Yearly Archives: 2022

by Top Class Actions Consumers could collect payments from multimillion-dollar settlements with claim deadlines in July.These settlements with companies such as Google, Mylan, Volkswagen and Johnson & Johnson resolve a range of claims such as false advertising, wage-and-hour violations, privacy breaches and more.You could participate in a number of settlements and get paid. Continue reading to see if you qualify to take action this month. Check the deadlines carefully because

by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorYou survived the interviews. You deftly explained where you see yourself in five years. You managed to sparkle even when you talked about your greatest weakness.Now there’s just one thing standing between you and your dream job: a credit check.But what happens when you have a lackluster credit score? Will past missteps haunt your career prospects for years to come? First the good news: Employers don’t

by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterWhat is your credit score telling people about you? If your score is too low, it might as well be saying, “Charge this person more to buy a car,” “Double their deposit to rent a home,” or “Turn them away.”If you have low credit — or no credit — a company called Kikoff can help you change that.Kikoff gives you the chance to prove you’re credit-worthy, despite

by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterAn estimated 200,000 defrauded former college students are set to have $6 billion in federal loan debt wiped clean as part of a proposed settlement agreement filed June 23 in federal court.Borrowers in the proposed settlement attended one of over 150 schools that the U.S. Department of Education has determined engaged in misconduct, including: Nearly all the schools involved are for-profit colleges or vocational programs.These 200,000

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorIs it worth my time and effort to take my former boyfriend/roommate to small-claims court? We met in 2008. In 2010, his restaurant closed. He moved in with me, saying he could get another job anywhere. I relented. He moved into my home and had 20-plus jobs in five years. I told him NUMEROUS times to move out. I needed help with the

by Kent McDillContributor When modern consumers look at their subscription account statements, occasionally they ask themselves “At what price would I stop using that service?” Some consumers may have reached that tipping point for Amazon Prime when it raised its annual Prime membership early in 2022. The yearly subscription price is $139 (up from $119) and the monthly is $14.99, a hike of $2. Low-income subscribers and students also saw

by The Penny Hoarder Staff Side hustles, also known as side gigs, are paid projects you do outside your main job. They can be a great way to pay off debt or earn more money on the side.They can also be a means to tap into unused skills and explore your passions. And if you really want to get creative, you can use a unique side hustle as a testing

by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterSo many of the usual ways you can win money require pure luck. We’re looking at you, scratch-offs and lottery tickets. But luck is unreliable — we prefer to use skill.And we’ve found three great iPhone games that let you put your skills to the test for a shot at winning $83 every time you play — plus chances to bag much more.No pressure. You can play

by Michael Archambault, Johna StricklandThe U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade last week has reignited the conversation about privacy within period-tracking apps.With abortion now outlawed or restricted in many states, privacy experts are cautioning that data entered into period-tracking apps could be used against a user who had or considered having an abortion.That data could be vulnerable to a subpoena in a criminal case or even sold to a

Best for Helping Out a FriendChime Referral Bonus$100 Best for Socially Conscious ClientsAspiration Plus$200 Best for Basic CheckingChase Total Checking$200 Best for Fans of Suze OrmanAlliant Ultimate Savings$100 by Timothy MooreContributor So, you’re looking for a new bank account. You’ve got several factors to consider — ATM access, interest rates, monthly account fees, minimum balances, online bill payments and more. Another factor: sign-up promotions and bonuses. Banks and credit unions