Losing your job or getting your hours cut at work can feel like a punch to the gut—followed by a million panicky thoughts about what you’ll do now. And especially what you’ll do without your health insurance benefit! It’s okay. Plenty of people go through this and you’ll be just…
We know nobody’s talking about rising health care costs because it’s super affordable right now and nobody’s struggling at all. (That . . . is sarcasm.) But we thought we’d address it anyway—specifically, how to save on health care. You know, just in case you felt like saving money sometime.…
Trying to sort through all of your retirement account options can be a daunting task. You start hearing terms like 401(k) and 403(b) and IRA and all of a sudden you feel like you’re drowning in an alphabet soup of random numbers and letters all mashed together. Market chaos, inflation, your future—work with a pro to…
You know that feeling you get when you find $20 in your pocket? Imagine finding $500! And if you can find that kind of money without cutting the budget, that’s even better, right? So, what’s the trick? It’s quick and easy—all you have to do is take a look at…
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
Sometimes, renting is a much better option than buying a house. Yep, it’s true! When you’re just starting out after leaving your parents’ house, working hard to get out of debt, or newly married, renting is a great idea. And renters are definitely in good…
Dept Managmnt
If you need some inspiration, common goals among Canadians include retirement planning, saving for a vacation, paying down debt, and setting aside money…
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
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Key Takeaways Understand the Terms: Always read and understand the terms of any “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) service before committing, including interest rates, fees, and payment schedules. Budget Wisely: Ensure that any BNPL commitments fit comfortably within your monthly budget to avoid future stress. Educate Yourself: Use resources from…
When it comes to taxes, dependents can affect your return in ways many families don’t expect. Whether you’re claiming a young child, a college student or an aging parent, understanding how deductions and credits apply may change how much you owe or receive. From the standard deduction rules to tax…
Feverpitched/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Lenders often sell mortgages to other companies or investors to free up funds for them to offer more loans. As a homeowner, you can’t prevent your mortgage from being sold, but you do have the right to receive information about the…
Deciding how to file your taxes as a married couple can have a meaningful impact on your return. Depending on your situation, it may affect how much you owe or receive. Many couples assume married filing jointly is always the better choice, but that may not be true in every…
The standard deduction for a widow over 65 can be higher than that of the average taxpayer. This has the potential to lower your taxable income and reduce your federal tax bill. This is because widows may be able to file as a “qualifying surviving spouse.” They have two tax…
When I offered my annual credit card predictions around this time last year, I speculated that regulatory issues would dominate the credit card landscape in 2025. I wrote: “The biggest credit card industry development of 2024 occurred in February when Capital One announced an agreement to acquire Discover for $35…
Thomas Barwick/Getty Images What’s considered a “high” credit limit varies depending on a person’s credit history and income, but in general, high-limit credit cards come with credit limits of $10,000 or more. You won’t typically know your actual credit limit until you apply for your new card, however, regardless of…
Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate You’ve lost your job. Who are you going to call? It might have to be your mortgage lender. A cooling job market is colliding with high homeownership costs, putting many people into a particular new squeeze: a loss of income and a monthly payment that was…
When I Claim My $3,200 Social Security, Will My Wife Automatically Get a Spousal Benefit?
Spousal benefits are Social Security payments based on a spouse’s lifetime earnings record, and a spouse may receive up to half of the working spouse’s benefit. Eligibility is automatic, but payments do not begin until the spouse files an application with the Social Security Administration. To help explain this, let’s…
After two years of cheaper deals and better prices, holiday shoppers may have to reach deeper into their wallets again this season, as inflation makes an unwelcome return to many of the items households buy this time of year. More than 3 in 4 holiday staples (78%) have gotten more…





































