Personal finance

The American Dream — which for many people involves some combination of owning a home, getting married, having kids and making enough after expenses to save for retirement and spend on leisure — is becoming increasingly expensive. “The benchmark of a six-figure salary used to be the gold standard income,” Sabrina Romanoff, a clinical psychologist,

Aleksandarnakic | E+ | Getty Images When it comes to retirement, Americans have a new number in mind — $1.46 million — for how much they think they will need to live comfortably, according to new research from Northwestern Mutual. That estimate is up 53% since 2020, when Americans said they would need $951,000, as

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks as he announces a new plan for federal student loan relief during a visit to Madison Area Technical College Truax Campus, in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S, April 8, 2024.  Kevin Lamarque | Reuters The Biden administration on Tuesday released the draft text of its new student loan forgiveness proposal, which could reduce or eliminate

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris deliver remarks about healthcare in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 26, 2024. Peter Zay | Anadolu | Getty Images President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have released their annual tax returns, and there are lessons within for average Americans, according to tax experts. The president

Janina Steinmetz | Digitalvision | Getty Images When it comes to dating etiquette, one question seems to inspire more anxiety than most: Who pays for the first date? Dating experts think there’s a clear answer for heterosexual couples. “The man should pay for the first date,” said Blaine Anderson, a dating coach for men. Erika

If you’re having money problems, someone on TikTok has a solution. Between “cash stuffing,” the “100 envelope” method or the “no-spend” challenge, there’s no shortage of suggestions to better your financial standing. “The gamification can be kind of fun,” said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate. But like any other quick fix, these can

US President Joe Biden speaks about student loan relief at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 8, 2024.  Andrew Caballero-reynolds | AFP | Getty Images President Joe Biden on Monday unveiled a new student loan forgiveness plan — and any of that relief dispensed in 2024 wouldn’t trigger a federal tax bill. But borrowers

Riska | E+ | Getty Images It may be a while longer before the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates, experts now say. That means savers can still earn the best returns on their cash in years, following a “nuclear winter for the better part of the last 15 years,” said Greg McBride, chief financial analyst

Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images Inflation jumped in March as prices for consumer staples such as gasoline edged higher and those for housing remained stubbornly high, suggesting inflation may be a bit stickier than it seemed just a few months ago, economists said. The consumer price index, a key inflation gauge, rose 3.5% in March

The Federal Reserve is in no rush to lower its benchmark rate. Earlier expectations that the central bank was planning multiple cuts before the end of the year seem less likely. On the heels of Friday’s strong jobs report, Wednesday’s consumer price index increased at a faster than expected pace in March. Both suggest that inflation is staying

Cavan Images | Getty Images If you need more time for your taxes, there’s a quick, free way to file a federal tax extension online, according to experts. This season, 1 in 4 Americans don’t feel prepared to file their taxes — and 29% admit to procrastinating — according to a January survey from IPX1031,

US President Joe Biden speaks about student loan relief at Madison College in Madison, Wisconsin, on April 8, 2024.  Andrew Caballero-reynolds | AFP | Getty Images The Biden administration is moving ahead quickly with its new student loan forgiveness plan, with hopes of starting to wipe out people’s debts as soon as this fall. That

Maria Korneeva | Moment | Getty Images The Biden administration has set a key deadline for student loan borrowers hoping to get forgiveness. Those with multiple federal student loans who request a consolidation by April 30 — which will leave them with one, larger loan — could benefit from the U.S. Department of Education’s overhaul

Federal Reserve Bank Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference at the bank’s William McChesney Martin building on March 20, 2024 in Washington, DC.  Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images Slowly but surely, recessionary talk is dying down and confidence in the Federal Reserve is picking up. Last week, the central bank held its benchmark

Martinprescott | E+ | Getty Images Millions of older adults who are behind on their student loans could soon receive a smaller Social Security benefit. That was the warning from Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., in a recent letter to the Biden administration. “When borrowers are in collections,

The Mega Millions jackpot grew to more than $1.6 billion on Aug. 9, 2023. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images The Mega Millions jackpot soared to an estimated $1.1 billion without a ticket matching all six balls on Friday night. It’s smaller than last year’s record $1.6 billion grand prize, but the victor could still face

Filippobacci | E+ | Getty Images If your home boasts certain trendy outdoor features, you may be able to sell it for more in today’s market. At the top of the list is outdoor TVs, which may help home sale price to 3.1% more than expected, representing a $10,749 boost based on the average home,

While the benefits of having children are shared between both parents, it is mothers who bear the brunt of the costs, according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Despite women’s increasing levels of education and representation in senior leadership positions at work, women are still more likely than men to take time out

A woman votes at the Royal Missionary Baptist Church polling location in North Charleston, South Carolina, on February 3, 2024, during the democratic primary.  Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images Almost half of all voters, or 48%, say canceling student loan debt is an important issue to them in the 2024 presidential and congressional

10’000 Hours | Digitalvision | Getty Images There’s still time to lower your 2023 tax bill or boost your refund with a lesser-known retirement savings strategy for married couples. One requirement for individual retirement account contributions is “earned income,” such as wages or salary from a job or self-employment earnings. But there’s an exception for