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The U.S. House of Representatives passed the first two blockchain bipartisan bills Tuesday evening to study and report on the use of blockchain technology and digital tokens. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Is the Fed Ready for Its Own Digital Currency?Find: What Is Blockchain Technology? The Blockchain Innovation Act and parts of the Digital Taxonomy Act passed the House of Representatives as part of Rep. Jerry McNerney’s bill, the Consumer Safety Technology Act, according to a statement....

SNAP provides support for low-income seniors, people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other low-income households. The Florida Department of Children and Families Office of Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS) is responsible for determining SNAP eligibility and distributing benefits to Florida SNAP accounts on a fixed monthly schedule. By Josephine Nesbit Learn: States Extending Emergency SNAP Allotment Through November 2022Find: If Your Credit Score Is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now...

If you’ve heard rumors about free tablets being provided by the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), don’t get your hopes up. While eligible households can receive deep discounts on tablets, there’s nothing on any official government website indicating that they’re free. By Vance Cariaga Find Out: Where To Use SNAP Benefits This SummerSocial Security Schedule: When July 2022 Benefits Will Be Sent The ACP is a benefit program run by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more....

Even though there have been a lot of long days and weeks so far in 2022, it does not seem possible that it’s half over already. Or does it? Either way, here are today’s top financial stories. By Gary Dudak The Big Lead: Social Security It’s a near certainty that the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients will be the biggest in decades to help offset skyrocketing inflation. The question is how big the COLA will be....

If you’ve been waiting for the price of EVs to go down so you can finally join the electric revolution, you’ll be disappointed to know that they’re more expensive than ever. According to Kelley Blue Book, the cost of the average new EV fell by 0.6% in 2022. The bad news is that the average MSRP for an electric vehicle is still $61,448. By Andrew Lisa While that’s painfully expensive, it’s not truly representative of the norm....

Your credit score is the product of a complex algorithm that factors in numerous variables. The number of credit cards you have is a portion of that mix, but it’s not one of the most important. In fact, the actual number of your credit cards is practically irrelevant compared to the big movers of your credit score, like how you use them. Here’s a look at what exactly goes into a credit score, along with an explanation of what you need to do to get or maintain top-tier credit....

For some, financial independence seems like an impossible dream and probably always will be. Others, who are more optimistic, might believe sheer determination will get them there. By Cynthia Measom The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to MoneyRetirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of Life While a positive and determined mindset is a move in the right direction, it takes much more to achieve a state of financial freedom....

Ever have the grand idea to overhaul your entire wardrobe? Several years ago, I did — aiming to look more like who I am: A confident, successful corporate account manager. I revamped to the tune of $19,000 worth of new designer clothes in one year. Yes, you read that right. It was the biggest money mistake I’ve ever made. By Michelle Summerfield Shopping Tips: Wrapping Paper, Greeting Cards and More Holiday Items to Only Buy at Dollar Stores Check Out: 29 Ways To Save On Holiday Gifts...

A divorce can be devastating to your finances if you aren’t prepared. The divorce settlement determines who gets what, but that’s just the beginning. It’s important to take stock of your financial situation and make moves to start rebuilding your finances on your own. “Once the financial dust settles after a divorce, start by getting clarity on where you stand financially,” said Natalie Taylor, a certified financial planner in Santa Barbara, California....

If you have an electric car, you may prefer the convenience of installing a charger at your home to save you from having to visit a charging station every time you need to power up. By Gabrielle Olya Have Any $200 Quarters Lying Around? It’s Worth Checking Your Spare ChangeSee: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows The cost of installing a charger varies greatly depending on the type of charger you opt for — a Level 1 charger is the most cost-effective, but also the least efficient for charging, while a Level 3 charger can get extremely pricey, but can provide up to an 80% charge in just 30 minutes, according to Carvana....

In financial circles, at office holiday parties and even around dinner tables across the U.S., talk is turning to fears of a recession in 2023. Some people may be looking at paying down debt, cutting corners during holiday shopping or bolstering their savings to prepare. By Dawn Allcot Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsTake a Look Back: 2022 Year in Review In fact, according to the CNBC All-America Economic Survey, 41% of American shoppers polled said they plan to spend less this year than they did in 2021....

