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Retailers could face a less-than-merry holiday shopping season as many consumers look to put on the brakes after blowing much of their holiday budgets on deeply discounted items in recent weeks. By Vance Cariaga Retirement at Any Age: Get Retirement Tips That Fit Every Stage of LifeFind Out: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans Those discounts were caused by excess inventory at many retail chains, which had to mark down merchandise to move it off the shelves, Yahoo Finance reported....

Tesla opened two gigafactories earlier this year in Texas and Germany, but now CEO Elon Musk is saying that they are “losing billions of dollars.” By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: 10 Richest People in the WorldFind: The Best Cities To Retire on $2,000 a Month “Both Berlin and Austin factories are gigantic money furnaces right now,” the chief executive officer said in a multi-part video interview with Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley....

New York residents enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will receive a supplemental allotment in September totaling about $234 million in federal funding, Gov. Kathy Hochul said last week. By Vance Cariaga SNAP Benefits: Can You Use EBT Card/Food Stamps To Purchase Hot Food?More: This Credit Score Mistake Could Be Costing Millions of Americans In a Sept. 13 announcement on her website, Hochul said the emergency assistance supplement will be provided to all New York households who receive SNAP benefits....

In an increasingly digital world, social media has become a powerful tool for small-business owners. According to the American Express 2022 Shop Small Impact Study, nearly all small-business owners on social (96%) believe that it has had a positive impact on their business’ revenue over the past year. In addition, 88% say it has helped them to find new customers this past year, and nearly half (45%) of small-business owners on social say that without social media, their business would struggle to survive....

Sometimes employees need to decline a work holiday party invitation due to financial reasons. Without telling your employer all of your personal details, what are some of the best ways to politely say you won’t be able to attend? By Heather Taylor Holiday Spending: Get Top Holiday Shopping and Savings TipsLearn More: 3 Easy Tips To Turn Your Credit Woes Into Wows Here’s what you need to know about gracefully declining a work holiday party invitation....

The Kentucky Derby is considered the premium jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing, the highest-profile race of the year. By George Malone In addition to the fame of being called “Kentucky Derby champion” and winning a garland of roses, the owner of the first-place winner takes home a hefty payday. Find: 22 Side Gigs That Can Make You Richer Than a Full-Time Job Learn: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security Early...

It’s easy to go overboard with your spending during the holidays. The parties, food, gifts and shipping costs all can snowball and add up quickly. And this year, your holiday budget will likely not go as far as in past years. By Cynthia Measom Set Your Priorities Make a Budget Have a Backup Gift List Comparison Shop Sign Up for Coupon Alerts Visit a Consignment Shop Save on Gift Wrap Be Willing To Sacrifice The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to MoneyExplore: Your Biggest Money Etiquette Questions Answered...

Being financially broke during the holidays is a physically and emotionally challenging issue many face, but it tends to go largely unspoken during this time of year. It’s important, first and foremost, for those who are financially struggling to know they are not alone. Here’s what makes it challenging to struggle with money during the holidays — and some no-cost ways you can celebrate the season. By Heather Taylor Why Is Struggling With Money So Challenging During the Holidays?...

The wealthy often use the complex strategy of writing off investment losses on their taxes to evade a large tax bill and keep more of their profits — but how do they do it? By Georgina Tzanetos See: 10 Tax Loopholes That Could Save You ThousandsFind: Tax Tricks and Loopholes Only the Rich Know Capital gains, which are taxed at 15-20% depending on your income, are calculated as a net gain....

This week’s move by the Federal Reserve to hike interest rates by another 25 basis points means credit card customers can expect to see their card rates rise as well. By Vance Cariaga See: Fed Rate Hike Smallest Since March 2022: Inflation Eases but Remains ElevatedRead: Get Your Credit Score on Track With These 3 Tips for SuccessFind: Here’s How Much Americans Have in Their Savings Accounts in 2023 The good news is, the latest Fed hike is more modest than the half-point increases the central bank approved for much of 2022 in its effort to tame inflation....

