Summertime heat can bring sky-high electric bills, which may have you searching for new savings opportunities. Solutions can range from the low-cost option of increasing the temperature by a few degrees to the high-cost solution of installing an entirely new cooling system. A middle-of-the-road option that may be worth exploring? Upgrading to a smart thermostat.

These devices make it easy to set your system on your schedule, so you are not running it unnecessarily when you are at the office or away on vacation. Some are even more advanced, automatically detecting your absence and switching to a more energy-friendly mode. While these shifts can cut down on usage and increase efficiency, calculating the actual electric bill savings you will see is not necessarily clear-cut.

How can a smart thermostat save you money?

The potentially cost-saving feature most smart thermostats offer is an app that you can use to easily set a schedule for the heating and cooling of your home. “Technically, you can do this with any thermostat, but smart thermostats make it especially easy with their eco modes and suggestions, which means the average user typically starts saving more money when they adopt a smart thermostat,” said CNET. The app can also display your energy usage habits, which can help you course correct going forward.

Some more advanced smart thermostats take things a step further. They figure out when “nobody is home, most commonly with motion or occupancy sensors, or by checking the location of your phone,” and then they flip to an “energy-saving model” if no one is around, said Consumer Reports.

What is the average savings a smart thermostat offers?

Compared to the savings some smart thermostat manufacturers claim, “independent research tends to paint a more conservative picture,” said CBS News. Many studies show “average savings closer to 10% to 15%.”

The savings rate you see will depend on a variety of factors. In general, the “largest savings are often seen by homeowners who previously left their thermostat at the same temperature around the clock,” said CBS News. If you were already scheduling your thermostat, you may not see as big a difference. Same goes for if you are home most of the time, or if you live somewhere with more moderate temperatures.

When can installing a smart thermostat make sense?

Whether a smart thermostat “makes financial sense for your budget depends largely on your current habits, your HVAC system and how long you expect to stay in your home,” said CBS News. Consider how much you are currently adjusting your home’s temperature based on your occupancy and how often you are there; switching modes during absences is the main way smart thermostats offer savings.

Some HVAC systems, such as “an older HVAC system without a C-wire” and “electric baseboard radiators,” tend not to work with smart thermostats, said Consumer Reports. Systems like “modern variable-speed air conditioners, and especially heat pumps,” may become less efficient with a smart thermostat, since they are “designed to work better and more efficiently when they run constantly at a fixed temperature.”

Lastly, it is important to account for the cost of the thermostat itself, which runs from “around $100 for the cheapest models to more than $350 for top models with all the bells and whistles,” said CNET. You will also need to pay for installation. Still, with the average savings most smart thermostats offer, you can expect to offset those costs “within a year or two.”

Picking up the phone and realizing a debt collector is on the other end is a stomach-dropping experience. It is also a conversation that can have numerous potential implications, which is why it’s essential to know ahead of time how to navigate the call when the time comes.

Unfortunately, these conversations are becoming more prevalent amid soaring credit card bills and unpaid medical debt. “Lawsuits filed by debt collectors over unpaid credit card bills and other outstanding balances have surged to their highest levels in years,” said the Pew Charitable Trusts, per The Wall Street Journal. Here is how to prepare.

You have a right to know the facts.

Believe it or not, “many sold debts have errors about the amount owed or even who owes it,” said NerdWallet. So, as soon as you hear from a debt collector, first verify all of the details to ensure they are accurate.

When a debt collector contacts you, they are legally required to provide you with certain information about the debt within five days. But do not just take their word for it — you should also “gather your own records, including information on the original creditor and your history of payments,” said NerdWallet.

You should be cautious about what you share.

Watch what you say when speaking with debt collectors, as it could work against you later. For instance, avoid offering personal financial information, including your bank account number or details on your assets, as this “might be used to collect from you through a wage garnishment, bank levy or property lien if the creditor or collector gets a judgment against you,” said Nolo.

Similarly, avoid making any promises regarding the debt. “Your acknowledgment of the obligation might revive the statute of limitations” or the length of time the creditor has to take legal action to collect the debt, said Nolo.

You should absolutely keep detailed records.

As you navigate communicating with debt collectors, make note of what is said and who you talk to, as well as the date and time of the call. This is important because it “will help you determine who’s calling you from where and what debt each collector calls about,” said Nolo. You can also “track how often a particular collector calls and document inconsistencies in what collectors say to you from one call to the next.” You will be glad to have this info in case you need to file a complaint or you end up in court.

You can tell a debt collector to stop contacting you.

While working with a debt collector can help you resolve your debt, if it feels overwhelming or you have any hesitations, you have the right to ask them to stop contacting you. You can draft a letter saying as much using one of the forms on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) website, and the debt collector is obligated to comply. Just keep in mind that if the debt is yours, “stopping communication with a debt collector doesn’t make the debt go away,” said the CFPB.

You have protection against certain types of communications.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, debt collectors cannot harass or threaten you. Prohibited behavior ranges from “repeatedly calling you at any time, day or night or before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.” to using “any false, deceptive or misleading representation,” said Experian. If you think a debt collector may have violated your rights, be sure to submit a complaint with the CFPB.

When summer is sweltering, there is nothing more luxurious than a swimming pool in your own backyard. But is it actually a smart investment?

Installing a swimming pool is certainly not cheap nor is it a quick and easy project. Once it’s there, it’s hard to undo, and you will need to commit to the necessary maintenance and upkeep costs. On the flip side, how nice would it be to splash around with your kids on any given day or swim laps each morning? Couldn’t it even attract potential buyers if you decide to sell someday? Here are the pros and cons to evaluate before making the splash.

How much does a swimming pool cost overall?

The cost of a pool varies hugely depending on the type you install. “On average, expect to pay $2,146 to install an above-ground pool and $49,638 for an in-ground pool,” said Citizens Bank.

Even if you feel fine about that number, keep in mind that the costs do not stop there. You will also have to cover the expense of maintaining the pool and the higher electric bills that pool pumps, filters and heaters can generate. You will most likely also deal with a higher home insurance bill for the added coverage. And if anything goes wrong, you will need to pay for that as well. For instance, a “tear in a swimming pool’s lining is a common issue encountered by pool owners,” and “repairing it can cost anywhere between $1,000 and $6,000 depending on how big the tear is,” said Kiplinger, based on data from HomeServe, a home repair administrator.

Can a swimming pool increase your home’s value?

It depends. A major influence is your home’s location and the climate there. “In some markets, especially those with warm climates, in-ground pools may add more value to the property than in colder climates where a pool would get only a few months use each year,” said Zillow.

The popularity of pools in your neighborhood also has a bearing. “If you live in a neighborhood where many of your neighbors have swimming pools, your investment is probably solid,” and “in those circumstances, not having a pool might decrease your home’s marketability,” said HGTV.

A lot comes down to your specific pool and its condition and features, too. “Older pools, especially those requiring significant repairs or updates, can drag down the overall value of the property,” said Zillow. By contrast, “homes with saltwater pools sell for 1.5% more than comparable homes without one — and they sell two days faster.”

What else should you consider to decide if a pool is worth it?

Before getting a pool, it is absolutely worth running the numbers, both to assess the total overall cost and to determine how much of your investment you may get back in resale. But money is not the only factor to ponder.

Particularly if you have young kids, pool safety is a major consideration. You will want to include at least a locked fence around the pool. This can add to the cost of the project, not to mention the stress of ownership.

It is also important to weigh your options for paying for the pool and the benefits or disadvantages of each of them. If you have significant equity in your home, you may be able to get a lower interest rate on a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). A personal loan or credit card can also be an option, though you should be aware of the added cost of interest on those.

If you are saving for retirement with a 401(k) plan, there is a good chance you enjoy matching contributions from your employer. Those using an IRA do not have that same opportunity, however, as the retirement saving option is opened independently outside of an employer. The Saver’s Match, set to roll out in 2027, will finally give some IRA owners (and workplace savers) a chance to claim a matching contribution.

Created under the Secure 2.0 Act of 22, the Saver’s Match program will “provide income-eligible retirement savers with a matching annual contribution worth up to $1,000 for single tax filers and $2,000 for joint filers,” said CNBC. The Treasury Department will deposit these contributions directly into retirement accounts.

What is the IRA Saver’s Match?

In short, the Saver’s Match is a “government-funded contribution to an eligible retirement account,” said U.S. News & World Report. Under the program, the Treasury Department will direct deposit matching contributions into the retirement accounts of eligible account owners.

These contributions will be “equal to 50% of retirement contributions up to $2,000, for a maximum yearly match of $1,000,” said CNBC. Eligibility for matching contributions, and the amount of the contributions, is income-dependent.

Who is eligible for the Saver’s Match?

“Eligibility for the Saver’s Match is based on income: single filers with a modified adjusted gross income of $20,500 or less in 2027 (or $41,000 for joint filers) are eligible to receive a 50% match on up to $2,000 of their contributions,” said Investopedia. As income increases, the amount of matches goes down, phasing out for single filers earning between $20,500 and $35,500 ($41,000 to $71,000 for those filing jointly).

Another asterisk in eligibility is that it also matters what type of IRA you have. “Although contributions to an IRA may qualify workers for the match, any money the worker is entitled to can only go into a traditional IRA — not a Roth IRA,” said CNBC. Effectively, this “means that workers who save via a Roth” would “need a traditional account to receive the match.”

Those with workplace retirement plans, such as 401(k) plans, are also eligible for the Saver’s Match if they meet income thresholds.

How does the Saver’s Match compare to the Saver’s Credit?

The Saver’s Match is replacing the Saver’s Credit, which is a nonrefundable tax credit designed to encourage low- and middle-income savers to contribute to a retirement plan. A tax credit is designed to directly reduce the amount of taxes you owe.

The problem with the credit, however, is that it was something “low-income savers largely couldn’t use since they owe little or no taxes,” said Investopedia. With the Saver’s Match, it is not necessary to pay taxes to get the matching contribution. All you have to do is meet eligibility requirements and contribute to your retirement account.

A financial trick that uses credit card debt to make money has returned because of relatively high savings rates.

Financial conditions are now in a “sweet spot” for the strategy known as stoozing, said The Telegraph.

A “successful stoozer”, said MoneySuperMarket, effectively turns credit card debt into a short-term interest-free loan while keeping their actual money in a high-paying savings account.

The difference between the savings interest and any credit card fees is your profit. But while the concept is “relatively simple”, successful stoozing “requires careful organisation and financial discipline”.

What is stoozing?

Stoozing is a way of “manipulating 0% spending credit cards to make money”, said MoneySavingExpert.

The method means you can “maximise interest earnings”, said The Independent, by spending on a 0% interest credit card “while diverting your actual cash into high-yield savings accounts”.

