Personal finance

Urbazon | E+ | Getty Images An unequal distribution of wealth in the U.S. can make it so some children are behind from birth. Now lawmakers are considering whether federal children’s savings accounts can help. One proposal — the 401Kids Savings Act — would create savings accounts for all newborns. Low- and moderate- income families

US President Joe Biden announces student loan relief with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona (R) on August 24, 2022 in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington, DC. Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty Images The Biden administration fixes to the country’s $1.6 trillion student loan system have resulted in regular announcements to forgive

Young woman feeling concerned about grocery prices on the bill in the supermarket. Lordhenrivoton | E+ | Getty Images Many shoppers have been shocked by what they pay at the grocery store checkout. Food prices shot up amid broader inflation in recent years, and remain high for many staples. As consumers struggle with elevated food

Aj_watt | E+ | Getty Images A recent Social Security report showed a strong economy has helped the program. Still, Social Security’s trust funds may be depleted in the next decade, if no changes happen sooner. Many Americans have a misplaced worry that benefits will disappear. “The biggest myth about Social Security is that when

Keeping up with credit card debt is getting more difficult. Americans now owe $1.12 trillion on their credit cards, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported Tuesday. The average balance per consumer stands at $6,218, up 8.5% year over year, according to a separate quarterly credit industry insights report from TransUnion. “Consumers continue to use credit,

JGI/Tom Grill May 17 is the last chance to file 2020 returns and claim your refund — which could include missed pandemic relief, experts say. As of May 6, there was still an estimated $1 billion in unclaimed refunds from tax year 2020, and the median possible payment was $932, according to the IRS. There

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Wildwood Beach on May 11, 2024 in Wildwood, New Jersey.  Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Most Americans have paid lower income taxes since 2018 — and trillions in tax breaks will sunset next year without action from Congress. Enacted by

A voter casts her ballot in the Pennsylvania primary elections at the Rockledge Fire Company in Rockledge, Pennsylvania, May 17, 2022. Hannah Beier | Reuters Older women are the largest bloc of swing voters — and the biggest concern they have heading into the November election is their financial security, according to the AARP. Most

In this article NRDS UAL Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Klaus Vedfelt | Digitalvision | Getty Images If you plan to spend money on travel as the days get longer, sunnier and warmer, be careful: It could leave you with high-interest debt you will still be paying off through the fall and winter. Almost

Wagnerokasaki | E+ | Getty Images When the U.S. Department of Education released the new interest rates on federal student loans this week, there was some unpleasant news for parents. So called Direct PLUS loans for parents will come with a 9.08% interest rate for the 2024-2025 academic year — the highest rate for parents

D3sign | Moment | Getty Images As the affordable options and relief measures for federal student loan borrowers pile up, consumer advocates advise caution before refinancing your debt. “How’s this for a warning? DON’T!” Betsy Mayotte, president of The Institute of Student Loan Advisors, wrote in an email to CNBC. Refinancing your federal student loans turns

Oscar Wong | Moment | Getty Images Inflation is higher than policymakers would like across the broad U.S. economy. Yet, there are many sectors seeing the opposite dynamic: deflation. Deflation means prices are declining for consumers. Conversely, inflation measures how quickly costs are rising for goods and services. Consumers have largely seen prices deflate for