Posts

Update: All the websites affected are now back online, according to Fastly’s status update page. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy The problem was due to an outage at Fastly, a cloud service provider, CNN reports. Around 6 a.m. ET Fastly’s status update page (which was working) noted an error, saying “we’re currently investigating potential impact to performance with our CDN [content delivery network] services.” About an hour later, company updated the page, noting that it had identified the problem and fixed the issue — but many sites remained unavailable for some users....

In spite of inflation, economic uncertainty and fears of an impending recession, the short-term vacation rental market is looking up. Airbnb reported third-quarter profits of $1.21 billion — an all-time high for the company. By Dawn Allcot “The third quarter of 2022 demonstrates we continue to drive growth and profitability at scale. Guest demand on Airbnb remains strong, our Host community continues to grow, and this was our most profitable quarter ever,” said Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky....

The Internal Revenue Service recently announced that their Free File program will remain available through Friday’s filing deadline for those who still need to file their 2020 tax returns. By Georgina Tzanetos See: The IRS Is Behind On Processing More Than 5.5 Million Tax Returns As Oct. 15 Deadline LoomsFind: Missing A Child Tax Credit Payment? Here’s The IRS Phone Number Free File is the IRS’ tax preparation software program that allows taxpayers below a certain income threshold to file their taxes at no cost....

The Biden administration is giving the food stamp program a major facelift. Beginning in October, average benefits will rise more than 25% from pre-pandemic levels, making it the largest permanent increase to benefits in the program’s history, according to The New York Times. By Josephine Nesbit Fact Check: No, There Isn’t A $7K Stimulus Coming This Week Take Our Poll: Are You Actually Spending Your Child Tax Credit Payment? Formally known as the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, the food stamp program feeds 42 million people, or one in eight Americans....

By Dawn Allcot See: Biden Administration Announces 24/7 Work at Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports to Clear BackupsFind: Grocery Store Shortages Comparable to 2020 — Are You Prepared for Lack of Supply During the Holidays? More From Your Money: Choose a high-interest saving, checking, CD, or investing account from our list of top banks to start saving today. See: Walmart, Target and More Charter Private Ships To Combat Great Depression-Level Supply Chain IssuesFind: As Anxiety at the Grocery Store Mounts, Over Half of US Shoppers Demand Supply Chain Transparency...

Hasbro is attempting to beat pandemic-related delays by ramping up production in July and increasing prices for the upcoming holiday season. The global play and entertainment company hopes to cash in on the demand for Nerf Blasters and Marvel action figures, reported Reuters. By Josephine Nesbit See: Pandemic Shortages — Buy This, Not ThatFind: Consumer Confidence Up for Sixth Consecutive Month “We successfully established price increases that go into effect during the third quarter and provide an offset to the rising input and freight costs in the business,” explained Brian Goldner, Hasbro chairman and CEO, in the company’s second-quarter earnings call Monday....

The best laid plans can often go awry when it comes to finances, because unexpected expenses have a not-so-funny way of cropping up when they are the last thing you need. Such expenses can range from childcare costs and car repairs to higher than usual bills and health-related emergencies. By Jordan Rosenfeld Cash App Borrow: How To Borrow Money on Cash AppSmall Business Spotlight 2022: Nominate Your Favorite Small Biz...

Daniel Craig, 53, may have played James Bond for the fifth and final time in “No Time to Die,” but he already has plenty of projects lined up to keep himself busy and his fans happy for a long while to come. His shrewd negotiating and clever film choices led him to be the top paid movie star in 2021, according to Variety. By Michelle Tompkins See: 8.5 Million Tax Refunds Have Yet to Be Sent — What to Do If You Haven’t Received YoursFind: Best Cryptocurrencies to Invest In for 2021...

Reality star-turned-lifestyle entrepreneur Lauren Conrad rose to fame on the MTV show “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” and has parlayed that fame into an empire of branded products. She’s now worth an impressive $40 million. By Gabrielle Olya See: Celebs Who Got Richer From Their Second JobsWhere Are They Now: Richest Reality Stars of the 2000s Here’s a quick look at Conrad’s stats: Net worth: $40 million Date of birth: Feb....

Having three to six months of expenses saved up “just in case” can help prevent you from going into debt if you lose your job, have a medical emergency or have some other unanticipated expense arise. But with inflation increasing the cost of just about everything, it can be difficult to ensure that your emergency savings is keeping pace. By Gabrielle Olya Tips: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity BillGood To Know: Here’s How Much Cash You Need Stashed if a National Emergency Happens...

