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by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterSaving money is never a bad thing, right? You take a percentage of your check every payday and tuck it away in a savings account. You’re doing what you’re supposed to, right?Wellllllllll, kind of. Unfortunately, saving alone will never get you to retirement. You’re on the right track, but the money you’re stashing away isn’t growing like it could be. Not even close.Let’s take a look at

by Jenna Limbach Did you vow to to read more books in 2022, possibly shamed into it by all those people on social media claiming to have read a book a week in 2021? Book lovers, you can always save your dollars by using your local library and apps like Libby, but there’s something satisfying about having a full bookshelf, even if that bookshelf of new and used books is

by Timothy Moore, Jamie CattanachQuick NavigationGetting your tax affairs in order is just a simple fact of life. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy or pain free.There is a lot to know when it comes to filing taxes. Our complete guide for the 2021 tax year should help. (Ibuprofen sold separately.) Making more money is, in almost every way, a good thing. But it’s also true that the more money

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterEvery month, your car payment takes a big bite out of your bank account. The average payment these days is more than $600 a month for new cars and $400 a month for used cars.What if you could lower your monthly payment by $150 or so? Would that be worth a few minutes of your time?You should seriously consider refinancing your car loan. This means you replace

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterIf you’re financially stressed out these days, you’re far from alone. These are rocky and uncertain times we’re living in, and the stress level is super high.A number of recent surveys have confirmed that Americans are financially frazzled right now.For example, a survey by the National Endowment for Financial Education found that a whopping nine in 10 Americans say the COVID-19 crisis is causing stress on their

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy mom passed away last year with lots of debt in her estate. This debt includes a mortgage, IRS tax liens, credit card debts and other heirs who would need to be notified of her estate. The estate appears to be in debt just below $200,000 with no other assets available to pay for those debts. Unknown to me, my mom made