NetCredit Overview NetCredit offers unsecured and often high-interest personal loans and lines of credit to those whose credit score prevents them from qualifying for a loan from other lenders. Even if a borrower’s credit is poor, they may qualify for a loan through NetCredit without putting up their car, home or another asset to secure the loan. By Andrea Norris Overview Features How It Stands Out Comparable Options Applying Who It’s Best For...

Recent grads are facing a situation that’s not all that different from what graduates in 2020 experienced. While the job market is undoubtedly in a better place than it was one year ago, it’s not like it was pre-pandemic. Those who are 20 to 24 years old are experiencing the highest unemployment rate of any age group at 10.1%, compared to the 5.8% unemployment rate overall. By Andrew Lisa Read More: 11 Best Lucrative Side Hustle Ideas: Earn MoreFind Out: 30 Odd Jobs That Pay Insanely Well...

Americans in New York, Georgia, and Connecticut are about to see a little relief from high gas prices. But will it really make a difference? In March 2022, 17 states had been contemplating a gas tax holiday to reduce prices at the pump. This June, as the unofficial start of summer has arrived, three states have put legislation into effect to reduce or eliminate taxes on gas. By Dawn Allcot Find Out: States Whose Economies Are Failing vs....

Robinhood rolled out its own crypto wallets to 1,000 customers from the top of its WenWallets waitlist and expects to expand the program to 10,000 customers by March, according to a blog post. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Robinhood Hit With Breach of Contract Fine – Could This be an Opening for Further Litigation? Find: How Robinhood and Other IPOs Performed in 2021 The wallet will enable Robinhood customers to send and receive cryptos from Robinhood to external crypto wallets, and fully connect crypto holders to the greater blockchain ecosystem for the very first time, the company said in the blog post....

SeedFi Overview SeedFi is a startup focused on providing credit-building opportunities and credit to Americans with poor credit scores. When you take out a loan with SeedFi, savings are built right into the product. Throughout the loan term, you’ll build savings and credit at the same time. Although the platform is not available in every state, the growing company is well positioned to help many average Americans build credit. By Sarah Sharkey Overview...

Federal student loan borrowers who are delinquent on their debt won’t have to worry about tax refunds being garnished until at least November, the Department of Education has announced. By Vance Cariaga Learn: What Is the Vermont Child Tax Credit? How $1,200 Payment Compares to Federal BenefitsFind: Child Tax Credit: How To Claim the Full Amount On Your 2021 Taxes The agency suspended the seizure of tax refunds — including those tied to Child Tax Credits — as well as Social Security and other government payments until Nov....

Sundae Overview Sundae is a real estate marketplace where sellers market their homes to a network of investors willing to purchase properties in as-is condition, usually with cash and no contingencies. Closings typically occur within 10 to 60 days, depending on the seller’s preference. Although Sundae is a licensed real estate broker in Texas, it works differently than traditional real estate brokers in that the homes on its platform are off-market, so buyers and sellers connect directly....

Are you facing tax season with a teenager in college for the first time? By Dawn Allcot See: Are Working Minors Entitled to a Tax Refund? Find: How Much Can Your Teen Make Before Needing to File Taxes? In some cases, parents received the advance Child Tax Credit for their college student. If your teen was under the age of 17 in 2021 — for instance, maybe they just started school — you could have received advance CTC payments throughout the second half of 2021....

Airlines lost a lot of money in 2020, with earnings down 60% from 2019, pre-COVID, according to the International Air Transport Association. And they were still struggling to recover at the end of 2021 despite the first wave of “revenge travel” — consumers making up for lost time by booking trips they’d delayed during the height of the pandemic. That trend strengthened in 2022. By spring, bookings for short and medium-distance trips had come from behind to surpass pre-pandemic levels by over 25%, MarketWatch reported, and demand remained strong through the third quarter....