Personal finance

First tip prompts, now surcharges. These fees, which typically range between 3% and 5%, are catching on at restaurants across the country. They may cover health insurance, inflation, credit card transactions or even tap water. Similar to ‘tipflation,’ the extra expenses can add a significant amount to the cost of dining in or carrying out. More

Kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty Images As Americans with student loan debt brace for their monthly payments to restart and recover from the recent sting of the Supreme Court’s ruling against loan forgiveness, some groups are looking to the workplace as a firewall to funnel aid to borrowers. SHRM, a group representing human resources professionals,

Supreme Court justices listen to arguments. Artist: Bill Hennessey When the Supreme Court struck down the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan at the end of June, it dealt a crushing blow to the president as he runs for reelection and to the tens of millions of Americans who were promised the financial relief. Unsurprisingly,

While the thought of funding your retirement adequately might be daunting, if you start planning now, you’ll certainly be thankful later. It’s never too early to start thinking about retirement and it might not be as difficult as you think. Retirement usually entails replacing your annual salary from a workplace with other income sources to

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images When it comes to Social Security benefits, a key deadline is looming: Benefits may be reduced in the next decade if no action is taken sooner. This week, the Senate Budget Committee met on Capitol Hill to consider the dilemma facing the program with a focus on a key

Jose A. Bernat Bacete | Moment | Getty Images Airfare to Europe hit an all-time high this summer. But those dissuaded by the sticker shock can still travel overseas in coming months and cut costs by perhaps hundreds of dollars a ticket. Flying to Europe from the U.S. during the fall “shoulder season” — in

President Joe Biden announces new actions on June 30, 2023 to protect borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down his student loan forgiveness plan. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The Biden administration announced on Friday it would automatically forgive $39 billion in student debt for 804,000 borrowers. The relief is a result of fixes to

A shopper at Lincoln Market in Brooklyn, New York, on June 12, 2023. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Inflation slowed sharply in June to its slowest pace in more than two years, translating to less of a pinch on the average consumer’s wallet thanks to price relief across categories like

Jetcityimage | Istock | Getty Images As inflation falls, investors are weighing whether to buy or sell Series I bonds amid other competitive options for cash. Annual inflation rose by 3% in June, the smallest 12-month jump since March 2021, and a hefty pullback from 9.1% in June 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor

President Joe Biden announces new actions on June 30, 2023 to protect borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down his student loan forgiveness plan. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images President Joe Biden doesn’t want the Supreme Court to get the final word on student loan forgiveness. “This fight is not over,” the president said in

damircudic | Getty There’s a key tax deadline approaching for past-due filers, with an estimated $1.5 billion in unclaimed refunds up for grabs. Nearly 1.5 million taxpayers still have pending refunds from 2019, with a median payment worth $893, according to the IRS. The last chance to file or amend 2019 returns to claim your

Drazen Zigic | Istock | Getty Images As the rate of inflation continues to fall, Social Security beneficiaries may expect to see a much lower cost-of-living adjustment for 2024. The Social Security COLA may be 3%, according to a new estimate from The Senior Citizens League, a non-partisan senior group, based on new consumer price

Kmatta | Moment | Getty Images For high school and college students, summer jobs are an opportunity to get used to earning a paycheck. With that earned income, those young workers are also eligible to start investing in a Roth IRA. Roth individual retirement accounts let workers set aside post-tax earnings towards retirement. In 2023,

Asiavision | E+ | Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic separated the haves from the have-nots when it comes to finances. Research shows that trend is continuing when it comes to debt, particularly credit cards. More than one-third of Americans — 35% — say they are carrying their highest level of debt ever or close to

Another bank is in hot water for so-called ”junk fees.”  The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Tuesday ordered Bank of America to pay more than $100 million to its customers and $150 million in penalties for double-dipping on fees, among other violations. The bank charged multiple $35 overdraft fees for the same transactions and generated substantial

Elijah Wood as Frodo in “The Lord of the Rings” film trilogy. Courtesy: New Line Cinema The One Ring that collectors were coveting this summer wasn’t found in Hobbiton or deep in the tunnels of the Misty Mountains; nor was it discovered in the Elf stronghold of Rivendell, the realm of Gondor or even beyond

After the Supreme Court‘s ruling on the affirmative action admission policies of Harvard and the University of North Carolina, decades-old legacy preferences are facing new challenges. The court’s ruling was considered a massive blow to efforts to boost enrollment of minorities at American universities through policies that considered applicants’ race. Now, a civil rights group is contesting the practice of

The Powerball jackpot for July 10, 2023 has hit $650 million. Here, a cashier at a 7-11 store in Milipitas, California, issues Powerball tickets in 2022. Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images With no winner for the Powerball jackpot, the prize has jumped to an estimated $650 million ahead of Monday’s drawing. Of

Atlanta single father Jon had his son Theo after a decade of saving and strategizing with employer benefits and advocacy group help. Jon G. There are many paths to parenthood, and the journey is often a lot more costly for parents who rely on surrogacy.  For Jon, 41, the road to becoming a father to

Photo taken in Amalfi, Italy Sergio_pulp | Istock | Getty Images “Have you ever been broke, but no one believes you because you don’t look like a broke person?” New videos trending on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram are asking that very question. “The thing is, like you broke, but like a