Author Archives: admin

by Catherine HilesContributorNo matter where you live, you are not immune from disasters. Floridians and Gulf Coast residents frequently deal with hurricanes, Californians with wildfires, Oklahomans with tornadoes and Minnesotans with blizzards.But one thing remains the same with all natural disasters: You need an emergency kit.Hopefully you keep sufficient batteries, bottled water and canned food in your home in case of emergencies. If not, it’s time to stock up.Sure, you

by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorLove and marriage don’t always last forever. But if your matrimony lasted 10 years or more, the financial benefits can last a lifetime. That’s because you may be able to take Social Security based on your ex-spouse’s benefits instead of your own, even if you divorced decades ago.The philosophy is that both spouses often contribute economically during the marriage, even if only one person was employed.

by The Penny Hoarder Staff Are you looking for a summer experience you won’t forget? You don’t have to break the bank for a good time. We’ve come up with 100 activities to help you make the most of your summer — and best of all, they’re free. Keeping in mind that COVID considerations will vary depending on your location or preference, our summer bucket list includes options that can

by Katherine Snow SmithContributor Trivia nights are becoming must-have entertainment at bars across the country, where a good host can make $50 to $250 a night depending on if they work for a company or themselves. The friendly competition is also a regular feature at many restaurants, craft brweries, private parties and churches. Google “trivia nights Atlanta” and more than 70 listings pop up. Search in a much smaller town

by Kiara TaylorContributor Many people today are worried about their finances and savings. Concerns about disruptive global events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine further strengthen the desire to stay on top of our savings and budgets. Fortunately, consumers have a lot of choices when it comes to how they save their money. An often under-discussed option is the cash management account. Cash management accounts can be

by Quinten PlummerStaff Writer You love your RV. But chances are, you’re not using it every day of the year. In fact, there are more than 18 million RVs in the U.S, that sit idle for 350 days out of the year. Not only that, but RVs are often the second-most expensive purchase Americans make outside of their home.If you’ve got a road-ready RV sitting in storage or in your

by Timothy MooreContributorElectric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular as gas prices skyrocket. In fact, automakers plan to pivot to largely electric lineups in the coming decade, in response to ongoing climate concerns.For more than a decade, brands like Nissan and Chevrolet have offered affordable electric cars like the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Spark EV, but their gas-powered subcompact and compact counterparts were always more affordable.While that’s still true today —

by Timothy MooreContributorSome banks and credit unions charge overdraft fees if you use more money than you actually have available in your checking account. The problem is, people often overdraft by accident and are assessed fees that make it even harder for them to rebuild their finances.Below, we’ll discuss how to avoid overdraft fees, review what to do when an overdraft occurs and share the growing list of financial institutions

by Timothy MooreContributor Struggling with bad credit? A debt consolidation loan may be your ticket to rebuilding your finances. In recent years, median household incomes have dropped 3%, but prices — on everything from a tank of gas to a pound of beef to monthly rent — are at an all-time high. When Americans are faced with higher bills and less money to put toward them, they often turn to

by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterFake reviews can attract more business short-term, but it’s the real feedback that helps companies improve their customer service.Businesses that are genuinely motivated to improve know the value of honest feedback, so much so that a company called Elite CXS will pay you an average of $44 an hour to mystery shop their clients.Got 15 minutes to spare? You can make up to $22 in that time