Kirby Hamilton | Getty Images The Biden administration in December again extended the moratorium on student loan payments and interest, meaning most people with federal loans are off the hook until May 1. In the meantime, however, confusion about the pause, continued calls for broad-based forgiveness and changes to other aspects of student loan debt
Personal finance
bojanstory | E+ | Getty Images This year may be your chance to get a big raise. As employers try to retain talent amid the “Great Resignation,” many of them expect to pay more in salaries and/or bonuses. In fact, 51% of human resource leaders in the U.S. said their organization expects average merit increases
When it comes to car shopping these days, sticker price may mean sticker shock. New and used car prices continue to spurt higher amid strong demand and tight inventory. While a manufacturing slowdown has improved slightly, there won’t be a return to normal anytime soon for car buyers. “The typical dealership experience that consumers are
In this article KALU brightstars | E+ | Getty Images Beginning this month, a new law that was years in the making bans certain unexpected medical bills. However, advocates say it’s important for consumers to still be on the lookout for these charges and to know what steps to take if they get hit with
In this article CTRU An investing index that aims to track the most transparent companies in the world is changing its holdings for 2022. The index — called the Transparency Index — is adding 20 new companies to its list of 100 companies that exclude certain industries it deems harmful for people and the planet.
NicolasMcComber | E+ | Getty Images Air travel continues to be disrupted this week by the national surge in Covid infections, and many worried Americans may be wondering whether or how to ensure — and insure — upcoming or planned trips. More than 2,221 flights nationwide were canceled Thursday alone, according to website FlightAware. That
LPETTET | iStock | Getty Images If you didn’t get the last stimulus check, don’t despair. You still have time to claim the money if you’re eligible. A third round of stimulus payments was sent to Americans as a part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, signed into law in March 2021. Starting that
Getty Images Money has piled into municipal bonds, known as muni bonds or “munis,” as investors aim to lower risk and reduce taxes. But some may worry about price drops amid rising interest rates. Investors funneled a record-breaking $96.8 billion of net money into U.S. muni mutual and exchange-traded funds in 2021, according to Refinitiv
By many measures, 2021 saw a record-spending holiday season despite ongoing supply chain problems, inflation and a new Covid-19 variant. Holiday sales are on track to grow as much as 11.5% over 2020, according to a projection by the National Retail Federation. About 30% of Americans said they overspent during the gift-giving season, according to
Warren-Pender | iStock Editorial | Getty Images Yes, you have another chance to win a ton of money in Powerball. No, you probably won’t win. The jackpot jumped to $630 million from $610 million ahead of Wednesday night’s drawing due to strong ticket sales. The amount — which has been growing for three months —
New Yorkers queued for Covid-19 testing in Times Square on Dec. 26, 2021, as the omicron variant continued to spread. Andrew Kelly | Reuters Omicron is wreaking more disruption on the American economy. That could prompt Washington lawmakers to revisit relief strategies from earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic. Conversations on Capitol Hill have turned to
The Canadian province of Alberta came in at No. 5 for cheap flights thanks to low average airfares to and from Calgary. AJ_Watt | E+ | Getty Images So you haven’t taken a vacation to a long-haul destination since Covid first hit nearly two years ago. You’re itching to get out — despite recent disruptions
A healthcare worker administers a Covid-19 swab test at the Boulder County Fairgrounds testing site in Longmont, Colorado, on Dec. 14, 2021. Chet Strange/Bloomberg via Getty Images Covid-19 infections are ballooning, and sick Americans who miss work due to the virus may wonder if they qualify for unemployment benefits. The short answer: They don’t. There
An employee watches as checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia. William Thomas Cain | Getty Images The new year will usher in bigger Social Security checks for many beneficiaries starting this month. That’s as a record 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, takes effect. It marks the biggest
Clemens Porikys | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Many workers look forward to the day when they can retire. A recent survey from Natixis Investment Managers set out to find out exactly when most Americans hope to stop working. The average age is 62, the research found. However, it turns out when people to
Tetra Images | Tetra images | Getty Images Filing 2021 taxes will look slightly different for families who received the enhanced child tax credit last year. That’s because the monthly payments that were sent to millions of families with eligible children from July to December only accounted for half of the credit. Now, those who
Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images Planning to save more this year? There’s a higher 401(k) employee deferral limit for 2022, and now’s the time to boost contributions, financial experts say. Employees may funnel $20,500 into 401(k), 403(b) and other plans for 2022, up from $19,500 in 2021, thanks to cost-of-living adjustments from the
The new year offers opportunities for many Americans in their careers and financial lives. The “Great Reshuffle” is expected to continue as employees leave jobs and take new ones at a rapid clip. At the same time, many workers have made a vow to save more this year, yet many admit they don’t know how
Flashpop | Stone | Getty Images Getting impatient waiting to hear if your student loans will be forgiven? Millions of other borrowers are in the same spot. The topic of loan cancellation has been floated for years now. On the campaign trail, President Joe Biden promised to forgive at least $10,000 of the debt for
Gaviota Azul beach in Cancun, Mexico. Getty Images Just as countries have started to lift pandemic travel bans and Americans begin to at least think about booking vacations abroad, the spread of the delta and omicron variants of Covid-19 has thrown the tourism industry’s fortunes to the wind again. That said, hope springs eternal and