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There have been weeks of waiting on the Biden Administration to discuss actions for student loan debt as the August 31 repayment deadline has been looming. On Wednesday, August 24, the president put forward new relief measures to help 43 million Americans who carry large loan balances. By Selena Fragassi See: Biden Cancels $10K Student Loans with Additional $10K for Pell Grant BorrowersFind: How Can I Apply For Federal Student Loan Forgiveness?...

In today’s “Financially Savvy Female” column, we chat with Morgan Kennedy, a private client advisor at Bank of America Private Bank who is also a mom herself, about how expectant mothers can be prepared to make less during their leave, added expenses parents-to-be should be prepared for and how to make changes now to be financially ready when baby comes. By Gabrielle Olya Take a Look Back: 2022 Year in ReviewRead More: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows...

If you’re already past retirement age, there’s not a lot you can do to modify your Social Security payments. However, there are still some factors that can boost your payout. At this age, it’s also important to understand exactly how payouts for Social Security work, when they arrive, how they’re taxed and how they may change in the future. Here’s a quick overview of what you’ll need to know about Social Security when you’re past retirement age....

Robert Kiyosaki, famed investor and author of the “Rich Dad” series of personal finance books, is yet another finance personality speaking out in favor of cryptocurrency investments, along with gold and silver. By Dawn Allcot Explore: 10 Cheap Cryptocurrencies To BuyFind: Treasury Yields To Blame for Dip in FAANG Stocks, Expert Claims ‘Their Achilles’ Heel Is Higher Rates’ In several tweets over the past few weeks, Kiyosaki touted his preference for these investments, even going so far as to say, “Get gold, silver, Bitcoin, ethereum before the biggest crash in history....

By Cynthia Measom Freelance Writer Online Tutor Dog Walker Housesitter Virtual Assistant Sell Printables on Etsy Online Test and Essay Scorer Sell on Facebook Marketplace Teach Lessons Mobile Lifeguard Freelance Writer Why it stands out: Many teachers are well-versed in writing in a clear and concise manner, so freelance writing can be a perfect way to bring in some extra money over the summer. Pros More From Your Money: Choose a high-interest saving, checking, CD, or investing account from our list of top banks to start saving today....

In the personal finance world, it has long been known that there are creditworthy people who do not have a credit score. Traditional lenders typically do not deal with these customers, so they had to resort to payday loans and lenders who charged high interest rates. A new proposal to allow banks to share deposit information for credit evaluations could alleviate this problem. By Ann Logue See: How To Jump Start Your Credit ScoreFind: It’s Time to Break Up With Your First Credit Card...

Second-hand shopping is a budgetary and environmentally-friendly practice, but it can cost you a lot of time. You could still come up short after scouring the aisles of thrift stores for hours, hunting for a specific item. By Bridget Murray Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsRead More: If Your Credit Score Is Under 740, Make These 4 Moves Now Enter Facebook Marketplace: part garage sale, part catalog, full second-hand shopper’s dream....

A new research paper from the San Francisco Federal Reserve explored the effects of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan stimulus package on the economy. Although the stimulus has certainly stoked the flames of inflation, with prices rising on consumer goods, food, gas, and housing, the report noted that inflation isn’t likely to overheat the economy. By Dawn Allcot See: Stimulus Money Could Cause the Stock Market to Plunge 15% by NovemberFind: Fourth Stimulus Won’t Happen, But These Federal Programs Aid Those In Financial Need...

The pandemic-induced chip shortage and supply chain issues made it a difficult — and pricey — landscape for potential car buyers in recent years. As of Jan. 15, Bloomberg reported that analysts expect a reversal for 2023, with a drop in prices due to a resuming of supply and lower demand. However, prices continue to be high due to soaring interest rates. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions AnsweredRead: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their TaxesFind: How 2023 Recession Will Differ From 2008 and How You Should Prepare Differently...

