Personal finance

Inflation may have started to ease, but it remains well above most consumers’ comfort level, and spending has slowed considerably, recent reports show. The core consumer price index for May was at 5.3%, while the personal consumption expenditures price index increased just 0.3% for the month when excluding food and energy. “The bottom line is everybody is

“Honestly, I think the prompt irritates most people,” said Lyn James, the owner of Flowers & Cappuccino by Lasting Visions in Bowman, North Dakota. James said that’s why she opted out of the tip screen when she implemented her store’s contactless point-of-sale system. Although gratuity can vary greatly, “most folks will leave at least a

Vesna Andjic | E+ | Getty Images Higher earners are more likely to owe an extra levy on investment earnings than a decade ago. But there are ways to reduce your tax bill, experts say. Enacted as part of the Affordable Care Act health-care expansion, the 3.8% net investment income tax applies to capital gains,

U.S. President Joe Biden is joined by Education Secretary Miguel Cardona as he announces new actions to protect borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down his student loan forgiveness plan in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on June 30, 2023 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty When federal student loan payments finally

Renphoto | E+ | Getty Images Fireworks-related damage may be covered by your renters or homeowners insurance policy — but not always. “The very short answer is: Usually there’s coverage,” said Peter Kochenburger, executive director of the insurance law program at the University of Connecticut and deputy director of the university’s Insurance Law Center. “It

Kieferpix | Istock | Getty Images A record 43.2 million people are expected to travel by car this July 4 holiday, according to AAA, the motoring and leisure travel membership organization. The good news for those drivers is that gas prices around the country are lower than they were last year. The national average for

People line up outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2023. Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images Many student loan borrowers face risk factors that suggest they could struggle covering their bills, especially after the Supreme Court struck down President Biden’s federal student loan forgiveness proposal and repayment

By nearly every measure, buying a car has become extremely expensive. Not only are new vehicle prices near an all-time high, but the interest rate to finance a purchase has also jumped dramatically. Now, fewer affordable new cars even hit the market, according to recent reports. Today, new cars priced under $30,000 make up just

The Supreme Court struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan on Friday, yet college affordability will remain an issue for years to come, experts say — causing more students to opt out altogether. Given the Supreme Court‘s ruling against affirmative action admission policies, as well, “it’s very appropriate for us to be concerned,” said Kelly

Seksan Mongkhonkhamsao | Moment | Getty Images The Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan Friday. While the bombshell ruling will undoubtedly be a blow to borrowers who had hoped — perhaps even expected — they’d have up to $20,000 of their student debt erased, the verdict is unlikely to be

Infielder Bobby Bonilla of the MLB’s New York Mets at a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium, July 25, 1993. Stephen Dunn | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images Former Major League Baseball player Bobby Bonilla collects a $1,193,248.20 check from the New York Mets every July 1, and he’ll continue to

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about the Supreme Court’s decision overruling student debt forgiveness in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., June 30, 2023. Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images President Joe Biden suggested on Friday that he was looking for another avenue to deliver student debt relief after the

Supporters of student debt forgiveness demonstrate outside the US Supreme Court on June 30, 2023, in Washington, DC.  Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty Images The Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, denying tens of millions of Americans the chance to get up to $20,000 of their debt

Andrew Bret Wallis | DigitalVision | Getty Images A busy holiday weekend may be marred by flight delays and cancellations for thousands of travelers — and experts suggest that consumers understand their financial recourse ahead of time should their travel plans get interrupted. “It’s good for people to know they have rights,” said Teresa Murray,

U.S. Supreme Court, Biden vs Nebraska, Student Debt Relief Program Douglas Rissing | Istock | Getty Images The Supreme Court‘s term is almost over and the justices still haven’t issued a decision on President Joe Biden’s plan to cancel up to $20,000 for tens of millions of Americans. But the ruling is almost certain to

Harvard Yard, on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Maddie Meyer | Getty Images By lunchtime Thursday, Christopher Rim, president and CEO of Command Education, had received more than two dozen calls from students and their families, all with one question: How would the Supreme Court‘s ruling on the affirmative action admission policies of Harvard

Svetikd | E+ | Getty Images Have the money to buy a home? If you follow through, it may not be money well-spent. For generations, Americans have thought of homeownership as a hallmark of success. Even today, 74% of U.S. adults say owning a home is a cornerstone of the American dream — ranking higher

In this article MS Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Fotograzia | Moment | Getty Images BOSTON — As worried about climate change as workers might be, it can be tricky if not impossible to invest with the environment in mind in your workplace retirement plan. Less than 5% of 401(k) plans offer funds dedicated to environmental,

Thanasis Zovoilis | Getty Callers who have sought help from the Social Security Administration in recent years have reported long wait times, dropped calls and inability to access the agency’s services. A new report from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General finds the agency experienced more than 40 telephone system disruptions between

Pixdeluxe | E+ | Getty Images Americans often worry about hitting specific money goals for retirement, but a new report finds that the decision to retire often happens independently of reaching that “magic number.” U.S. households over the age of 55 control 74% of investable assets, but their retirement status has little to do with