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Budgeting is more popular than ever. A 2022 Debt.com survey found that 86% of people track their monthly income and expenses, up from 80% in 2021 and 2020 and roughly 70% pre-pandemic. And in a world full of budgeting apps that allow you to swipe and tap your way through your monthly budget, some people still prefer to use good, old-fashioned budget spreadsheets and templates. By Cynthia Measom Free Budget Templates and Spreadsheets The good news is that if apps aren’t your thing, you don’t have to complicate your life by asking yourself, “How do you make a printable budget sheet?...

A high return is what every investor is after, but it’s not the only factor that matters. When reviewing investments, professionals look not only at absolute return potential but also something called “risk-adjusted return.” The bottom line is that not all returns are created equal, and smart investors look to invest where they’re getting the best value for the risk that they are taking on — even if that means accepting lower returns....

Cathie Wood, the founder and CEO of Ark Invest, reiterated her trust in Bitcoin, saying yesterday at the SALT conference held by hedge fund SkyBridge Capital that she believes it will reach “over $500,000.” By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Learn More: Institutional Investors’ Bitcoin ETF Appetite Grows, While SEC still Stalling on ApprovalsInvesting: Here’s How Cathie Wood Picks Her Winning Stocks “If we’re right and companies continue to diversify their cash into something like Bitcoin, and institutional investors start allocating 5% of their funds towards [Bitcoin] — it could be for other cryptos, as well — we believe that the price will be tenfold of where it is today....

Just when we thought Americans were going to get some relief from high prices at the pump, Californians got hit hard with a jump. As of Sept. 30, California is paying an average of $6.29 — much higher than the national average of $3.79. By Dawn Allcot Winter Gas Prices: The Cold Weather Mix Will Save You Cash at the PumpFind: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans...

Difficult financial situations are bound to happen from time to time for most people. When that happens, it isn’t always obvious where you should turn for help. In these situations, though, a cash advance can be an attractive option because they are quicker and easier to obtain than other options. By Bob Haegele What It Is Types of Cash Advances How It Works Costs and Fees Depending on how dire the circumstances are, you may not have the time and energy to consider options that take more time — and involve more paperwork....

Cash App users can now use Cash Card Round Ups to round up Cash Card transactions to the nearest dollar. This spare change can be used to invest in your choice of a stock, ETF or bitcoin with every purchase. By Josephine Nesbit Cash App Scams: Top Scams and How To Avoid ThemFind: How To Set up Cash App on Your Mobile Phone After enabling Round Ups, investments will be made automatically each time you make a Cash Card purchase....

For something as seemingly mundane as banking, Americans are surprisingly split about the need for it, according to a new survey. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy That leaves a whopping 44% of the population being somewhat ambivalent about the need for a bank: 20% of Americans say they “probably need” one and another 20% feel neutral about it. Meanwhile, 1.9% say they “probably don’t need” one and 1.6% say they “definitely” don’t....

It’s hard to know if a gift will be “hot” or a dud, but when you let data help you decide, you’re sure to be on the right track. Using a combination of historical and real-time data, StockX has identified the best gifts to give in 2021, including shoes, gaming gifts, toys and apparel. By Gabrielle Olya “Data is at the heart of everything we do, and that data gives us rich and detailed insight into what shoppers care about this season,” said Jesse Einhorn, senior economist at StockX....

The ending of emergency unemployment benefits (EUB), which were put in place during the early days of the pandemic, helped boost economic growth, according to a new paper by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: How Many Hours Can You Work and Still Collect Social Security?Find: 7 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Reach Your Retirement Goals “Using the cessation of EUB across states in 2021, we establish a strong positive causal link from a reduction in the number of beneficiaries to state employment growth,” the study paper reads, in part....

When we think about purchasing high-quality items, the last place that tends to come to mind is Family Dollar — or really any dollar store, for that matter. For good reason. Dollar stores aren’t the most glamorous of retail destinations. They tend to be rather run down and overcrowded, and some of the goods they sell — like produce — are just a little bit iffy and ought to be bought elsewhere....

