A summer vacation can feel like a seasonal rite of passage — a sacred time to break away from the demands of everyday life in favor of fun and relaxation.But summer can also be an expensive time to travel, which makes it hard to budget enough money for your vacation.Though it’s best to pay in...
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.The deadline for the U.S. to raise the debt ceiling is looming. If the U.S. defaults, it’s likely...
On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to advance a proposal that could retroactively end the student loan payment pause, kill the president’s debt cancellation plan and potentially force hundreds of thousands of public servants to return forgiven debt to the government. But borrowers shouldn’t panic yet, because the proposal, pushed forward by Republican...
A month ago, federal data showed relatively flat prices from February to March. Today's fresh figures tell a different story. This month’s personal consumption expenditures price index (PCE) suggests that inflation rose more sharply in April than in the preceding two months. The PCE increased 0.4% in April after rising 0.1% in March and 0.3%...
For many travelers, trips to large cities had little appeal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Activities like riding public transportation, touring a museum or attending a professional sporting event often took a back seat to less crowded — and less urban — experiences.In the nation’s 25 largest markets, occupied hotel room nights (a measurement of demand)...
"He's my little ball of sunshine," Mallory Bartels says of her 13-year-old Boston terrier, Buddha. With his shiny black coat and white spots on his paws that look like socks, Bartels describes him as a sweet pup with a playful personality.Buddha's zest for life was apparent when he jumped off the couch in Bartels' home...
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.Rates on savings accounts and certificates of deposit are seeing highs not seen for at least a decade....
In the United States, 6.8 million adults struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, according to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. This means they experience a sense of worry most days, and these feelings can creep into their personal, social and working life.If you’re part of this group, the thought of securing life insurance might...
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions.This week’s episode wraps up our nerdy deep dive into the broad effects of climate change on personal finances, with a focus on how to manage a natural disaster.Check out this episode on either of these platforms:Apple PodcastsSpotifyOur takeAre you ready for a...
If you set money goals for 2023 back in January, now can be a smart time to check in on your progress. And if you didn’t, it’s not too late to create goals for the next six months and beyond.“If you don’t have your goals, everyone is so busy with life that a year will...
Paying bills and job hunting in this economy are hard for anyone. Wounded veterans, often facing ongoing physical and mental health issues, have it even worse.More wounded vets than before reported not having enough cash to make ends meet, a recent survey found. Sixty-four percent of those surveyed — or 6 in 10 vets —...
The Department of Education has proposed new regulations to protect students enrolled in for-profit institutions and certificate programs from being saddled with debt they can’t afford to repay. The public has until June 20 to comment on the proposal."We cannot turn a blind eye to the college programs that are leaving students with mountains of...
State agencies nationwide have begun a year-long process of reevaluating the financial eligibility of everyone enrolled in Medicaid, the joint state and federal health insurance program for people with low incomes or disabilities.This may sound like just another yawn-inducing exercise in government paper-shuffling, but the results will likely come as a shock to millions of...
Not every airport needs to be a stressful, chaotic experience. You shouldn’t have to stand in long lines only to dig deep into your budget for an overpriced, bland meal and perhaps end up sprinting to your gate.While some people rightfully detest airports, NerdWallet has rounded up a collection of nine U.S. airports that are...
Attending college can get pricey, so you’ll want to avoid costs from other places — like your bank account.More than 668,000 students paid nearly $15.5 million in bank account costs in a year, an average of almost $26 per person, according to a 2022 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What’s worse is that...
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.My husband and I received tiny shoes, outfits and baby books for our kids when they were born...
There isn’t much precedent on what to do in case of a default, since it’s never happened before. Nevertheless, there are steps consumers can take to safeguard their finances from some of the effects of the crisis.
The word “investment” likely brings to mind stocks and bonds, but the best return on your money might be obtained by tackling consumer debt. NerdWallet’s annual consumer credit card report found that 18% of Americans say rising interest rates have made their overall debt more expensive. While you can’t predict what money invested in the...
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, April’s inflation report showed a decrease for the 10th consecutive month. So why am I not celebrating yet? Because gas is still over $3 per gallon where I live in North Carolina (and it tops $4 on the West Coast), and virtually everything I buy at the grocery...
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions.This week’s episode starts with a round of Money Hot Takes.Then we pivot to this week’s money question from Sean:"Hey folks,Huge fan of the podcast. I have been listening for years, but this is, I think, the first time I'm submitting a question...
Spring is kickoff season for many kitchen remodels, bathroom updates and deck repairs, but recent economic turmoil may have homeowners questioning their home improvement plans.Spending on home renovations is expected to slow this year because of factors such as declining home sales and values, rising interest rates, continuing inflation and rumblings of a coming recession,...
The investing information provided on this page is for educational purposes only. NerdWallet, Inc. does not offer advisory or brokerage services, nor does it recommend or advise investors to buy or sell particular stocks, securities or other investments.A 2021 study from Pew Research Center found that the median annual income of Asian households in the...
Politics and a pandemic have shoved stodgy student loans into the spotlight. Since 2020, borrowers have encountered an onslaught of changes to the federal student loan landscape, including more than three years of paused payments, an upcoming repayment plan overhaul and potential debt cancellation.Backtracked announcements and timeline changes have made it difficult for borrowers to...
Teens looking for summer work may think “side hustles” and social media are the only ways to make money.“What we hear from a lot of young people is that they'd rather try to start a business than have traditional jobs,” says Ed Grocholski, chief marketing officer of Junior Achievement USA, an organization that helps young...
My primary care doctor recently left her practice and invited me to join her at her new gig — a concierge medicine group. There, for a membership fee, I’d have better and more personal access to her services: same-day appointments and long conversations! Concierge medicine — a model in which patients pay a membership fee...