How stoozing works

Stoozing involves taking out a long-term 0% spending credit card and using it for your normal daily spending, while any unspent money from your bank account – such as your wages – goes into a top savings account to earn interest.

You need to make sure you pay off the credit card bill each month. When the 0% deal is about to end, you will need to either “pay off the balance using the money from the savings account or transfer it to a new credit card with a 0% balance transfer”, said Go.Compare. Meanwhile, any interest you earn on the money in the savings account ends up as profit.

Pros and cons of stoozing

The method can be “lucrative”, said MoneySavingExpert, but it will not work if you are “not very financially organised, unsure of how it works, have a poor credit history, don’t have financial self-discipline, or have other credit card, overdraft or loan debt”.

It is a “relatively low-effort” way to earn some extra money and maximise savings interest, said Moneyfacts.

But there are risks. You could be hit with interest charges if you don’t clear the debt, said CompareTheMarket, “undoing all the good work of having your money in a savings account”.

Taking out too much debt can also have a “negative impact” on your credit score, said Money to theMasses, which may make it harder to borrow money for a “legitimate reason” such as if you need a mortgage.

Plus, you may regret “locking away your savings” if you suddenly need the money sooner than expected, as there may be penalties for early withdrawals.

Is stoozing worth it?

Stoozing “only really works”, said uSwitch, when “savings interest rates are high”.

The method can be “worth the hassle”, said Go.Compare, if you have “strong credit” as well as “discipline for timely repayments”. Stoozers also need to be able to invest borrowed funds “profitably”. It is risky if you will struggle to pay the credit card bill or “the returns are too small for the effort involved”.

There are alternatives to stoozing, such as reward or cashback cards that pay “a percentage of your money back or build points to redeem in shops”.

When it comes to a major purchase like a car, you likely want to save any money you can. Unfortunately, car-buying deals are not so easy to come by these days.

Though increases in new car prices have slowed since they shot up during the pandemic era, the “average cost of a new car remains historically high,” said Nerdwallet. “At the end of 2025, the average transaction price hit an all-time high of $50,326 according to Kelley Blue Book — and despite recent moderation, prices haven't strayed far from that peak.” And unfortunately, used cars are not that easy on the wallet either lately, especially given rising financing and car insurance costs.

But for many, a set of wheels is a necessity. If you are in the market, here are some ways you can try to trim costs.

1. Do your research

Doing your homework before you set foot in a dealership is essential. Get familiar with car models in the class you are interested in, and see what is well-rated for factors like performance, reliablity and value. Figure out what a fair price is for that vehicle using “online pricing guides, such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds or NADA guides, to know what price you should pay,” said Nerdwallet.

2. Get pre-approved

Equally important is getting prepared financially. “Before you start visiting dealerships, get a pre-approved financing offer,” as this will ensure that the “dealer has to offer a better deal if they want to earn your business for this part of the transaction,” said U.S. News & World Report. Be sure to shop around, too, before you settle on any one offer from an auto lender, to ensure you get the best rate.

3. Keep your eye out for incentives

“Check dealership and manufacturer websites for local and national incentives such as cash-back offers, low-rate or even 0 percent financing, and lease deals with low monthly payments, said Consumer Reports. It is not uncommon to find these sorts of offers “among less-popular offerings — such as sedans, small hatchbacks, and front-wheel-drive (as opposed to all-wheel-drive) SUVs,” said the outlet. Certain times of year to buy a car are also better than others if you are after a good deal.

4. Brush up on your negotiation tactics

Whether you are working with a car dealer or a private seller, it never hurts to ask for a better offer. One “good negotiation tip is to focus on the car’s total price,” said TaxAct. “A salesperson will sometimes try to gauge how much of a monthly payment you can afford instead of your total budget, which can lead to you spending more money than you anticipated,” especially once car ownership costs are factored in.

The trump card in a negotiation, however, is being comfortable walking away. “Just showing the willingness to get up and leave is often a powerful enough message to get the dealership staff to take notice and make you a better offer,” said U.S. News & World Report.

5. Stay flexible

Staying open about which car you get and the features it has can go a long way towards getting a better price. For instance, “note which brands have more or fewer cars in stock,” as those with more inventory will typically be more willing to negotiate, said Kiplinger (a sister site of The Week). Also consider the different trims offered in a vehicle, and which features seem like a necessity and which you are fine living without. If you feel like you need certain add-ons but the price is not matching up with your budget, “consider downsizing or shopping among models that aren’t as popular,” said Consumer Reports.

In an ideal world, you would enter your golden years debt-free. By erasing what is usually among the biggest debts anyone has, your mortgage, you would undoubtedly make the math on your monthly retirement budget much easier. But whether or not paying down that debt is feasible to do — let alone the most financially responsible move to make — is a whole other question.

The answer will depend on the specifics of your financial situation and mortgage loan. After all, the “right answer for a homeowner carrying a 2.875% mortgage, a solid brokerage account and a reliable pension looks very different from the one facing someone with a 6.5% loan heading into heavy IRA withdrawals,” said Kiplinger.

Why prioritize paying off your mortgage before retirement?

The most obvious benefit of paying off your mortgage before retirement is that you will cut a major expenditure from your budget. “Without the monthly mortgage payment, your Social Security, retirement funds, or pension will go much further, providing more funds for living expenses, hobbies, and travel,” said Investopedia.

You also stand to save a significant amount on interest, particularly if your mortgage has a high interest rate. “Depending on a home loan's size, interest rate and term, the interest can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the long haul,” said Charles Schwab. You can then put those funds towards other uses or invest them.

When does it not make sense to pay off your mortgage before retiring?

Even if the peace of mind a paid-off mortgage offers sounds appealing, it is not necessarily the right move financially. “Tying up too much of your savings or net worth in your home can create challenges,” if down the road you lack the liquidity to cover an emergency expense or a significant healthcare bill, said Investopedia.

It is also important to weigh the costs—both literal and opportunistic—to an early mortgage paydown. Depending on your lender, you could end up owing prepayment penalties for paying off your mortgage ahead of schedule. Or, if you have higher-interest debt, such as credit card debt, but focus on your mortgage instead, that could end up costing you more overall due to the accrual of interest.

Shifting your focus to your mortgage could also result in you putting “retirement savings on the back burner, which could come back to bite you when you stop working,” said Northwestern Mutual. And, depending on your mortgage rate and how it compares to potential investment returns, you might actually be better off investing those funds instead of putting them toward an early mortgage payoff.

What should you consider when deciding whether to pay off your mortgage?

A lot of the decision comes down to the numbers. You will want to consider, “Does your mortgage rate cost you more than what you can likely earn elsewhere? If it does, then paying it off might be better,” said Investopedia.

Additionally, you will want to determine how paying down your mortgage would affect your cash reserves. If you need to drain your savings to do so, then it might not make sense for your overall financial health.

You could have sworn you did not spend that much, but once again, you get to the end of the month, and the numbers in your bank account are not quite adding up. So, what gives? There is one easy way to get to the bottom of this mystery: expense tracking. By taking note of every time you spend throughout the month, you can more easily see where you might be overspending and where you might be able to cut back.

What are the benefits of tracking your spending?

Tracking your spending is effectively an exercise in attention. When you get into the nitty-gritty of your day-to-day expenditures, you can quickly start to see where exactly your money is going and identify patterns in your spending.

That noticing is only the first step, however — “pairing action with that attention is what really makes a difference,” said Nerdwallet. With increased awareness, perhaps you can figure out what is causing you to veer off budget each month and then make adjustments there. Or, maybe you will spot spending you did not even totally realize was happening, such as on subscriptions or other recurring purchases. Once you cut those out, you free up room in your budget to put towards building your emergency savings account, paying off debt or inching closer to your long-term financial goals.

Ultimately, “not only is tracking spending fundamental to understanding where your money is going, but it also ensures that your spending truly aligns with your goals and priorities,” said Daniel E. Milks, certified financial planner and co-founder of Fiduciary Organization, to Fortera Credit Union.

Is expense tracking the same thing as budgeting?

Expense tracking and budgeting certainly can go hand in hand, but they are not one and the same. Tracking your spending simply refers to the act of “monitoring where your money goes,” whereas “budgeting is more of a proactive approach to managing your money,” said Chase.

You can think of expense tracking as an information-gathering step, with the data you gather there informing the budget you create and adhere to.

How can you track your spending?

There are a number of ways that you can go about tracking your spending. The best option will be whichever feels easiest to you.

A “notebook or printed tracker,” for instance, can be “good for people who remember better by writing things down,” while a spreadsheet can work well for those who “like totals, categories and monthly comparisons,” said MoneyFit, a nonprofit financial education and counseling organization.

There are also a variety of budgeting apps and tools available. “For those who prefer the convenience of automation, linking checking and savings accounts to a budgeting app can often simplify the process,” said Milks to Fortera Credit Union.

Covering the cost of fertility treatment can feel like yet another hurdle in a process that is already physically and emotionally draining. Not only do you have to go through the testing and medical procedures involved, you can also end up paying tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

For families who want to have kids or women who want to afford themselves a little more time, though, this can feel like a price well worth paying. But the process may necessitate some financial planning. Research can also go a long way, as insurance companies increasingly offer coverage.

How much can fertility treatments cost?

The cost of fertility treatments can vary widely depending on the specific treatment that is necessary. A “typical egg preservation cycle is about $10,000,” while a frozen embryo transfer “could total about $2,500,” said The Bump. Meanwhile, a procedure like in vitro fertilization (IVF) “could add up to a total of $13,000 to $14,000.” Opting for a surrogate, meanwhile, can run anywhere from $80,000 to $100,000.

There is also the reality that a fertility treatment is not always a one-time thing. In fact, “most people will need more than one cycle to achieve pregnancy,” said The Wall Street Journal.

Can insurance help cover fertility treatments?

Over the past decade, “more companies have already stepped up to help employees,” said Jaime Knopman, a reproductive endocrinologist for CCRM Fertility of New York, to the Journal. Now, said the outlet, “more than 40% of companies offer overall fertility benefits, according to a 2024 survey of employee benefits plans from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.”

Still, this does not mean you will get full coverage, and certain parts of the treatment process may not be covered. For example, “your plan may cover fertility medications, but only those of a specific brand. Or it may cover routine lab work, but only at designated labs,” said Discover. This makes it absolutely vital to do in-depth research and ask questions.

If your company does not offer coverage, it could be worth asking HR. “Some patients even successfully lobbied their human-resources departments to change a company’s policies and benefits plans,” said the Journal.

What are other options for covering the cost of treatments?

There are options besides your own bank account or insurance for helping to cover the cost of fertility treatments. Some alternatives include:

FSA or HSA funds: Flexible spending accounts, or FSAs, and health savings accounts, or HSAs, “may be used to help pay for IVF and other fertility treatments,” said First Citizens Bank.

