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Varo BankBest for Cash BackUp to 5.00%APYAxos Bank Essential Checking AccountBest for Unlimited ATM AccessUp to 1.25%APYChime SpendingBest for Digital Features0.50%APYAlly Interest CheckingBest for No Fee PerksUp to 0.25%APYby Kathleen GarvinContributorDo you remember why you chose your current checking account?If you got started early, your parents might have helped you open a kids’ checking or savings account at their bank’s branch. Or maybe you went with the credit union down

Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI have a life insurance policy worth $1.5 million with my two kids as beneficiaries. I have a degenerative disease called Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type One, which was diagnosed one year before I bought the policy. It’s a rare condition that is not well-known. The disease will have me bedridden at the end of it. When I pass away, will the company pay

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterDid your rent just go up? I know mine did.Holy cow, these rent hikes! How are we supposed to afford this?Skyrocketing rents, combined with rising prices for basic necessities like food and gas, means tenants are being priced out of apartments and rental houses all over the country.Rents have gone up by nearly 20% across the U.S. compared to last year, according to a number of different

by Robert BruceSenior Writer$47,148.That’s the average price for a new car right now, according to Kelley Blue Book. That’s the second highest price on record — only matched by the average in December 2021.Car payments are following the same trend, with the average monthly payment coming in at an all-time high of $730, according to Cox Automotive and Moody Analytics.With the computer chip shortage continuing to affect production, car prices

by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterCooking at home is a great way to save money, especially with inflation at a 40-year high.But prepping, shopping for and cooking affordable meals isn’t always easy.Glossy cookbooks and celebrity cooking shows are nice and all. But where can you actually learn to cook, in your own kitchen, on a budget?Enter our top picks for budget food bloggers and influencers who can teach you how to

Best for High-Yield SavingsHigh-Yield Savings1.65%APYBest for Users Who Want to Save SmarterOnline Savings AccountUp to 1.25%APYBest for Connecting to Multiple Accounts360 Performance Savings 1.20%APY Best for Access to a Cash-Back Debit CardSavings Account1.30%APYby Kathleen GarvinContributor When it comes to savings accounts, where do you even begin? Do a quick search, and you’ll find many savings accounts with different options with varying percentages, monthly fees and minimum requirements. Not to mention

by Timothy MooreContributor Buying a house is an expensive endeavor. You might spend years saving for a down payment to earn the pleasure of paying a mortgage, property taxes and homeowners insurance each month. But the final price can get even higher — significantly higher — when you factor in the maintenance and repair work that a house needs over time. An easy way to save money is to tackle

by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterWhen you rely on tips to pay the bills, managing your money can be tricky. It’s hard to know exactly how much cash you’ll be taking home after each shift, which makes planning and budgeting seriously tough. Not to mention the fact that the service industry took a huge hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Add in rising costs of living and bad tippers, and it can all

by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterIn more and more workplaces, employees are dressing down. The shift to remote and hybrid work has only accelerated this trend, so you’re increasingly likely to see khakis, sweaters, twinsets, polo shirts and even jeans at more businesses than ever.Not everywhere, though. What if you’re going to work in an office that has a “business professional attire” dress code? What does that mean?To help you out, we’ve

by Quinten PlummerStaff WriterIf you’re planning to leave your current job, it’s considered common courtesy to give your employer two weeks’ notice ahead of time. The idea here is that you want to allow your employer time to prepare for your departure. They’ll need to decide if they want to hire someone new to backfill your position; come up with a plan to cover your work duties in the meantime