So you’re dreaming of moving to the Golden State—but can you afford the cost of living in California? That’s a smart question to ask before you sell your house and load up a U-Haul with surfboards and sunscreen. According to a 2020 Cost of Living Index, the average city in…
A solid investment strategy gives you focus, clarity and direction—and you need all three to become a successful investor. You need to have an investment strategy that’s going to help turn your retirement dreams into a reality. Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff. Your…
When Crystal and Jorge Javier outgrew their tiny attic apartment in New Jersey, buying a home felt like a natural next step. After all, they’d just gotten a cushy tax refund, and Jorge had earned a raise at work. Jorge is a general manager for a real estate company and…
If you already have a will, that’s great! Every adult needs a will. (And that includes you—so be sure you get that done right away if you haven’t already.) But did you know that if you’re married, your spouse needs a will too? That’s right. This is a case where…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
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…
Featured Articles
So you’re dreaming of moving to New York—home of the Statue of Liberty, Times Square and Central Park. The Big Apple tends to get all of the attention, but there’s plenty more to love all throughout the Empire State—like seeing Niagara Falls, boating across the…
Dept Managmnt
3. Create a Spending Plan You Can Actually Stick To Call it a budget, a spending plan, or whatever name makes you most…
Banking
For fintech startups, the first five years of the decade have been a roller-coaster ride. At the outset, companies were awash in easy…
Credit Cards
All News
Back in the day, it wasn’t unusual for someone to stick with one employer their entire career, working their way up the corporate ladder because there was a really nice pension plan waiting for them at retirement. Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to navigate this stuff. But…
Key takeaways If you owe more than the car is worth, try to pay off your car loan before trading it in — or consider alternatives like selling the car privately for a higher price. If you have positive equity on the car, meaning you owe less than the car…
Think about the biggest life change you’ve had in the past year. The past five years? Now think about what’s coming up in the next five. You’ve probably got at least one major event that either just happened or is getting ready to happen. Maybe you’re celebrating the birth of…
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that…
Ever been at a dinner party where someone started using fancy investing terms that made everyone feel intimidated? One of the things we love doing is helping people understand complicated investing topics. And market capitalization is one of those $20 words that we like to explain in simple terms. Let’s take a…
SDI Productions/Getty Images Your savings account has a variable interest rate, so your bank can choose to raise or lower that rate at any time. Due to this, the yield you’re currently earning might not be the same as it was last year or even last month. While such rate…
You’re not alone if thinking about life insurance doesn’t fall high on your list of fun things to do. But part of the “fun” of being an adult means handling business every day, right? Right! And besides, once you know a few basic things about how life insurance works and…
Key takeaways Personal loans are best for one-time, fixed expenses, while personal lines of credit are best for ongoing financing needs or purchases that require flexibility. Both options offer lower average interest rates than credit cards for borrowers with good credit. Repayment terms depend on how much you borrow and…
You’re probably somewhat aware of your personality type: whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, a control freak or totally laid back. But did you know you have a money personality type too? We each have our own tendencies that make up our money personality as a whole. You may…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Cash-out auto refinancing lets you borrow money by swapping your car loan out for a larger loan, typically with different terms. The amount you can access depends on your vehicle’s value, your credit history and the lender. Be sure to…
Editor's Pick