Sending and receiving money electronically with your PNC Bank account is not only convenient but also necessary for direct payroll deposits and certain other transactions. All electronic bank transactions in the U.S. require a routing number, and there are several ways to find your PNC routing number. Keep reading to learn more. By Joe Stone PNC Routing Number About Routing Numbers Routing Numbers By State Find Your Number Multiple Routing Numbers PNC Routing Numbers for Wire Transfers The PNC routing number for incoming domestic wire transfers is: 043000096....

American actress Shailene Woodley, best known for her role in “The Fault in Our Stars,” has a net worth of $12 million at just 29 years old, according to Celebrity Net Worth. By Dawn Allcot See: 24 of the Wealthiest Young Actors and Actresses in HollywoodFind: 23 Celebrity Couples Worth Hundreds of Millions Woodley confirmed her engagement this year to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on an episode of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” stating that the couple is in “no rush” to tie the knot, Fox News reported....

Venmo, owned by PayPal, is a mobile digital payment service and social app rolled into one. The Venmo app helps you easily keep in touch with friends and send and receive funds. What began as a text-message-based platform is now a digital wallet app with over 60 million users that offers both the Venmo Visa credit card and Venmo Mastercard debit card. By Andrea Norris How To Activate How To Add Money Requesting a Venmo Debit Card Ordering a Replacement Card Resolving Card Issues The Venmo debit card allows users to spend their Venmo balance anywhere Mastercard is accepted in the U....

It may not seem like a big deal when you fall in love with someone who grew up in a different economic situation than you. You have shared interests, values and qualities that brought you together, and those will carry you through when you encounter your differences. Right? By Cody Bay That would be great, but as relationships progress into stages where you’re faced with making important financial decisions together, these differences can become more glaring and more challenging....

Going through a divorce can be a major transition both personally and financially. Although the act of getting a divorce doesn’t directly affect your credit score, it can change your financial obligations and in turn, can affect your credit. In today’s “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with Rachael Burns, CFP, financial planner and founder of True Worth Financial Planning, about how women can ensure their divorce does not ruin their credit....

The Federal Open Market Committee released its minutes from its Dec. 13-14 meeting and it looks like more interest rate hikes could be on the horizon for 2023. For those who were waiting to buy a home or new car, that means you could be paying more if you borrow money to do so. By Dawn Allcot Explore: Is It Good To Own Real Estate in a Recession?Find: Ultrarich Plan To Conserve Wealth in 2023 — What’s the Strategy?...

Inflation is the single most important business problem, according to 22% of business owners surveyed in the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index. This issue remains unchanged from December 2021 and the Index notes small-business owners started raising prices at the beginning of 2022 to combat inflation issues. By Heather Taylor Use Automated Processes Bill Glaser, CEO of Outstanding Foods, said automation is a small-business owner’s friend and inflation’s enemy. As labor costs continue rising, productivity is becoming increasingly expensive....

The stock market and real estate market both experience ups and downs, so it’s hard to judge which is the better investment. If you’re considering cashing out some of your stock holdings to buy real estate — either for your personal use or as an investment property — consider these pros and cons before making your decision. By Gabrielle Olya Stocks Have More Liquidity Than Real Estate Real Estate Is a Hard Asset That You Can’t Lose Owning Real Estate Can Benefit You and Your Family Should You Sell Stock To Buy Real Estate?...

The IRS updated its frequently asked questions concerning the child tax credit this week, adding six more questions to a fact sheet posted on the agency’s website. By Vance Cariaga Many of the new questions pertain to the tax season that just wrapped up. In some cases they are applicable to those who filed for an extension, might need to file an amended return or worry that they might have filed inaccurate information....

Credit cards can be a tricky enterprise. On the one hand, you don’t want to overuse them or rack up debt, which ends up costing you in the form of high interest and negatively impacts your credit score. By Jordan Rosenfeld On the other hand, many credit cards offer rewards and points for use, and they can be a great, easy way to automate payments so you don’t have to worry about immediate cash flow or bank balances....