by Katherine Snow SmithContributor Travelers who are excited about taking those long-awaited trips aren’t nearly as cheery about the rising cost of airfare thanks to fuel costs and inflation in general. Budget airlines, of course, are impacted too, but there are still many bargains to be had. For example, Avelo Airlines, is charging $59 each way between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Orlando, Florida, this summer and the same price for
Best for Making the Most of SavingsVaro1.2%–5%APYBest for Customers on Tight BudgetsChime0.50%APYby Dana Miranda, CEPF®ContributorTired of looking for a branch or navigating a clunky app when you need to manage your bank account?For anyone who’s ready to walk away from traditional branch banks, an industry of online challenger banks has blown up over the past decade. Technology companies have swooped in to respond to the need for more mobility, better
by Kiara TaylorContributorAmericans’ use of mobile banking apps and online banking continues to grow as fewer people are visiting brick and mortar banks to access their bank accounts. This has people wondering, “Are banking apps safe?”To answer this question, it’s important to understand data privacy policies and have an awareness of potential threats to your consumer information. You work hard for your money, so it’s crucial that you make sure
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy husband and I have been married for 10 years. We have four children (ages range from 8 to 5 months). We recently relocated, and my husband is not working so he can care for our youngest children. My mother-in-law retired and relocated with us. She is currently living with us and has been for over 10 months. She intends on purchasing
by Adam Hardy, Robert BruceMore than a million student loan borrowers are entitled to automatic relief thanks to recent court settlements and rule changes from the U.S. Department of Education.Several groups of student loan borrowers will receive automatic aid unless they choose to opt out. The groups include some current and former service members, borrowers with qualifying permanent disabilities that prevent them from working and attendees of the defunct ITT
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterA recession may be on the horizon.Gas prices are at a staggering $5 per gallon on average. Rents are soaring and inflation is at 8.6% — the highest it’s been in 40 years.The stock market is flirting with bear territory and bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies continue to crash.In response to soaring inflation, the Federal Reserve is raising interest rates — a move economists worry could slow
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI am a 27-year-old who still lives with her parents. I’m also a college dropout. I was never taught anything about finances, and I’m just now starting to learn. I have medical debt that I’m working on paying off and a car payment, and I can’t seem to save up any money. I live in a town where it’s nearly impossible to
by Larissa RunkleContributor Meal planning and food prep often feel overly complicated, but that doesn’t have to be the case, especially if your goal is simply to cut down on your weekly grocery bill. With the rising cost of food (which has gone up nearly 10% in the past 12 months), now is a great time to reconsider how you’re spending on groceries. The concept behind meal planning is simple:
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterAre you looking to hire some new employees? You’ll quickly find yourself overwhelmed by all the different ways there are to do that.There are so many different job boards and online recruiting platforms, and they come in all shapes and sizes. How are you supposed to know which one is best for your needs?We were curious, so we did a side-by-side comparison of six popular job-search sites
by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorOn June 13, the S&P 500 index ended the trading day in a bear market. Still, the milestone was nowhere near as dramatic as the stock market crash of March 2020, when COVID-19 sent markets across the globe into mayhem.But there are plenty of reasons you may be worried stocks will continue to spiral downward, including continued out-of-control inflation and supply shortages, additional interest rate hikes
