Krakenimages.com / Shutterstock.com In the midst of a slowing market, many homebuyers are saying: “No deal.” About 60,000 people backed out of homebuying contracts in October, according to real estate service Redfin. That figure represents approximately 18% of the homes that were under contract for sale that month and is a new record. “Sale prices … Read more
tommaso79 / Shutterstock.com A friend once told me she planned to buy a snowblower. My first thought was, “Why?” She lived in a fairly mild region that, in some years, doesn’t get any snow at all, let alone enough to require mechanical intervention. She had three healthy teenagers at home, and shovels are much cheaper. … Read more
mavo / Shutterstock.com C’mon, everyone, get happy! If that sounds too hard, maybe you’ve been going about it all wrong. It’s time to stop waiting to hit the jackpot, meet Mr. or Ms. Right, or land that sweet job. True happiness doesn’t come from external factors like those. Instead, take a cue from happy people. … Read more
Holiday shopping is a more intimidating prospect than usual again this year, as consumers contend with lingering supply-chain problems and continued inflation. Amazon makes it easy, though. No matter who is on your gift list, you’ll never be short on ideas or great savings. Head over to Amazon’s “Most Wished For” selection, which features products … Read more
fizkes / Shutterstock.com Retailers are exceptional at getting us to part with our hard-earned dollars — even for stuff we don’t need. When your favorite store slashes prices or makes it all too easy to purchase something — hello, Amazon Prime — it may be understandable if you occasionally succumb to the instant gratification of … Read more
Trzykropy / Shutterstock.com Are you stuck in the all-too-common habit of living paycheck to paycheck? You don’t need me to tell you that’s a self-defeating cycle. You simply can’t get ahead that way. But escaping isn’t easy, especially if your paycheck is tight. Change involves not just the hard work of making a new habit, … Read more
DC Studio / Shutterstock.com The nation is bracing for recession. The Federal Reserve continues to steadily raise its federal funds rate in an attempt to kill inflation, and many experts fear an economic downturn will be an unfortunate side effect of that campaign. CEOs of major companies are especially worried that the economy will contract … Read more
Your choice of checking account can make or break your finances, whether you’re using it to get your paychecks from your employer through direct deposits, everyday checking, paying off bills, or just a safe place to stash your savings. In 2022, there are countless checking accounts to choose from. Some have a monthly charge, some … Read more
‘Tis the season to shop, but you’re having a tough time deciding what to get everyone on your holiday gift list. Not to worry! From a heavy-duty tool bag to a tortilla blanket and a robotic vacuum cleaner, we’ve rounded up an array of practical and whimsical Amazon products that Santa himself will surely approve … Read more
Payment apps like Zelle make transferring funds easy. Unfortunately, they also make it easy for scammers to get ahold of your money. In 2021 alone, users lost around $440 million on the peer-to-peer payment system. What’s worse, Zelle warns they’re “unable to assist with getting your money back.” You can report fraud to your bank … Read more