When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates even by just 0.25%, it will have a direct impact on your finances. While a quarter of a percent may sound small, even slight changes in rates can ripple through the economy affecting everything from credit card payments to mortgage rates (more on…
Life throws curveballs. And often those curveballs mean you’re spending your hard-earned savings or you’re borrowing money instead. It can feel like a catch-22: Creating savings should help you avoid costly borrowing, but spending it equals losing it and going back to square one. So what is a saver to…
We’re heading into the final months of the year, which makes this the ideal time to lower your 2025 tax bill. Financial moves you make before year-end can reduce your taxable income, trim what you owe the IRS and put more money back in your pocket come tax-filing season. Here…
Key takeaways The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card is a solid option for frequent Delta customers, but the $150 annual fee (waived the first year) might be a bit steep for some. This card earns 2X miles at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.)…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
If a society is going to make intelligent choices in policy, it helps to understand reality, which includes facts and…
New York startup Casap has raised $25 million in new funding to help banks tackle the thorny problem of credit…
Featured Articles
Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways There are no specific income requirements to qualify for a mortgage — but mortgage lenders do evaluate whether you make enough to repay the amount you want to borrow. To determine if you’ll qualify, mortgage lenders…
Dept Managmnt
Key takeaways A divorce decree outlines which spouse is legally responsible for each debt after the divorce is completed. States either have community…
Banking
When it comes to selling coconut water to the health obsessed, New York’s Vita Coco has served up a master class, schooling even…
Credit Cards
All News
So you want to go to college (or maybe continue on to grad school). But you feel like the only way to make it happen is by taking out student loans. Hold it right there! Let me speak to you real quick before you sign on the dotted line. Hey,…
Key takeaways American AAdvantage miles can be worth more or less depending on when you book, the timing of your flight and other factors. You can use loyalty points to boost your AAdvantage status. Miles can be earned from booking flights and other travel, as well as through shopping, dining…
Image & illustration by Bankrate 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…
Do you ever see people who are living their retirement dreams and wonder, What the heck did they do to get there? There’s joy in their voices as they talk about their plans to travel the world or be outrageously generous. And it’s contagious! So, how did they do it? First off, they’re probably…
Jupiterimages/Getty Images Key takeaways We Buy Houses is a homebuying company that purchases properties in more than 30 states. It buys homes in as-is condition and can extend cash offers within 24 to 48 hours. Homeowners who sell to them can usually close the entire deal in one to two…
You’ve probably heard it before: Nobody buys or sells a home in the winter, right? Well, if you check the numbers, you’d see that plenty of homes are sold during the coldest months of the year. According to the National Association of REALTORS®, over 11,000 homes are sold per day…
Credit score minimum: Typically 640 Down payment minimum: None Income requirement: No more than 115% of your area’s median income DTI maximum: No more than 41% (44% in some cases) Similar to a VA loan, a USDA loan doesn’t require a down payment, but the home must be located in…
Precious metals such as silver have long been an alternative to traditional investments such as stocks and bonds. When times get tough or the economy faces severe inflation, some investors turn to silver to hedge their bets or to invest more defensively. For example, silver prices have been rising in…
The world of budgeting and personal finance is all abuzz with the news: Mint is shutting down this year. If you’re currently a budgeter with Mint, we know you’ve got lots of questions. Many of them probably start with, what the heck? (or something stronger). Let’s answer at least two…
If you’re like me, you’re probably already wondering when you’ll have time to wrap all your presents for Christmas. I want my gifts to look cute, but I don’t want to spend a ton of time or money on them this year. I’ve fallen into that trap before! Wrapping presents…
Editor's Pick
