Personal finance

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

10’000 Hours | Getty Images Nearly two-thirds of the country’s outstanding student debt is held by women. Women graduate college owing $2,700 more, on average, than their male counterparts, according to the American Association of University Women. Among undergraduate students in bachelor’s degree programs in 2019-2020, 54% of men graduated with student loans, compared to 66%

Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derman | Moment | Getty Images When it comes to investor maladies, fear of missing out, or FOMO, is the clinical term for buying a security after a meteoric price increase because you don’t want to be left behind. There is no known cure for this condition, which has been linked to

As problems with the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid persist into the spring, harsh words are being directed at the U.S. Department of Education. Former top student loan official Wayne Johnson accused the Education Department of “malicious negligence” in a recent letter written to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and other senior officials and

Urbazon | E+ | Getty Images The tax deadline is approaching and the IRS has already issued more than 43 million refunds worth nearly $135.3 billion. As of March 8, the average refund was $3,145, up from $2,972 the same week in 2023, the agency reported last week. However, the average refund could change as

Fatcamera | E+ | Getty Images We’ve all been told that following a routine is important in many aspects of life — for physical fitness, good eating habits, solid work patterns and so on. But many experts are telling us that establishing a routine is also necessary for successful investing and building wealth. At an

Maskot | Maskot | Getty Images After a year full of supply shortages and climbing borrowing costs, 2024 is shaping up to be a better time to buy a car. The average transaction price for a new car in the U.S. last month was $47,244, down 2.2% from February 2023. That’s also down 5.4% from

Female firefighter putting on her protective equipment inside the fire station in response to an emergency Trevor Williams | Digitalvision | Getty Images The Biden administration’s latest student loan forgiveness announcement contained good news for more people than the 77,700 borrowers eligible for this round of aid. Starting next week, the administration said, President Joe

Fangxianuo | E+ | Getty Images There can be ample roadblocks during a job hunt, including so-called “ghost” jobs. These can be phantom listings for jobs that don’t exist, or those posted such a long time ago that it seems the job may not be available. Luckily, there are ways for job seekers to sidestep

South_agency | E+ | Getty Images House Republicans unveiled a plan this week that calls for raising the Social Security retirement age. Meanwhile, Democrats and advocates for the program are ramping up their calls to tax the rich to enhance benefits. “On the right, there is a line in the sand against tax increases,” said

Laylabird | E+ | Getty Images Breaking up in old age can be costly, especially for women. The rate of “gray divorce” — a term that describes divorce at age 50 and older — doubled from 1990 to 2019, according to a 2022 study published in The Journals of Gerontology. It tripled for adults over

For decades, research showed that earning a degree is almost always worthwhile. Recent college graduates working full-time earn $24,000 more a year than those with just a high school diploma, according to newly released data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Additionally, finishing college puts workers on track to earn a median of $2.8 million over

Margot Robbie as Barbie in a movie from Mattel and Warner Bros. Mattel | Warner Bros. In the “Barbie” movie, the narrator says, “Barbie has a great day every day.” It might be because she gets to be what her heart desires. The film’s Barbies participate in a wide range of roles and professions, from