9 Best Investing Books You Absolutely Must Read

by Jen Smith, Rachel Christian, CEPF®If you’re confused and a little intimidated by personal finance and investing, you’re not alone.The good news is that investing doesn’t have to be difficult. There’s more resources out there than ever before.Learning from the experts is a great way to strengthen your financial life. It’s how average investors graduate to extraordinary investors.To save you time, we’ve compiled a list of the best investing books

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Wondering How to Negotiate a Car Lease? Use These 11 Strategies

by Timothy Moore, Kelly Gurnett Many personal finance blogs will tell you leasing a car is a bad move, but that’s not to say it may never make sense for you. Maybe you like the idea of not having to worry about increasing repair costs. Maybe you don’t want the hassle of selling a used car down the road. Heck, maybe you just like the idea of driving a shiny,

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9 Tips to Ease the Sting of Back-to-School Budgeting

by Veronica Matthews, Nicole Dow Back-to-school season comes around the same time every year, but like the holidays, it has a tendency to sneak up on parents — and their bank accounts. With inflation and up-and-down gas prices, back-to-school is shaping up to be an even bigger budget challenge this year. According to Fortune Magazine, parents anticipate spending a whopping $661 on supplies, per child. The National Retail Federation estimates

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Rally Rd. Review 2022: Pros and Cons

by Dana Miranda, CEPF®ContributorEver wanted to cash in on nostalgia?Vintage and cultural collectibles have long been a pastime and earning opportunity for hobbyists and folks with quirky interests and cash to spare. In recent years, collectibles have become an attractive asset class for creative investors, as well.But it’s always been a tough market to break into — collectibles tend to be pricy to acquire because of the resources needed to

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Rewarded Play Lets You Earn Gift Cards by Trying New Games on Your Phone

by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterIt’s official. Our parents were wrong: Playing video games isn’t a waste of time — especially since you can earn money playing games on your phone.A free app called Rewarded Play lets you earn hundreds of dollars in gift cards from popular brands just for playing games you’re probably already familiar with. Who knew Candy Crush and Words with Friends could turn into a legit side hustle?Playtime

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Dear Penny: Can I Disinherit My Kid for Repeating My Career Mistake?

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorCan I write my children out of my will for doing something against my wishes? Specifically, if one of them wants to start a business, but I would rather them work a steady job for someone else? I am a failed entrepreneur myself but have since gotten back on my feet. It would pain me for my children to fail at something

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Uber One Membership Provides Cheaper Rides and Food Delivery

by Timothy MooreContributor What happened to those sweet Uber deals where the price of getting from here to there beat every other mode of transportation except walking? The pandemic, that’s what happened. In the initial aftermath of the 2020 lockdowns, when people felt safe hopping in rideshares again, prices for an Uber ride more than doubled in some parts of the country. By 2021, Rakuten Intelligence reported that average prices

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How Inflation Could Lead to Surprise Tax Bills for Retirees

by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterThere’s been rumblings about retirees on Social Security possibly paying higher taxes in 2023 and 2024 due to inflation.But what exactly does that mean?First: You don’t have to worry about this if Social Security is your only source of income.But if you’ve been near the cusp of owing taxes on your Social Security benefits, recent and upcoming cost-of-living adjustments may push you over the edge.Here’s what

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Does SSDI Stop When You Become Eligible for Social Security?

by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorIf you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you’ve probably worried at some point about losing benefits. After all, the application process is notoriously long and cumbersome. If you’re nearing retirement age, those fears may become more pronounced. So what exactly happens to your SSDI when you reach retirement age?The good news is that you won’t lose those monthly checks. Read on to learn what happens

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Save Money on Movies and More With These Free Library Apps

by Danielle BraffContributor The public library graduated from being simply a repository of books decades ago. Today, the public library is plugged into the virtual world in many ways. Do you want to stream music, movies and audiobooks? Check out a hundred magazines? Learn a new skill? You can do all of this through your local public library for free with their broad offering of free apps. Even better, you

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