New Yorkers queued for Covid-19 testing in Times Square on Dec. 26, 2021, as the omicron variant continued to spread. Andrew Kelly | Reuters Omicron is wreaking more disruption on the American economy. That could prompt Washington lawmakers to revisit relief strategies from earlier in the Covid-19 pandemic. Conversations on Capitol Hill have turned to
Personal finance
Westend61 If you’re eager to save more, you may consider maxing out 2022 individual retirement account contributions early rather than waiting until the tax-filing deadline in 2023. But there are mixed opinions about lump-sum investing versus spreading out deposits at set intervals, known as dollar-cost averaging. The IRA contribution limits for 2022 are the lesser
A healthcare worker administers a Covid-19 swab test at the Boulder County Fairgrounds testing site in Longmont, Colorado, on Dec. 14, 2021. Chet Strange/Bloomberg via Getty Images Covid-19 infections are ballooning, and sick Americans who miss work due to the virus may wonder if they qualify for unemployment benefits. The short answer: They don’t. There
An employee watches as checks are run through a printer at the U.S. Treasury printing facility in Philadelphia. William Thomas Cain | Getty Images The new year will usher in bigger Social Security checks for many beneficiaries starting this month. That’s as a record 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, takes effect. It marks the biggest
Prostock-Studio | iStock | Getty Images Like many things right now, the cost of auto insurance is rising. For 2022, the average national cost to insure a car is expected to jump 5% to $1,707 annually, up from $1,663 in 2021, according to Insurify. “Our prediction for 2022 is on par with projected inflation rates,
Tetra Images | Tetra images | Getty Images Filing 2021 taxes will look slightly different for families who received the enhanced child tax credit last year. That’s because the monthly payments that were sent to millions of families with eligible children from July to December only accounted for half of the credit. Now, those who
Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images Planning to save more this year? There’s a higher 401(k) employee deferral limit for 2022, and now’s the time to boost contributions, financial experts say. Employees may funnel $20,500 into 401(k), 403(b) and other plans for 2022, up from $19,500 in 2021, thanks to cost-of-living adjustments from the
The new year offers opportunities for many Americans in their careers and financial lives. The “Great Reshuffle” is expected to continue as employees leave jobs and take new ones at a rapid clip. At the same time, many workers have made a vow to save more this year, yet many admit they don’t know how
d3sign | Moment | Getty Images Has your grocery bill been making you do a double take? You’re not to blame. Inflation is. Rising prices are hitting almost every aisle in supermarkets across the U.S. The cost of steaks swelled by 25% between November 2020 and November 2021. Eggs and fish were up 8%, to
Flashpop | Stone | Getty Images Getting impatient waiting to hear if your student loans will be forgiven? Millions of other borrowers are in the same spot. The topic of loan cancellation has been floated for years now. On the campaign trail, President Joe Biden promised to forgive at least $10,000 of the debt for
A young woman walks past a Bitcoin symbol in the window of a company that offers blockchain application services. Sean Gallup | Getty Images News | Getty Images Bitcoin took a beating in December — but that price plunge opens a tax loophole for investors. The cryptocurrency lost about 18% this month through Thursday, with
MilosStankovic | E+ | Getty Images People have the best of intentions. At the start of a new year, millions make resolutions — goals they want to reach throughout the upcoming months. Getting a handle on money issues is usually near the top of many such lists. The most financial popular goals are paying down