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by Timothy MooreContributorWondering how to become a plumber? Our guide covers the education, apprenticeship and licensing requirements on your journey to getting certified as a licensed plumber — and offers a peek into the day-to-day, job outlook and typical salary.Skilled plumbers fulfill a crucial need in society, and demand for plumbers continues to grow. Though the manual labor is often grueling, a career in plumbing can be quite lucrative —

by Katherine Snow SmithContributor Ever consider what it’s like to be a 911 emergency operator? Well now’s the time to think about it. The job is in high demand these days and it doesn’t require a college degree, saves lives and is never boring. The average starting salary is $38,000 and the national average pay is about $48,000, which isn’t super high but the job usually has good medical benefits.

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI am a single parent. I am 67 years old and ready to retire.  However, I am anxious about decisions I need to make.My daughter is in her last year of college. I don’t have any more money to pay for it. So for her last year, should I take from retirement monies or get a loan? She is a good kid

by Nicole DowSenior Writer From the dress to the cake to the reception venue, wedding planning can pull you in dozens of different directions. It can also pull on your purse strings until they’re ready to snap. According to wedding publisher The Knot, American couples spent an average of $28.000 on their wedding ceremony and reception in 2021 — back up to pre-pandemic spending levels. And that figure doesn’t even

by Michael ArchambaultSenior Writer Getting a loan when you have mediocre credit is no easy task. You can face astronomical interest rates — or outright rejection. LendingPoint is a personal loan company that makes loans to people with credit scores as low as 580. In this LendingPoint review, we’ve taken the time to research and analyze the company’s offerings and compare everything to the competition. From the interest rate range

by Michael ArchambaultSenior WriterIn the technology world, VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) are a hot topic. No matter where you seem to turn, there are advertisements promoting VPNs when using your computer or other mobile devices.But what exactly is a VPN, and how can it help you keep sensitive data, such as your financial information, secured?We’re going to take a deep dive into VPNs — what they are and how they

by Tiffany ConnorsEditor/WriterIf you’re looking for an easy way out of your student loan debt… this isn’t it.But if you’re ready to make a commitment to protecting and defending your country, you may find relief through a debt forgiveness program for military.And you’d have plenty of company since approximately 200,000 active duty members owe a collective $2.9 billion in student loan debt.But as a service member, you have a few

by Timothy MooreContributor Sending money to friends and family is so common nowadays that “Venmo” has entered the lexicon as an actual verb. And while peer-to-peer payment apps like Venmo and Cash App are certainly the most convenient ways to pay your friend back for concert tickets or split a bill at dinner, some people need to send much larger sums of money, often internationally, to support families back home.

Best for Credit Scores Below 600Universal Credit560Minimum Credit ScoreBest for Community-Based LendersHappy MoneyUp to 24.99%APRBest for Non-Traditional Credit UpstartUp to 35.99%APRBest for Raising Credit ScoreUpgrade580Minimum Credit Scoreby Dana Miranda, CEPF®Contributor A debt consolidation loan is a path to relief for a lot of people struggling to manage credit cards and other high-interest debt. Debt consolidation replaces your existing debts with a single loan, usually with more favorable terms, like a