Christmas is the season of giving, but that doesn’t have to mean giving more of your money to your insurance company. Yes, we’re going to talk about insurance at Christmas because nothing fills the heart with good cheer like thoughts of dying, crashing your car, your house catching on fire,…
A partridge in a pear tree can’t really cost that much—can it? Well, you might be surprised by how expensive it would be to buy that single bird or any of the gifts from the classic Christmas song “The 12 Days of Christmas.” And let’s face it: We’ve all wondered just…
People love the idea of sitting back, doing nothing, and making money. You know it’s true. That’s why get-rich-quick schemes like cryptocurrency and nothing-down real estate have gotten so popular these days. Well, here’s one more thing you can add to that list: sports betting apps. If betting on sports…
The average American adult hasn’t made a new friend in five years.1 Five years! So, if you’re wondering how to make friends, you’re not alone. Why is making friends so hard? Because friendships are formed through shared experiences, in doing hard things together, which is why a lot of our ride…
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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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Ever wondered why we need so many acronyms to talk about health plans? There are a lot of letters! But look at it this way. It’s way easier to say PPO than preferred provider organization. Or HDHP instead of high deductible health plan. Shortening the…
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How the Zero Based Budgeting Method Works The zero based budgeting application is more straightforward than it sounds. Start by writing down your…
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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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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…
It seems to be an unwritten rule in life that once you turn 18, you have to get a credit card—as if you magically become a mature adult the moment someone hands you a piece of plastic. (And let’s be real, most adults I know struggle with plastic.) Pay off debt fast…
It’s the end of the month, and you’re out of money—again. It’s a hopeless feeling scrambling to see which bills you can pay late and scrounging around in the pantry for food until your next paycheck. If that’s you, hear this: You aren’t alone. In fact, 78% of Americans live…
These days, most people have heard enough horror stories about timeshares to know you should run for the hills whenever someone tries to sell you one. When it comes to vacation clubs and travel clubs, though, things are a little different. Those programs have started popping up a lot over…
Image by mbogacz/GettyImages/Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways A construction-to-permanent loan finances the construction of a house and converts to a mortgage on completion. Construction-to-permanent loans require only one round of closing costs. They also require a down payment. With a construction-to-permanent loan, you can draw funds at specific phases…
Wedding bells are ringing! Do you hear them? Soon, you’ll be celebrating love, stuffing your face with wedding cake, and doing the chicken dance in front of family and friends. But first—you have to shop for a wedding gift. That part isn’t always easy. You’ve got to think about your budget…
Earn 3% cash back. Get 20,000 bonus points. Gain more sky miles with each swipe! Credit card points are the main way credit card companies reel you in. After all, who doesn’t love free stuff? But all those “free” rewards actually come at a cost—and either you’re the one paying…
David Papazian/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways A mortgage is a loan that helps you purchase a home, with the home itself serving as collateral. Mortgage payments typically consist of principal (the amount borrowed), interest, property taxes and homeowners insurance. They can also include mortgage insurance. To…
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