Debt doesn’t mean you have to send all your extra cash toward repayments and stop enjoying your life. It is possible to carry debt while still traveling, replacing worn-out clothes and spending time with loved ones on the weekends. Nobody wants debt freedom at the expense of their joy. But…
Key takeaways Foreclosure happens when a homeowner defaults on their mortgage payments and the lender takes control of the property. U.S. foreclosure rates are currently at record low levels, decreasing by 10 percent in 2024. Experts, who had expected foreclosures to return to pre-pandemic levels by now, have struggled to…
You’ve heard about it often enough, most likely when choosing a 401(k) investment, but compound interest can multiply your money. The name of the game with compound interest is time, and the more of it you have, the bigger the payoff. That means if you’re a short-term investor, or looking…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate You just found out that you’re getting a tax refund and are considering using it to make a lump-sum payment toward your credit card debt. Before you do, let’s make sure you are setting yourself up for long-term financial security — not just temporary…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
While there has been much conversation on not buying from companies with poor diversity, little has been said about investing…
Lifestyle inflation occurs when your expenses increase as you earn more income. It can start subtly—dining at pricier restaurants, upgrading…
Chime, the largest digital bank in America, grew its revenue to $1.7 billion in 2024, an increase of roughly 30%…
Technology has transformed some parts of the daunting homebuying process–making it easier to search and compare properties online, to prepare…
Featured Articles
Credit Sesame’s personal finance news roundup April 19, 2025. Stories, news, politics, and events impacting personal finance during the past week. Consumer sentiment drops sharply across the boardNew York Fed survey shows worsening outlookU.S. credit scores dip slightly in early 2025Trump administration removes Democratic NCUA…
Dept Managmnt
Level 2: Discover the Fastest Way to Pay Off Debt With Rules and Challenges When looking for the fastest way to pay off…
Banking
Apple, FedEx and Oracle all got loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration. But rules and red tape keep many banks from making…
Credit Cards
All News
Key takeaways Refinancing a mortgage temporarily lowers your credit score. Refinancing can affect your credit score for up to one year while remaining on your credit report for up to two years. To best protect your credit, continue to make timely payments on your accounts and comparison shop within a…
General_4530/Getty Images Market volatility refers to the degree to which the price of a security or index changes over a period of time. Market volatility can occur for a variety of reasons, including economic news — such as tariffs — or an unexpected shock, such as the release of a…
Put options are a type of option that increases in value as a stock falls. A put allows the owner to lock in a predetermined price to sell a specific stock, while put sellers agree to buy the stock at that price. The appeal of puts is that they can…
Credit Sesame explains how global market chaos, triggered by new tariffs and economic uncertainty, could put your credit at risk in unexpected ways. A sharp drop in the stock market and international backlash to U.S. tariff policies have reminded consumers that financial turbulence does not stop at national borders. Whether…
Key takeaways The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card rewards structure makes it one of the most generous travel credit cards on the market today, especially when you consider its $95 annual fee. The card’s lucrative sign-up bonus only adds to the allure for cardholders who are interested in a top travel…
Profit on a stock’s decline: Short selling allows investors to profit on the decline of a stock. It provides another tool in an investor’s tool kit, allowing investors to make money when they discover an overvalued stock. Keep a check on fraud: Short selling helps keep fraudulent companies from ripping…
Many Americans have seen their 401(k) accounts decline in 2025 as stocks fell into correction territory and investors grapple with how new tariffs will impact the global economy. You work hard saving and investing to build up your 401(k) or other retirement accounts, so it’s natural to be worried about…
Franz Marc Frei/Getty Imgaes The pandemic-fueled real estate boom spurred massive appreciation in home values – and in home equity stakes. The average mortgage-holding homeowner now has an eye-opening $311,000 in equity (the portion of the home they own free and clear). American homeowners seeking cash have turned to tapping…
Dennis Diatel Photography/Getty Images Investors are facing a number of challenges right now. Tariffs, sticky inflation and uncertainty regarding monetary policy are rattling the stock market. On top of that, the crypto market has also felt the pressure, as digital asset prices have struggled to keep up with the momentum…
Key takeaways High credit card interest rates can make it harder to get out of debt for those carrying a balance on their credit cards from month to month. Credit unions and smaller banks tend to offer lower interest rates than large issuers, according to data from the Consumer Financial…
Editor's Pick
