Personal finance

Richard Stephen | Istock | Getty Images As lawmakers in Washington, D.C., work to rein in government spending, some advocates and consumers are concerned that Social Security could see cuts. Congress faces a March 14 deadline to extend funding for the federal government in order to avoid a government shutdown. Meanwhile, the Trump administration had

Students walk through the University of Texas at Austin on February 22, 2024 in Austin, Texas.  Brandon Bell | Getty Images Amid President Donald Trump‘s threats to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and recent reports that Elon Musk‘s secretive government-slashing effort, the Department of Government Efficiency, had gained access to confidential student loan data,

An attendant holds 1-kilogram gold bars on Feb. 17, 2025. Akos Stiller/Bloomberg via Getty Images Gold prices are popping. But investors should avoid the temptation to chase a shiny object, investment experts said. The SPDR Gold Shares fund (GLD), which tracks the price of gold bullion, is up about 11% in 2025 as of 2 p.m.

The average tax refund is 10.4% lower than last year according to the latest Internal Revenue Service data, and inflation is taking more of those dollars. Bill Oxford | E+ | Getty Images The average tax refund this year is down 32.4% compared to last year, according to early filing data from the IRS.  Tax

Protestors in New York City demonstrate against the push by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who leads the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, to gut federal services and impose mass layoffs, Feb. 19, 2025. Michael Nigro/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images The Trump administration’s purge of federal workers may ultimately amount to the biggest job

Nitat Termmee | Moment | Getty Images The Trump administration’s tariff policies may raise auto insurance premiums for motorists, according to a new Insurify analysis, at a time when costs are already soaring. A 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico — which may take effect as soon as March — would increase annual

Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Although a broader window for Medicare enrollment has closed, some retirees have another opportunity to make changes to their coverage. Medicare Advantage open enrollment is available from Jan. 1 through March 31. Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurers as an alternative to original Medicare. Generally,

Elon Musk speaks during the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, U.S., Feb. 20, 2025.  Nathan Howard | Reuters A federal judge in Maryland on Monday granted a temporary restraining order barring staffers from Elon Musk‘s secretive government-slashing effort, the Department of Government Efficiency, from accessing the personal information of millions of student loan

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images There’s a lesser-known tax break for low- to moderate-income Americans who save for retirement. However, most eligible taxpayers don’t claim it, experts say. The retirement savings contributions credit, or saver’s credit, helps offset funds added to an individual retirement account, 401(k) plan or another workplace plan. The tax break

Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Student loan borrowers who expected smaller monthly payments under the new Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, plan received some bad news on Feb. 18, when a U.S. appeals court blocked the program. As a result, millions of people will need to switch to a new repayment plan

Busà Photography | Moment | Getty Images There’s no shortage of social media influencers sharing real estate advice, and some make renting out your home seem like a clear “yes” when you move elsewhere. Managing a rental property, however, can be complicated — and changing your primary residence could impact your taxes later, experts say. 

Every year, millions of dollars in credit card rewards go unclaimed — money that could be covering travel, everyday expenses, or even cash back in your pocket. If you’re not redeeming those rewards, you’re leaving money on the table. As someone who leverages credit card rewards, I was somewhat surprised by the recent Bankrate survey

Americans are racking up more and more credit card debt. Collectively, consumers owe a record $1.21 trillion on their credit cards, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York recently reported. The average balance per consumer now stands at $6,580, up 3.5% year over year, according to a separate quarterly credit industry insights report from TransUnion. Despite the

U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to a crowd gathered in front of the U.S. Treasury Department in protest of Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency on Feb. 4, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Rose Layden | Getty Images In response to a request from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.

Although inflation has eased considerably, in many ways, it is still alive and well. The consumer price index, which measures the cost of a wide-ranging basket of goods and services, has fallen gradually from a 9.1% pandemic-era peak in June 2022 to 3% in January. But it is still above the Federal Reserve’s 2% goal. “The progress toward 2%

Vithun Khamsong | Moment | Getty Images Thousands of IRS employees are expected to lose their jobs as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, continues widespread cuts to federal spending.  The move comes roughly three weeks since the opening of tax season and could impact millions of taxpayers who will file before the

Protesters demonstrate in support of federal workers outside of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Feb. 14, 2025 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images On Feb. 11, Elizabeth Aniskevich, an attorney at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, received a notice that she was being terminated immediately. “I was completely shocked,”

Images By Tang Ming Tung | Digitalvision | Getty Images Whether you’re expecting a refund or balance due this tax season, there’s a key reason to file your return promptly, experts say: thwarting tax-related identity theft.     Nearly 33% of Americans procrastinate filing their taxes, according to a survey from real estate company IPX1031, which polled

Maria Korneeva | Moment | Getty Images As millions of taxpayers file returns, many worry that certain claims could boost their chances of being picked for an IRS audit.  After an infusion of funding, the agency said it aimed to more than double the audit rate for the wealthiest taxpayers. But the IRS’ future priorities are unclear amid changing

Elon Musk speaks next to President Donald Trump, not pictured, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., Feb. 11, 2025. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Staffers from Elon Musk‘s secretive government slashing effort, DOGE, have pushed the highest-ranking officials at the Department of Education — even those recently appointed by President Donald