Practical Money Tricks That Lead to Real Treats Getting out of debt doesn’t happen overnight, but small, consistent actions can help you regain confidence and control. Here are a few tried-and-true strategies: Budget like a pro: Track every dollar for a month to see where your money really goes. Focus…
Key takeaways Credit unions typically offer better rates on savings and lower rates on loans compared to traditional banks. Membership is required and may have specific eligibility requirements based on location, employer or affiliation. Your deposits are federally insured up to $250,000, just like at banks, providing the same level…
Key takeaways A home equity line of credit (HELOC) on an investment property is a loan taken out against a piece of real estate that generates income or a financial return. Lenders will consider both the borrower’s creditworthiness and the property’s financials when evaluating an investment property HELOC application. These…
Key takeaways While your home’s value is determined by many factors, some home improvements could help increase its worth. There are multiple ways to pay for upgrades, including cash-out refinancing, a home equity loan or home improvement loan. If you plan to sell your home, it’s important to determine not…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
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…
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Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways A debt consolidation loan replaces multiple streams of debt with one new loan at a fixed rate and monthly payment. A personal loan for debt consolidation is typically a fast and simple way to consolidate all…
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The decision of which debt to start paying off first is a personal one, but starting with high-interest debt is generally considered the…
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Lawrence Golub, billionaire founder and CEO of private credit firm Golub Capital, emphatically dismissed fears that the rapid growth of private credit, specifically…
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Key takeaways Uniformed service members and federal employees can borrow against their retirement plans with a TSP loan. You can borrow a minimum of $1,000. You can borrow a TSP loan for general purposes, and you can use funds to construct or close on a home. TSP loans come with…
Key takeaways Because the Fed’s decisions to change interest rates affect the pricing of bonds, bond investors closely monitor Federal Reserve interest rate moves. The Fed lowered rates in late 2024 but paused rates until its meeting on Sept. 16-17, 2025, when it decided to lower rates by 25 basis…
Key takeaways For those wanting to grow older in their own homes, HELOCs (home equity lines of credit), home improvement loans and home equity loans may be a good way to finance the necessary renovations. If you’re moving in with a loved one, consider a personal loan or low-interest credit…
Key takeaways Your student loans could come due while you’re still in school if you drop below part-time enrollment or choose certain repayment plans. Your grades can affect your eligibility for federal student loans as well as some types of student loans. If you are notified you owe payments, and…
Investors who have held onto long-term bonds throughout the past few years might finally have their chance at seeing gains in a lower interest rate environment. Rate cuts by the Federal Reserve could push long-term bond prices higher after a period of declining values. However, as exciting as falling rates…
Key takeaways If you have a FICO score below 580 or a VantageScore credit score below 600, you have poor credit. You can still get access to a credit card with a score in this range, but your options will be limited. Credit cards for bad credit include both unsecured…
Images by GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate The Federal Reserve doesn’t set mortgage rates outright, but its decisions do play a role in the percentages lenders offer would-be homeowners. And even if the Fed keeps its benchmark rate unchanged, mortgage rates can still fluctuate. Here’s how the Fed’s monetary policy…
Looking for the best apps for stock trading to get your money invested in the market? There’s a growing list of apps to choose from, which can make the search intimidating, especially if you’re just starting to invest. The best stock market apps let you quickly trade, track your account…
A dashboard-mounted camera (or “dash cam”) won’t typically lower the cost of your auto insurance automatically. Almost no U.S. auto insurers offer a direct discount for installing a dash cam, but having one in your car could still have positive payoffs. Bankrate’s insurance editorial team looked into the technology and…
While Bitcoin spent the last decade soaring and making millionaires out of many people, other owners of the world’s largest cryptocurrency have missed out. Why? One major reason: They’ve lost access to their account. In fact, more than $400 billion in Bitcoin is estimated to be lost — but some…
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