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With U.S. homes selling at record prices in 2022, many buyers face much bigger down payments than they would have in years past simply because they are putting money down on more expensive houses. The good news is, down payments still might not be as high as you’ve been led to believe. By Vance Cariaga See: 10 Surprisingly Affordable Places To Own Waterfront Property Find: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job...

Demand for private yacht and barge charters is up as Americans look for a perfectly socially distanced and highly luxurious getaway. By Nicole Spector Ian Pedersen, senior marketing manager for the Moorings and Sunsail, two private charter companies, told Travel Weekly that as of January, they were trading nearly 40% ahead of 2019 pre-pandemic numbers. Jack Ezon, founder of Embark Beyond, told Travel Weekly that its yacht business soared 235% in 2022 versus 2019....

For the faithful, Easter is a deeply meaningful religious holiday. For kids, the day is synonymous with egg hunts and candy. But for a whole lot of other people, Easter is all about the bunnies. By Andrew Lisa Find Out: 5 Best Foods To Buy in Bulk at Costco This SpringGood To Know: 30 Things You Should Never Buy Without a Coupon While rabbits make great decorations and lawn ornaments, owning one isn’t for everyone....

Easter is Sunday, April 17. With so little time to prepare, it can feel overwhelming to try to go to several stores to find food, decorations and Easter basket goodies. By Sam DiSalvo However, with a Costco membership, you can make your life a lot easier. A Gold Star Costco Membership costs $60 annually, and it can help you save hundreds every year. For Easter, Costco has some particularly good deals you should check out....

Dave Ramsey is one of the country’s most celebrated personal finance gurus, a famous radio host, a successful businessman and a best-selling author. He’s also a self-made man who started with nothing and built a seven-figure net worth and a $250,000 annual income by age 26. By Andrew Lisa Now in his early 60s, he has spent many of the years between getting even richer by helping other people build wealth of their own....

Perhaps you’ve been living with the same bedroom design and decor for years and you need a refresh. Or maybe your new work-from-home situation has you wanting a more private space than the kitchen table. Whatever the reason for updating your primary bedroom, it’s important to keep your project from turning into a money pit. By Cynthia Measom Here are 10 spending mistakes to avoid — straight from interior design and building experts....

The swiftness with which you can now send, receive or transfer money at the touch of a button should not be underestimated. Spending habits aside, payment apps have made lives universally more convenient. By Caitlyn Moorhead 5 Cash App Alternatives Google Pay Venmo PayPal Zelle Meta Pay As with any online transaction or bank transfer, it is good to know which app will work best for you, or if you are unsatisfied with your current Cash App account, you should explore some Cash App alternatives....

If the stress of 2022 already has you longing for some extra-soothing creature comforts, you can add a little luxe to your life without paying upscale prices. To be clear, the following is a list of wants — not needs — but they’re wants that are likely within the budget of the common household. By Andrew Lisa See: 6 Top Tips for How To Turn $1,000 Into $10,000Find Out More: 7 Simple Habits That Will Make You Richer in 2022...

Sometimes you are forced to take an unexpected pay cut. Perhaps you needed a job ASAP and took a job that paid less than your previous one, or maybe you had to cut back on hours to take care of a loved one who became ill. Or maybe you recently lost your job altogether. Whatever the case, making less money means that you have to revisit your budget to ensure you can fulfill your needs (and wants) without going into debt....

The price of clothes is up 4.2% since last August. This is partially due to rising cotton prices, in addition to retail workers demanding they be paid more. Some articles of clothing like formalwear have increased even more in price. Dresses cost almost 12% more than last year, and suits are sport coats are up 4.7%. By Sam DiSalvo Take a Look: 10 Things You Should Always Buy at WalmartMore: 15 Cheap, Beautiful Places To Retire...

