Key takeaways A second-chance auto loan is an auto loan that caters to borrowers with subprime or deep subprime credit. Second-chance car loans come with higher interest rates that can inflate the price of a car loan by hundreds of dollars. There are more affordable alternatives to second-chance auto loans,…
Pro tip: Start planning your baskets early. Track what you already have at home, watch for sales, and compare prices before buying treats or toys. Planning ahead prevents last-minute impulse purchases, avoids seasonal markups, helps you stick to your budget, and ensures the baskets feel thoughtful rather than rushed How…
Teaching kids about money early on can shape how they view and manage finances for the rest of their lives. Financial Literacy Month is the perfect opportunity to start those meaningful conversations that build confidence and responsibility around money. By introducing simple, age-appropriate lessons, parents can help their children develop…
Key takeaways Leasing a car requires less money upfront and has lower payments, but there are typically mileage restrictions and additional costs. Buying can mean more expensive monthly payments and long-term maintenance costs, but you have greater control over its use and lower costs in the long run. With leasing,…
Trending
Spotlight This Week
More Articles
Personal Finance
Last year, on the day before Tax Day, my mom was scheduled to fly into Philadelphia International Airport to stay…
The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Featured Articles
If you received a big tax refund this year, it might feel like a bonus. But it usually means you paid more in taxes throughout the year than necessary. Instead of waiting to get that money back as a refund, adjusting your W-4 can help…
Dept Managmnt
You’ve accomplished the first step on the road to financial recovery after being entrenched in debt. So, what’s next? For starters, you’ll want…
Banking
For fintech startups, the first five years of the decade have been a roller-coaster ride. At the outset, companies were awash in easy…
Credit Cards
All News
Holiday scams have become more challenging to spot than ever, especially with the rise of AI in 2025. Even though the holiday season is the most wonderful time of the year, it is also the time when fraudsters and cybercriminals are most active. Inboxes are flooded with “flash sales” and…
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict editorial policy, so you can trust that…
Key takeaways Most major credit issuers no longer allow co-signers, although a few issuers allow you to create joint accounts with another person. Becoming a credit card co-signer comes with significant financial risk and should not be taken lightly. There are many alternatives to applying for a credit…
Citi is an advertising partner. Key takeaways Getting preapproved for a Citi credit card reveals your odds of being approved without requiring a hard inquiry on your credit. There are several steps you can take to boost your chances of preapproval, such as monitoring your credit reports and improving your…
If you dream of owning a home, you’ll have a much easier time achieving it in certain parts of the U.S. A new Bankrate analysis finds that Pittsburgh, Detroit and Birmingham, Alabama offer the largest selection of homes that the typical homebuyer can afford. Affordability is much rarer in coastal…
Julia Sheers and her boyfriend want to buy a house. The housing market in Charlotte, N.C., just won’t let them. They’ve run into the same wall as millions of other Americans: too few homes they can afford and too much competition for the ones that are in their price range.…
Jordan Perkins, 36, could be a homeowner, but for now, he chooses to rent. He earns a comfortable salary from his sales job and is close to a seven-figure net worth — the product of an aggressive savings strategy he’s had since his late 20s. It just makes more sense…
Jeremy Nunes calls it the “money pit.” The three-bedroom, ranch-style home in central Illinois looked like a dream when Nunes and his wife purchased it in 2017, needing what appeared to be little more than a $10,000 bathroom remodel to be perfect. Then came the unexpected. A cascade of problems…
Key takeaways Unsecured debt, such as credit cards, student loans, medical bills and high-interest loans can all be consolidated. Debt consolidation can simplify your bill-paying strategy by consolidating multiple accounts into one new loan with a single payment. Consolidating debt can save you money on interest and help you get…
What’s worse: a weak job market or stubborn inflation? Most people would say they don’t want either. Rising prices make it harder to afford the things you need, even when you’re working. A weak job market makes it tougher to ask for a raise, find a better position or land…
Editor's Pick
