by Kari FaberStaff WriterAs if the pandemic didn’t take enough from us, there are companies you are using right now that are totally taking advantage of you. Some in a really big way, and most you had absolutely no idea were pulling the wool over your eyes.But you’re no sucker! Now that you know, you’re ready to fight back. Here are the worst companies that are practically stealing your money
by Tiffany ConnorsEditor/WriterIf you haven’t warmed up to the snowball or avalanche debt payoff methods, think smaller. Much smaller.Consider the debt snowflake strategy for tackling debt. Unlike its better-known siblings, the snowflake method doesn’t involve a structured budgeting system for paying down your debt — think of it more like an easy way to throw a little extra money toward your debt.Just like snowflakes, tiny payments might not seem like
by Nicole DowSenior WriterWhether you’re a skilled home chef or love to eat out, food is something we all need to budget for.With rising inflation making everything more expensive, we especially welcome all the advice for saving money on food.Here are some of our best articles to help you reduce your everyday spending. Stress less about food costs with these nuggets of helpful advice.You don’t always have to pay a
by Robert BruceSenior Writer On the heels of offering four free COVID-19 tests to all American households, the U.S. government recently announced it will distribute 400 million free N95 masks to the public. The masks, which the CDC says provide the greatest protection against the highly contagious Omicron variant, will be shipped to pharmacies and community health centers and will be available in the coming days and weeks. How Do
by The Penny Hoarder Staff We’re living longer than ever before, and doing so in better health. So what can you do when you retire and want to keep your mind sharp or need to gain additional skills to stay competitive at work?For many, the answer is to go back to school. But tuition can be prohibitively expensive.At the same time, schools want their classrooms to be full of engaged
by Dana Sitar, CEPF®ContributorIf we asked if you were friends with your bank, what would you say?If your answer is vigorously shaking your head “no,” then you might want to keep the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on speed dial.This government organization started collecting consumer complaints in 2011. Apparently, a lot of people have something not-so-nice to say about financial institutions: More than half a million complaints are housed in
by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterMost “free” mobile games want to make money off of you through in-app purchases and aggressive ads. But an app called Bingo Clash will actually pay you. Yep, they’ll pay you real cash just for winning games on your phone.The more you win, the bigger the prize pools you’ll get to compete for. And you can cash out your winnings for real money.Before you dive into your
by Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMark Cuban, the billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks and “Shark Tank” star, has a new online pharmacy that could make your prescription medications more affordable.On Jan. 25, Cuban announced the launch of the Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. Currently, 100 generic prescription medications are available on the pharmacy website, costplusdrugs.com. Medications are priced at cost plus a 15% markup and a $3 pharmacist fee.To
by Lisa Rowan, Jenna LimbachSome purchases are tough to plan: car repairs, patches for a leaky roof, a working furnace right before the big snowstorm hits.But more often than not, you can plan ahead for life’s necessities — and some non-necessities, too.“You might be able to score an extra discount on a floor model, and some stores are offering special freebies and bundles to incentivize consumers,” Trae Bodge, a Smart
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy son and his girlfriend convinced my hard-working twins, a boy and a girl, to co-sign their student loans by telling them it was only for a year. Well, my boy twin signed for his brother. After I reamed him for tricking them, all is well. My son has a job and is working on his second master’s. Now for the problem:
