Personal finance

Joos Mind | Photodisc | Getty Images Workers who use health care flexible spending accounts likely have at least one important deadline approaching. FSAs, as they’re called, let you stash away pre-tax money to cover your health care expenses (or, separately, dependent-care expenses). Last year, individuals could have contributed as much as $2,850 to their

momcilog | E+ | Getty Images For the most part, Medicare beneficiaries in Advantage Plans are happy with their coverage, a new study suggests. Of the more than 2,250 enrollees surveyed for the report from eHealth, 51% are “very satisfied” and 38% are “satisfied.” However, if you’re among those who are not thrilled about your

Justices on the bench hearing arguments about the student loan forgiveness program. Source: Bill Hennessy There were many tense moments Tuesday as the nine Supreme Court justices grilled the plaintiffs challenging the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan and the government attorney defending the policy. The Supreme Court agreed to hear two challenges against President

In this article SNAP Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT People shop at a 99 Cents store in Santa Monica, California, on Sept. 13, 2022. Apu Gomes | AFP | Getty Images Food stamp recipients may be in for a shock as temporary pandemic enhancements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program expire, leading the average person

Ben Kirkhoff, a high school senior at Cretin-Derham Hall in St. Paul, Minnesota, knows that a four-year college degree isn’t for him. Even though his parents have a college savings account for him, he said money is still a factor. “I don’t want to put myself and my family in a lot of debt.” Instead, Kirkhoff,

U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar Artist: Bill Hennessey The government’s top Supreme Court lawyer may have saved President Joe Biden‘s $400 billion student loan forgiveness plan from what experts considered all but certain defeat. Experts lobbed praise on Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the lawyer who represented the Biden administration in front of the nine justices

Goc | Istock | Getty Images Scammers are making more money per episode of fraud, new government data suggests. While the number of fraud reports recorded through the Federal Trade Commission’s database fell to 2.4 million in 2022 from 2.9 million, the aggregate loss from those instances reached nearly $8.8 billion. That’s up 44% from

Despite higher prices, consumers are still spending, although not as much as they were a year ago, which is giving their budgets some breathing room. As of January, 60% of all U.S. adults, including 45% of high-income earners, were living paycheck to paycheck, according to a new LendingClub report. That’s down from 64% a year earlier,

A new Bankrate ranking found the Austin, Texas, metro area is the best for first-time home purchasers. Roschetzkyistockphoto | Istock | Getty Images Prospective buyers looking to secure the purchase of their first home this spring will still face a difficult market. Yet there are signs some areas of the country may provide more opportunity

Sneksy | E+ | Getty Images For some individuals, the solution for eliminating crushing debt is to file for bankruptcy. While the catalyst for going that route differs from person to person, it’s worth knowing which obligations can and cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. For instance, just last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in

Getting into college is hard enough, but figuring out how to pay for it is another hurdle altogether. Higher education already costs more than most families can afford, and college costs are still rising. Tuition and fees plus room and board for a four-year private college averaged $53,430 in the 2022-2023 school year; at four-year, in-state public colleges,

Damir Khabirov If you’re eager to capture higher yields amid rising interest rates, you may consider a Treasury bill ladder, depending on your goals, according to financial experts. Backed by the U.S. government, Treasury bills, or T-bills, are widely considered a relatively safe asset, with terms of four weeks to 52 weeks. You receive the

Supreme Court. Douglas Rissing | Istock | Getty Images The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear oral arguments over President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan, starting off a decision-making process that will affect the balance sheets of tens of millions of Americans. The nine justices will consider two legal challenges to Biden’s plan to

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Kent Nishimura | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images The Biden administration is currently blocked from carrying out its promise of canceling up to $20,000 in student debt for tens of millions of Americans while its relief plan heads to the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the nine justices

People walk past a mural of George Floyd by the Cup Foods where he was killed by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis. Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images When George Floyd was murdered by police in 2020, the event brought a “scary” time for the Minneapolis neighborhood where it occurred. “Everything was

Newsday Llc | Newsday | Getty Images If you’re among the people who leased an auto in 2020 and are nearing the end of that agreement, you may want to check what the car is worth before turning it in. The average trade-in value of cars leased in 2020 is 19% more ($3,965) than the

Shoppers look at items displayed at a grocery store in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 15, 2023. Stefani Reynolds | AFP | Getty Images A new U.S. government reading showing persistent high inflation rattled Wall Street on Friday. Consumers can expect the rate of price growth will likely stay higher than average through 2023. “Inflation is

Valentinrussanov | E+ | Getty Images High inflation is leading to reduced savings and higher credit card debt — and there are some signs households may be reaching a tipping point under increased financial pressures. A new survey from Bankrate finds 39% of individuals surveyed in January said their emergency savings are less than they

In this article FIS Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Fluxfactory | E+ | Getty Images In a year marked by stiff economic headwinds, retirement savers paid the price. Although the average 401(k) balance rose in the fourth quarter of last year, balances ended 2022 down 23% from a year earlier to $103,900, according to

MStudioImages | E+ | Getty Images If you’re looking for a relatively safe place for cash, Treasury bills have recently become more attractive, experts say. Backed by the U.S. government, Treasury bills, or T-bills, have terms ranging from four weeks up to 52 weeks, and investors receive interest when the asset matures. Over the past