Key takeaways Paying more than the minimum on credit card debt can help you pay down the balance more quickly and pay less toward interest. Lowering your credit card balance also decreases your credit utilization ratio, which can have a positive impact on your credit score. Reducing your balances with…
10’000 Hours/Getty Images. Key takeaways Banks and credit unions typically offer the lowest rates and have flexible repayment periods Online lenders specialize in quick funding, often getting cash to you within 24 to 48 hours Short-term loans tend to have higher interest rates and fees that could make it more…
Donald J. Trump has officially been sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, and he’s made some pretty big promises about what he’s going to do to help the economy. Some might even call them . . . yuge promises. (Okay, I’m done.) Now, here’s the deal:…
Key takeaways An online marketplace is a type of website or app where people go to buy and sell items, both new and used. Selling used items online can be an easy way to make extra money to boost your savings. If you’re looking to make extra money — while…
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A perfect storm is brewing for millions of federal student loan borrowers, who may experience dramatic increases in their monthly…
As the Biden administration exits Washington, President-elect Donald Trump inherits a federal student loan system that looks much different than…
Republican lawmakers in Congress are circulating a number of proposals to cut federal spending as part of a massive bill…
Wildfires in southern California have burned at least 47,000 acres in the Los Angeles area—the largest blaze, the Palisades Fire,…
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Key takeaways Travel agents have evolved from simply booking flights and hotels to providing personalized and authentic travel experiences that fit within budget. The cost of using a travel agent varies, but most agencies charge a service fee that typically ranges from $100 to $500. …
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Key takeaways Becoming debt-free starts by assessing your budget and determining how much you can realistically afford to put toward your outstanding balances.…
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No matter how often bank regulators, international standard setters, rating agencies, or financial reform advocates warn banks that climate change is serious, the…
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Key takeaways The Southwest Companion Pass is attainable by using Southwest credit card welcome bonuses to meet the 135,000-point requirement. Applying for a…
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10’000 Hours/Getty Images It’s not uncommon for someone to have a couple of bank accounts, but James Royal, Bankrate’s investing and wealth management reporter, has about two dozen of them. There’s a few pros to having multiple bank accounts (though there are a few cons too). You can earn a…
Hedge funds have lost some of their luster in recent years, with institutions preferring to pour money in Wall Street’s newer crazes for dependable returns like private credit, but the most successful firms in the old guard are still delivering steady gains for their limited partner investors. The world’s top…
Tax returns are annual, and getting them filed also means starting the clock ticking for how long the IRS has to audit you. But when might you be in the clear? Your audit exposure is at least three years from when you file your return, but you might be a…
Home equity products turned in a slightly mixed performance ahead of the Federal Reserve’s first monetary policy meeting of 2025. The $30,000 home equity line of credit (HELOC) was unchanged at 8.28 percent — its lowest level in a year and a half, according to Bankrate’s national survey of lenders.…
They used to say, and still do, that there is no such thing as economics, only demographics. The idea is that whatever economic theory holds sway, it is overwhelmed by the effects of population. As a sidebar this is the key to predicting who will come out on top of…
IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel has announced that he is leaving the agency on January 20, 2025. The timing is something of a surprise, since it was expected that Werfel might remain through tax season. Late last year, President-elect Donald Trump announced he has tapped former Congressman Billy Long as IRS…
When the Federal Reserve adjusts its federal funds rate, it can have significant impacts across the financial sector. Rate decreases, in particular, tend to affect various aspects of consumer banking and lending. The Fed’s rate decisions influence the cost of borrowing money, which affects interest rates on mortgages and credit…
When most people think of identity theft, they envision criminals and other miscreants using their private data to open new credit cards and take out loans in their name. Some identity thieves even go a few steps further and seek medical care using someone else’s sensitive information, or they’ll use…
There is little chance that the Federal Open Market Committee will cut interest rates on January 29. Fixed income markets currently project a 99.5% chance that interest rates are held steady at their current level of 4.25% to 4.5%, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. However, a March or May…
“I will commit that for this tax season … Direct File will be operative.” That was the word from Scott Bessent, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Treasury Secretary, when asked about the program during his confirmation hearing. The controversial Direct File program allows eligible taxpayers to file taxes directly with…
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