Provider payment plans or financial assistance: Your doctor “may offer a payment plan, discounts for uninsured patients or even a shared-risk program,” said Discover.

Nonprofits and charities: There are many “national and local nonprofit organizations that support fertility treatments and related costs,” said Discover. They may have eligibility requirements, however, as some are “established to assist with specific types of patients, while many include income thresholds.”

While everything from algebra to essay writing may have been covered in school, a subject area often left off the curriculum is personal finance. Unfortunately, most people are far more likely to run into questions of budgeting and investing than, say, calculating the area of a triangle (some professions aside).

The good news: It is never too late to play catch-up. And with these personal finance books, doing so does not have to feel like homework.

‘Get Good with Money: Ten Simple Steps to Becoming Financially Whole’ by Tiffany Aliche

This book by financial educator Tiffany Aliche, aka “The Budgetnista,” offers a breakdown of financial foundations and daily money habits. Perhaps unsurprisingly, given her moniker, the book helps with establishing a baseline budget, but it also offers guidance on other staples like saving, investing, insurance coverage, credit scores and more. Ultimately, Aliche succeeds in presenting an “ethos of financial wholeness that rejects the unnecessary complexity and unrealistic nature of traditional financial advice,” said U.S. News & World Report.

‘Your Money or Your Life’ by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

This book encourages readers to get clear about their personal values around money. “The simple premise: How much money are you willing to trade your life for? Whenever you’re working, you’re trading your life and energy for money. What does that mean to you?” said Grant Sabatier, a personal finance blogger, to The Strategist. The idea is that “once you’re clear on the ‘why’ behind your saving and spending, making decisions about investing and budgeting becomes much easier,” said the outlet.

‘The Intelligent Investor’ by Benjamin Graham and Jason Zweig

Once your budget and debts are ironed out, you are in a good place to start investing, a practice foundational to building wealth. This book was originally published in 1949, though it has since been updated and now remains a classic for a reason. It provides a guide to “investing for individuals looking to develop sensible strategies and protect their investments,” said GOBankingRates. Business magnate Warren Buffett has called it “by far the best book about investing ever written.”

‘The Psychology of Money’ by Morgan Housel

The “biggest impediment for most people building wealth is their emotional decisions that get in the way of doing what should provide the greatest outcomes,” said Mitchell Kraus, a financial planner with Capital Intelligence, to The Wall Street Journal. This book helps readers learn the signs of those pitfalls so they can better steer clear of them. Think of it less as a how-to guide and more as a psychological unpacking and broader money mindset shift.

‘Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together’ by Erin Lowry

This book is for the millennials out there (though there is a good chance other generations may relate — looking at you, Gen Z). It is “aimed at 20- and 30-somethings who are dealing with both paying off debt and beginning to plan for the future,” said The Strategist. There are chapters on everything from navigating the decision of whether to move back in with your parents to making preparations for retirement.

Weddings, and the amount they cost, can run the gamut from a small, DIY ceremony in the backyard to a massive bash that shuts down Madison Square Garden. Obviously, the latter may only be within reach for certain pop stars and their football-playing partners, but that still leaves a wide range for how much you and your soon-to-be spouse could potentially spend.

When making the determination, it is important to weigh two things: making your big day a special one and honoring your financial reality. Your wedding may mark the start of your next chapter, but your finances are what will largely shape your future as a married couple.

What is a typical wedding budget?

As a benchmark, the average wedding costs $34,200, said wedding planning website The Knot, based on findings from its 2026 Real Weddings Study. You can expect the bulk of that to go toward your venue and any necessary rentals, such as tableware and tables themselves, as well as catering and drinks. But there are countless other small costs that can quickly add up: cake, photographer, flowers and decor, music, outfits, rings, wedding planner.

How can you determine how much is right for you to spend?

How much you “should budget for a wedding depends on your financial situation,” said NerdWallet. While this may seem obvious, it is easy to get carried away with a grand vision when you sit down to start planning. Consider what savings you and your partner have set aside for the wedding, how much of your upcoming earnings you can set aside and whether you are getting any outside financial help, such as from your parents.

It is also important to put your wedding in context with your other financial goals. “Zoom out and identify short- and long-term financial goals you have individually and as a couple,” said Charles Schwab, whether that is paying off student loans, buying a house or retiring early. Figure out how you would “prioritize them in order of most importance and allocate your resources appropriately,” keeping in mind that “ideally, your wedding spend shouldn’t get in the way of other financial goals.”

How can you make an effective wedding budget?

One of the first steps in making a wedding budget is to “sit down and have open and honest discussions about what your must-haves are, and what you’re comfortable leaving off as you build your budget,” said Minted, a wedding stationery brand. This will give you a guiding vision as you start allocating available funds.

As you build the budget, do not forget to leave some wiggle room ahead of your absolute maximum, which you should also make sure to set and agree to honor. “Even the best planners who budget early on might forget to add items or will inevitably have things they need to add on,” said Andrew Westlin, a certified financial planner at Betterment, to The Knot. This could include anything from add-on service charges to a last-minute rain tent to extra time on the dance floor.

Contrary to popular belief, prenuptial agreements are not just for the ultra-wealthy. Nor are they necessarily unromantic, or a sure sign that at least one person involved in the relationship is thinking about its eventual demise. They are actually a smart, clear-eyed way for two people to enter into what is not only a commitment in love but also a financial intertwining.

Increasingly, more couples approaching the altar are starting to understand the distinct purpose a prenup can serve, whether they are entering the union with significant savings (or debt) or have children from a prior relationship. The most recent Harris Poll on the topic “found that 15% of couples who had been married or were engaged in 2022 reported signing a prenup — up significantly from the 3% who had done so in 2010,” said Investopedia.

What does a prenup cover?

A prenuptial agreement is a “legally binding, written contract signed before marriage that outlines how assets, debts and property division will be handled in the event of divorce or death,” said Charles Schwab. A couple can tailor their prenup to their unique needs (and the state in which they live can also shape requirements), but in general, prenuptial agreements often include:

• A list of each partner’s assets and debts and instructions for how those will be divided in the event of divorce
• Financial rights and responsibilities during the marriage, such as the management of household expenses and joint accounts, as well as taxes
• Provisions for any children from a previous relationship, which may include preserving certain assets for their inheritance
• Expectations for spousal support or alimony in the event of divorce

When is a prenup worth considering?

The major benefit of a prenup is that it gives you the right to decide how assets are divvied up if you and your spouse should ever part ways. Rather than “relying on your state’s laws, a prenup allows you to set clear terms for how you want to handle assets and debts in a divorce,” said Experian.

Entering the marriage with this sort of clarity can especially make sense if “you may be bringing significant savings to the partnership, anticipate getting a significant inheritance in the future or co-own a business that you want to protect,” said Fidelity. It can also be useful if you have children from a previous relationship or if you “foresee taking time from the workplace for childrearing or caregiving, and earning less as a result.”

Debt is also another worthwhile consideration. If “your spouse has major debt,” a prenup “can specify which debts remain separate, reducing the risk you’ll become responsible for your spouse’s major debts,” said Experian.

Finally, the agreement can go a long way toward ensuring financial alignment when entering a marriage, helping couples get on the same page about “their plans to handle everyday marital finances, such as contributing to a joint account or keeping retirement savings separate,” said NerdWallet.

What are the risks of not having a prenup?

Without a prenup, “decisions about how you divide the property and assets you own together, as well as those you brought into the marriage, will be made at an emotionally fraught time,” said Fidelity. And if you cannot reach an agreement, the court will make one for you. For couples living in a community property state, this may mean assets get divided 50/50. You could even end up responsible for your ex’s debts.

So, while a prenup conversation may not be the easiest to have amid the excitement of wedding planning — and the cost of creating one is not necessarily cheap — it could save you from emotional and financial strife down the road should your happily ever after end sooner than expected.

Retired Americans who worked all their life while paying into Social Security may assume that both men and women are entitled to the same amount. But that belief doesn’t appear to align with reality, as according to recent studies, women may receive significantly less in Social Security benefits than their male counterparts. Looming benefit cuts could widen the gap even more.

How big is the Social Security gender gap?

Women receive $4,800 a year less than men in Social Security benefits on average, said AARP. The disparity is largely because women “still tend to earn less than men,” said CNBC. Over half of caregivers, 61%, are also women, said AARP, and as a result they are “more likely to take time out of the workforce or reduce their working hours to make time for those caregiving responsibilities,” said CNBC. Both of these factors “tend to leave women with less retirement savings.”

Other data from the personal finance website FinanceBuzz claims that there is an even larger gap in Social Security pay. According to FinanceBuzz’s research, women “receive an average of $1,760 per month in Social Security, 19.9% less than the $2,198 men receive, a gap of $438 every month or $5,254 per year.” Women make up about 55% of all Social Security recipients, but the “total monthly payout to men is higher ($54.4 million vs. $53.5 million), meaning women collect far less per person.”

How does this impact retirees?

While the pay gap has been improving in recent years, the “median earnings for American women working full-time are only 83% of those of their male counterparts,” and the financial consequences may be “felt long after women have retired from the workforce,” said FinanceBuzz. The “result is a retirement income system that faithfully mirrors the inequalities of working life.”

The ongoing disparity also means that Social Security cuts, which are slated to occur in 2032, would “more deeply impact women,” said USA Today. Elderly women are “far more likely than men to rely on Social Security to meet their basic needs,” Courtney Anderson, a social insurance legal fellow at the National Women’s Law Center, said to the outlet. Her organization is pushing for policymakers to “strengthen and expand — not weaken and cut — Social Security.”

These cuts would come at a time when women, especially elderly women, are already more likely to live in poverty than men. Between 2023 and 2024, the national poverty rate “significantly increased from 15.0% to 16.2% for older women while remaining unchanged for older men,” according to a National Women’s Law Center report. But these rates “would be far higher without Social Security, which has protected millions of older women from falling into poverty.”

Some “potential solutions are in the mix,” though they would require congressional intervention, said Fast Company. One recent proposal from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget “would cap Social Security payments to $100,000 per couple, reducing the amount paid out to wealthy retirees who rely on the monthly benefits the least.”

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) have also “floated the idea of lifting the payroll tax cap to make the Social Security program’s math work once again,” said Fast Company. This plan would “replenish the Social Security trust by collecting more for Social Security withholding” above the current income cap — a “limit that only benefits the highest earners.”

The time it takes for a property to sell has hit a record high, and there are plenty of reasons for delays.

A mix of “buyer financial uncertainty and a shortage of conveyancing firms”, means it now takes “longer than at any time in at least a decade” to sell a property, said The Times.

Figures from property data firm TwentyCi show that it takes an average of 211 days – or 6.9 months – between a property being listed for sale and new owners moving in.

Meanwhile, almost half of homes listed on property portals over the past three years have failed to sell, according to Zoopla.

