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If you’re about to enter college or you’re about to start paying for someone to go to college, you’ve probably budgeted for tuition and housing, but there are hidden college costs you might not realize. By Sam DiSalvo The average cost to attend college per year in the United States is $35,331. That figure includes tuition, books, supplies and day-to-day expenses. That’s right around the average cost of student debt for undergraduates at the time of their graduation, which is $36,635....

First-time homebuyers and buyers with lower income or past credit problems can have trouble getting approved for a mortgage. FHA loans are designed specifically to help these buyers purchase a home. However, you and the home must meet FHA standards to qualify. By Daria Uhlig What an FHA Loan Is Types of FHA Loans FHA Loan vs. Conventional Mortgage Advantages Disadvantages Eligibility Requirements How To Apply Here’s everything you need to know about getting an FHA loan....

Fuel prices have been steadily dropping since mid-June’s all-time high of over $5 per gallon. This current relief comes, in part, to gas tax holidays during the summer and the Biden administration’s release of gas reserves, along with crude oil prices dropping. Prices at the pump have steadily declined over the past 92 days, according to data from AAA. By Dawn Allcot See: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on AutopayFind: Everything’s Bigger in Texas — Including Taxes, Which Are Outpacing California...

If you were born between 1997 and 2012, you are a member of Generation Z. This year the oldest of the Gen Zers will hit 26 years old. Many Gen Zers are in college or have already graduated. Some have even started families or are years into their careers. By Crystal Mayer See: Here’s How Much Americans Have in Their Savings Accounts in 2023Tips: With a Recession Looming, Make These 3 Retirement Moves To Stay On TrackWealthy Millennials Aren’t Banking on Stocks: Here’s What They’re Investing In Instead...

As the Great Resignation continues across the U.S., employees are gaining clarity as to what they want out of a job, what would entice them to stay, and what “dealbreakers” would force them to leave. By Dawn Allcot Discover: 5 Best Foods To Buy in Bulk at Costco This Spring More: Have Any $200 Quarters Lying Around? It’s Worth Checking Your Spare Change The most recent Global Benefits Attitude Survey, conducted by WTW, found that 52% of workers are actively looking for new opportunities or are at risk of leaving their current job....

Honda and LG Energy Solution announced a $4.4 billion joint venture to produce lithium-ion batteries in the U.S. to power Honda and Acura electric vehicle (EV) models for the North American market, per a press release from the companies. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions AnsweredSee Our List: 100 Most Influential Money Experts The decision was based “on the shared belief that expanding local electric vehicle production and ensuring the timely supply of batteries would put them in the best position to target the rapidly-growing North American EV market,” the companies shared in the release....

For many Americans, side hustles serve a variety of purposes. Working a few extra hours each week can help cover bills or pay down debt. Others find that working a side gig gives them the chance to explore their passions and interests outside of their full-time jobs. By Heather Taylor In 2022, more than nine in 10 working Americans work in some kind of side hustle, according to a survey by Insuranks....

Many factors contributed to the historic seller’s market that endured throughout the pandemic, which saw home prices rise by more than 50% in two years in some states. One of the biggest drivers of that growth was dirt-cheap mortgage rates. By Andrew Lisa “The low interest rate environment has created an unprecedented opportunity for not only buyers getting a great rate but homeowners seeing the value of their homes increase exponentially,” said Bill Gassett, founder of Maximum Real Estate Exposure....

For many people, traveling to new destinations is at the top of their bucket list. It can be exciting and wondrous — but downright terrifying if you have an emergency. Luckily, there are ways to help prevent disaster, including carrying the right amount of cash to avoid a sticky situation. By Crystal Mayer See Our List: 100 Most Influential Money ExpertsExplore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered We spoke with travel experts worldwide to determine precisely how much money you should carry to cover unexpected costs....

By John Csiszar About 12% indicated they wanted to own crypto for retirement, while 22% wanted to use crypto to diversify their investment portfolio. Find: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job Discover: Surprising Things You Can Buy With Food Stamps If you already own crypto or are thinking of investing yourself, it’s prudent to ask just how much crypto might be too much in your portfolio....

Deciding when to have a baby is an intensely personal decision and one that couples should not enter into lightly. There are many factors to consider, not the least of which is how much it costs to raise a child. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that the average cost to raise a child who was born in 2015 through age 17 is $233,610. By Karen Doyle Average Cost by Region Groceries, Apparel and Diapers Healthcare Child Care and Education Average Cost To Raise a Child by Region Before breaking down the specific expenses related to child-rearing, it can be helpful to note that while the average cost of raising a child is $233,610, that cost can vary depending on which region of the U....

