by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterNearly 2 million couples tied the knot in 2021 — but 2022 is projected to be even bigger, with the most weddings since 1984.That means lots of opportunity to work a side gig helping couples throw their grand affairs. Here are nine side hustles and weekend gigs to earn some extra cash while love is in the air.If you’re a shutterbug, this is a great way
by Nicole DowSenior WriterIn this era of rapidly increasing housing costs, many renters know the familiar dread when the first of the month is coming and they know they can’t cover the rent.But now’s not the time to bury your head in the sand.By exercising your negotiation muscle, you may be able to strike a deal with your landlord that prevents the worst-case scenario: getting kicked out of your home.
by Michael ArchambaultSenior WriterYou have a password protecting your bank account, or at least you think that it’s protecting your bank account. Unfortunately, not all passwords are sufficiently keeping data safe — it doesn’t matter how good the lock is if the key is a weak point. So, what are the worst password habits, and how can you improve them? Let’s take a look. Stay away from these password fails
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy boyfriend has old student loans from like 1990. At some point he quit paying them and was a 1099 worker, so we know they were never garnished from his pay. They do not show up on his credit reports at all. He has been working on his credit but is still haunted that they are not on his report. Maybe his
by Robert BruceSenior WriterLove tacos?Well, have we got the dream position for you.You can be one company’s next CTO!No, not the Chief Technology Officer. We’re talking about taking your taco-eating obsession to the next level as Favor’s Chief Taco Officer.Favor is a Texas-based delivery service that wants to pay “one energetic, hungry and social-savvy Texan $10,000 to track down the best tacos across the state this summer.” The chosen taco
by Tiffani ShermanContributorWhen looking for a way to fund the dream of home ownership, many men and women who served or are serving in the United States military look into VA loans.The Department of Veterans Affairs — formerly the Veterans Administration — loan program is for service members, veterans and eligible surviving spouses to help them become homeowners.“We’re looking for the VA home loan to be the program of choice
by JoEllen SchilkeContributorTipping people who provide services — hairstylists, nail techs, movers, bartenders — is a common practice. It’s also something that brings out a lot of strong feelings.Customers expected to leave the money often balk because they don’t like the idea that the extra payment is seemingly required. They argue that the expectation makes it almost meaningless as a token for a job well done. On the flip side,
by Tiffany Connors, Robert BruceEver wonder what life would be like if you could make your student loans disappear?It’s possible, but it isn’t magic.Or immediate.Or easy.Or likely. (Sorry.)But considering the mounting pile of outstanding student debt in the U.S. — at $1.75 trillion, student loans were the largest non-mortgage source of household debt in 2021 — you should consider every option for wiping out yours, right?If your student loans have
by Robert BruceSenior WriterEveryone deserves a second chance.But in the past, many job seekers with criminal records have found it difficult to re-integrate in the workforce. The dreaded check-the-box-question, “Have you been convicted of a crime in the past 10 years?” can be a huge obstacle.Change to this approach by employers has been slow, but change is happening.In 2016, 19 large, influential employers gathered at the White House with President
by Lisa Rowan, Rachel Christian, CEPF® Weddings are back — and more expensive than ever. After two years of cancellations and postponements, an estimated 2.5 million couples are expected to get hitched in 2022, according to The Wedding Report, a research company that collects and forecasts wedding statistics. All that pent-up demand — plus inflation and supply chain issues — are driving up prices on everything from floral arrangements to
