Every Friday I recap “news you can use” from the week: a handful of quotes from major (and often expensive) news sources, so you can stay up to date on the news that affects your money without spending a dime and in less than a minute. Here’s an overview of what happened this week. Speaker … Read more
We all make money mistakes — some are small, but others are painful whoppers. In many cases, simple ignorance is at the root of our errors. In 2022, Americans lost an average of $1,819 simply due to financial illiteracy, according to the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC). In total, it is estimated that the nation’s … Read more
Individual bank account bonuses and rewards programs come and go. But it’s basically a given that dozens of online banks (and brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions) offer enticements to new and longtime account holders at any given time. The same is true for opportunities to earn high yields (high-interest payouts) and generous rewards on other … Read more
By Syda Productions / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on The Penny Hoarder. Getting a college degree is an expensive proposition. Students can get a lot out of the college experience, and one of the returns for the cost is hopefully a decent job. But the chosen college major has a lot to … Read more
BearFotos / Shutterstock.com You know those bumper stickers that read “I brake for yard sales”? Well, mine says, “I brake for thrift stores.” And I do. Over the past three decades, I’ve thrift-shopped my way across the Midwest, Northeast and from L.A. to Seattle. Thankfully, I’m too picky to be a hoarder. I buy only … Read more
Halay Alex / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Point2. Culture and arts have long been essential aspects of life, and the U.S. boasts some superb places to enjoy museums, galleries, festivals and events. And as increasing numbers of people transition from traditional office roles to remote work, it’s never been easier to … Read more
Tada Images / Shutterstock.com No question, I’m a Costco fan. I’ve written about the things I always buy at the massive warehouse store, and I love the food court’s $1.50 hot dog and drink combo too. But just as with my beloved Target, I admit that not every store should sell everything. I’ve been a … Read more
mimagephotography / Shutterstock.com Editor’s Note: This story originally appeared on Living on the Cheap. If you’re old enough to remember shopping before the internet, you might remember the layaway desk at department stores. Shoppers who wanted to buy a big-ticket item, or do holiday shopping ahead of time, would put the goods “on layaway.” The … Read more
Denizo71 / Shutterstock.com The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ latest estimates on the fastest-declining occupations project that many of them will decline by well over 20% by 2031. Here’s what that will mean: about 8.3 million fewer jobs within a decade. At the same time, however, other occupations are seeing increased demand, as you’ll see … Read more
fizkes / Shutterstock.com Even though the annual inflation rate was 6.5% as of December 2022, according to the government’s most recent Consumer Price Index data, some items actually got cheaper over the past year. Here are some good places to start if you’re looking for good deals. 1. Smartphones insta_photos / Shutterstock.com According to the … Read more