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by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterWhat do you covet?C’mon, admit it. There must be something.Something you really want. Something you could theoretically buy at some point, but you probably shouldn’t. Not yet, at least. Because it’s probably just a little too expensive, right?What’s your next splurge? Is it a pair of shoes? A bag? A phone? A bottle of really good wine? A bathroom remodeling? A muscle car?Whatever it is, we’ve got

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMe and my boyfriend are in our second year of college. We moved into an on campus apartment together last semester. We made enough last summer to cover rent for the fall, so neither of us was working aside from a few weekends. Once winter break started, I resumed work at my summer job, which my boyfriend was OK with, but he

by Kari FaberStaff WriterDo you remember going to the mall? The thrill of walking from store to store, adding more bags to your arms, paying cash (!) for your splurges — it was a whole experience, and it might have helped you stay in budget, too.But not online shopping. The ease of finding everything you need — and plenty of things you don’t — makes it way too easy to

by Nicole DowSenior WriterWading through health insurance options when starting a new job or during open enrollment can be confusing. The alphabet soup of terminologies sure doesn’t help.For instance, if your PPO is an HDHP you might be able to open an HSA and save money toward your health expenses. Huh?In this article, we’ll demystify some of that medical insurance jargon and explain the benefits, rules and nuances of health

by Robert BruceSenior WriterWhether by choice or necessity, side gigs appear to be here to stay.From ride-sharing to food delivery to at-home businesses and traditional freelance gigs, Americans are getting more creative in how they earn side cash. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 16% of Americans have earned income from an online gig platform at some point. In a Bankrate survey, 45% of respondents said they have

by Robert BruceSenior WriterTwo words to describe buying a home over the last two years?Increasingly expensive.The price of homes in the United States appreciated 19.9% between August 2020 and August 2021, a 12-month record, according to S&P Dow Jones LLC.Depending on whom you talk to, the market is expected to continue to stay hot this year, though at not quite the same rate as 2021.So what should you be thinking