Redbubble is a print-on-demand service that allows designers to create a line of products displaying their artwork. The site manufactures and ships the products and pays royalties on the sales. By Thomas Streissguth How It Works Optimization Is It Worth It Artists can develop a great side hustle with Redbubble. Using effective descriptions and tags, driving search traffic and creating a standout identity are the keys to earning a steady and significant income on the platform....

Inflation continued to cool down in November, easing up to 7.1%, which is even lower than economists had anticipated. The decline provides some hope and relief to both investors and consumers. The decrease was mostly driven by a decline in gas prices, but the still-high figure was driven largely by an increase in shelter prices, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) said Tuesday, Dec. 13. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy Consumer Price Index: How Much Did Inflation Impact Gas Prices in 2022?...

Billionaire entrepreneur and investor Leo KoGuan, a self-described “fanboy” of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and the third-largest individual shareholder in the electric vehicle maker, is calling on the company to buy back $15 billion worth of stock to help reverse its recent slide on Wall Street. By Vance Cariaga Discover: 9 Bills You Should Never Put on Autopay More: 25 Extra Grocery Costs You’re Probably Forgetting About KoGuan offered the advice in a since-deleted tweet to Martin Viecha, Tesla’s senior director of investor relations, according to reports from CNBC and Teslarati....

Women in the labor force were hit particularly hard during the coronavirus pandemic, but some big chain restaurants are hoping to bring more workers back by offering bigger and better benefits. McDonald’s, in particular, is aiming to boost hourly pay, give workers paid time off and help cover tuition costs, reports The Wall Street Journal. By Josephine Nesbit See: McDonald’s Raising Average Wage for Employees at Company-Owned RestaurantsFind: National French Fry Day — Where to Score Free Fries, Possibly for Life...

Electric vehicles might be good for the environment, but they’re tough on the bank account. The average price paid for a new EV was just more than $66,000 in July, according to Kelley Blue Book. That’s roughly $18,000 higher than the overall average for new cars, which hit a record of $48,000 in July. By Vance Cariaga Explore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions AnsweredFind Out: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans...

Individual retirement account provider Choice and Bitcoin mining/hosting firm Compass Mining recently announced that they are offering an IRA that would allow miners to produce Bitcoin with special tax advantages. By Georgina Tzanetos See: Financial Experts React to Rise in Crypto Retirement Plans Find: The Wealthy Actively Use This Roth IRA Strategy, and So Can You Under normal circumstances, people who mine and then sell Bitcoin are double taxed. Accounting Today explains that Bitcoin miners incur income tax when the digital currency comes into their possession....

It’s the most wonderful time of the year for many companies that will see a spike in business due to the holiday rush. According to Statista, consumers spend around $755 to $767 billion in November and December — and that uptick means seasonal workers to help with the overflow. By Selena Fragassi See: 2 in 5 Workers Are Experiencing Burnout — This Could Be Key to ReliefExplore: 6 Remote Jobs That Pay at Least $40 Per Hour...

Overall, the government dedicated $6 trillion to pandemic relief, according to CNN, around $850 billion of which was spent on three different installments of direct cash payments. Together, those payments represented one of the greatest transfers of wealth in history — never has more money flowed from federal coffers back into American households. By Andrew Lisa According to the Economic Security Project (ESP), there’s clear evidence that direct payments were “the fastest and most impactful investments helping Americans get through this crisis, lifting more people out of poverty than any other single policy....

According to the American Association of University Women, upon completion of a bachelor’s degree, women’s average student debt is about $2,700 greater than men’s. As it stands, women hold about 65% of the student debt in the U.S. In this “Financially Savvy Female” column, we’re chatting with financial pros and student loan experts about why women graduate with more debt, as well as what women can proactively do before taking on student loans to ensure they’re taking on only a manageable amount of debt....

Small businesses have long been touted as America’s backbone and the main pillar of its economy. Almost every president in recent memory has campaigned on the importance of their survival, and the IRS has allowed them tax allowances and leeway that larger institutions are rarely afforded. However, recent studies have shown that small businesses are not the job generators they might have thought to have once been. By Georgina Tzanetos Check Out: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security EarlyMore: 7 Things You Should Never Do When Planning for Retirement...