2025-26 FAFSA will open on Dec. 1 — Here’s how to prepare
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid for 2025-26 will be available for all students and contributors on or before Dec. 1, the Education Department says. Typically, students have access to the coming academic year’s form in October, but this year’s delayed release follows a “phased rollout” meant to address reported issues from the 2024-25 […]
How to avoid being a victim of post-storm scams
A van flows in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Sept. 28 in Asheville, North Carolina. Sean Rayford | Getty Images News | Getty Images States affected by Hurricane Helene are warning residents to watch for the risks of scams in the aftermath of the storm, including price gouging. Price gouging happens when […]
Here’s how to get lower interest rates without a Fed rate cut
The Federal Reserve left rates unchanged last week and signaled that only one cut is expected before the end of the year. That means anyone who carries a balance on their credit card won’t be getting much of a break from sky-high interest charges. “Consumers need to understand that the cavalry isn’t coming anytime soon, […]
How to effectively use credit cards for summer travel
Klaus Vedfelt | Digitalvision | Getty Images If you plan to spend money on travel as the days get longer, sunnier and warmer, be careful: It could leave you with high-interest debt you will still be paying off through the fall and winter. Almost half (45%) of Americans plan to take a summer trip requiring […]
CPI inflation is still high. How to measure what that means for you
A customer shops at a supermarket in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2024. Kazuhiro Nogi | Afp | Getty Images New government inflation data released Wednesday came in hotter than expected. That may not be a surprise to consumers who are still feeling the weight of higher prices. Inflation — as measured by the consumer price […]
Here’s how to take advantage
TikTok‘s latest financial trend, “loud budgeting,” has been gaining steam, and experts say it’s easier to accomplish than many might think. The concept encourages consumers to take control of their finances and be vocal about making money-conscious decisions, rather than modeling purchase behaviors after celebrities and their bottomless pockets. It can be as simple as […]
Laid off? Here’s how to find new work faster
Skynesher | E+ | Getty Images New government data shows a surprisingly strong job market for the month of January. But there are signs of weakness in the labor market, based on tens of thousands of workers who have been laid off since 2024 started. U.S. employers announced 82,307 job cuts in January, up from […]
How to make the most of it
Just months ago, we were coveting Loro Piana cashmere baseball hats and $300 Smythson notebooks in the name of “quiet luxury” and justifying such expensive purchases using “girl math.” But in 2024, there’s a new idea taking hold that overtly rejects the urge to overspend and promotes speaking up about saving money — welcome to […]
Social Security benefits for workers who have pensions may be reduced
Richard Stephen | Istock | Getty Images When Joyce Debnam’s husband passed away, she began receiving $1,400 a month in Social Security survivor benefits. Eight months later, that income unexpectedly changed. The trigger: Debnam retired from her job at the United States Postal Service in 2013 after four decades of service. That life change prompted […]