by Timothy MooreContributor From a gallon of gas to a gallon of milk, the cost of everything is going up. The price of caring for our pets has not been immune to rampant inflation. A 2022 survey conducted by Rover found that 71% of dog owners say their pet care costs have gone up due to inflation. And these costs are affecting most families across the US: More than seven
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterDo you need to find some new employees? If you’re looking to hire someone, you’ll quickly find yourself overwhelmed by all the different ways there are to do that.There are so many different job boards and online recruiting platforms, and they come in all shapes and sizes. How are you supposed to know which one is best for your needs?We were curious, so we did a side-by-side
by Nicole DowSenior WriterIt’s easy to feel disconnected from your finances when you spend money with the swipe of a card or the tap of a button on your smartphone.But when you’re mindful of where your money goes, you can cut down on unnecessary spending and put more cash toward your savings goals.Kakeibo, a long-standing Japanese budgeting method, attempts to help people become more cognizant of their spending habits and
by Robert BruceSenior Writer After a rough couple of years, the cruise industry is on the rebound in 2022. Boats are almost at full capacity and cruise passengers are flying to ports across the country to travel to the Caribbean, Alaska, Europe, scenic inland rivers and more. But one question remains before you board that long-awaited cruise and unwind with a fancy umbrella drink: Are you paying too much for
by Veronica MatthewsContributor In a time when cursive handwriting has faded from many classrooms, calligraphy is making a surprising resurgence. While carefully hand-lettered invitations, place settings and envelopes tend to be reserved for weddings, many calligraphers find themselves working on a variety of celebrations and other projects. Maybe you’ve always received compliments about your handwriting or practiced calligraphy as a hobby over the years. The time may be right for
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI am 29 years old with almost $100,000 in student loan debt, the majority of which is from my master’s degree. Most of my loans are federal, but I also have around $10,000 in private student loans. I’ve been consistently paying my loans since finishing grad school, but I feel like I will never pay down what I owe. I’ve also
by Michael ArchambaultSenior Writer If you own a Samsung Galaxy device, there’s a strong probability that your device supports Samsung Pay, the company’s mobile payment and digital wallet service. Using Samsung Pay, you can leave your credit and debit cards — even your loyalty cards — in your purse, bag or wallet. Simply tap your smartphone or watch to a payment terminal and, tada, you’ve paid. Samsung has been offering
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI’m happily married (25 years) and retired for medical reasons (I’m 58). My husband makes good money. We are meeting all of our basic needs, but his retirement is severely underfunded.We had to dig out of debt recently and are down to one zero-interest credit card we still owe about $18,000 on. Our home will be paid off in about four
Best for Comparing Loan RatesCredible2.35% – 8.73%Fixed APRBest for SoFi Banking MembersSoFI3.49% – 7.99%Fixed APRBest for Banking PerksLaurel Road2.99% – 6.30%Fixed APRBest for Traditional Bank CustomersCitizens Bank3.75% and upFixed APRby Dana Miranda, CEPF®Contributor Student loan repayment dampens the financial plans of a lot of people in this country. The federal government may be on the brink of major plans to lessen that burden for public loan borrowers — but if
by JoEllen Schilke, Jamie Cattanach Relationships are complicated, and longer term ones benefit from regular date nights. You can turn off the rest of the world for a little while, and just be a couple. There are a lot of ways to have date nights, whether you are in the same room, or hundreds of miles apart. Many couples have had to deal with one person being far away. Remote
