Personal finance

Thanks to “tipflation,” a 20% gratuity isn’t what it used to be. With more opportunities to tip and pre-determined point-of-sale options that now range from 15% to 35% for each transaction, tip expectations are growing, whether consumers like it or not. And most don’t: Two-thirds of Americans have a negative view about tipping, according to

Koron | Moment | Getty Images Samantha Costanza went on a first date with a man she’d met on a dating app in January 2022. They got to know each other as they both sipped on hot cider because of the cold at the Brooklyn, New York, bar where they’d agreed to meet. When it

Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images While many young couples may hope to tie the knot one day, some are spooked by high costs.  Some three-quarters, or 75%, of Gen Z and millennial couples said it’s too expensive to get married in the current economy, according to a survey by the Thriving Center of Psychology. The

The average sticker price for college, or published costs for tuition and fees, has been rising — but most families don’t pay full price. Tuition, fees and room and board — plus books and supplies, transportation and personal expenses — total an average $27,940 at a four-year, in-state public college for the 2022-23 school year,

Hawaiians are still reeling from the deadliest U.S. fire in over a century. The extent of the losses in life and property in Maui are still unknown. Early estimates from the Pacific Disaster Center and the Federal Emergency Management Agency report that more than 2,200 structures have been damaged or destroyed, 86% of which were residential.

Donated clothes for those affected by the Maui fires are stored at Honokawai Beach Park in western Maui, Hawaii, on Aug. 14, 2023. Yuki Iwamura | Afp | Getty Images As the Hawaiian island of Maui struggles to recover from the deadliest wildfire in modern U.S. history, many Americans are asking, “How can I help?”

dowell | Moment | Getty Images If you’re sitting on profitable assets, there’s a lesser-known tax-gain harvesting strategy, which can help rebalance your portfolio or trim future taxes. While tax-loss harvesting can be popular during a stock market downturn, tax-gain harvesting — or strategically selling appreciated brokerage account assets — can also be beneficial, depending

Zamrznutitonovi | Istock | Getty Images Many Gen Z and millennial couples are moving in together before tying the knot to save money, but that doesn’t often mean a 50-50 split when it comes to expenses. Roughly 3 in 5 unmarried couples in the U.S. live with their partners, according to a report by the

Gatot Adriansyah | Istock | Getty Images The share of federal education debt going to graduate students is at its highest point in history, a new report by the U.S. Department of Education finds. Alarmingly, as graduate school borrowing increases, wages for those with an advanced degree haven’t risen nearly as much. “A closer look

Franckreporter | E+ | Getty Images People can easily fall into “false financial comparisons,” a scenario in which we believe we can afford the same lifestyles people we perceive as “just like us” have, said author Manisha Thakor in her new book, “MoneyZen: The Secret to Finding Your ‘Enough.'” A certified financial planner, Thakor noticed

President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law on Aug. 14, 1935. FPG | Archive Photos | Getty Images Social Security has reached a milestone — its 88th birthday. On Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. With that law, a social insurance program to

The Biden administration released new guidance Monday on how colleges can “lawfully achieve a diverse student body” in the wake of the Supreme Court‘s ruling striking down affirmative action. In a “Dear Colleague” letter and a questions and answers page, the U.S. Department of Education outlined what policies and practices for promoting a diverse student body remain

Rome ranked second on a recent list of best travel destinations for a digital detox. Piola666 | E+ | Getty Images Despite inflation, Gen Z and millennials are determined to travel this summer, even if it means spending a bit more. While almost two-thirds, or 73%, of people are willing to pay extra fees for

By nearly every measure, Americans are financially strained. Yet, we’re coming up with new ways to justify expensive purchases. The latest way, coined “girl math,” breaks down the price of an item by the cost per wear. If you use an expensive handbag every day for a year, for example, then it might only set

As Americans increasingly lean on credit to make ends meet, new reports show signs of potential problems ahead. Total credit card debt surpassed $1 trillion for the first time ever, the New York Federal Reserve reported Tuesday. Credit card balances are up almost 20% from a year ago, according to a separate quarterly credit industry insights

Astra Taylor Source: Isabella De Maddalena In 2014, Astra Taylor co-founded the Debt Collective, the first union for debtors. Since then, one of her main goals has been to get student debt canceled. The last year or so has been bittersweet: First, in what felt like a major victory, President Joe Biden announced that he’d

Enes Evren Investors piled into Series I bonds amid record yields, and some are now eyeing an exit for higher-interest alternatives. But redeeming I bonds can be tricky, experts say. After reaching 9.62% annual interest in May 2022, I bond yields have declined with falling inflation, reaching 4.3% interest for new purchases from May through

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images Annual inflation rose slower than expected in July, a welcome sign for consumers who have been grappling with high costs. But many Americans are still feeling the sting of essential expenses like shelter and energy.    The consumer price index rose 0.2% for the month and 3.2% from one year

Jacob Wackerhausen | Istock | Getty Images With other household debt on the rise, the restart of student loan payments in less than two months may cause financial hardship for many Americans. The pause on federal student loan payments is one of the last pandemic-era relief measures still in effect, but the bills are expected

Morsa Images | E+ | Getty Images Some experts have reversed recession predictions and embraced a soft landing for the economy as the Federal Reserve continues to fight inflation. The rosier outlook is prompting talks between advisors and their clients, including possible shifts for investment portfolios. “A potential recession has been in the news since