Unrealistic pricing

The “biggest sticking point” is pricing, said Zoopla. “Overambitious and unrealistic” values are the “biggest reason homes remain unsold”.

In many of these cases, the appropriate course of action is to lower the asking price, as this is often “the only way to attract a buyer”.

Reduced demand

Sellers are also suffering from a lack of demand, amid concerns about geopolitical tensions, while “political uncertainty is emerging as another headwind for the market”, said the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

High mortgage rates are also impacting buyer budgets, and leading to hesitation.

Competition

Data from property website Rightmove shows the number of homes for sale is at its highest level since 2015.

This makes it a “buyers’ market”, said MoneyWeek, so sellers need to be “more flexible on pricing to attract interest amid high levels of competition”.

Poor first impressions

Lower levels of demand and high supply make it more important that your home is accurately priced and attractive to sellers.

Think about “first impressions”, said the HomeOwners Alliance, such as the state of your garden and whether your wheelie bins are on show.

Buyers may struggle to look beyond the wear and tear inside your house, so you may need “enhancements or staging to help it sell”.

Additionally, while buyers expect to do “some work to a house” they buy, it could be worth your while sorting out problems such as damp, subsidence, or anything that could be flagged in a survey, before listing, rather than “waiting for a buyer to find out”.

Market conditions

There may be market conditions outside your control such as high mortgage rates and economic uncertainty. These can “shape how confident buyers feel and how quickly properties move”, said the Guild of Property Professionals. This may mean sellers have to “adapt their expectations and strategies accordingly”.

Many sellers don’t realise how much “seasonality matters”, said Lynch Brother Homes, with January, February and March producing the “quickest average time to sell”, while late November to Christmas is typically the “deadest period”.

The wrong estate agent

Not all estate agents are “created equal”, said agency brand Tucker Gardner. Factors such as “dark, blurry photos or a minimal description” on online listings may mean potential buyers “simply scroll past to the next property”.

So, if you aren’t getting viewings and your agent seems to have put your property “on the back burner”, it might be time for a change.

For many Americans, an auto loan is a sizable chunk of their monthly budget. Refinancing can be one way to get that payment down. This is particularly true lately, as auto loan refinance rates have been falling at a faster pace than rates for original auto loans, making the potential savings that much more notable.

“Drivers who refinanced in the first quarter of 2026 saw a 2.24 percentage point interest rate decrease on average from their original loan, compared with a 0.47 point decrease two years earlier,” said Experian, per The Wall Street Journal. In terms of real dollars saved per month, “buyers with high payments found that refinancing drove their costs down by an average of $81 a month in the first quarter,” said the outlet.

Here is what to know about how auto loan refinancing works and how to determine whether the payoff is actually there.

How does auto loan refinancing work?

When you refinance your auto loan, you effectively take out a new loan with its own interest rate and terms. This loan replaces your existing auto loan. Upon approval, the new lender pays off your existing loan and then assumes the remaining balance.

Ideally, the new loan will offer more favorable terms than your existing loan, such as a better interest rate or lower monthly payments. You will go through the loan application process again for a refinance loan, and the terms will hinge largely on your credit profile.

What are the benefits of auto loan refinancing?

As mentioned, refinancing your auto loan could result in paying a lower interest rate. Maybe your credit has improved since you initially applied, and you have since consistently made on-time payments on your loan. Or, “you might have accepted a higher rate at a dealership than you could have qualified for elsewhere, and you now want to reduce that rate through refinancing,” said NerdWallet. An improved interest rate environment could also open up more competitive rates.

Refinancing may additionally allow you to pay off your loan sooner, which in turn could save you in total interest charges over the life of the loan. You could also refinance to lower your monthly payments, which will come in handy if you are struggling to repay your car loan. Just keep in mind that “while extending your loan term can lower your monthly payments, it will take longer to pay off your car, which could result in higher overall interest costs,” said PNC Insights, PNC Bank’s personal finance blog.

When should you think twice before refinancing?

A baseline to evaluate when deciding whether to refinance your auto loan is whether or not it will save you money. But even if it will, there are still downsides to consider, and in certain situations, it may not be worth pursuing.

In some cases, “financing fees outweigh the benefits,” such as if you have to pay a hefty prepayment penalty to your existing lender alongside origination or application fees, said Credit Karma. Applying for a new loan also has an impact on your credit, which you may want to avoid if you are planning to apply for other new credit soon, like a mortgage on a home purchase.

It is lastly important to evaluate the value of the car itself. “Refinancing to extend your term or taking cash out of your equity could leave you owing more than what your car is worth, referred to as being upside-down on your loan,” said NerdWallet. In this case, “if you decide to sell or trade in your car, you would have to pay the lender the difference.”

If you were to die with a mortgage balance remaining, mortgage protection insurance — also known as mortgage life insurance — would ensure it got paid off. That way, your loved ones could continue to live in your home without worrying about continuing to make payments.

This might sound like a good arrangement, especially considering how big an investment a home is and how much of a family’s budget monthly mortgage payments can comprise. But is mortgage protection insurance really necessary, and is it actually the best way to achieve that peace of mind?

What is mortgage protection insurance?

Mortgage protection insurance (MPI) is a type of life insurance, often offered by mortgage lenders and insurance companies, that ensures any balance remaining on your mortgage is paid off in the event that you pass away. “Some mortgage protection insurance policies also offer payment protection for a limited time if you lose your job or experience a disability during the term, although that is not necessarily standard with all policies,” said Yahoo Finance.

This is different from a typical life insurance policy where a death benefit is paid out to your beneficiaries. Instead, with mortgage protection insurance, the payout goes directly to the mortgage lender. Note that MPI typically will “only cover the principal and interest portion of a mortgage payment,” meaning “other fees like HOA dues, property taxes and homeowners’ insurance would still be your responsibility,” said Bankrate.

Should you get mortgage protection insurance?

Mortgage life insurance is by no means necessary; it is entirely optional. But if you are looking for peace of mind, “most MPI policies are issued on a “guaranteed acceptance” basis, which “can be advantageous if you have a health condition,” as there is no health exam required to qualify, said Bankrate.

Even so, “mortgage protection life insurance policies are generally ill-advised,” said Investopedia. For starters, MPI serves a very limited purpose, and the money a policy pays out will go to the mortgage lender, not your beneficiaries. Premiums can also be steep and are “often much higher than term life insurance,” said NerdWallet.

Further, those premiums stay the same over time, even as the payout decreases as you pay down your mortgage. Particularly if your mortgage is “nearly paid off or you paid for the home with sale proceeds from another home, paying for an MPI policy might not make the most financial sense,” said Bankrate.

How does mortgage protection insurance compare to life insurance?

If you are worried about protecting loved ones from mortgage payments in the event of your death, a “term life insurance policy typically provides more bang for your buck,” said NerdWallet. For one, life insurance is “more flexible than MPI because the money goes directly to your beneficiaries” as opposed to your mortgage, allowing your beneficiaries to use the money as needed, said U.S. News & World Report.

Additionally, while the value of MPI declines over time as you pay down your mortgage, the “death benefit on a standard term policy remains the same,” said Experian. That said, mortgage protection insurance does not require a medical exam to qualify for coverage, while life insurance does.

The reach of Trump Accounts is growing under a new initiative known as Fostering the Future Accounts. An offshoot of the youth savings and investment accounts that the president introduced as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) Act, these accounts are specifically targeted for children in foster care.

Under the program, announced in June, states will be able to open Trump Accounts on behalf of foster youth in the U.S. The hope is that this opportunity “gives foster children the same chance at asset ownership and long-term wealth as every other child,” said First Lady Melania Trump, per The Hill.

What are Fostering the Future Accounts?

Trump Accounts, “which are similar to retirement accounts, have to be established by the child’s parent or guardian,” said The Hill. This could “make it complicated for a child in foster care to have an account created for them.” But Fostering the Future Accounts make it possible for foster youth to gain access to a Trump Account.

“Under the program, the Treasury Department will recognize state child welfare agencies acting as guardians to open accounts for foster youth in their care, which the children can gain access to when they turn 18,” said The New York Times. Aside from differences in account opening, Fostering the Future Accounts “function the same as a standard Trump Account — investing in stock market index funds to grow tax-deferred savings,” said Kiplinger.

How could these accounts benefit foster youth?

More than “400,000 children are in foster care in the U.S., and many are considered financially vulnerable, according to federal data,” said CNBC. When these youth age out of the system, many of them are “largely on their own and likely to lack access to financial resources,” said the outlet, citing a 2024 white paper by The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, a nonpartisan think tank.

Alongside opening the accounts, which anyone can contribute to, the new initiative “allows states to invest benefits that they receive on behalf of foster children in their care, such as Social Security survivor and disability benefits, into the new accounts in the same way parents can contribute to their children’s accounts,” said the Times.

Who can get a Fostering the Future Account?

Technically, any foster youth under the age of 18 with a valid Social Security number is eligible. The catch is, “because Fostering the Future Accounts are managed at the state level, access depends on local legislative approval,” said Kiplinger. As of June, only the following 23 states have pledged to open the accounts:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• West Virginia

The Trump administration has set a goal for all 50 states to be signed on by December 2027.

You usually have to wait until you reach age 59 ½ before you can dip into your retirement funds penalty-free. Otherwise, you end up forfeiting 10% of the amount you withdraw from your 401(k) or similar tax-deferred retirement plan. But what if you want to retire sooner than that and need access to your money?

If you are at least 55 years old, you may be in luck, thanks to what is known as the Rule of 55. This IRS provision has saved one retiree “about $24,000 in tax penalties,” and another says they “wouldn’t have been able to retire from teaching early” without it, said The Wall Street Journal. And yet, it remains a “tax break few people know about, and even fewer use.”

What is the Rule of 55?

The Rule of 55 is an “IRS provision that allows you to withdraw money from your 401(k) or other qualified retirement plan without the 10% early withdrawal penalty if you leave your job in or after the year you turn 55,” said Kiplinger. Typically, you pay this penalty on top of the other taxes you owe on withdrawals from tax-deferred retirement accounts, like 401(k) and 401(3)b plans. But if you meet the eligibility requirements, the Rule of 55 lets you skip that early withdrawal penalty, though you will still owe taxes on the amount withdrawn. Note that the rule only applies to employer-sponsored retirement plans; it does not apply to IRAs.

Who is eligible for the Rule of 55?

Generally, “to qualify, you must leave your job — either voluntarily or involuntarily — in or after the year you turn 55,” said Kiplinger. This timeline gets moved up a bit for “public safety employees, such as police officers, firefighters, EMTs and air traffic controllers,” for whom the rule “applies in the calendar year in which they turn 50,” said Charles Schwab.

