6 Things to Do If You’re Hoping to Buy a House This Year

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterIf you’re looking to buy a home in 2022, you already know that you’re plunging into a turbocharged housing market. A shortage of homes for sale has pushed prices higher and higher.The median home price climbed to about $350,000 as of late 2021 — an annual increase of nearly 15%, according to the National Association of Realtors.Things are expected to slow down a little in 2022 due

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Follow These 6 Tips to Winterize Your Car and Avoid Road Emergencies

by Nicole DowSenior WriterIf cars had feelings, they’d probably be miserable in blustery winter weather.Icy roads can make tires slip. Freezing temperatures can cause fluids to thicken, making it harder for your car to function properly.Having your car break down on the side of the road is terrible, but it’s 10 times worse when the wind chill is below zero and there’s a foot of snow piled up.Avoid vehicle malfunction

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What is APR: Here’s how Annual Percentage Rate works

by Whitney Hansen If you’ve been researching new credit cards or looking at refinancing your home loan, you’ve probably noticed the term APR popping up everywhere. APR stands for the annual percentage rate and, in terms of need-to-know financial information, understanding APR is pretty high on our list.In this article, we’ll go over the basics of APR–what it is, how to calculate it, and how to improve it — so

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How Many Credit Cards Is Too Many?

by Larissa RunkleContributor After a big spending spree you might ask yourself, “Do I have too many credit cards?” Like most things, the answer isn’t cut and dry. And although having multiple credit cards isn’t necessarily bad, there is such a thing as having too many, especially depending on how you’re using them and which ones you have. We spoke to several finance experts to find out just how many

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People are Buying Homes and Cars Again — How to Boost Your Credit Score for Either

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterAlthough the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over yet, Americans are totally ready to move into a post-pandemic era. Here’s how you can tell: Suddenly — BOOM! — way more people are interested in buying houses and cars.Seriously, the housing market in lots of cities has gone from red-hot to white-hot, and U.S. car sales are picking up noticeably, too. Zillow predicts the number of home sales will grow

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Dear Penny: Will My Husband's Bad Health Choices Drain My Life's Savings?

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy spouse suffered from a stroke three years ago. He is unable to work and is receiving Social Security and is very noncompliant about his health. I am currently and have been the breadwinner for this family. My concern is that he is going to financially take everything I have saved and worked hard for with his consistent medical expenses. I fear

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18 Great Jobs For Retirees for Flexibility and Extra Cash

by Kent McDill Quick Navigation 18 Part-time Jobs for Retirees Substitute Teaching School Support Tutoring School Bus Driver Shuttle Bus Driver Conducting Tours Patient Advocate Child Care Provider Virtual Assistant Bookkeeper Umpire and Referee Pet Sitter and Dog Walker Freelance Writer Call Center Worker Freelance Bartender Personal Shopper Security Guard Seasonal Worker Who even knows what “retired’’ means anymore? You might have left the career you had in the 40-hour-a-week

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4 Gig Economy Trends to Watch in 2022

by Robert BruceSenior WriterIf 2021 proved anything, it’s that the gig economy is alive and well.From ride-sharing to food delivery to at-home businesses and freelance gigs, Americans got creative in how they earned their income over the last year. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 16% of Americans have earned income from an online gig platform at some point.Looking ahead, the gig economy will likely continue to grow

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How To Get Free Stuff on Amazon: 12 Great Tips and Tricks

by Matt Matasci Amazon is the biggest online retailer in the country and sells just about everything under the sun. If a product is for sale online, chances are it’s on Amazon. The retail giant doesn’t just sell its own products, it’s also a virtual marketplace for millions of vendors around the globe. Competition between these sellers is fierce and with just a little bit of work, you can take

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6 Best Gas Rewards Programs Save Money at the Pump

by The Penny Hoarder Staff, Timothy Moore Grocery store loyalty programs used to be the way to go to save money on gas. But now that gas stations are offering their own gas rewards programs, it’s time to rethink your fueling strategy. And considering that we entered 2022 with prices $1 higher per gallon than at the start of 2021 (and some analysts predict a national average this year of

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