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…
Dept Managmnt
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 Getting approved for a credit card can be a fairly quick process — sometimes taking just seconds. But other times, it can be slower, with issuers making you wait up to 30 days. Once approved, you’ll typically receive your card within a week, though some issuers may send…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways Overdraft fees are down slightly after increasing the previous year. The average fee is now $26.77, down 1 percent from the previous year. If you regularly incur high monthly maintenance fees, ATM fees and receive low interest rates on deposits,…
DW labs Inc./Shutterstock Key takeaways Wire transfers can be an expensive way to send money, costing the average consumer $27 and $44 for domestic and international outgoing wires, respectively. Your bank might charge you for incoming wire transfers. It can cost less to initiate an outbound wire transfer on your…
Key takeaways There is no right number of credit cards to own, but in general, most people should consider having at least two in case of emergencies or fraud. Having multiple credit cards helps reduce your utilization rate and provides lenders with more information to better gauge your creditworthiness. If…
Key takeaways Your credit card’s grace period is the time between when your credit card billing cycle closes and your bill is due. In most cases, credit card issuers don’t charge interest on your purchases during the grace period. Once the grace period ends, interest begins accruing on your balances…
Images: Getty Images; Illustration: Bankrate Key takeaways In an exclusive agency listing arrangement, a seller hires one real estate brokerage to market and sell their home. However, the seller can also bring in their own buyer — if that deal goes through, they won’t have to pay a commission. Some…
Key takeaways You don’t need to put 20 percent down to get a mortgage, and some mortgages don’t even require a down payment. You can get a conventional mortgage with 3 percent down, but with anything less than 20 percent, you’ll have to pay mortgage insurance. Making a larger down…
Key takeaways JetBlue’s TrueBlue Shopping lets loyalty program members earn points with the airline for each dollar they spend. Using the portal is free, and members can earn points for spending with hundreds of online retailers and partner brands. Purchases are tracked through the portal automatically, and bonus points are…
Key takeaways The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Citi Strata Premier® Card both offer access to popular travel rewards universes: Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi ThankYou points. Citi Strata Premier offers excellent rewards rates in more everyday categories, but Sapphire Preferred offers potentially better value when redeeming points for travel…
Key takeaways Loss of use reimburses expenses incurred when your home is uninhabitable after a loss. Elective renovations and general maintenance are not covered by loss of use. Pet boarding, parking fees, moving expenses and laundry services are just a few of the expenses loss of use may cover. If…
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