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5 Ways to Pay Off Debt After the Holidays
This article is part of Money's new-year checklist — a 10-step guide to crushing your financial goals in 2024 (and beyond). For expert tips on how to get a raise, protect your identity from AI scams and more, read our cover story. Celebrated a little too hard in December?...
Scammers Are Getting Smarter. Here's How to Protect Your Identity This Year
This article is part of Money's new-year checklist — a 10-step guide to crushing your financial goals in 2024 (and beyond). For expert insights into new retirement-saving policies, the housing market and more, read our cover story. Legitimate businesses aren’t the only ones paying attention to recent advances in...
Social Security Checks Are Bigger This Year — Here's When Benefits Will Pay Out
A sizable cost-of-living adjustment to Social Security kicks in this month, meaning beneficiaries are about to see their monthly checks increase — by an average of $58. According to the Social Security Administration's payments schedule for 2024, the first Social Security checks of the year will be distributed on Wednesday (Jan. 3). This batch of payments is for people who claimed Social Security before May 1997 as well as those who receive both Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
The Best Neck Stretchers for Your Money
Welcome to 2024, where innovation meets comfort and convenience in the form of top-rated neck stretcher products! Designed to alleviate neck strain, these expert-recommended devices are the go-to solution for many who suffer from persistent neck tension. Whether you're working extended hours at your computer, recovering from a sports injury, or simply seeking some much-needed relaxation after a long day, a neck stretcher could be your new best friend. These products, with their blossoming popularity, cater to diverse consumer needs by providing relief from pain, increasing flexibility, and improving posture in a non-invasive manner. As your guide through this emerging wellness trend, we'll delve into how these remarkable devices operate and identify which specific models rise above the rest in the market. So, sit back, relax, and let's explore the world of neck stretcher products together; because a pain-free life is not just a luxury, it's a necessity.
Fixed vs. Adjustable-Rate Mortgages: Pros, Cons and Differences
When it comes time to apply for a home loan, homebuyers have to choose between two types of mortgages — fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages. The distinction between them is implied in their names: A mortgage borrower’s interest rate with a fixed-rate mortgage is constant for the whole term of the loan, whereas the rate for adjustable-rate mortgages is periodically adjusted over time.
What Is a Private Mortgage Lender?
The traditional homebuying process is an onerous financial undertaking that not everyone can qualify for. Private mortgages offer an alternative route to homeownership, and may be especially useful if you’re struggling to qualify for a mortgage through a traditional lender. Real estate investors, house flippers and landlords may also prefer to use established private mortgage lenders instead of getting a mortgage through a bank.
How Much Do Dog Vaccinations Cost?
Dog vaccination costs should be a primary consideration when budgeting for your pet. Certain vaccines are essential to pet health — and some are even required by law. We researched dog vaccinations to provide an in-depth guide for pet parents on getting their furry friends vaccinated. Read on to find out how much are shots for puppies and how much are vaccines for dogs, plus a list of pet insurance companies that cover vaccines and a state-by-state guide to legally required vaccines.
3 Signs the Housing Market Is Bouncing Back
The housing market is ready for a rebound in 2024, and experts are growing more and more confident that the clouds are finally parting. Falling mortgage rates are one promising indicator. After steadily increasing over the summer, Freddie Mac’s benchmark rate for a 30-year fixed-rate loan topped out at 7.79% in October. Since then, rates have tumbled, and are creeping towards 6% for the first time in almost a year.
How Much Does it Cost to Spay a Dog?
Spay surgery is the common name for the sterilization of a female dog. For pet parents, this is an important part of a dog’s overall wellness plan. While spaying your dog helps control the pet population — which is hugely important — the procedure also comes with health benefits for your dog. For example, spayed dogs have a lower risk of developing cancer and uterus infections.
How Much Does an Appraisal Cost?
In addition to saving up for a down payment, homebuyers also have to plan for a variety of closing costs due when a sale is finalized, including the appraisal. While the home appraisal isn’t a massive expense in the grand scheme of things with buying a home, it is almost always required by mortgage lenders, so it’s important to budget for it nonetheless.
These 22 States Are Hiking Their Minimum Wage on New Year's Day
Nearly half of the U.S. is ringing in the new year with higher pay for minimum wage workers. On Jan. 1, 22 states will bump up their minimum wage, according to a report from the Washington, D.C. think tank Economic Policy Institute (EPI). The increases come by way of ballot measure, legislation and inflation adjustment measures, and are expected to add anywhere from $216 to $1,380 to the annual earnings of almost 10 million workers.
What Does a Background Check Show?
A background check can yield basic information about a person (such as their full name, aliases and age), but can also show an individual’s education history, past employment, criminal history and credit reports. However, not all background check reports are the same. The type of information they’ll show largely...
5 Things That Will Get More Expensive in 2024 Even as Inflation Falls
Good news first: Inflation is steadily cooling, and the Federal Reserve appears to be winning its ongoing fight against rising prices. While inflation isn’t quite yet where the Fed would like to see it — around 2% — recent readings show it’s getting close. And a recent projection from the Congressional Budget Office found that inflation could cool to 2.1% in 2024.
Long-Term Care Insurance Costs
Long-term care insurance helps cover the cost of long-term care you may need later in life — such as nursing home care — once you need help with activities of daily living (ADLs). A policy can help ensure you receive the care you need while protecting your savings.
What Is a No-Closing-Cost Mortgage?
Aside from the down payment, your mortgage closing costs — typically due on the date the home sale is finalized — are likely going to be the largest expense as part of the homebuying process. One popular way homebuyers seek to avoid shelling out thousands of dollars upfront...
50 (Totally Legal) Ways to Make Extra Money
*This article was not written by Money’s editorial staff. We may receive affiliate revenue from the links in this article, and the order of company offers may be determined by compensation levels. Some of the featured apps may require an upfront payment in order to have a chance of winning cash prizes.
What Is Mortgage Underwriting?
Will your mortgage application be approved? That depends on the outcome of mortgage underwriting. Mortgage underwriting is a crucial step of the homebuying process in which mortgage lenders decide whether to finance a home purchase. While prequalification and preapproval can give you a sense of how much house you can...
What Is an Assumable Mortgage?
Considering that mortgage rates are above 6%, taking over someone else's lower-rate loan can be a great way to save money on interest. Assumable mortgages are the mechanism that allows you to do this: When you assume a mortgage, you’re basically picking up the previous owner’s loan, with the same interest rate and terms, when you buy their home.
The New FAFSA Is Available Soon — Here Are 6 Big Changes Affecting Financial Aid
College students and their parents will soon be able to fill out the redesigned FAFSA. The long-awaited new Free Application for Federal Student Aid will be available before the end of the month. Families will see a shorter, more streamlined application, which is used to award federal grants and student...
What is Business Insurance?
Business insurance protects companies from a range of legal and operational risks. It can cover general liability, property damage, workers' compensation claims and losses from cyberattacks. Each of these insurance types can be purchased separately or bundled into a multi-peril policy. Riders can be added to policies to protect against...
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