by The Penny Hoarder Staff, Mike BrassfieldWe know how incredibly easy it is to rack up credit card debt.More than 40% of American households carry a credit card balance, with an average balance of more than $6,000, according to a study from the financial data website ValuePenguin. The ongoing pandemic has made it even harder for Americans to avoid going into credit card debt, with 20% increasing their overall debt
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterQuitting a job you hate, or one that doesn’t treat you well feels great. Why do you think so many fed-up workers are doing it nowadays? There’s no better feeling than quitting a job, especially if something better lies ahead.Don’t get carried away, though. As tempting as it may be, don’t be that person who tells off your boss and leaves in a huff and then posts
by Timothy MooreContributorThere are some clever culinary ways to use peanut butter that don’t involve spreading it on bread or crackers. Making peanut cookies, smoothies, pies and delicious West African peanut soup are just some.But in a pinch, you can use peanut butter in place of household items that you may have run out of, like shaving cream. In other cases, peanut butter is the best choice for the job,
by Kari FaberStaff WriterYou love your friends and are so happy they’ve found The One.But there’s no shame in feeling a little relieved they all postponed their 2020 nuptials — it meant you weren’t shelling out hundreds or even thousands of dollars on flights, hotels, fancy dresses, tux rentals and gifts.More time for you to save and focus on your own debts!But now that the vaccine rollout is underway and
by Kathleen GarvinContributor Want to become a mystery shopper? If so, we’ve found the five best mystery shopper companies to work for. Mystery shoppers go by a couple different names – evaluators, secret shoppers — but, regardless of the name, the job’s the same: mystery shoppers document their experiences to help businesses who deal with the public a lot. Workers can score everything from free food to extra money when they
by Timothy MooreContributorWhen the last pine needles of Christmas have been vacuumed up and we’ve thrown in the towel a week into our New Year’s resolutions, many of us reach a horrifying realization: Tax Day is approaching.Another scary thought, what if you owe money and don’t have the funds to pay?After two years of extended filing deadlines because of the global pandemic, we are back to our more traditional April
by Catherine HilesContributorI first discovered coconut oil several years ago when a health-focused grocery store opened in my neighborhood.While I originally bought it for cooking, I quickly found many ways I could use it around the house. Now, I use so much that I invest in giant vats from Costco to save money; an 84-ounce tub costs $15.99 and typically lasts four to six months.If you’re new to coconut oil,
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy husband and I have both worked full-time jobs our whole marriage. About 10 years ago, I started a side hustle. I worked on it nights, weekends and any free time I had because I wanted to eventually one day be my own boss. In June 2019, I was laid off from my job, along with many others in the company. I
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterYou’ve probably heard of health savings accounts, or HSAs. You can use these accounts to pay medical expenses if you have a specific type of health plan with high out-of-pocket costs. But with sweet tax advantages, HSAs can also be a smart way to save for future medical expenses in retirement. Think of it like a 401(k) for health care costs. We’ll dive into four specific ways you can
by Kari FaberStaff WriterWhen your salary finally tips over $100,000, all your worries about living paycheck-to-paycheck should be gone, right?Not necessarily. In fact, 16% of six-figure earners said they have difficulty covering basic expenses, such as food, rent or mortgage and car payments, according to a November 2020 survey by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.They’re living paycheck-to-paycheck.How is that possible? Here’s the thing: It doesn’t matter how much
