Personal finance

By most accounts, Black Friday and Cyber Monday promise some of the lowest prices of the season. And in 2023, more people than ever plan to take advantage of the five-day shopping event that begins on Thanksgiving Day and continues through the following Monday, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey. This year, holiday

Entrance to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, June 1, 2008. Richard Levine | Corbis News | Getty Images For decades, it was nearly impossible for student loan borrowers to walk away from their debt in bankruptcy court. That’s now changing. Last November, the Biden administration rolled out a

Morsa Images | Getty Images Whether you’re a new or a seasoned investor, exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, are one option for your portfolio, depending on your goals and risk tolerance, experts say.  ETFs are a wrapper for individual assets like stocks and bonds, similar to mutual funds. However, many ETFs have better tax efficiency and

Wide shot of waiter taking dinner order from family at tropical beach restaurant during sunset Thomas Barwick | Digitalvision | Getty Images When it comes to dining, tipping at least 15% to 20% is traditional etiquette, say experts. It seems many Americans disagree. Almost 1 in 5, 18%, of people tip less than 15% for

Solstock | E+ | Getty Images A great credit score can be important, but improving that number isn’t always easy. Nearly 4 in 5 Americans say they’re trying to improve their credit score, according to a recent NerdWallet survey. But 50% say they face barriers toward improvement, namely a low credit limit. The website polled

For most people, tipping is about service. Roughly three-quarters of adults said the quality of the service they receive is a major factor in deciding whether and how much to tip, according to a recent report by the Pew Research Center.  However, now consumers are prompted to tip in advance — and if they aren’t

Allison Bornstein, author of “Wear It Well”. Photo: Jennifer Trahan It’s not often we’re told to buy less, at least on social media. More likely, we’re encouraged to wear Loro Piana cashmere baseball hats and carry $300 Smythson notebooks like Gwyneth Paltrow in the name of “quiet luxury” and justify such expensive purchases using “girl

After a more than 80% jump in bitcoin’s price in the first half of 2023, crypto market watchers gave CNBC their expectations for how the cryptocurrency will perform in the latter half of the year. STR | NurPhoto via Getty Images As investors weigh year-end tax moves, there may be a lesser-known savings opportunity for

Engaged couple embrace. Bryan Miguel | Moment | Getty Images Holiday gifts aren’t the only pricey thing on shoppers’ lists right now. We’re also approaching peak engagement season for couples in the U.S., or the time between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, according to wedding site The Knot. Consumers in the market for a diamond engagement

In this article V Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Mark Makela | Getty Images Holiday shopping this year is expected to reach record spending levels, according to the National Retail Federation. But as consumers open their wallets, they may also be making themselves vulnerable to potential fraud, particularly when shopping at the last minute.

In this article UBSG-CH Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT President Joe Biden delivers remarks about the student loan forgiveness program on Oct. 17, 2022. Leah Millis | Reuters More people with federal student loans have been able to walk away from their debt in bankruptcy court due to a Biden administration policy change announced

Person holding car key. Manusapon Kasosod | Moment | Getty Images Donating your used car to a charity may bring you joy for helping another person in need, especially as prices for both new and used cars remain high. However, don’t expect the move to make a huge difference in your taxes, experts say.  That’s