Understanding how your future retirement planning might affect your spouse is important. For Americans married to non-U.S. citizens or residents, there are many instances where a foreign spouse may not be able to claim Social Security benefits depending on varying qualification regulations from a U.S. standpoint and from a foreign country-specific point-of-view. By David Nadelle See: Do I Qualify for Spousal Benefits if I’m in a Civil Union? Find: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000...

Although inflation hit a record high in the United States this past summer at 9.1%, according to Forbes, it’s started easing up again. With that said, the energy index is up 17.6% year-on-year (YOY) and up 1.8% this past October. As prices continue to soar throughout the country, many people are starting to look for ways to save money. One way to do this is to switch from an oven to an air fryer....

Every generation looks at the younger generations and scratches their heads, noting differences that often feel miles wide. Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, is definitely doing things differently than older generations, especially when it comes to money. By Jordan Rosenfeld Know: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on AutopaySave: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity Bill These youth, who have been born into a digital age and utilize social media with a fervor their older peers don’t understand, have also grown up during some tough economic times....

A certified check is a type of personal check that is guaranteed by prepaid funds set aside by the issuing bank. By certifying the check, the bank verifies that the account it’s written from has enough money to cover the cost of the check and prevents that money from being used for any other purpose. By Cynthia Measom Why Use A Certified Check? Certified Check vs. Cashier’s Check How To Get One Avoid Fraud Certified Check Fees Pros/Cons of Using a Certified Check Before choosing to use certified checks, find out about their features, pros and cons, and how they compare with other forms of payment....

The advance Child Tax Credit has helped to lift more than 3 million children out of poverty, reports say. In summer 2021 when the credit first became available, many families reported spending the funds on various expenses ranging from paying down debt to saving the funds, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. By Dawn Allcot See: Stimulus Update — December’s Child Tax Credit Arrives in Two Days — Will This Be the Last Check?...

Plan B Passport offers crypto investors a pick of seven different passports, mostly in tax-haven countries, in order to dodge capital gains taxes on crypto assets, and the service is catching on as crypto becomes more ubiquitous. By Georgina Tzanetos Tax havens have long been a thorn in the side of the IRS and for the majority of politicians on both sides of the aisle. Almost every President since Reagan has campaigned on the premise of abolishing the ability of companies to hide away their profits in tropical locations that seldom tax their corporations....

A flashy symbol of luxury adored by pop stars and vintage wine collectors alike, a bottle of Dom Pérignon says “luxe” like nothing else. Dom Pérignon is a manufacturer of true champagne, having been produced in the Champagne region of France for more than 100 years. By Sarah Horvath Cost per Bottle Why It’s Expensive Though the brand is named after a famous monk, Dom Pérignon’s operation is far from a small monastery....

Founded in 1991, DSW has been serving customers for more than three decades. Today, the company has more than 500 retail stores across 44 states. The company’s claim to fame is its vast selection of top-quality shoes at competitive prices. By Joshua Rodriguez DSW Return Policy Receipt Policy Rewards Refund Timing See: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their Taxes If you shop at DSW, you may need to know about the company’s return policy....

If you had the choice between a $30,000 annual raise or the option to work from home, which would you choose? Having experienced more than a year of remote work during the pandemic, American employees are clear on their priorities: 64% of employees polled by the anonymous professional network Blind said their employer can keep the cash, because they’d prefer to work from home permanently. By Dawn Allcot Find Out: Should COVID-19 Vaccines Be Required?...

FedLoan, also known as Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, is one of the largest student loan servicers in the country. The agency recently announced that it would not renew its contract once its current one ends this year, at the end of 2021. By Lydia Kibet What This Means What To Expect How To Prepare Handling Challenges This has raised concern among many borrowers whose accounts will have to be transferred to a new company....

By Cynthia Measom Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsTake Our Quiz: 2022 Year in Review There’s no doubt that gas prices have put the squeeze on many Americans’ wallets over the past year. Gas peaked at $5 per gallon in June, which means some consumers shelled out almost $60 for 12 gallons and almost $100 for 20 gallons. However, prices have been falling at the pump lately, reaching reasonable levels in most states and sub-$3 per gallon in some....