We Finally Know How Much It Really Costs To Live The 'American Dream' For A Lifetime
Living the "American Dream" is a desire sought by people the world over, but it's always been a vague milestone based more on rationale than data.
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5 Factors That Reduce Your Monthly Social Security Payment
While there are steps you can take to boost your Social Security payment(s), there are also reasons why the amount could be reduced. We go over five.
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Thinking Of Grad School In Your 30s? Your Finances Could Seriously Suffer
Per the Education Data Initiative, student debt in 2024 averages out to just over $38K. For grad students (in 2020-21), their debt is nearly 2.5 times as much.
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How Much Should You Really Save For Retirement Each Year? It Depends
The answer isn't one-size-fits-all. The key factors? When you start your retirement savings journey and what your retirement lifestyle will be.
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The Amount Of Money Americans Lose To Uneaten Food Each Year Is Staggering
The amount of food Americans throw away each year has both financial and environmental consequences. Efforts are being made to change this mindset.
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Pausing Your Social Security Benefits Has This Unexpected Effect On Your Finances
Pausing Social Security benefits is a little-known rule you can utilize both before reaching full retirement age and after. Though the timing has to be right.
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This Stat About Gambling Vs. Stocks Has Us Concerned For America's Future
Today, 38 states and the District of Columbia allow some form of sports betting. The impact of this is covered in the paper "Gambling Away Stability."
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If You Have This Much Money At 50, You're Set Up For Retirement Success
While there isn't an exact number to aim for by age 50, there are guideposts you can follow to get to a savings goal that's right for you and your income.
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'Keep Your Account To Yourself': Kevin O'Leary's Stern Warning For Couples
This said, Kevin O'Leary's financial advice to couples needs some context, which we provide here. He didn't just offer this warning out of the blue.
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What Happens To Your Social Security Benefits After Getting Divorced?
How Social Security works for people who divorce may surprise you. While your relationship has ended, spousal benefits are another story. Here are the rules.
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5 Ways You're Destroying Your Budget (And Not Even Know It)
Even when being careful, your monthly budget might still come up short. We turned to expert Matt Schulz to help us better understand why that may be so.
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Social Security Scams: How To Spot Them And Avoid Them
Sixty-eight million Americans will receive monthly Social Security in 2024. For 13.5% of people age 65 and older, it accounts for 90% of their income.
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Pro Tip: Save Money By Never Ordering A Big Mac This Way From McDonald's
A former McDonald's chef shared on TikTok how you can save around 38% off the regular cost of a Big Mac. And the trick doesn't involve the app.
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Waiting For Student Loan Forgiveness Stimulus Checks? Don't Hold Your Breath
As of the second quarter of 2024, student loan debt in the U.S. stood at $1.753 trillion, with federal student loans accounting for 91.2% of that total.
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Here's The Average Social Security Benefit For A Retired Worker By Age
You can collect Social Security by age 62, but full retirement age isn't until 66 or 67. Further, those who delay their retirement benefit receive a credit.
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You've Been Warned: Retiring In This State Could Cost You
Key in why it's so costly to retire in this state: housing prices, among the highest in the nation. It's joined by four other usual suspects.
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What Is A Title Loan? (And Why They're So Risky)
Title loans are a type of loan consumers might consider if their options are limited. Despite the risky loan terms, here's why people still use them.
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Why Mega Millions Winners Don't Always Claim Their Prize Money Immediately
After hitting a jackpot like Mega Millions, you might think winners run to claim their prize. This isn't the case. Here's why some choose to hold off.
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When Should You Start Lowering The Price Of Your Home To Sell It Faster?
Browsing real estate listings, you'll notice price reductions aren't uncommon. However, how successful this is depends largely on when you do so.
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Its Official: The New COLA For Social Security Benefits Has Been Revealed
The Social Security Administration announced today the cost-of-living adjustment for 2025. In the end, next year's COLA is what the experts predicted.
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Scam Warning: Never Fall For These Door-To-Door Sales Scam Tactics
Selling door to door is far less common today. If someone does knock on your door, here's how to tell if it's a legitimate offer or an old-school scam.
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Expect An Above-Average COLA If Your Social Security Check Beats This Number
While the COLA rate is the same for everyone (e.g., 3.2% in 2024), how it changes the amount of a Social Security check is different for every beneficiary.
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How Scammers Are Targeting The Country's Most Vulnerable
The Pew Research Center reports 12.5% of the population uses SNAP benefits (as of April 2023). Unfortunately, scammers are now targeting recipients.
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How A Social Security Do-Over Could Mean A 24% Boost For Your Checks
According to the National Institute on Retirement Security, 40.2% of Americans only receive income from Social Security in retirement.
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Can You Use A 529 Plan To Pay Off Your Student Loans?
A number of things changed for 529 plans in 2019 with the SECURE Act, and then again in 2022 with the SECURE Act 2.0. One of these concerned student loan debt.
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12 Things Frugal People Will Always Refuse To Buy
Frugal travelers are always keen to save rather than spend, particularly when it comes to wasteful purchases like paper towels or bottled water.
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Your Retirement Lifestyle Ultimately May Determine Your Retirement Success
When planning for retirement, understanding how much you'll need to fund your retirement lifestyle is a major consideration not everyone accounts for.
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