Personal finance

Pekic | E+ | Getty Images More than 1 million people recently took to the streets in France to protest an increase in the country’s standard retirement age. In the U.S., a similar battle may be quietly brewing in Washington. The full retirement age for Social Security, when workers are eligible for 100% of the

Hobo_018 | E+ | Getty Images In August, when President Joe Biden rolled out his historic plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans, one of the policy’s stated goals was “to help narrow the racial wealth gap.” Shortly after the president’s announcement, critics of student loan

Sutthichai Supapornpasupad | Moment | Getty Images Consumers are paying record prices for eggs. But beyond the inflated sticker price for a dozen eggs, there’s also a hidden expense to the soaring costs. Elevated egg prices are trickling into food items across the grocery store — namely those in which eggs are a main ingredient,

Malaikacasal | Istock | Getty Images That heart-shaped box of chocolates may be only half full this Valentine’s Day. It is not the result of a manufacturing glitch. Instead, it is an effort by certain brands to use bigger boxes to prompt consumers to think they are getting more for their money than they really

Nearly 200 million people will watch the Philadelphia Eagles face off against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Feb. 12, which might be a good motivation to buy a brand-new television. While you might not see as many deals now as there are on Black Friday, prices, in general, have been steadily falling,

10’000 Hours The IRS on Friday issued federal tax guidance for millions of Americans who received state rebates or payments in 2022. The announcement came about a week after the agency had urged those taxpayers to hold off on filing while it determined if the funds are taxable on federal returns. “The IRS has determined

Taylor Swift attends the 65th Grammy Awards on Feb. 5, 2023 in Los Angeles. Jeff Kravitz | Filmmagic, Inc | Getty Images This is an excerpt from the Personal Finance team’s weekly Twitter Space, “This week, your wallet.” Check out the latest episode here, and tune in every Friday at 11 a.m. ET. Egg prices have

Miniseries | E+ | Getty Images As with many line items in your household budget, your auto insurance probably costs more this year than in 2022. How much more? It depends on a variety of factors, including where you live. Nationally, the average for full coverage — generally defined as liability, collision and comprehensive —

Halfpoint Images | Moment | Getty Images Moving money from a 401(k) plan to an individual retirement account — an action commonly known as a “rollover” — may sound straightforward. But the seemingly easy task has many pros and cons to consider before moving your money, according to financial advisors. More people may be facing

If picking a college comes down to the financial bottom line, then an in-state public school can look like a particularly good deal. “In-state tuition is half to two-thirds lower than out-of-state,” said higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz and author of “How to Appeal for More College Financial Aid.” These days, that goes a long way

President Joe Biden delivers the State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 7, 2023 Pool | Getty Images President Joe Biden used his State of the Union speech on Tuesday to get rare unanimity among Democrats and Republicans on one key issue: protecting Social Security and Medicare. For now,

In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden said his administration is cracking down on “junk fees“ — including those from banks as well as hotels, airlines and other service providers. The president said these unnecessary or hidden fees are weighing down families’ budgets and causing financial harm. “Junk fees may not matter to

Egg shelves in New York on Jan. 21, 2023 with a note apologizing to customers for the price increase. Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Wholesale egg prices have cratered in recent weeks from record highs, meaning consumers may soon see relief at the grocery store. But the dynamics of egg pricing from the wholesale

President Joe Biden speaks about protecting Social Security, Medicare, and lowering prescription drug costs, during a visit to OB Johnson Park and Community Center, in Hallandale Beach, Florida, on Nov. 1, 2022. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters In the runup to Tuesday’s State of the Union address, AARP has encouraged its members, ages 50 and over,

Valentine’s Day gifts like these heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, on display back in 2012 in a Paris shop window, are extra-expensive just before the holiday. Chesnot | Getty Images Being in love will cost you. Valentine’s Day spending is expected to reach $25.9 billion in 2023, one of the highest-spending years on record, according to the

Delmaine Donson | E+ | Getty Images Getting divorced is often considered one of the most stressful life events. But, for some people, there could be an unintended positive outcome to splitting up: A boost in their work performance. In a study of people in the process of divorce, which is online in advance of

Xavier Lorenzo | Moment | Getty Images As interest rates go up, 2023 is shaping up to be a good time for savers who stand to earn more money on their cash. The Federal Reserve last week added a 0.25 percentage point rate increase in the latest in a string of rate hikes to combat

Drakula Images | Moment | Getty Images A $1 contribution today to a new Roth individual retirement account may not sound like much. But that seemingly small sum might save you a bundle in taxes down the road due to an under-the radar timing requirement. Your initial Roth IRA contribution starts the clock on something

In this article DLTR DG Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT A man looks at frozen foods for sale at a Dollar Store in Alhambra, California on August 23, 2022. Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images Among all rising costs, sky-high grocery bills have been especially painful. Although the consumer price index, an inflation

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc | DigitalVision | Getty Images As Democratic lawmakers honor the anniversary of a national family and medical program for workers, they are calling for a national paid policy that would bring the U.S. in line with other industrialized nations. This Sunday, Feb. 5, marks the 30th anniversary of the Family and