Expensive — Unrelenting Inflation Lifts Prices to a 40-Year High Wharton finance professor Jeremy Siegel told CNBC “We’re headed for some trouble ahead....

People love a reason to celebrate their favorite foods. And with prices for dining out what they are today, consumers are always looking for deals. Fortunately, Sunday, Sept. 18 is National Cheeseburger Day, and many of our favorite burger chains are getting in on the action. By Dawn Allcot See: 12 Easy, Proven Ways To Earn Free MoneyFind: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans Keep in mind, many of these offers require you to order through the restaurant’s app to claim the deal....

Each year, the Social Security Board of Trustees releases its report on the current and projected financial status of Social Security and Medicare programs. According to its latest report, Social Security won’t be able to pay full benefits by 2034, unless Congress takes prompt action. By Josephine Nesbit Social Security Schedule: When the First COLA Checks Will Arrive in January 2022Direct Express Cards: Access Social Security and Other Federal Payments Without a Bank Account...

Gas prices are a complex issue. While most people only see the large numbers displayed on the signs outside the gas station, the issue is multi-faceted. There are economic factors both domestically and abroad, as well as geopolitics to consider. By Bob Haegele See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsFind Out: Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed If a National Emergency Happens The world has been through some trying times, beginning in early 2020 when COVID-19 took hold and extending well into 2022 with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine....

The hyperinflation of the early 1980s provided a blueprint for the Fed’s action today. To cool an overheated economy, the Fed raises interest rates and tightens the money supply. That causes economic contraction, which finally breaks the back of inflation at the cost of a recession. By Andrew Lisa That’s how it went back then, and today’s Fed is on precisely the same path toward what many consider to be an inevitable economic downturn....

While campaigning during the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, President Joe Biden pledged to cancel $10,000 worth of student loan debt per borrower. By David Nadelle The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to MoneyStudent Loan Forgiveness: Mark These 4 Dates On Your Calendar Now Now, more than a year-and-a-half after being sworn in, Biden is attempting to deliver on his campaign promise, announcing that his administration will cancel up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt (or up to $20,000 in federal student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients)....

The coasts of the U.S. are generally considered to be the areas where the nation’s wealthiest people reside. In fact, New York is home to the nation’s second-most billionaires with nearly 100 people having a 10-figure (or higher) net worth. As a whole, though, New York is far from the East Coast’s wealthiest state. By Bob Haegele Find Out: Just How Rich Are Elon Musk, Donald Trump and These Other Big Names?...

A credit limit is the most that a person can spend on a line of credit or credit card. Discover cardholders already enjoy cash back and reward miles without paying an annual fee. New cardholders may start with a low credit limit or line of credit. However, Discover cardholders can request a credit line increase. By Kathy Evans How To Request an Increase How Often It’s Increased Maximum Credit Limit How To Request a Discover Credit Line Increase There are a lot of reasons a cardholder may have a lower credit limit than they’d like....

The last two consumer price index (CPI) reports gave cash-strapped consumers a reason to be optimistic. There is now solid evidence that inflation is finally on the wane — but 2022 will be the subject of college economics courses for generations to come. By Andrew Lisa See: States Whose Economies Are Failing vs. States Whose Economies Are ThrivingBe Aware: 7 Florida Cities That Could Be Headed for a Housing Crisis...

The virus tossed millions of Americans onto the unemployment rolls almost immediately. Others were laid off later into the crisis and remain out of work today. Before the virus, a long work gap was a blemish on a resume. Today, it’s closer to the rule than the exception. So if you were laid off for a long spell and are now looking to get back in the game, don’t worry — but do plan, strategize and move forward with purpose....