Further, you can only withdraw funds penalty-free “from the plan specific to your most recent employer,” meaning the account you were contributing to when you stopped working, said Charles Schwab. The money also needs to stay in that plan for you to continue to access it without penalty, at least until you turn 59 ½. You cannot roll over the funds to an IRA or other retirement account and still make penalty-free withdrawals.

When does it make sense to use the rule for early withdrawals?

The Rule of 55 can make a major difference “if you’ve decided to retire during or after the year in which you attain age 55 and need immediate financial support,” said Fidelity. But it is not necessarily a magic bullet for an early retirement. “Remember, if you’re withdrawing money from your retirement savings, they can no longer benefit from potential compounding returns,” said Charles Schwab.

Generally, the approach tends to make sense either as a bridge to cover short-term needs in the interim, such as in the case of an unexpected late-career layoff, or if you have an ample balance in your 401(k). “If you’ve managed to save well in your current 401(k), you may be able to retire early with enough income to take some withdrawals now and support yourself in your future retirement years,” said Fidelity.

Aging can already be a touchy subject, and when it intersects with something as personal and private as finances, having a conversation about it can feel daunting. Parents may be hesitant, or even embarrassed, to ask for help in managing their financial situation as they get older. Meanwhile, their adult children may feel unsure about how to — or even whether to — insert themselves.

The reality is, putting off having these discussions does not do anyone any favors. Here are some tips for how to approach the topic.

Start the conversation sooner rather than later

“Even if your parents aren’t yet ready to cede control of their finances, the key is to start talking now,” said TIAA. Otherwise, you run the risk of waiting too long and ending up in a position with no system in place should an issue or emergency arise.

Starting sooner also allows you to gradually integrate yourself, as opposed to a sudden takeover. For example, “if you’ve taken on the responsibility of paying bills (or balancing their accounts), start by doing it together,” as “this kind of gradual, sensitive approach gives them (and you) some time to get comfortable with the new arrangements,” said Better Money Habits, Bank of America’s financial education platform.

Come from a place of understanding

“Lead with love, not logistics,” said Jessica Smith, a co-founder and an adviser at Vitality Wealth, to The New York Times. “Before getting into paperwork and bank accounts, ask your parents what they want and how you can support them.” Learn what their current routines are when it comes to financial tasks like paying bills and budgeting, as well as where their income is coming from.

Throughout the process, try to keep in mind how they may be feeling, both when it comes to this shift in their independence and in their longstanding financial habits and preferences. “All you can do is share information and offer to partner on the strategy they want to take,” said Charles Schwab.

Ensure account access of some form

Having some form of access to your parents’ financial accounts is important, both for monitoring and in case you need to step in if something were to happen to them. But that does not necessarily mean becoming a joint account owner. That status not only creates potential tax consequences, it also “means that your creditors or anyone suing you can tap those assets,” as “they legally become yours,” said Dinon Hughes, a partner at Nvest Financial, to the Times.

Instead of being a joint account owner, consider becoming an authorized user, which will still “allow you to deposit, withdraw and transfer funds; pay bills; and create a unique user ID and password to manage their accounts,” said Smith. Another option is to simply become a trusted contact on their accounts. In this case, “if a bank or investment company suspects an older client might be a victim of financial fraud, they can put a temporary hold on withdrawals and notify a trusted contact — usually a close relative — who can then reach out to the potential victim,” said TIAA.

Andy Burnham is preparing his bid for No. 10 after returning to Parliament as a Labour MP.

Burnham is “widely considered a frontrunner”, said The Independent, but now that Keir Starmer has announced his resignation, there are still a couple more weeks for other leadership candidates to throw their hats in the ring.

Some voters, though, are “terrified”, said The Sun, at what a perceived “hard-left Burnham government will do to their bank balances”.

Tax

Labour’s manifesto promise not to increase the rates of income tax, VAT or employee national insurance contributions “will stay”, said The Times, but Burnham has suggested he would raise the £12,570 tax-free personal income allowance for workers.

The former Greater Manchester mayor told the BBC’s Question Time that the personal allowance had been a topic raised “on so many doorsteps” and that, as a result, he would be willing to “have a proper look at this” to develop policy.

Inheritance tax changes “could also be a possibility”, said MoneyWeek, highlighting that, as health secretary in 2009, Burnham suggested a flat 10% charge applied to all estates, “with the money being used to fund social care for all”.

And, in a move that will “terrify middle England”, said The Sun, he has floated reintroducing the “hated” 50p top rate of tax.

Property taxes

Burnham has also “shown enthusiasm for taxing wealth more heavily”, said IFA Magazine.

Writing for The Guardian in 2010, Burnham proposed a land value tax on the market rental value of land. He argued this would “allow for the abolition of stamp duty”.

Such a move would “discourage land hoarding and encourage productive development”, said Tembo Money, but it could raise “legitimate concerns about fairness” for “asset-rich, income-poor homeowners” who might find it difficult to meet higher annual bills.

Mortgages

The credibility of Burnham in the markets, said Sky News, “will matter most for our borrowing costs”.

Burnham has sought to reassure bond investors that he will stick to the government’s existing fiscal rules. But if doubts were to emerge in markets, “mortgage borrowers could be among those to feel the consequences”, said the Financial Times.

Any massive spending plans outlined by Burnham could “trigger a bond market meltdown”, said The Sun, which would push fixed mortgage rates up.

Pensions

In good news for pensioners, Burnham has “reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the triple lock”, said Morningstar, despite “intense scrutiny” of the policy.

But he could use changes to pension tax relief or reductions in the pension tax-free lump sum as a “means of targeting wealth, and raising revenue, without deploying headline wealth taxes”.

The importance of the chancellor 

The “choice of chancellor” will also influence how bond markets react, said The Independent. Currently, Rachel Reeves is seen “as stable, consistent and predictable – all things the market likes”.

A chancellor with a “reputation for fiscal discipline” might “reassure markets”, said MoneyWeek, but a “less disciplined” candidate “could have the opposite effect”.

Credit is a decisive factor in your financial life. The three-digit number influences everything, from whether you are approved for a loan to whether you can rent an apartment or even get hired for some jobs.

With the stakes that high, it’s important to be clear-eyed about what does and does not influence your credit score. The problem: There are a number of credit-related myths floating around that commonly trip people up. Here are some big ones to watch out for.

Myth #1: It boosts your score to carry a balance.

“Nearly 6 in 10 cardholders (59%) say carrying a small balance on their cards will improve their score,” said LendingTree, based on a recent survey it conducted. But this is broadly not true. “In fact, the opposite is more likely to be true.” Carrying a balance from month to month will not only lead you to pay interest on that amount, but it can also drive up your credit utilization rate, which, when high, negatively impacts your credit score.

Myth #2: Checking your credit score can lower it.

When you check your credit score — a good financial habit to have, actually — it does not affect your score. The misunderstanding here is likely due to a lack of clarity around soft credit pulls and hard credit pulls. “Checking your credit score is considered a ‘soft pull,’ which doesn’t affect your credit score,” said CNBC Select. Instead, it is “actions, such as applying for a credit card,” that involve a hard pull, which is what “temporarily dings your credit score.”

Myth #3: Closing an account will improve your score.

Paying off an account in full and then closing it, or doing the same for an account you no longer use, may seem like good credit hygiene. But in actuality, it can have the opposite effect on your score. That is because when you do so, “your score may take a hit if your credit utilization ratio drops,” said Bankrate. Additionally, the “length of your credit history may change, which could also negatively affect your score,” especially if the account you closed was one of your older ones.

Myth #4: Your income affects your credit score.

When lenders are reviewing your application for a credit card or a loan, they will likely take into consideration your income, as that influences your ability to repay the amount borrowed. Your income does not, however, have a bearing on your credit score. Put simply, “your salary and income are considered measurements of your capacity to pay bills, not your potential credit risk,” said CNBC Select.

Factors that do influence your score include your payment history, credit utilization rate, length of credit history, mix of account types and applications for new credit.

Moving into a new apartment can require putting down a lot of money up-front. One of the main costs prohibitive for many renters is the security deposit, a lump sum that the landlord will typically keep until you move out in case of any damages. But with security deposit alternative services offered by financial technology companies, renters are now getting the opportunity to bypass this requirement altogether.

While these options can be “useful in the short term because they help keep cash in your pocket,” they do carry risks, said The New York Times. And they are certainly not cost-free. Here is what to know.

How do security deposit alternatives work?

They replace the “need for a large up-front payment with other financial products or payment structures,” said Rentable, a security deposit management and assistance app. Instead of paying the traditional security deposit in a lump sum, “renters may pay a non-refundable fee or monthly fees, which are paid directly to the service provider and are typically not refunded.”

The exact model depends on the service, which the landlord will usually choose. Generally, “these alternatives tend to cluster into three categories: surety-bonds, insurance-type models and installment financing products,” said Tax Credit Adviser, an outlet covering the affordable housing industry. “The surety bond structure requires an initial payment,” while “an insurance-type model adds an additional premium to tenants’ monthly rents.” Meanwhile, the installment option involves making smaller payments over time (a personal loan is a common example of an installment debt).

Why are renters using them?

It is estimated that “millions of renters use the services,” said the Times. The reason? Many “struggle to cobble together cash for the up-front costs needed to sign a lease.” Not only does a security deposit alternative allow you to avoid that large lump sum due at the outset, that money is also not tied up for the duration of the time you rent.

Typically, a security deposit runs “about $800,” said the Times, citing a 2025 survey of renters by Zillow. And that cost is often in addition to a number of other initial expenses, such as an application fee and first and last month’s rent.

Are there any risks or drawbacks to these services?

Although it is possible a security deposit alternative could save you — or, at least, save you from forking over a large amount at once — they do still involve handing over money. For example, “if you used an alternative service with an annual fee of $130 at a property that required an $800 security deposit, and you stayed at a property for 10 years, you would have paid $1,300,” said the Times. Unlike a traditional security deposit, however, these amounts are not refundable.

There are also potential “legal and regulatory issues” involved in these alternatives, since they are “relatively new” and “some areas may limit use,” said Buildium, a property management software company. The protection offered is not necessarily the same, either. “If your landlord files a damage claim during your lease, none of the fees paid to the alternative services apply toward those costs,” said the Times, potentially putting renters in the position to pay more.

Mortgage rates that are high, or higher than they have been in recent memory, can be a real blocker for buyers and sellers. It may feel psychologically challenging to buy at a steeper rate than you would have gotten just a few years ago. And for sellers looking to exit one house for another, the same conundrum can apply.

But what if instead of getting a new mortgage, you could simply take over the current homeowner’s existing lower-rate loan? Though not common, this is possible through what is known as an assumable mortgage.

What is an assumable mortgage?

A type of home loan that “transfers the responsibility for the mortgage to a new person without changing the mortgage's terms,” said Experian. This means the seller takes on responsibility for repaying the loan’s remaining balance according to the previously agreed-upon repayment timeline and terms, notably including the existing mortgage rate.

