With 2024 winding down, that means it’s time to think about resolutions for the coming year. As the year has seen an easing of inflation, the aftermath of increased costs has left a lasting impact on our savings and financial wellbeing. Almost half of Americans (47 percent) said in a…
Key takeaways Closing on a house is a complex process that takes several weeks and involves many steps for you and your lender. On closing day, you’ll sign a stack of documents, pay closing costs and receive the keys to your house. Several issues can delay closing, including a low…
Key takeaways Stocks and options are two very different ways that you can invest. With stocks, you take an ownership stake in the company. An option is a side bet among traders over what the price of a stock will be at a certain time. There are pros and cons…
Credit Sesame discusses expectations for interest rate cuts in 2025 and the effect on the stock market. The Federal Reserve delivered one of the most unpopular rate cuts in recent history at the December 18 meeting, the last in 2024. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced a 0.25% rate…
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TomoCredit, a five-year-old San Francisco startup that claims it boosts consumers’ credit scores, is facing a growing number of problems,…
This founder built his brand on a simple idea: Forget about changing the world. Get rich doing mundane and even…
The 2024 presidential election has ended, and Donald Trump is poised to retake the White House, with big implications for…
Voters in Washington State have decided to keep the state’s first-in-the-nation public long term care insurance program. On Tuesday, they…
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ImagePixel/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Renting your home on Airbnb may not be covered by your homeowners insurance if it is considered a business activity. Airbnb offers a free insurance plan called AirCover, but it may not cover all potential damages or…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways A lien serves as an official notice that you owe a creditor for unpaid property. If you do not pay, the…
Banking
With interest rates easing and inflation cooling, small businesses are getting a much-needed break. A change to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) refinancing…
Credit Cards
Key takeaways Actively using a credit card responsibly can help improve your credit score over time. Using your credit card like a debit…
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A dividend stock is a publicly traded company that regularly shares profits with shareholders through dividends. These companies tend to be both consistently profitable and committed to paying dividends for the foreseeable future. While perhaps less exciting than chasing the latest high-flyer in the stock market, dividends can account for…
Key takeaways College scholarships and hardship grants for college students can help cover the cost of higher education. Scholarships tend to be merit-based, while grants are needs-based and can provide emergency cash assistance for college students. The FAFSA must be completed to qualify for some grants, but it is also…
Six_Characters/Getty Images Key takeaways A cosigner can help you get a student loan when you have new or bad credit. This party assumes legal responsibility for your debt and is responsible for fulfilling payment obligations should you fail to do so. Federal student loans for undergraduate students and some graduate…
Key takeaways Banks, credit unions and online lenders are top ways to borrow due to their competitive interest rates and quick turnaround. Lenders may offer both secured and unsecured options, but the collateral you can provide depends on the type of loan. Avoid high interest rates by comparing at least…
SDI Productions/Getty Image Key takeaways Student loan refinancing and consolidation are two ways to potentially lower your interest rate and simplify your monthly loan payments. With student loan refinancing, you use a private lender to refinance both federal and private student loans. Student loan consolidation involves the replacement of existing…
Key takeaways There are several types of emergency financial aid available for students, including emergency student loans, food programs and housing programs. You may be eligible to have some or all of your student debt discharged or forgiven, depending on your career field. Your school’s financial aid office may be…
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup December 14, 2024. Stories, news, politics and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Inflation increases in November 2024Producer prices rise in November 2024Consumer borrowing surged in October 2024Credit card late fee cap proposal remains blockedSpending expectations still exceed income growthMortgage rates decline…
Our writers and editors used an in-house natural language generation platform to assist with portions of this article, allowing them to focus on adding information that is uniquely helpful. The article was reviewed, fact-checked and edited by our editorial staff prior to publication. Key takeaways A money market account is a type of deposit…
Fifty-seven percent of U.S. workers say they’re behind on their retirement savings, according to Bankrate’s 2024 Retirement Savings Survey. But no group says they’re behind more than Gen X. A whopping 68 percent of Gen X workers say they’re lagging when it comes to retirement savings. The first edge of…
If you’re considering buying a home, chances are you’re not thinking much about Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored entity (GSE) that buys home loans from lenders. After all, Fannie Mae doesn’t offer mortgages directly to borrowers. But Fannie Mae does think about you – and other borrowers hoping to become homeowners.…