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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Once you reach your 50s, it is crunch time for saving for retirement. If you set a retirement savings target but have been neglecting it, you need to dust it off for a careful review. (Working with a financial advisor can help get you back on track.) Once you’ve reacquainted…
Key takeaways Recent changes in immigration enforcement efforts are impacting small-business customer bases and workforce. Your business may be at risk even if you are compliant, or if you’re not directly affected by workforce reduction. Making sure you stay informed, being transparent with your customer base and automating certain tasks…
In the fall of 2024, Ramsey Solutions conducted a nationally representative survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults (see full methodology below) to give insight into American behaviors and attitudes toward homeownership and the housing market. As you might’ve guessed, most Americans aren’t too thrilled about high home prices and high…
I’ve been writing about credit cards for several years. And when I went looking for a new travel rewards card for my girlfriend and me, the American Express® Gold Card included everything we were looking for. Not only does it offer valuable rewards, generous earning rates and bonus categories that…
Searching for the next big thing in the cryptocurrency world? Be careful — tons of scammers would love to take your money, while others are creating cartoonish websites to sell memecoins, where the only return may be a good laugh. If you’re on the hunt for a winning cryptocurrency, it’s vital…
Maybe your Kia went kaput or your Toyota took a tumble. Or maybe you’re just tired of driving a car that’s older than a college student (hey, Rhonda the Honda has served you well all these years). Either way, you’re in the market for a new ride.So, how much car can…
Photography by Getty Images Key takeaways The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card* and Petal 1 Visa® Credit Card* are both designed to help you build or rebuild your credit. The Mission Lane Visa card is a no-frills card with an annual fee that can cost you $0 or all the…
Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are one of the most popular ways to invest. They allow you to buy a basket of securities, such as stocks or bonds, through a single entity and can bring the benefits of a diversified portfolio in a single share. But what if you want to…
Key takeaways Refinancing a business loan involves taking out a new loan to pay off an old one and can provide opportunities for improved financial stability and growth. Reasons for refinancing business debt can include reducing the overall cost or monthly payment of the loan, changing the loan type or…
Images by Getty Images; Illustration by Issiah Davis/Bankrate See Editor’s Notes Key takeaways The type of bankruptcy being filed and the equity of the vehicle are important factors to consider in protecting the car during the bankruptcy process. Alternatives to purchasing a car, such as public transportation or ride-sharing, should…
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