“Ugh . . . why is gas so expensive?” you yell at the sky as you cough up $50 to fill up. Here’s the short, nerdy answer: Most of the time, gas prices go up when the price of crude oil goes up. Lots of stuff affects the price of oil,…
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 13,000 homes are sold per day on average…
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,…
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! Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro…
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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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Taxes . . . can’t live with ’em, can’t live (in America) without ’em. Whether we like it or not, income taxes are as much a part of American life as baseball and apple pie. And while we groan and grumble as we fill out our…
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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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Key takeaways Personal loans and home equity loans can provide a much-needed source of funding if you need cash. Personal loans are less risky because they’re unsecured, but they often come with higher interest rates. Home equity loans may be more accessible to borrowers with lower credit scores, but you…
Image by MementoJpeg/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Money market accounts combine features of checking and savings accounts — you earn interest like a savings account but get check-writing and debit card access like a checking account (not all MMAs offer these features). High-yield savings accounts typically offer rates…
Key takeaways Most bank account denials stem from ChexSystems reports showing past account problems like unpaid negative balances, bounced checks, or suspected fraud — not your credit score. You can get your ChexSystems report free once every 12 months under federal law, dispute errors, and work to resolve outstanding issues…
Image by GettyImages, Illustrated by Bankrate Key Takeaways APY (Annual Percentage Yield) shows how much interest your savings account or CD will earn in one year, including the effect of compound interest. The best savings accounts currently pay around 4.20% APY, while average savings accounts pay just 0.61% APY—that’s over…
Key takeaways CD rates are beginning to fall as the Federal Reserve shifts toward rate cuts. Locking in competitive yields now or laddering your CDs can protect against lower future rates. Savers should also consider high-yield savings or money market accounts for more flexibility and liquidity. Certificates of deposit (CDs)…
Key takeaways Joint checking accounts let two people manage shared expenses with equal access to funds — ideal for couples, parents with teens, or adult children helping aging parents. The best joint checking accounts offer no monthly fees, competitive APYs and features like overdraft protection and mobile banking tools. Before…
Key takeaways Opening a bank account online takes 10-15 minutes if you have your documents ready — you’ll need your Social Security number, government ID and proof of address. Online banks typically offer higher interest rates (currently up to 4.20% APY on savings) and lower fees than traditional banks because…
Key takeaways Writing a check requires six simple steps: date, payee name, amount in numbers, amount in words, memo (optional) and your signature. Always use blue or black pen — never pencil — to prevent alterations and fraud. The number amount and written amount must match exactly, or banks may…
Luis Alvarez/Getty Images Key takeaways Zelle is an easy tool for sending money between friends or different bank accounts, but transfers are subject to daily and monthly limitations. Depending on the issuing bank, daily limits for Zelle transactions range from $500 or less to $10,000 or more. Aggregate monthly transfer…
Key takeaways The best consolidation loans allow you to save money on interest, pay off debt more quickly and replace multiple debts with one new loan and payment. There are many options to consolidate debt, including balance transfer credit cards, home equity loans, debt consolidation loans and peer-to-peer loans. The…
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