As inflation continues to squeeze family finances in all areas, many Americans have switched their spending habits to include cheaper options and to cut discretionary purchases. By David Nadelle See: 9 Dollar Tree Items To Stock Up On This SummerFind: 7 Things You Should Never Do When Planning For Retirement While your best bet for deals is still likely to be found at discount stores — especially retailers that specialize in selling off high-end products at closeout prices — summer shopping (and the annual back-to-school spending spree) may be easier on the wallet this year, even at the most well-known chains....

Many people take a “set it and forget it” approach to banking: Once you establish a savings and checking account, you often don’t really pay attention to how you interact with these accounts. By Gabrielle Olya However, you may be racking up unnecessary fees and/or missing out on ways you can maximize your bank accounts to grow your money quicker — and these habits, whether they are conscious or not, will end up costing you....

When you loan out money, do you always expect people to pay you back? You may be surprised to hear that expectation can change depending on the generation you belong to. By Ashleigh Ray Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men – Here’s WhySee: 20 Best Places To Live on Only a Social Security Check Age Breakdown As demonstrated in the graphic above, the youngest generation, the Zoomers (18-25), have the highest percentage of “yes” answers at 72%, while Gen X (42-57) has the lowest with 57%....

On Dec. 31, 2021, the expanded child tax credit expired when Congress failed to renew it. The last checks issued went out on the 15th of the month, leaving millions of families out of luck. By Nicole Spector Student Loan Forgiveness: Mark These 4 Dates On Your Calendar NowExplore: Stimulus Payments Coming to These States in September 2022 Under the American Rescue Plan, the expanded child tax credit had gone from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six, and to $3,600 up from $2,000 for children under the age of six....

Chips are omnipresent, from cars, phones, computers and even toothbrushes, but the recent shortage shows no sign of ending. The situation is so bad, that some experts even call it “chipageddon” or “chipocalypse.” By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: The Supply Chain is Broken Again for Chicken, Ketchup and Computer ChipsFind: 10 Supply Shortages That May Happen Again This Year Glenn O’Donnell, a vice president research director at advisory firm Forrester, believes the shortage could last through 2022 and into 2023, because demand will remain high and supply will remain constrained, according to a blog post....

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 431,000 in March, below analysts’ expectations and significantly lower than February’s 678,000, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on April 1. Notable job gains continued in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, retail trade and manufacturing. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: March 26 Weekly Jobless Claims Increased Significantly Less Than Economists Expected Find: In Between Jobs? These Are Your Healthcare Options (and Costs)...

Maybe you’ve heard the story of a bowl someone in New York state bought for $3 at a garage sale in 2007. By Jami Farkas Antique Christmas Ornaments Artwork Books Comic Books Computers Guitars Jewelry Record Albums Sony Walkman Vintage Pyrex It was a little bowl, just 5 inches in diameter, with a big story behind it. A few years later, when the owner decided to have it checked out for its history, it was found to be a rare, 1,000-year-old creation from China – one of only two known to exist....

Happy Friday! We’re kicking off the weekend on a high note since today is National Soft Ice Cream Day. Grab your favorite soft serve cone and read up on today’s top financial stories. By Heather Taylor The Big Lead: 12 New Social Security ‘Compassionate Allowances’ The Social Security Administration has added 12 new health conditions under its Compassionate Allowances program, meaning people with these conditions now have faster access to Social Security disability benefits....

While working parents were hoping the 2021-22 school year would be easier than the last as the vaccine rollout progressed, more than half of them are at their breaking point as the pandemic lingers and variants continue to spread, according to a new survey. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: What To Do If The IRS Child Tax Credit Portal Isn’t WorkingFind: Didn’t Get Your Child Tax Credit? Here’s How to Track It Down...

By Maddie Duley Retirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of LifeSee: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows More From Your Money: Choose a high-interest saving, checking, CD, or investing account from our list of top banks to start saving today. Here’s a look at why so many Americans will be staying close to home this holiday season, plus insights from travel experts on how to save on travel this winter for those who will be going out of town....