Usually, when someone buys a house, they will apply for and take out a mortgage of their own, with the seller using the proceeds from the sale of the house to pay off the remaining balance on their mortgage. But with an assumable mortgage, “rather than starting over with a new 30-year mortgage at current market rates, the buyer essentially steps into the seller’s loan,” said Kiplinger.

What are the benefits of assuming a mortgage?

The most apparent benefit is the potential to get a loan at a lower rate. “If the seller purchased the home when rates were lower, you can get a better rate on an assumable loan than you’d be able to get on a new one,” said Bankrate. Plus, “when you assume a mortgage, you avoid some usual mortgage closing costs, including an origination fee.” Buyers will also have a shorter loan term, which can lead to savings over time.

On the seller’s side of things, if they have “an assumable mortgage with a relatively low rate, they may be able to draw more interested buyers and a higher sale price,” said Bankrate.

Are there any drawbacks to assumable mortgages?

Perhaps the most obvious caveat is that these mortgages are not very easy to come by. “Only about 6% of listings are eligible, and in most circumstances must either be an FHA, USDA or VA loan,” said Realtor.com. Conventional mortgages, the most common type of mortgage, are generally non-assumable. Further, “unless you’re inheriting an assumable mortgage, you’ll still need to qualify for the loan you want to assume,” said Bankrate.

Even if your loan is eligible and you do qualify, the option is not always worthwhile. For example, it is possible the “loan you’re taking on may not be large enough to cover the home’s current market value, which could leave you responsible for paying the difference,” said U.S. Bank. Alternatively, maybe the seller has built up significant equity in the home, in which case you will need to make a large payment upfront.

There can be downsides for sellers, too. Namely, the seller may “remain legally responsible for the mortgage even after the sale, unless the lender specifically releases them from the obligation,” said U.S. Bank.

Artificial intelligence has become part of our daily lives, and many younger users are turning to it for help with managing their money.

Research by Fidelity International found that more than a third of 18- to 34-year-olds use AI when making investment choices.

AI tools are useful for “opening access”, said MoneyWeek, for those who may not understand investing or just want to check financial information. But there are limits on “how good AI is at giving advice”.

Analysis by consumer watchdog Which? found that AI tools can “make mistakes, misread information and even give risky advice”. That means relying on it too much “could prove costly”.

Seek basic financial education

Many people “feel shame” about their lack of money knowledge, said Moneybox’s director of personal finance Brian Byrnes in The Independent. AI can help “remove this barrier” and assist with “translating and explaining complex finance jargon into plain English” without any judgement.

AI can also be useful for “getting a better understanding of financial topics”, said NerdWallet, such as basic information on budgeting, estate planning or insurance.

Don’t rely on AI for tailored financial advice

Despite the access to information, said Byrnes, you should “never rely on these tools for actionable financial or tax advice”.

Analysis by Which? found that AI tools can come up with “glaring errors”, such as getting the ISA allowance wrong, and they may provide “incomplete advice”.

More importantly, AI tools aren’t regulated to give advice, and won’t know your goals, your tax position, your time horizon or how you actually feel about risk. Crucially, “it can’t take responsibility if the guidance is wrong”, unlike a regulated financial adviser, said MoneyWeek.

Double-check information

AI tools can “sound confident even when they’re wrong”, said MoneyHelper, so you should always check information against “trusted sources”.

It is best to view AI as a “well-meaning but sloppy assistant”, said Fidelity International: “eager to please you but potentially happy to take shortcuts”.

Don’t give away sensitive information

There are also data and privacy risks with AI, as your information may be stored, and personal data could be misused, said MoneyHelper. As a result, it is wise to “keep anything sensitive to yourself”, including account details.

You wouldn’t hand over credit card details to a stranger, said Byrnes in The Independent, so “take the same approach when you are thinking about your personal financial information online”.

Home insurance is must-have protection for what is likely your most valuable asset, and oftentimes mandatory if you have a mortgage. Losing it unexpectedly, whether due to your insurer’s decision not to renew or a sudden cancellation of coverage, is therefore an understandably stressful situation.

The first step in sorting it out is to determine why your insurer has either cancelled or not renewed your policy and what your rights are. From there, it is important to act quickly to avoid gaps in coverage.

Why do insurers not renew or cancel policies?

There are technically two ways insurers can cut off your homeowners insurance: a non-renewal, where the “insurance company decides not to renew your policy when it expires,” and a cancellation, which “can happen during the policy term,” said NerdWallet.

“Within the first 60 days of purchasing a homeowners insurance policy, insurers may be able to cancel it for any reason,” said Experian. After that, the insurer can cancel only for certain reasons. This can include missed premium payments, insurance fraud — such as misleading statements on your application or a failure to disclose certain details about the property — or a decline in your property’s condition that significantly increases the insurance company’s risk.

Non-renewal, meanwhile, “may happen for reasons outside your control,” said Experian, though that is not always the case. For instance, you may lose coverage for making too many claims or simply because your insurer has stopped selling policies in the state, a common occurrence in high-risk areas with frequent wildfires or hurricanes. It could also happen if you get a new pet that is not eligible for coverage under your insurance.

What are your rights after a homeowners insurance cancellation?

While specifics vary from state to state, “generally, most homeowners have the right to receive written notice of a non-renewal,” said NerdWallet. This “must arrive within a specific window of time and include an explanation of why the policy is not being renewed.”

Based on that information, you can determine how to proceed. “If you disagree with the reasoning or you want more details, reach out to the insurance company to learn more” and possibly have them reconsider, said Kiplinger. “If you believe that the decision is unfair, you may choose to contact your state’s insurance department for assistance.”

What should you do if you get dropped by your home insurer?

If you get dropped from your home insurance, you generally have two options: try to get reinstated or find new coverage. In either case, being proactive — whether by making home improvements or mitigating the risk of home damage — can make a difference. For instance, if your policy was dropped because of the condition of your roof, “you may be able to address the issue that caused the policy to be cancelled and get it reinstated,” or at least “help reduce your chance of being denied by a new insurer,” said Bankrate.

And beware what happens if you do not find replacement coverage in time: In this scenario, if you have a mortgage, “your lender may purchase a policy for you and pass the cost onto you.” The bad news there is that “it can cost double what you’d pay for a standard home insurance policy,” said Kiplinger.

There are a lot of ways you can save for retirement. There are 401(k) plans, provided through employers, and IRAs, which you can open on your own. Drilling down further, there are two classifications of those accounts: traditional and Roth.

While a traditional account allows you to save money pre-tax, a Roth account is funded after-tax. Paying taxes sooner rather than later may not sound beneficial, but depending on your specific situation, it absolutely can be, as many younger savers are starting to realize.

In recent years, the “youngest savers are flocking to Roth individual retirement accounts,” with Gen Z in particular embracing Roth IRAs, said The Wall Street Journal. “Overall, IRA contributions for people of all ages hit record highs in the first quarter of this year, with nearly 30% more dollars flowing into these accounts than in the same period last year.”

What benefits do Roth IRAs offer?

Because you pay taxes on the money you put into a Roth IRA, that means you do not have to pay taxes later. As a result, “your money grows tax-free, and you’ll be able to withdraw it tax-free at retirement,” said Bankrate. Plus, if you are in a lower tax bracket now than you expect to be when you are older, you will end up paying a lower rate.

Another perk is that the Roth also can do “double-duty as an emergency account,” said the Journal. This is because Roth IRAs allow withdrawals of your contributions penalty-free (there are, however, stipulations for withdrawing earnings). And if you do not end up needing the money immediately in retirement, Roth IRAs do not have required minimum distribution (RMD) requirements like traditional 401(k) and IRAs do.

When you eventually take out money in retirement, those tax-free withdrawals can help “supplement taxable income without moving into a higher tax bracket or triggering costly Medicare premium surcharges,” said the Journal.

Are there downsides to Roth IRAs?

The “most obvious disadvantage of contributing to a Roth IRA is that your contributions are made with after-tax dollars,” which “means you won’t get a tax benefit in the year you make the contribution,” said Bankrate.

There are also restrictions on who is eligible to contribute. Those whose income is above a certain level (adjusted each year for inflation) are technically not able to contribute to a Roth IRA, though there is the workaround of the backdoor Roth IRA.

Who can a Roth IRA make sense for?

“Most advice on the Roth IRA vs. traditional IRA topic begins with a question: Do you think your tax rate will be higher or lower in the future?” said NerdWallet. Generally speaking, a Roth IRA can make sense for those who are just starting out in their careers. This is because earnings are typically lower at that point, meaning a lower tax bracket, and because you are less likely to run up against income limits for contributions.

There are other advantages worth weighing as well. For instance, a Roth IRA could make sense if you want to use the funds for a “home purchase or for higher education expenses” due to “certain exceptions to Roth IRA early withdrawal penalty rules,” said Experian.

You might also consider a Roth account even if you already have a traditional account, whether a 401(k) or IRA. Since the two types of retirement plans offer different tax benefits, having both can diversify your retirement tax picture.

High oil prices mean drivers of petrol cars are now spending more to run their vehicle than those who have gone electric.

Analysis by The Electric Car Scheme showed the annual cost of fuelling the typical petrol car has risen to £1,353 in 2026. This is compared with £592 for an electric vehicle (EV) driver charging at home.

The firm identified 9 June as Electric Car Day 2026, marking when the average petrol driver has spent “the equivalent on fuel” as an EV driver does running their vehicle for the whole year.

It comes as the Iran conflict has “significantly disrupted the production and transportation of energy across the Middle East”, pushing up fuel prices such as petrol, said the BBC.

The sale of new petrol and diesel cars is to be banned in the UK in 2030, amid a push towards EVs. But as well as running costs, it is also important to look at the “total cost of ownership”, said CarWow, when weighing up a petrol car against an EV.

Upfront car costs

One of the “big sticking points” with EVs compared with “polluting petrol and diesel engines” is the higher upfront costs, , said The Guardian.

However, most private buyers of new cars tend to pay on a lease or personal contract plan, said Top Gear, or through salary sacrifice.

Prices of EVs have also come down thanks to the taxpayer-backed electric car grant, said This Is Money, and zero-emission vehicle targets, which has “intensified pressure on manufacturers and their dealers to provide more discounting”.

Running costs of electric car vs. petrol

Running an EV is “extremely cheap” compared with a petrol-driven car, said Which?, especially if you can charge it at home.

Electric cars can travel up to 300 miles on one charge depending on the weather. But it is important to keep track of your journeys as public charging is “much more expensive” and you could end up spending more per mile than with a petrol car.

There are some downsides, as the higher value of EVs can mean “higher insurance premiums”, said MoneySavingExpert. Drivers also have to take repairs into account, and these “can cost more” if a specialist mechanic is required.

