Personal finance

Inflation is surging — and if it keeps up, Americans may start nixing their travel plans. Some 40% of U.S. adults said they would cancel a vacation or trip if consumer prices continue to rise, according to a new CNBC + Acorns Invest in You survey, conducted by Momentive. The online poll was taken March

Travelers booking luxury trips to Europe have not canceled amid the Ukraine war, says travel advisor Jessica Griscavage of Runway Travel. Pictured, Grignan, France. Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues with no end in sight, how are Americans’ European vacation plans being affected? It depends on whom you

Hinterhaus Productions | Getty Images About 7.7 million Americans count on monthly government checks through a program for low-income seniors or people with disabilities. Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, as it’s known, provided an average benefit of $569 per month as of November. One big change — updating the program’s rules around income from work

In this article TREE Anchiy Tax Day is swiftly approaching, and for most filers that means a refund is also likely on the way. This year, many taxpayers are planning to save any refunds they receive in an effort to boost their personal wealth. Some 46% of people plan to save their refunds, according to

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., speaks during a Senate Finance Committee nomination hearing on Feb. 23, 2021. Greg Nash | Pool | Reuters Americans increasingly favor a wealth tax on the ultra-rich. But despite an uptick in proposals, these policies have struggled to gain traction. President Joe Biden in March unveiled the latest federal wealth tax

Carla Osborn, second from left, with her classmates at Clovis Community College in New Mexico. Source: Bob Dart “I didn’t want to give up, but it could have come to the point that I couldn’t afford school,” said Carla Osborn, 31, from Portales, New Mexico. Osborn is studying nursing at Clovis Community College, located in a

If you’re one of those procrastinators who still hasn’t filed your taxes, you’re not alone. About one-third of Americans wait until the very last minute.  A survey from IPX 1031 finds the most common reason this year for the delay is the belief that if there’s no refund, there’s no rush to file. Nearly one-third

Alexi Rosenfeld | Getty Images As the April 18 deadline to file taxes nears, parents who were eligible for monthly child tax credit payments last year may also look forward to more generous lump sums when they complete their returns. The American Rescue Plan enacted by Congress temporarily made that credit more generous for 2021.

Willie B. Thomas | Digitalvision | Getty Images Saving for retirement is an important financial task. But what should workers do if they don’t have access to a sponsored plan, such as a 401(k), through their employer? In 2021, 28% of workers in private industry and state and local government didn’t have an employer-sponsored retirement

Recent graduates may have just gotten an extended break on their student loan payments, but college debt remains a substantial hurdle for nearly everyone with a degree. “Attending and affording college can be next to impossible without taking out a student loan, thanks to the exponential rise in college tuition,” said Bankrate.com analyst Sarah Foster.

A “Now Hiring” advertisement in a store window in Bay Shore, New York, on March 24, 2022. Steve Pfost/Newsday RM via Getty Images Claims for unemployment insurance last week fell to their lowest level in more than 50 years — yet another sign workers are reaping the benefits of a hot labor market. Americans filed

Student Olivia Raymond participates in a personal finance course in her middle school class in West Orange, New Jersey, in February 2020. CNBC Pursuing financial literacy is something that should continue beyond traditional school years, according to several state governors. “We think it’s a lifelong experience,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told CNBC’s Sharon Epperson

Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Most payday loan borrowers aren’t using the lowest-cost repayment option in states where it’s available, perpetuating a cycle of high fees and debt, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday in a report. In some cases, payday lenders have withheld information about these “no-cost extended repayment plans” from borrowers to

Supporters of former President Donald Trump and then-candidate President Joe Biden talk before a March 7, 2020 rally at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri. Kyle Rivas | Getty Images Women ages 50 and over are one of the largest, most reliable groups of voters. And going into this

Klaus Vedfelt | DigitalVision | Getty Images The cost of college can be a challenge for families, but a few tax breaks may lessen the burden, financial experts say.   For the 2021-22 academic year, the average tuition and fees for full-time undergraduate students ranged from $10,740 (1.6% higher than the year before) for in-state public

Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images The Biden administration plans to announce another extension to the payment pause for federal student loan borrowers, sources tell CNBC. The pause is likely to last through August. This would be the sixth extension of the break, which has now spanned two presidencies. Currently, the

The “Great Resignation,” also known as the “Great Reshuffle,” has many Americans at least considering a career move. But increasingly, job hopping may be more necessary than voluntary as the recent spike in inflation puts households under financial stress. While wage growth is high by historical standards, it isn’t keeping up with the increased cost of

Edwin Lopez sorts the money in the cash register at Frankie’s Pizza on January 12, 2022 in Miami, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images As inflation continues to weigh on American households, people are plotting what they’ll cut from their budgets in the coming months to keep spending in check. More than 50% of adults

Going to the grocery store is only going to get more expensive. Food prices rose 1% while food at home jumped 1.4%, making them the fastest monthly gains since April 2020, according to the latest Consumer Price Index figures. And food price inflation likely will only intensify in the months ahead. In 2022, “all food prices

VALERIE MACON | AFP | Getty Images Social Security beneficiaries soon will have one more way to seek assistance from the government agency as local offices are slated to reopen this week. Starting Thursday, April 7, the Social Security Administration will restore in-person services, including for people who do not have appointments, acting Social Security