Today’s “Financially Savvy Female” column was inspired by one of our readers who asked, “Knowing that the life expectancy of women is greater than men, how do wives plan financially for a life without her husband in the later years of her life?” To help this reader out, we spoke with Hilary Fiorella, executive director of the Center for Women in Financial Services at The American College of Financial Services, and she shared her insights about how women can plan for a financially secure life in the event of a partner’s death....

The IRS recently introduced a new rule, effective January 1, 2022, that required all third-party payment apps to report business earnings of $600 or more to the IRS with a 1099-K form. That means if you sell anything and receive payment through PayPal, Venmo, Square (recently changed to Block) or other third-party payment platforms this year, you’ll receive a 1099-K form next winter. You will then need to declare that income on your tax return and potentially pay self-employment taxes on it....

As inflation pushes the cost of doing business up, restaurants have been forced to find creative ways to address soaring food prices and the latest trend is adding new fees. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Discover: How Much More Did You Pay To Eat Out Because of Inflation in April 2022?Items Hit Hardest by Inflation: How Gas, Bacon & More Fared in 2021 The Wall Street Journal reports that new fees such as a “noncash adjustment,” “fuel surcharge,” or “kitchen appreciation” have been showing up on bills lately....

PocketGuard Overview PocketGuard is a personal finance and wealth management platform available on the web, the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. It determines a user’s discretionary income after bills and expenses are paid, savings goals are met and necessities are taken care of. PocketGuard lets users: By David Granahan Overview Features Competitors Cost 4.0 Tier Features 4.0 Distinguishing Features 4.9 Security 4.7 App Store Ratings 4.5 Pros 18,000+ supported institutions Auto-syncs data A freemium version is provided Comprehensive lineup of spend management tools Highly secure Available on mobile and web Cons Limited customization without PocketGuard Plus...

Social media platform Reddit, which was on a roll in 2021, recently released a year-end “Reddit Recap.” The recap covers some surprises concerning the platform, including the fact that redditors expressed more investment interest in Dogecoin than in Bitcoin. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Reddit Confidentially Files for IPO – Could it Become a Meme Stock? Find: Tesla Memes are Raging on Reddit’s WallStreetBets After the Stock Dropped 5% Monday Reddit was at the center of this year’s meme stock volatility saga — in part due to very active and opinionated retail traders on r/WallStreetBets subreddit — and also, in December, announced it had confidentially submitted paperwork to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for an Initial Public Offering (IPO)....

Retirement planning is something that’s easy in theory but difficult for many Americans to accomplish. Without dedication — and automation — it can be hard to live below your budget and set aside the requisite amount every month to ensure a healthy retirement nest egg. By John Csiszar See: 8 Undiscovered Cheap and Beautiful Places To RetireImportant: 5 Things You Must Do When Your Savings Reach $50,000 But even if you’re a committed saver and investor, there are mistakes you can make that could negate your years of hard work and planning....

AARP launched two new training courses to teach major U.S. retail employees how to spot and stop gift card and wire-transfer exploitation. Walgreens and Best Buy have both signed on as inaugural retailers utilizing the AARP BankSafe training, AARP said in a press release. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: The Best Cities To Retire on $2,000 a MonthLearn: 6 Signs You Can’t Afford To Retire “AARP’s BankSafe program gives frontline employees information and tools they need to stop scams and protect consumers — especially seniors — from losing their hard-earned money due to financial exploitation,” Debra Whitman, executive vice president and chief public policy officer at AARP, said in a blog post....

Sephora is famous for high-end makeup, hair, fragrance and skincare products. But what about returns? Beauty products are often tailored for specific traits — dry skin, allergens, color-treated hair, etc. — so a sterling return policy is key to ensuring customers can purchase confidently. By Joshua Rodriguez Return Policy Used and Open Items Receipts Return by Mail Return Policy Abuse Read: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their Taxes...

President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Act is in serious jeopardy after Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) said he would oppose the bill — and as such, it looks like the enhanced Child Tax Credit might have been dealt a death blow as well. Whether the bill passes or no, economic and political analysts remain focused on potential consequences as 2021 draws to a close. By Vance Cariaga See: No Child Tax Credit in January?...