by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorIf you have kids under 18, odds are that you’ve been getting an extra $250 to $300 per child each month, courtesy of the advance child tax credits that began in July. But that much-welcomed extra cash is about to end.The payments scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15, will be the final round for the monthly child credits. In March 2021, President Joe Biden signed the $1.9
by Nicole DowSenior Writer The perfect holiday gift doesn’t have to be something you buy from the store, cover in wrapping paper and place under the tree. Giving friends and family members an experience gift is just as wonderful — and it’ll create memories that last far beyond the holiday season. Gifting experiences like concert tickets, a trip to a theme park or an overseas vacation, however, can get pricy.
by JoEllen Schilke You can give the gift of saving money and saving the planet at the same time. These sustainable gifts will help reduce waste and keep single-use plastics out of the dumps and oceans. Even better, they can be used over and over, eliminating the need to buy disposable items. There are dozens of websites where you can buy an eco-friendly gift. While we’ve included retail links, don’t
by Dana Sitar, CEPF®ContributorSoFi is the brainchild of a few Stanford University business students who initially wanted to tackle the student loan debt issue in this country by making it easier for borrowers to refinance student loans.Eventually, they expanded the company’s focus to include several financial products and services, including online banking through SoFi Money. Today, SoFi offers a lot of banking services with some great benefits. This SoFi Money
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterThirty years is a long time. If you’re chipping away at a mortgage each month, it can feel even longer.But what if you could eliminate that financial ball and chain by paying off your mortgage early?The truth is, if you can scrape together the equivalent of one extra payment to put toward your mortgage each year, you’ll take, on average, four to six years off your
by Catherine HilesContributor Quick Navigation What to Buy at Dollar Stores to Save Money for the Holidays Holiday Decorations Gifts for Kids Gifts for Adults Gift Wrap and Bags Holiday Greeting Cards Cleaning Supplies Disposable Bakeware Would you shop at a dollar store to save money during the holidays? It might sound tacky but you are missing out on some great deals if you pass up dollar store deals. This
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy family constantly hustles my father for money. They cry and tell him they’ll pay him back, but never do. He has a very small pension and Social Security. We’re talking hundreds to thousands at a time. He always gives in, then gets irate when they won’t pay him back. This has happened over and over for many years. He knows they
by Kent McDill This week, the online-only banking institution Ally Bank announced that it will no longer charge overdraft fees to its customers. This is good news for their current or would-be customers who worry about bouncing a check or putting a charge on their debit card that they don’t have enough money for. Sure, we’re never supposed to do that but sometimes it happens and historically, when it does,
by Kari Faber Buying a house is expensive. Like, so expensive. Between down payments, taxes, insurance and more, getting your name on a deed likely costs more than anything else in your life.And while it no doubt will continue to be your biggest monthly payment, people are still overpaying just to have their own roof over their heads — sometimes by as much as $3,600 a year.But a website called
by Dave Schafer, Tyler OmothAs one of the largest financial institutions in the United States, Bank of America has a lot to offer. The range of personal and business account options is impressive, and the availability of bank branches makes it extremely convenient.BofA has had its share of controversies and its sheer size can sometimes make service inconsistent. In 2014, it was fined $16.65 billion for its role in the
