Personal finance

Maria Teijeiro | OJO Images | Getty Images ‘Tis the season for charitable giving, and retirees eyeing a year-end donation may still score a write-off with transfers from their individual retirement account.   Qualified charitable distributions, or QCDs, are direct gifts from an IRA to an eligible charity. Investors age 70½ and older may donate up

A graduate who calls himself “April Vendetta” protests student debt in New York’s Washington Square Park on May 19, 2021, after New York University’s virtual commencement ceremony. Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images Most Americans want the government to forgive at least some of the $1.7 trillion in outstanding student loan debt. Some

RgStudio | E+ | Getty Images It’s almost time to ring in the new year. Before you do, there are some smart money moves you can still make that can set you up for success in 2022 — and beyond. To be sure, practicing good financial health is important all year long. However, there are

The crypto ecosystem has expanded significantly in recent years. While institutions such as the IMF are starting to embrace its innovation, they are also calling for investors to exercise caution. Jakub Porzycki | NurPhoto via Getty Images Cryptocurrency donations to charity are booming, with gifts still rolling in as the calendar winds down. There was

Nederland, Colorado resident Nick Emery clears mountains of snow from his driveway on March 14, 2021. Helen H. Richardson | Denver Post | Getty Images It’s gearing up to be an expensive winter, especially for those grappling with rising heating costs. In the last year, about 20% of Americans struggled to pay their energy bill

New Hampshire parents and others gather outside of Sen. Maggie Hassan’s Manchester office on Sept, 14, 2021.. Scott Eisen | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Democrats on Capitol Hill will face a big task when they regroup in the new year — finding common ground on the Build Back Better legislation. One key question

RgStudio | E+ | Getty Images Just in time for winter travel, gas prices are ticking up again. Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of gas is $3.34, up 2 cents from a week ago, according to GasBuddy.com. However, that’s down from about $3.43 a month ago. Average prices range from about $2.84 in

DjelicS | E+ | Getty Images If you still have money in your flexible spending account, be aware that you may have only another week or so to spend it. Congressional action loosened FSA rules for 2020 and 2021 as a way to give workers more time to spend unused funds, yet many companies did

Supporters demonstrate in favor of Build Back Better on the Senate Steps of the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 15, 2021. Leigh Vogel | Getty Images As the Build Back Better bill and the new government aid it promised stalls on Capitol Hill, millions of Americans who may have been expecting more help amid the pandemic

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with his administration’s Supply Chain Disruptions Task Force and private sector CEOs in the South Court Auditorium of the White House December 22, 2021 in Washington, DC. Drew Angerer | Getty Images Amid concerns about the new omicron virus, the Biden administration will extend the payment pause

President Joe Biden addresses graduates of South Carolina State University during their commencement ceremony on Dec. 17, 2021. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images The Biden administration is considering extending the payment pause and interest waiver for most federal student loan borrowers once again. “Since day one of the Biden Administration, we’ve been hard

Labor activists hold a rally in support of a national $15 minimum wage on May 19, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Kevin Dietsch | Getty Images News | Getty Images As the calendar changes to a new year, residents of some states can expect to see a boost to their paychecks. Starting Jan. 1, 2022, several

Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona answers questions during the daily briefing at the White House August 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee | Getty Images The U.S. Department of Education announced Wednesday a host of major changes to the public service loan forgiveness program, which could bring more than 550,000 borrowers closer to

Elizabeth Frantz | Reuters Two years after Congress passed a law that ushered in improvements to the U.S. retirement system, lawmakers’ efforts to make further enhancements are moving forward — albeit slowly. There’s bipartisan backing for measures in both the House and Senate that would build on the 2019 Secure Act, which aimed to increase

Advocate JoAnna Vance joins families, parents and caregivers at Capitol Hill to call on Congress to include paid family and medical leave in the Build Back Better legislative package on Nov. 2, 2021. Paul Morigi | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images Hopes for a federal paid family and medical leave program have dimmed after

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., walks outside of the Senate Chamber on Capitol Hill on Dec. 9, 2021. Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images The “backdoor Roth” tax strategy used largely by wealthy retirement savers and slated to be killed next year has survived — for now. The loophole lets rich 401(k) and

monkeybusinessimages | iStock | Getty Images The borrowing costs for student loans could get more expensive soon. With the economy recovering from the pandemic and inflation a growing concern, the Federal Reserve is looking at raising interest rates three times in 2022. Those increases will impact both federal and private student loan borrowers. Here’s what

Getty Images Without the child tax credit, Stormy Johnson is worried about having enough to eat. Johnson, 44, works as a student support specialist in Preston County Schools in Kingwood, West Virginia. Since July, she’s been receiving an additional $500 each month through the enhanced child tax credit for her two children, Violet, 14, and

Heading into 2022, many workers are ready for a change. But you don’t have to join the “Great Resignation” and quit to shake things up. You may be able to give your old job a new look with a few small tweaks. As return-to-office plans are pushed back once again with the rise of the

JaruekChairak | iStock | Getty Images Amid all the worrisome news about the omicron variant, there one’s good development: Soon most Americans should be able to pick up at-home Covid tests for free. The Biden administration said earlier this month that those with private health insurance can request reimbursement from their plans for these takeaway