One of the best ways to wreck your day . . . is to wreck your car! But scary (and expensive) as collisions can be, there’s more than one way to damage your car—heck, it can get damaged when you’re not even driving it! And when random car damage strikes,…
How long have you been budgeting? One month? One hundred months? So long you don’t remember? If you’re new to budgeting, hear this: It takes about three months to get into the swing of things and feel like this budgeting life is a real routine. But after that, what if…
Just like anything else in life, managing your money when you’re single has its pros and cons. Pros? No money fights (unless you fight the voice inside your head). Cons? A single income with less accountability. But no matter what your pros and cons list looks like, getting ahead with…
REPORT SUMMARY 88% of U.S. adults said high school did not leave them “fully-prepared” for how to handle money in the real world. 3 in 4 U.S. adults said in the years after high school, they “often” (32%) or “sometimes” (42%) felt stress because of money. 72% of U.S. adults…
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Last year, on the day before Tax Day, my mom was scheduled to fly into Philadelphia International Airport to stay…
The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
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Emergencies hit you out of nowhere. And if you don’t have a buffer of cash between you and all the twists and turns of life, things can get tricky fast. That’s where an emergency fund comes to the rescue—it’s your financial safety net when things…
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If you need some inspiration, common goals among Canadians include retirement planning, saving for a vacation, paying down debt, and setting aside money…
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For fintech startups, the first five years of the decade have been a roller-coaster ride. At the outset, companies were awash in easy…
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Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Refinancing your mortgage typically costs between 2 percent and 6 percent of the new loan amount. These closing costs can include fees for origination, a home appraisal and more. You can save on the cost of refinancing by boosting your…
Most of us have lent money to a friend or family member or paid a group bill with the expectation of being paid back. Unfortunately, these situations don’t always go smoothly and often result in lost money or hurt feelings — sometimes both. About seven in 10 U.S. adults (70…
As millions of Americans head home for the holidays, Bankrate’s latest survey finds that there’s one dinner topic that will likely generate more heartburn than the typical conversation taboos about politics or religion: it’s money. The national opinion poll found that about 3 in 5 U.S. adults (61 percent) said…
What’s worse: a weak job market or stubborn inflation? Most people would say they don’t want either. Rising prices make it harder to afford the things you need, even when you’re working. A weak job market makes it tougher to ask for a raise, find a better position or land…
Key takeaways Three percent down mortgages are exactly what they sound like — they require only a 3 percent down payment. The lower down payment can make it easier to afford a home, but it will mean higher mortgage payments. These mortgages are often part of a program, and borrowers…
Dean Mitchell/E+/Getty Images Key takeaways Your credit utilization ratio is determined by taking the amount you owe on a credit card and dividing it by your credit limit. Credit utilization is an important factor in your credit score. Most experts recommend keeping this ratio below 30 percent for the best…
KenWiedemann/Getty Images Key takeaways HomeReady mortgages are a type of conventional loan for lower-income borrowers, backed by Fannie Mae. To qualify for a HomeReady loan, your income can’t exceed more than 80 percent of your area’s median income. The program offers a low 3 percent down payment minimum and reduced…
Key takeaways Inflation is a sustained increase in prices of goods and services, which can negatively impact your purchasing power and stretch your budget. The Federal Reserve targets a 2% annual inflation rate as a sign of a healthy economy. Inflation can be caused by a variety of factors, such…
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