Holiday spending came in at the high end of projected ranges for 2025 despite numerous economic challenges. According to Mastercard, U.S. retail sales (excluding automotive) increased 3.9% year-over-year from Nov. 1 through Dec. 21, 2025. CNBC and the National Retail Federation published a similar increase, reporting holiday sales grew 4.1%…
Maca and Naca/GettyImages The average tax refund tends to be just over $3,000, but that number might climb to north of $4,000 in 2026, thanks to the massive tax bill that became law in 2025. That law included a higher standard deduction amount, more generous tax brackets and other changes…
ljubaphoto/Getty Images: Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate Key takeaways The interest rate on a mortgage indicates how much interest you’ll pay for the amount you borrow. The annual percentage rate (APR) is the interest rate plus additional fees and any points. When comparing loan offers, it’s best to compare APRs to…
Christina Zelow Lundquist/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways A cash-out refinance replaces your current mortgage with a new, bigger one. The borrower receives the difference between the two balances in cash. The terms of your refinanced mortgage might differ from your original loan, including a new interest…
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The nation’s 75 million Social Security recipients will receive a 2.8% cost of living adjustment (COLA) increase in their benefits…
Historically Black colleges and universities are on the frontlines of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act’s new limits on parent…
The big new fees JPMorgan Chase is planning to charge some financial technology companies may well trickle down to consumers,…
With artificial intelligence beginning to eat away at many white-collar entry-level jobs, and the unemployment rate for recent college graduates…
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You’ve heard of home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) and home equity loans, which let you borrow against the value of your home, getting ready cash for renovations, debt consolidation or anything else. But jumping through the income-qualification hoops that characterize much home-based financing may…
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2. Coaching and Tutoring Take stock of your areas of expertise – maybe you speak a second language or solving math equations comes…
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OBSERVATIONS FROM THE FINTECH SNARK TANKBankers wants to discuss AI strategy. They’re excited about chatbots, machine learning models, generative AI tools, and AI…
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STUDY SUMMARY Ramsey Solutions conducted a study of more than 1,000 benefits decision-makers in companies of all sizes across the United States. 48% say that financial stress has a significant impact on their employees. Financial wellness is the number one benefit employers are looking to add in the next one…
Key takeaways Buy now, pay later (BNPL) can provide a zero-interest alternative to personal loans. Like personal loans, BNPL won’t hurt your credit utilization ratio. The shortest-term BNPL are typically interest-free compared to rates of up to 36% for personal loans. Your BNPL limit typically grows with on-time repayments. If…
Study Summary • 59% of American workers say the COVID-19 pandemic has changed what they value about a job or career. • 55% of workers said they’re considering changing jobs. • 52% of workers would be willing to take a pay cut for a career that more closely aligns with…
Credit: Rockaa/GettyImages; Illustration by Hunter Newton/Bankrate Key takeaways Your loan payment is calculated based on your principal, interest rate and repayment period. You don’t need to do complex math to know what a loan will really cost you — using a loan calculator can help you estimate your monthly payments,…
2. Take care of your Four Walls first. When setting up your budget, write down your monthly income first. Then you’ll subtract your monthly expenses—starting with the essentials. The Four Walls are your top priority, so make sure your budget is ready to cover these things before anything else (in this…
Tired of constantly overspending? Budgeting can help you take control of your money. But if you want to actually stick to your budget every month, you have to track your expenses. Why is tracking expenses throughout the month so important? Because it helps you know where your money is going…
Key takeaways The Atmos Rewards program is the rebranded update to Alaska Airlines’ former Mileage Plan. Atmos Rewards boasts a vast partner network of airlines, hotels, rental car companies and everyday shopping sites — all of which can help you earn miles more quickly. Reward flights with Atmos Rewards can…
Donald J. Trump has officially been sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, and he’s made some pretty big promises about what he’s going to do to help the economy. Some might even call them . . . yuge promises. (Okay, I’m done.) Now, here’s the deal:…
Alliant Credit Union, Ally Bank, Amerant Bank, America First Credit Union, American Airlines Federal Credit Union, American Express National Bank, Apple Bank, Arvest Bank, Axos Bank, Banesco USA, Bank of America, Bank of Hope, Bank5 Connect, BankPurely, BankUnited Direct, Barclays Bank, Bask Bank, BMO Alto, BMO Bank, Boeing Employees’ Credit…
I get it—overspending is a real struggle. No matter where or how you shop, spending money on random stuff is always a temptation (I’m looking at you, $100-Target-run-disguised-as-a-quick-trip-for-shampoo). So, how do you keep from busting your budget? I’m here to share my best tips for how to stop spending money—so…
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