Drivers will still have to pay for car tax, servicing and MOTs with an EV, plus the government is planning to introduce pay-per-mile charges from April 2028 as a replacement for shrinking fuel duty revenues.

This will “narrow the gap” between electric and petrol cars when it comes to how much drivers spend on fuel, said Auto Express.

What is the verdict?

At the moment, the “choice is clearer than you might think”, said Regit. If you don’t have a home charger, a petrol car will “likely save you money and a lot of hassle”.

But if you can charge at home, leasing an EV can be the “cleverest way to drive a new vehicle”, avoid the worst of depreciation and keep your monthly running costs down.

Moving back home after college may seem like a failure to launch, both on the part of parents who thought their work was finally done, and young adults who thought they were poised to start building a life of their own.

But increasingly, it is a decision many recent graduates are making, often out of economic necessity but also because of the practical benefits the arrangement can offer. “Nearly half — 44% — of U.S. parents with adult children ages 18 to 35 say a child has moved back home at some point,” said The Washington Post, citing a recent poll by the financial services company Thrivent.

Just because the arrangement is common does not mean it is automatically easy. Even if you all lived peacefully under the same roof for 18 years, things can — and should — be different when cohabitating again after college. Here is how to navigate things smoothly.

Communicate about financial impacts and expectations

For parents, there is a “difference between providing a safety net and enabling financial immaturity,” said the Post. The latter benefits neither party.

Instead, plan to “have regular discussions with your child to see if they need assistance in any areas and check their progress toward achieving their goals,” said Fidelity. For instance, if they are moving back in because they have student loan debt, “their budget needs to reflect that they are treating this as a priority,” said the Post.

Parents should prioritize transparency about their own financial situation as well — including how the living arrangement may be affecting their current finances and long-term planning, such as saving for retirement.

Discuss divvying up costs

Just because you are the kid (or the parent) does not mean it is set in stone who pays for what. “Once your adult offspring move back home, you and your kids will need to decide how much they’ll chip in for household expenses,” said Kiplinger.

Exactly what that division looks like will vary depending on the financial situation of everyone involved. Maybe the child “can contribute a percentage of their wages to cover the mortgage or rent, for example, or agree to pay a set amount — say, $200 to $300 a month,” said Kiplinger. Alternatively, if they “can’t help with the mortgage or rent, consider having them pay a portion of utility, phone or insurance bills.”

If your child truly has nothing to contribute monetarily (maybe they are currently job-searching), there are still ways they can contribute to the household. “Doing regular yard work or other household chores can make the relationship feel more balanced,” said Earnest, a student lending platform.

Establish a clear plan and timeline

While living together may be fine for now, most likely it will not be fine forever. “Have a conversation with your parents about your plan for moving out and finding your own place,” said Earnest, and make sure you are both clear on the steps it will take for you to get there, whether that is paying down debt within a certain period of time or saving up a certain amount for a security deposit and a few months’ rent.

The plan you come up with should include a “clear timeline, as well as some contingency plans if you don’t reach those goals as soon as expected,” said Earnest.

Filling up your tank is pricey, and the total cost is more than just the price of gas alone. Every time you fill up, a federal gas tax and a state tax gets tacked on to each gallon of gas you put into your car.

With the price of gas skyrocketing of late, in large part because of the war Donald Trump started with Iran, the president has floated the idea of suspending the federal gas tax altogether. But how much would that really save consumers?

What is the federal gas tax?

It is an “excise tax that’s paid on any fuel that’s sold in the US.,” said Intuit TurboTax. Initially, the tax “was meant to be temporary when President Herbert Hoover signed it into law in 1932 to help pay for national defense spending,” said The New York Times. “But persistent budget deficits kept it in place, and the money it raises is used for road maintenance through the Highway Trust Fund.”

How much is the federal gas tax?

The current federal gas tax costs drivers 18.4 cents, a charge that applies per gallon of gas. For those filling up with diesel fuel, the cost is a bit higher, at 24.4 cents per gallon.

Keep in mind, that is just the federal gas tax. All states and the District of Columbia also tax motor fuels, with per-gallon gas tax rates ranging “from 8.95 cents in Alaska to 62.9 cents in California,” said the Tax Policy Center. Additionally, “10 states also levy a general sales tax or gross receipts tax on purchases of motor fuel,” which can further increase the overall cost of filling up.

How much could drivers save if the gas tax is suspended?

Will nixing those cents on the gallon actually allow drivers to save on gas? Yes, but only minimally. If the federal gas tax were to drop by the full 18.4 cents, that would mean “for a 15-gallon tank, that’s $2.70 saved,” said CBS News. “When filled up weekly, that’s about $10.80 a month.”

However, “experts say the price drop would be less than 18 cents,” said CBS News. Some of that gas tax would instead “end up staying with the gas station itself, maybe the producers or anyone else in the supply side of the gas market,” added the outlet, citing tax policy expert Adam Hoffer.

Gas taxes ultimately make up just a small portion of the amount consumers are paying at the pump. Even with the suspension of both federal and state gas taxes, “prices would still average 35% more per gallon than they were at the start of the Iran war,” said NBC News. Since the war began in late February, “prices nationwide are up more than 50%.”

Staying on budget does not have to mean staying in all the time. But going out can often be a slippery slope — especially if you are doing so with friends who have different financial situations and spending habits. Your friend might suggest another round or two of drinks or grabbing dinner at a pricey restaurant, and the next thing you know, your bank account balance is not where you would like it to be.

How can you balance having a good time with friends and feeling good about your spending? Read on for some tips and tricks.

Make a budget before going out

“Setting aside a specific line item in your budget for parties, trips or weekend brunches lets you enjoy your social life without the stress of overspending,” said Money. By doing the math on the front end, you can know exactly how much you can afford to spend in a given month. This will also give you a clear way to track how much of that allotted amount you have already gone through at any point throughout the month, which is helpful to know prior to meeting up with friends.

Come up with lower-cost activities

“Meaningful experiences with your friends don’t have to be expensive,” said Ally. If you want to spend time with a friend and are nervous about shelling out, consider suggesting something free or fairly inexpensive — who knows, they may even breathe a sigh of relief for their own budget. Some easy ideas include going on a hike, checking out a free museum or outdoor concert or attending a local book club together.

Invite people over

Having people over is an easy way to get the crew together while skipping the bar tab or the restaurant bill. Maybe you can ask everyone to bring over a dish for a potluck, or you could even cook as a group. Perhaps someone brings over a bottle of wine, and you pull out a board game or put on a movie. The bonus of this approach is that everyone can stay as long as they (or you) would like.

Be open with your friends

Maybe you have been trying to dance around your financial reality because it feels embarrassing or like a potential buzzkill. But “discussing money openly with friends can help dismantle the shame around financial struggles and is a great way to explore affordable ways to spend time together,” said Ally. It also gives you a more honest way to say no to an invitation in the future, if you need to.

Spend on what matters to you most

“Look at money as ‘a tool to enhance your values and your experiences,’” as opposed to just a default way to socialize, said Jack Howard, the head of money wellness at Ally, to CNBC Make It. Evaluate what you really enjoy spending money on, versus when you are spending just to spend, and adjust your expenditures accordingly. “If costly activities like going out to dinner or traveling with friends are important to you, you may have to make cuts in other areas of your life in order to prioritize them,” said the outlet.

For many retirees, Social Security is an essential source of income. But unfortunately, it is also one that may soon become less reliable as available funds dry up.

Per a recent projection by the Congressional Budget Office, “Social Security’s main retirement trust fund — formally known as the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund — will run out of reserves in 2032,” said Money Talks News. That would translate to “cuts starting at around 7% in 2032 and deepening to an average of about 28% per year from 2033 through 2036,” said the outlet, citing an analysis by Newsweek.

Cuts of that size would translate to a sizable difference in retirement income for many. Planning ahead by following these tips can help ensure they do not derail your retirement entirely.

1. Look for ways to cut expenses

Reviewing your spending is not the most fun exercise, but it can often reveal some opportunities to make a reduced retirement income stretch a little further. There are smaller tweaks you can make, like traveling less or canceling unused subscriptions, or you may consider more drastic moves, depending on the income gap you are facing.

For instance, “downsizing a home, eliminating a household vehicle or moving to an area with a lower cost of living can significantly reduce expenses for those willing to make larger lifestyle changes,” said U.S. News & World Report.

2. Delay claiming benefits

“Nervous retirees are already rushing to claim Social Security benefits early, convinced they should grab what they can before the system changes,” said Money Talks News. But in reality, “there’s no advantage to claiming early if cuts hit across the board,” and doing so just means the “system-wide cut applies on top of that smaller base.”

By waiting to claim Social Security, you can maximize the base amount you earn in benefits. For each year until age 70 that you wait to claim, your benefit will increase by 8%, which can go a long way toward making up for the projected shortfall.

3. Build other sources of income

This does not necessarily mean going back to work, though that is an option, whether in the form of a part-time job, gig work or consulting in your former field. Other options to close the upcoming income gap include buying a deferred income annuity “equal to the reduction,” which effectively “converts your savings into a guaranteed income stream beginning on a future date and continuing for the rest of your life,” said Kiplinger. Alternatively, you could “create a diversified bucket of mutual funds that is separate from your other investments” and intended specifically “to make up for that anticipated Social Security cut.”

If you have ever taken out a mortgage, you’ll know there are a lot of requirements to meet. You may need to put down a certain amount and have a debt-to-income ratio below a certain threshold. You may also run into limits on how much you can borrow or what sources of income the lender will count.

These rules do not apply to all mortgages — just to conforming mortgages, which is what the majority of borrowers take out. However, mortgage lenders are increasingly offering what are known as nonconforming loans, or mortgages that do not “comply with every one of the strict standards put in place after the housing crisis,” said The Wall Street Journal. While “still a small portion,” the “share of mortgages using alternative lending practices” has “doubled in size over the past three years.”

What are nonconforming loans?

A nonconforming mortgage is a “type of home loan that doesn’t meet some or all of the guidelines that make them eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,” said Bankrate. These are the government-sponsored entities that “support much of the secondary mortgage market in the U.S.,” meaning they often purchase resold mortgages.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have “federal rules that limit the purchase of loans deemed relatively risk-free,” said Investopedia. Loans that meet these guidelines are conforming loans; loans that do not are nonconforming. To be a conforming loan, a mortgage must fall under a certain loan amount, and the borrower must meet specific criteria when it comes to their credit score, debt-to-income ratio and loan-to-value ratio.

Effectively, any home loan that does not align with these stipulations is considered nonconforming. Examples include jumbo loans, government-backed loans, bridge loans and interest-only loans.

Why do people get them?

