by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterYou are the CEO of your own money.You’re the one in charge. You make all the major decisions. When it comes to your pocketbook, you’re the highest-ranking executive, and you’re the one overseeing everything.That’s good and bad. The bad part is, you have all the responsibility, and there’s no one else to blame. The good part is, you have the power to make things better for yourself.It’s
by Nicole DowSenior WriterAfter driving through a mix of slushy snow and road salt this past winter, your car is probably in need of a little TLC.We sought out tips from auto experts at CarMax and the Car Care Council on what car owners ought to take care of before embarking on a spring road trip.Remember, regularly keeping up with vehicle maintenance is generally less expensive than dealing with a
by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorIf you’re among the millions of Americans grappling with medical bills, obtaining a mortgage or car loan will soon get easier.The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian and Transunion — recently announced sweeping changes to how medical debt will appear on credit reports. The overhaul will erase about 70% of medical debt from consumers’ credit histories. Here’s what’s changing: One reason for the changes: Medical
by Danielle BraffContributorAluminum foil is a Penny Hoarder’s BFF when it comes to preserving leftovers. But if you’re just using that handy foil to wrap up day-old food, you’re totally missing out on so many other uses for this extraordinary kitchen standby. You might be dating yourself if you are still calling the kitchen workhorse “tin foil” though it’s not uncommon to hear that phrase. Foil was made of tin
by Robert BruceSenior Writer When it comes to gas prices, we’re in uncharted territory. According to AAA, the average price of gas in the United States reached $4.33 on March 11 – the highest in history. GasBuddy says the weekly rise of 49 cents per gallon in early March was the second highest week-to-week increase on record, second only to the week following the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe in 2005. Everyone’s
by JoEllen SchilkeContributorYou probably have aluminum foil, baking soda, peanut butter, vinegar, and Windex in your house and you may even have coconut oil. If not, you should. These common household items can save you emergency trips to the store as well as money.You may never buy bleach, stain remover, or furniture polish again. Imagine the space you’ll save under the sink and other spots you store household products.Our guide
by Kent McDillContributorThe Federal Reserve has hiked interest rates for the first time since 2018, partially due to consumer angst and anger about rising inflation. Have you seen the price of gas?In general, a rate increase is good for savers and we may see some drops in prices of consumer goods. But the hike is not so fabulous for borrowers who will see mortgage and credit card rates jump.Millennials and
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI recently moved into my father’s house to help him pay bills. He claimed that the pandemic affected his finances. For about 15 years, our relationship was strained because of his second wife. I rarely visited until after she passed away and knew nothing about the state of the house, which looks fine at first glance. After moving myself and my children
by Carson KohlerStaff WriterIf you have credit card debt, you know. The high interest rates, the constant anxiety, the feeling you’ll never escape…But today’s the day that’s all going to change. It’s time to finally pay off your credit card debt and live your life with a little less money stress by committing to this 21-day debt payoff challenge.You ready? Follow these steps to finally conquer your credit card debt: No,
by Catherine HilesContributorThere’s nothing quite like the feeling of driving a brand-new car.It’s more than the new-car smell. It’s knowing that no one has ever driven it — other than maybe a test cruise or two — before you. But a new car can be expensive, which makes it out of reach for many drivers.While buying a used car is one option, another way to get behind the wheel of
