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In anticipation of a potential increase of COVID-19 cases ahead of the holidays, the Biden administration announced that it would once again make free, at-home, rapid antigen tests available. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Social Security: Women Get $354 Per Month Less Than Men – Here’s WhyLearn: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows The tests are available to order on COVIDTests.gov which will be “open for a limited round of ordering this winter,” according to a White House statement....

The Twitter account @BlockbusterDAO announced in a Dec. 25 tweet that it was forming “a DAO to collectively govern the brand as we turn Blockbuster into the first-ever DeFilm streaming platform and a mainstay of both the Web3 brands and products, but a powerhouse in the future of the film industry.” By Dawn Allcot See: How Safe Are Your Crypto Investments? Find: The Most Expensive Cryptocurrencies The DAO stated that positive sentiment surrounding the Blockbuster brand, including the nostalgia around the company, gives the name value....

Purchasing a home in a rapidly appreciating and hypercompetitive housing market can feel like winning the lottery. But a new Zillow survey found that 75% of Americans who bought a home since the pandemic have buyer’s remorse. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Compare: 10 Surprisingly Affordable Housing Markets Across AmericaLearn: The Craziest Things That Kill Your Home’s Value The new Zillow survey noted that the top regret cited by recent buyers is that they purchased a home that needs more work or maintenance than expected, with 32% of respondents feeling that way....

You have a bill to pay. You write the check, stuff it in the envelope, put the stamp on it and hope it will arrive before the payment deadline so that you don’t incur a late fee. By Jami Farkas How To Email a Check How E-Checks Work Who Uses E-Checks Common Uses When E-Checks Clear You might find yourself wondering: Can’t I just email the check? You can, but it isn’t a commonplace occurrence in today’s financial system....

American families who qualify for the enhanced Child Tax Credit still have a couple more weeks to sign up for it. By Vance Cariaga Stimulus Checks: Mark These Dates on Your Calendar NowSocial Security Schedule: When November 2022 Benefits Will Be Sent Even if you have no earned income and have not yet filed a 2021 tax return, you can still get a credit of up to $3,600 if you claim it by Nov....

The most magical place on Earth is about to get much more expensive, as it seems that even Minnie and Mickey are not inflation-proof. Disney World announced its ticket prices would increase as of Dec. 8. — some by a whopping 12%. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: 6 Splurges That Are Worth It at Disney Theme ParksFind: What To Know About Disneyland Annual Pass Price Hikes Before You Re-Up CNN reported that while the current price for a one-day, one-park ticket is between $109 and $159, effective Dec....

Elon Musk revealed in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing on May 4 that he has secured $7.14 billion in funding for his $44 billion Twitter acquisition. The named group of investors includes some of Musk’s friends — as well as several companies that have ties to his different endeavors. The filing also revealed that Prince Al Waleed bin Talal plans to keep his stake of ~35 million shares in Twitter....

A new initiative from the U.S. Department of Agriculture aims to give food stamp recipients greater access to fruits and vegetables in an effort to encourage healthier eating. The program will be funded through a $25 million USDA investment and take place in three states. By Vance Cariaga Food Stamps: What Is the Maximum SNAP EBT Benefit for 2023?Learn: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their TaxesGovernment Shutdown 2023: Will Your Social Security Payments Stop Now That the Debt Ceiling Has Been Reached?...

The gig economy was in full swing before the pandemic even arrived, but 2020 changed everything. That year, necessity and desperation forced hordes of newly unemployed or furloughed workers into Etsy shops or behind the wheels of delivery trucks to make ends meet any way they could. By Andrew Lisa In 2021, however, the side hustle grew up. Part-time entrepreneurs evolved from trying to make their hobbies pay, as they had the year before, to developing legitimate and reliable alternative income streams....

In an effort to reduce the burden of high gas prices, many states are considering implementing a gas tax holiday or offering drivers a rebate on their fuel costs. In California, Governor Newsom proposed last Thursday, Mar. 17, that all California drivers should receive a $400 gas rebate. NBC News Los Angeles reported that the money would “more than cover a full year of California’s gas tax.” By Dawn Allcot See: 10 Best Credit Cards for Buying GasFind: Some People May Need to Pay Back the IRS – Are You One of Them?...

