Personal Finance

Advertising is a billion-dollar industry with one goal – to get you to spend your money. So how do advertisers convince so many people to buy stuff they don’t need?

Home prices are higher than they’ve ever been, and they show no signs of stopping. The median U.S. home listing price was $449,000 in July 2022, about the same as it was in June, according to data from Realtor.com. That’s an increase of 16.6% year-over-year.

As every car owner knows, cars are expensive. According to the 2021 edition of the AAA's "Your Driving Costs," you could drive a small sedan 15,000 miles a year for 48 cents per mile. The cost can reach 66 cents per mile if you put 15,000 miles on a four-wheel drive. That's an annual cost of $9,900.

In August 2021, news footage of the devastation caused by the 7.2 earthquake that struck Haiti was certainly heartbreaking, but it was also a troubling reminder for property owners in the United States who could suffer the same fate one day.

The economy has been tough on young people, and it’s starting to show up in how they view their future. According to a new report, almost half of young workers are holding off on investing for retirement until the economy settles down. That’s obviously a troubling strategy.

If you suddenly had to shell out cash for an unexpected expense, how would you cover the cost? As of 2021, 32% of Americans said they might struggle to pay for an unexpected expense of more than $400, according to the Federal Reserve.

When creating a budget, it’s important to set specific, achievable goals. Then, you’ll want to prioritize those goals to determine how much you’ll contribute to each one. It’s not enough to just name your goals – you’ve got to fund them as well.

Many homebuyers have a hard time juggling everyday expenses while saving for a down payment or closing costs. Rent, utilities, car payments, student loans, and credit cards, not to mention groceries, can sometimes drain your bank account as quickly as money is deposited.

According to our Q3 2022 Consumer Pulse, rising interest rates is one of the top five concerns for Americans in 2022. It’s understandable – a rise in interest rates can impact numerous parts of your financial life.

Seventy-two is an important age milestone for those in or near retirement, as it marks the time when required minimum distributions (RMDs) begin to be withdrawn annually from IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans (previously, the threshold was 70 ½).