Personal finance

Jose A. Bernat Bacete | Moment | Getty Images Airfare to Europe hit an all-time high this summer. But those dissuaded by the sticker shock can still travel overseas in coming months and cut costs by perhaps hundreds of dollars a ticket. Flying to Europe from the U.S. during the fall “shoulder season” — in

Owen Franken | Corbis Documentary | Getty Images Whether it’s “tipflation,” “tip fatigue” or “tip creep,” most people are uncomfortable with the changing expectations around gratuities, at least in the U.S. In other countries around the world, tips are smaller — and less problematic.  While customs vary by region, “the U.S. is the most tip-happy

Jetcityimage | Istock | Getty Images As inflation falls, investors are weighing whether to buy or sell Series I bonds amid other competitive options for cash. Annual inflation rose by 3% in June, the smallest 12-month jump since March 2021, and a hefty pullback from 9.1% in June 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor

mapodile | E+ | Getty Images After a more than three-year payment pause, federal student loan bills will once again be part of Americans’ lives this fall. But borrowers should try not to fall into the “student loan identity” trap. More than a decade ago, online advice columnist and best-selling author Cheryl Strayed addressed the

A shopper at Lincoln Market in Brooklyn, New York, on June 12, 2023. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Inflation slowed sharply in June to its slowest pace in more than two years, translating to less of a pinch on the average consumer’s wallet thanks to price relief across categories like

President Joe Biden announces new actions on June 30, 2023 to protect borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down his student loan forgiveness plan. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images President Joe Biden doesn’t want the Supreme Court to get the final word on student loan forgiveness. “This fight is not over,” the president said in

Drazen Zigic | Istock | Getty Images As the rate of inflation continues to fall, Social Security beneficiaries may expect to see a much lower cost-of-living adjustment for 2024. The Social Security COLA may be 3%, according to a new estimate from The Senior Citizens League, a non-partisan senior group, based on new consumer price

Kmatta | Moment | Getty Images For high school and college students, summer jobs are an opportunity to get used to earning a paycheck. With that earned income, those young workers are also eligible to start investing in a Roth IRA. Roth individual retirement accounts let workers set aside post-tax earnings towards retirement. In 2023,

Asiavision | E+ | Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic separated the haves from the have-nots when it comes to finances. Research shows that trend is continuing when it comes to debt, particularly credit cards. More than one-third of Americans — 35% — say they are carrying their highest level of debt ever or close to

Another bank is in hot water for so-called ”junk fees.”  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Tuesday ordered Bank of America to pay more than $100 million to its customers and $150 million in penalties for double-dipping on fees, among other violations. The bank charged multiple $35 overdraft fees for the same transactions and generated substantial

Photo: Envato Elements There are signs the labor market is cooling down, but job seekers may still have an edge as demand for workers remains strong — and artificial intelligence can serve as a tool in the process. Despite the worries that artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs, these advanced software systems can give you the

Elijah Wood as Frodo in “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy. Courtesy: New Line Cinema The One Ring that collectors were coveting this summer wasn’t found in Hobbiton or deep in the tunnels of the Misty Mountains; nor was it discovered in the Elf stronghold of Rivendell, the realm of Gondor or even beyond

After the Supreme Court‘s ruling on the affirmative action admission policies of Harvard and the University of North Carolina, decades-old legacy preferences are facing new challenges. The court’s ruling was considered a massive blow to efforts to boost enrollment of minorities at American universities through policies that considered applicants’ race. Now, a civil rights group is contesting the practice of

Atlanta single father Jon had his son Theo after a decade of saving and strategizing with employer benefits and advocacy group help. Jon G. There are many paths to parenthood, and the journey is often a lot more costly for parents who rely on surrogacy.  For Jon, 41, the road to becoming a father to

Photo taken in Amalfi, Italy Sergio_pulp | Istock | Getty Images “Have you ever been broke, but no one believes you because you don’t look like a broke person?” New videos trending on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are asking that very question. “The thing is, like you broke, but like a

Rockaa | E+ | Getty Images When federal student loan borrowers resume their payments in the fall, they’ll find another repayment option available to them. The U.S. Department of Education said borrowers can enroll in “the most affordable repayment plan ever created” later this summer, and before the over three-year-long pause on federal student loan

Jamie Grill | Getty Images It has been well reported that an economic downturn could be coming. But the big question is when might a recession happen, and how bad could it be? Many Americans fear an economic downturn could be as bad as the 2007 to 2009 Financial Crisis, a recent Nationwide survey of

In this article AMZN Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT By some measures, Amazon Prime Day could be good for your mental health. Amid concern about inflation and the direction of the U.S. economy, consumer spending has started to slow, but the “little treat” culture is gaining steam. For those on TikTok, the little treat lifestyle is considered a form

Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Scammers are likely to target student loan borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s debt forgiveness plan Friday and as loan repayments are poised to restart in the fall, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Scammers often “take advantage of confusion around big news like this,”

Sturti | E+ | Getty Images The U.S. job market is gradually cooling but remains hot despite a year-long government campaign to reign it in, amounting to a favorable environment for many jobseekers, economists said. “It still boils down to higher worker leverage, better outside opportunities, an easier time exchanging jobs for better ones and