After a year of inflation pushing up the price of everything from food, to gas and housing, Americans are turning to side hustles to fill financial gaps. According to a recent LendingTree survey, 44% of Americans say they have a side gig — up 13% since 2020. By Josephine Nesbit See: 5 Easy Side Gigs That Pay WellTake a Look Back: 2022 Year in Review LendingTree asked 2,100 U.S. consumers about side hustling habits and found that younger generations and parents with children under 18 were more likely to have a side gig....

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, issues benefits via a preloaded debit card that can be used like cash to purchase food. SNAP is intended to help low-income working people, senior citizens, the disabled and others feed their families. The pre-loaded debit cards, known as EBT cards, can be used at most grocery stores to purchase basic grocery items like fruits and vegetables; dairy; meat, fish and poultry; breads and cereals; and food-producing seeds and plants....

In a shot fired across rival Costco’s bow, Sam’s Club has announced plans to undersell its hot dog and soda combo in an effort to play up the company’s low prices and bring in more customers. At all Sam’s Club Cafes, the all-beef hot dog and drink deal will now be a lean $1.38. By David Nadelle See: 10 Popular Products That Costco Doesn’t Sell AnymoreLearn: 9 Costco Brand Items That Aren’t Worth the Money...

Should you retire abroad? It’s an age-old idea that is a polarizing one in the United States. While some would never leave their homeland behind, others have fantasies of living in luxury on the cheap overseas. Whichever camp you fall into, it’s important to note that there are pros and cons of both living abroad and remaining in the United States after retirement. By John Csiszar Good To Know: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Aren’t TaxableFind Out: 7 Surprisingly Easy Ways To Reach Your Retirement Goals...

SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), formerly known as food stamps, is the largest federal assistance program. Administered at the state level, SNAP provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income households. By Josephine Nesbit Learn: Surprising Things You Can Buy With Food StampsSee: 25 Extra Grocery Costs You’re Probably Forgetting About SNAP deposit schedules vary by state. Payments are usually distributed according to the last numbers of your identification number for your state’s program....

Your Social Security statement gives you access to estimates for retirement, disability and survivor benefits you and your family may be eligible for and shows your earnings history and how much you’ve paid in Social Security and Medicare taxes. Your Social Security statement can also be used as proof of income. By Josephine Nesbit See: Your Social Security Statement Is About To Get a Lot Easier To ReadFind: How To Fix Your Social Security Earnings Record If There’s a Mistake...

Some states have issued stimulus relief checks, such as California’s Middle Class Tax Refund (MCTR) payment. But whether these are taxable or not is unclear and is creating a lot of confusion, according to experts. By Yaёl Bizouati-Kennedy See: Didn’t Get Your State Stimulus Check? Here’s Who To Contact for InformationFind: 3 Ways Smart People Save Money When Filing Their TaxesLearn: How To Calculate the Exact Minimum Amount You Should Have in Your Checking Account...

The Federal Reserve hinted that it might put the brakes on its federal stimulus efforts before the end of the year and hike interest rates in 2022, but a lot depends on how upcoming jobs and economic reports pan out. By Vance Cariaga See: When Social Security Runs Out: What the Program Will Look Like in 2035Find: What To Do If The IRS Child Tax Credit Portal Isn’t Working In a policy statement released Wednesday, the Fed’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) said that if recent economic progress “continues broadly as expected, the Committee judges that a moderation in the pace of asset purchases may soon be warranted....

By David Nadelle See: Tax Tricks and Loopholes Only the Rich KnowFind: Thinking About Summer Camp? Don’t Forget About the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit The change concerns using pre-pandemic income to file an EITC claim. Question 15 asks: “Can I elect to use my 2019 earned income to figure my Earned Income Tax Credit for 2021?” Unlike previous years, the answer to this question is yes. You may elect to use your 2019 earned income to file an EITC claim if it was higher than your 2021 earned income and if you did not file a return or claim the EITC in the last two years....

It’s should come as no surprise that many Americans regard their pets as significantly more than simple companions. The mental and physical benefits owners may gain from viewing their pets as a part of the family are often significant, per Psychology Today. It isn’t any wonder that owners want to spend their valuable leisure time with those who give them the most joy — and unconditional love. By David Nadelle See: 8 Things To Purchase When Building an Emergency Go Bag for PetsFind: Why Buying Property in These Vacation Destinations Could Be a Great Investment...