by Kari Faber If you’ve been trying to buy a house in this chaotic pandemic housing market, you know you could lose an opportunity from right under your feet in an instant.The market is as competitive as we’ve ever seen it, and cash buyers are snatching up houses left and right. Bidding wars start within hours of a house being listed, and it’s not uncommon to see people offering $50,000
by Nicole DowSenior WriterWhen you have a baby, you understand your life is going to change significantly.You’re responsible for another human being. You’ll lose tons of sleep. And, of course, you’ll have a bunch of new expenses.Diapers. Formula. Clothing. Toys. But one of the biggest expenses that hits parents is child care.The Penny Hoarder surveyed 2,000 parents in September 2021 asking about how child care costs affected their lives. Despite
by Quinten Plummer College can help unlock a world of possibilities. However, having to pay for college tuition can feel like a burden long before the acceptance letter even arrives. But by using a 529 plan as an investment vehicle, you can start saving for college tuition now to launch a college career affordably later.529 plans are tax-advantaged investment accounts that allow you to invest and grow your money to
by Quinten Plummer You know this classic dilemma: You want to build credit, but first you need to prove you can be trusted — that you’ll make your payments on time and keep your usage low. Of course you can, but how can you prove it if no one will extend you any credit?Luckily, we found a debit card with a credit builder feature that can help you get you
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI am going to be starting nursing school in January 2022 and have a question about potential future obligations to my boyfriend. He has offered to drive me to all of my school obligations until my license is restored in May 2022. My alternative would be to pay for a ride-share which could cost $2,000 or more per month. This is obviously
by Katherine Snow SmithContributor As simple as it sounds — and actually is — most people are overwhelmed by the thought of taking hundreds or even thousands of photos and organizing them into searchable, digital files. Then there are the videos filmed on various versions of clunky cameras over the decades. Perhaps the most daunting version of unorganized photographic memories are slides. Once the butt of so many jokes about
by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorYou’ve probably heard that holiday shopping will be a nightmare even the Grinch himself couldn’t dream up. Supply-chain troubles, shipping bottlenecks, and worker shortages will make it harder to find big-ticket items.Meanwhile, demand is up. Holiday shoppers expect to spend $785 on average this season, more than they planned on in both 2019 and 2020, according to market research company The NPD Group Inc.If you haven’t
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterMarijuana is big business.The once-shadowy industry has transformed into a highly commercialized and profitable sector, spanning biotech and research companies as well as marijuana growers and consumer retailers.By 2028, the global legal marijuana market is expected to reach $70.6 billion, according to a May 2021 report by Grand View Research.Buying into a burgeoning industry poised for moonshot growth is enough to make any investor’s mouth water.But
by Nicole DowSenior WriterIf you’ve noticed yourself spending more at the grocery store or to fill up your gas tank lately, chances are it’s not because you’re purchasing more food or doing a lot of extra driving.Consumer prices were up 6.2% in October compared to the year prior.If you’re looking to stabilize your rising costs, you’re going to have to think a bit differently about the way you shop. Here
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterForget high-yield savings accounts and CDs. If you want a nearly risk-free way to grow your cash, Uncle Sam has an attractive offer.The U.S. government announced a new 7.12% interest rate for Series I savings bonds from November 2021 through April 2022 — the second highest interest rate ever for these investments.That’s big news because Series I bonds— also known as inflation bonds or I bonds