One of the most persistent pieces of messaging associated with student loan payments is that you need to sacrifice enjoyable aspects of life to focus on paying down or paying off debt. Borrowers often hear blanket advice like “stop buying coffee” or “you’re spending too much money dining out.” This can feel less helpful and more like we should be ashamed of our lifestyle choices. By Heather Taylor As a person who paid off her student loan debt of $55k and did it without giving up lattes, I know it is entirely possible to repay student loans without giving up the little treats that keep us motivated....

Who doesn’t like the idea of getting rich quickly? The American Dream is built upon such hopes, and yet, wealth building is a slow process without guarantees. In this digital age, though, it’s often hard to discern a legitimate opportunity from a scam. Here, experts provide some red flags to look for that will prevent you from falling for a financial trick. By Jordan Rosenfeld Find: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time JobSee: 19 Effective Ways To Tackle Your Budget...

The holiday season is a notoriously expensive time to travel. People looking to go home or meet with family elsewhere for Thanksgiving should be prepared to pay premium prices for their travel and accommodations. However, there are ways to save on travel during this busy long weekend if you do some planning ahead. By Gabrielle Olya Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered See Why: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans...

It is National Vanilla Cupcake Day, which means you’re pre-approved for a treat! Take a moment to enjoy a cupcake (we’ll let you pick the flavor you enjoy most if it’s not vanilla) and read today’s top financial stories. By Heather Taylor The Big Lead: U.S. Inflation Below 8% for First Time Since February Inflation is easing up a bit. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the all-items index for the 12 months ending October increased 7....

In light of elevated inflation and a summer travel season defined by record-high gas prices, some states are using budget surpluses or other means to lend a hand to struggling residents. By Andrew Lisa Also: Stimulus Payments Are Coming to These States in OctoberLearn: How To Tactfully Decline Splitting the Bill When Your Fellow Diners Ordered More More than a dozen states are currently distributing payments or will start issuing rebates soon....

If you’re worried about having to pay a lot more money for a house in 2022 than you did a couple of years ago, you can take heart in the fact that you might not find a house, anyway. By Vance Cariaga Housing Market: Home Prices Surged 18.8% in November — and That’s Actually a SlowdownExplore: Appliance Prices Are Up 13% Due To Inflation — How Homeowners Can Avoid the Extra Costs...

Getting a mortgage requires you to convince people you’ve never met to loan you hundreds of thousands of dollars. In order to make them comfortable enough to do that, you’ve got to show that you have some skin in the game yourself. By Andrew Lisa That’s your down payment. Find Out: What You Need To Do Now To Buy a Home in 1 Year, 2 Years or 5 Years See: 5 Common Misconceptions Millennials Have About the Costs of Homeownership...

If costs associated with tax preparation are a concern, your credit card may be able to help. According to NextAdvisor, your credit card could save you $20 or more on tax prep this year. By Josephine Nesbit Survey: 3/4 of Americans Plan to Pay off Debt or Bills with Their Tax Refund – Here’s Why That’s a Good Financial MoveAdvice: 3 Foolproof Strategies To Avoid Credit Card Debt These deals are typically targeted offers, which can vary by issuer and account....

The recent four-decade high inflation — combined with market volatility and fears of a looming recession — are taking a toll on Americans, with 66% of respondents now worrying more (than they did before) about their retirement income, per a new survey. In addition, more than two-thirds of Americans polled don’t realize that Social Security is protected against inflation. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed If a National Emergency HappensFind: Looking To Diversify In A Bear Market?...

American adults who are deemed unable to work due to disability may sometimes qualify for Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Income. While the programs are similar, providing benefits to adults whose illness or disability is expected to last longer than one year or to ultimately lead to death, SSDI is for those who recently worked and paid into Social Security through their payroll taxes. SSI, on the other hand, pays adults and children who have limited income and resources....