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by Veronica MatthewsContributorSummer is the season for the great American cookout. Grills and barbecues across the country will soon be sizzling with traditional menu items like steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers as well as savory veggie options like black bean burgers and grilled mushrooms.But when you add up the beers, burgers and potato salad, hosting a backyard cookout can burn a hole straight through your wallet. So how can you

by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorDo you ever wonder why it’s so hard to save money — even when you’ve cut the cable and the meals out, and you’ve never even had a latte habit?One reason it’s so hard to save is that your fixed expenses — the ones that stay the same each month, like your rent or mortgage, car payment, property taxes and insurance premiums — tend to be

by Dave SchaferContributorThere’s no way around it — college is expensive. This means that for many students, taking out a loan is the only way to realistically cover these expenses. And, like most other loans, student loans accrue interest.In this article, we’ll explore the current interest rates across the most common student loan products, including federal and private student loans.When we discuss federal interest rates on student loans in this

by Catherine HilesContributor Cash from national contests can help you pay off debt, finance that dream vacation around the world or send you on a shopping spree in style. But you can’t win the money unless you enter the contests. The odds may be tough but it’s easy to enter online. And, someone has to win, right? Why not good people like you? The contests listed here represent about $195,000

by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterMillions of Americans now qualify for discounted or free internet access thanks to an expanded federal program announced by the White House on Monday.The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) grants up to $30 a month toward high-speed internet for qualifying households.Twenty of the nation’s largest internet providers are also offering plans of $30 or less per month for qualifying households.If you qualify for an ACP grant, pairing

by Robert Bruce, Lisa Rowan Think you need to work long hours to qualify for company-backed retirement plans, tuition reimbursements and affordable health insurance? Actually, you don’t have to have to be a full-time employee to get those perks. There are many companies that offer generous benefit packages for their hourly part-time employees. These 14 companies lead the way in offering part-time jobs with benefits. You could land a flexible