by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterThe easiest way to save a lot of money is to make a lot of it first. If only it were that simple. But just because you may have to try harder than some (and most of us do), it doesn’t mean saving money has to be hard.If you make enough money to pay for all of your necessities every month, there’s room to save and grow
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterIf you shop on eBay, you know it can be a great place to find a bargain. But if you’re like most eBay shoppers, you’re probably not getting any cash back on your eBay purchases.What’s that? you ask. I could be getting cash back on eBay?Yes, although it’s getting trickier now that eBay is shutting down its own cash-back program.“Enrollment in the eBay Bucks Rewards Program is
by Katherine Snow SmithContributor It’s always the season to clean out closets, basements and attics and cash in on some of that stuff that doesn’t “spark joy” as organizing guru Marie Kondo would say. Believe it or not, your grandmother’s World War II antique china collections with the floral patterns may well spark joy for someone else even if you can’t get your kids to take it. Or it could
by Nick FriedmanBranded Content EditorIf you’re selling a house, you’re probably pumped about how much money you could be making when the deal closes.But before you go all Scrooge McDuck and start diving into a pile of money, remember the costs that come with selling a home — like commission fees. And they can be significant.In Florida, for example, closing costs can be around 7% of the total selling price.
by Kent McDill The blistering 2022 real estate market has extended to apartment shopping and how to rent an apartment has now become a test of research and will. Oh, and also your credit score and employment history. Renting an apartment with all of the comforts and amenities you want, at a price you can afford, has become challenging, especially in the nation’s most popular urban areas. Yes, the usual
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy boyfriend and I have been together for seven years now. Unfortunately, we are not doing too well financially and are paying off debt with a debt relief company. Even with this, we still struggle to get by. I make $40,000 a year. He barely makes $30,000 a year as a construction contractor who isn’t even on a W-2, so his taxes
by Nicole DowSenior WriterYou go to the doctor for your annual physical to make sure your body’s healthy. But when’s the last time you had a checkup for your financial health?It’s important to know how well you’re managing your money and where you can make changes for the better. Without a regular financial checkup, you might continue to repeat poor money moves, like giving into frivolous impulse buys or only
by Timothy MooreContributor When banks advertise themselves as fee-free, you’ve got to question how truly fee-free they really are. For example, major banks that boast no monthly maintenance fees can still get you with overdraft fees, foreign transaction fees and even paper check fees. ATM fees are a different breed. Your own personal bank isn’t benefiting from the ATM surcharges you pay when using out-of-network ATMs (the ATM operator is),
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterThe housing market is turbocharged these days because of a shortage of homes for sale is leading to heavy competition between home buyers. That keeps pushing home prices higher and higher.If you’re looking to buy a home, you better buckle up.The housing market remains hot, even though things might be starting to slow down just a little bit, according to news sources like CNBC and The Wall
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterMillions of people use 401(k) accounts to save for retirement each year.These tax-advantaged savings accounts invest your money in long-term mutual funds, stocks, bonds and other securities to grow your nest egg over time.But there’s a catch: You can only open a 401(k) at work — and not all employers offer them.In 2020, about 33% of private industry workers didn’t have access to any employer-sponsored retirement