There are a wide range of reasons people may opt for a nonconforming mortgage. For one, “you may have no choice but to choose a nonconforming jumbo loan if you want to buy an expensive property,” said Rocket Mortgage. These loans can also provide more flexibility when it comes to the type of property you purchase, your credit score and your down payment amount.

Nonconforming loans additionally “offer an opportunity for home buyers who might not otherwise qualify for traditional loans because they are self-employed or hold their wealth in assets such as real estate,” said the Journal.

What are the drawbacks?

For starters, there are fewer lenders offering them “since they pose a higher risk to the bank or mortgage lender,” said Yahoo Finance. That said, availability can vary depending on the specific type, as “some nonconforming loans (like FHA mortgages) are common, while others (like USDA loans) can be harder to find.”

Nonconforming loans also “generally carry a higher interest rate for the borrower,” said the Journal, given the increased risk to the lender. Still, this can vary by loan type. For instance, “FHA, VA and USDA loans usually have lower interest rates,” while “less common nonconforming loans, such as bridge loans, often have higher interest rates,” said Yahoo Finance. There is also the possibility that a nonconforming loan “could have an unusual repayment schedule or other features that make it harder to repay,” said Bankrate.

Your house may have seemed just right for you when you bought it. But over the years, your situation can change. Perhaps you had a kid or started working from home full-time. Maybe one-and-a-half baths and a smaller kitchen did not feel restrictive when you made the purchase, and now it does.

In this situation, you are faced with two options: renovate your home for your current wants and needs, or move. While staying put may seem like the simpler option, it “isn’t always the easier or cheaper path,” said Realtor.com. Then again, relocating is also an undertaking in and of itself, even if it is just a few streets over.

When does renovating make sense?

The “biggest reason to put the time and effort into renovating or expanding your home is its location,” said U.S. News & World Report. If you are attached to the area where your home is, whether because of your kids’ school, nearby neighbors or favorite shops, it can make sense to commit.

For homeowners with “strong equity and a solid mortgage, remodeling can be a savvy way to level up your living space without resetting your entire financial picture,” said Realtor.com. There are improvements you can make that boost livability and enjoyment now, with some even pushing up resale value later, too.

When is moving a better choice?

It’s “easy to think that a remodel will solve everything you don’t like about your home, but in reality, it’s not a magic bullet,” said Zillow. The truth is, “there are some things that a renovation just can’t fix, like having loud neighbors, an unfavorable school district, more or less square footage or the type of home you’re living in.” In these cases, moving will likely be a better use of your time and money.

While a whole new house may sound like a much bigger-ticket item, in some scenarios, it is still the more financially sound option. “If the desired renovation project exceeds $100,000 to $150,000, it starts to make more financial sense to move, especially when factoring in time, stress and lifestyle disruption,” said real estate agent Mike Toltzis to U.S. News & World Report.

What should you take into account when making the decision?

When weighing whether to renovate or relocate, consider the following factors:

Cost: Cost is a major component of this decision. Even if a renovation looks cheaper on paper, it “isn’t always a value-adding slam dunk, especially if your home is already priced near the top of the market,” said Realtor.com. For moving, look at more than just the sale price — also factor in moving costs, realtor commissions and perhaps a larger mortgage payment if your next house is bigger.

Timeline: Buyers “often underestimate the cost and time involved in remodeling,” said realtor Ashley DeHart to NerdWallet. But a “real estate agent can help weigh these factors against the convenience and potential savings of buying a move-in-ready home.”

Current real estate market: If you’re in a “down market and can’t get the price you want or need out of your home to move to a better property or neighborhood, it might make more sense to renovate,” said U.S. News & World Report. In a competitive market, it can be smarter to “sell your home while prices are high and homes are in strong demand.”

Long-term plans: “Will this home still serve your needs in five or 10 years? Or are you stretching it to fit a life it’s already outgrown?” said Realtor.com. You will also want to ask yourself whether you are renovating “because you love your home — or because you’re avoiding a harder decision.”

You vowed till death do us part at the altar — but does that have to extend to your money, too? Not necessarily.

Increasingly, many married couples are opting to keep their finances separate, at least to some extent. “Between 1996 and 2023, the share of married homeowners with financial assets who held at least one joint account, such as a checking or savings account, dropped from 85% to 77%,” said The Washington Post, citing Census Bureau data. Instead, “couples are opting for individual accounts alongside or instead of shared ones.”

There are definite pros to this approach. But there are also downsides, and couples should consider both before deciding to go financially solo.

Pro: provides greater financial independence and protection

Perhaps one of the biggest reasons couples decide to keep separate accounts is to maintain some sense of independence — and in the case of divorce, to have an easier path out. Having a separate account as an “emergency fund” allows you to “protect yourself if your relationship turns sour,” said U.S. Bank. It also ensures that you avoid a “common scenario where a partner legally drains a joint account without the other’s knowledge.”

Con: detracts from financial alignment and transparency

As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work, and merging finances can encourage that. “Instead of keeping a running tally of who spent what or operating their married lives like they are college roommates,” couples who share accounts “tend to focus on their collective needs, supporting one another without worrying about an immediate or equal payback,” said the Post. Plus, shared ownership ensures that both partners are aware of and have access to the full financial picture.

Pro: minimizes conflicts over spending

“Nobody wants to scold or nag, but it’s hard to hold your tongue when your significant other is a spendthrift — or its opposite, a penny-pincher,” said TIAA. While at least some level of financial alignment is integral to a marriage, separate accounts give both spouses a bit more breathing room when it comes to discretionary purchases.

Con: makes covering bills and expenses more complicated

When there is just one pool of money to tap for costs of living, it is straightforward to simply hit “pay.” But when the funds are divided between different accounts, it takes more figuring out. While certainly possible to navigate, couples with separate accounts will “need a system for splitting monthly bills, whether through regular transfers, payment apps or rotating responsibility,” said SoFi.

Pro: keeps separate debts separate

If you “wind up merging all your finances — credit cards, too — you could be on the hook for your partner’s spending habits,” said Bankrate. This may leave your hard-earned money on the line, not to mention it can impact your credit score, if your spouse falls behind on making debt payments. A separate account will shield you from that liability.

Con: makes money more difficult to access in an emergency

With a joint account, “by having each of you listed as an authorized account holder, you won’t need to jump through any hoops to access your money if the other is unavailable,” said Bankrate. However, when your accounts are all separate, “if one partner becomes incapacitated, the other may struggle to access needed funds,” said SoFi.

If you are living on a tight budget, going on vacation may seem totally out of reach. But you may just need to adjust your sense of scale. Rather than taking a week or more off work and trying to cover lodging, food and everything else for that entire time, consider stepping away for just a few days instead.

Known as a microvacation, such smaller-scale trips can be easier both logistically and financially — and they can still be plenty of fun. “One in five Gen Zers (21%) plan to take shorter trips in 2026 than in past years,” with one of the top reasons — cited by 37% of survey respondents — being the “spontaneity,” said Bank of America’s 2026 Summer Travel Outlook, per Investopedia.

What is a microvacation (or microcation)?

The defining feature of a microvacation, also referred to as a microcation, is its length. A microvacation “usually lasts one to four days,” said Kiplinger, and it “doesn’t require long flights, complicated itineraries or a big chunk of time off work.”

Often, a microvacation does not entail traveling to a far-flung location but rather sticking closer to home, with many opting for somewhere just a short drive away, given the condensed timeframe. But some travelers view the expedited timeline as a way to tick off places on their bucket list that much faster — in essence, they are “questioning the idea of saving all pleasure for one annual holiday, instead using shorter breaks to see more of the world in manageable, repeatable doses,” said the BBC.

Why are people opting for shorter trips instead?

For starters, “compared with weeklong vacations, microvacations can be cheaper, fit into a work schedule more easily and are simpler to plan,” said Investopedia. Beyond that, “some are inspired by the idea of stretching limited paid time off; others look to game loyalty points for quick trips to, say, Barcelona and London; and some are simply drawn to the challenge,” said The New York Times, noting the trend of “microvacationers posting about their itineraries on social media.”

While you may wonder how effectively you can really experience a place in just a handful of days, some microcation proponents argue the opposite. With fewer days, “each day is more impactful — you’re really in the moment, and you have more [money] to spend on what matters,” said microvacationer Sarah Pardi to the BBC.

How can you start planning a microcation?

When planning a microvacation, one of the best places to start is by determining why you want to take one. Consider “what you actually need right now: rest, connection, fun or simply a change of scenery,” said Kiplinger.

With that in mind, you can start preparing — but make sure not to get carried away. Microvacationers should “aim to anchor their trips to a single experience,” ensuring you aren’t trying to “cover too much ground in the limited time you have” and that you “don’t overplan,” said Laurel Greatrix, the chief communications officer for Tripadvisor Group, to the Times. After all, you do not want to spend a large chunk of your short time away in transit from one place to the next.

For many people, taxes come due just once a year. But for others, it is necessary to make payments every quarter alongside the requisite filing due April 15.

Known as quarterly estimated tax payments, these are “taxes paid to the IRS throughout the year on earnings that are not subject to federal tax withholding,” said NerdWallet. Failing to make quarterly estimated tax payments when you owe them can result in a penalty, which is why it is important to know whether this applies to you. Here are the common situations in which quarterly taxes are owed.

People who do not have enough withheld

The general rule of thumb for owing quarterly estimated taxes is if “you’ll owe $1,000 or more in federal income taxes this year, even after accounting for your withholding and refundable credits,” said NerdWallet. You will also need to pay them if “your withholding and refundable credits will cover less than 90% of your tax liability for this year, or 100% of your liability last year, whichever is smaller.” That threshold increases to 110% for those with incomes over a certain amount.

This situation could apply even to those whose employers withhold a portion of their income if not enough is held back to fully cover the tax owed. The amount of money that is withheld largely depends on the information employees provide on their W-4 form.

Those who are self-employed or earn business income

Taxes “typically aren’t withheld from self-employment income, so if you do any freelance, consulting or gig work, you should either pay quarterly income taxes or increase your withholding on other types of income to cover the shortfall,” said U.S. News & World Report.

If you own a small business, you should also anticipate needing to make these payments. “Individuals, including sole proprietors, partners and shareholders of S corporations, must make estimated tax payments on business ownership earnings if the total tax on built-in gains, excess net passive income tax and investment credit recapture tax is $1,000 or more,” said Investopedia.

Investors who realize large capital gains or receive other investment income

Capital gains, which occur when you sell an investment for a profit, can result in owing quarterly tax payments. “Any realized capital gains that can’t be offset by exclusions or capital losses are generally taxable and can be a trigger for making quarterly tax payments,” said Natalie Taylor, a certified financial planner and behavioral financial advisor in Santa Barbara, California, per U.S. News & World Report.

Other types of investment income can similarly trigger estimated taxes. This may include dividend and interest income, and rental income for landlords with rental properties.

Individuals who have made taxable retirement withdrawals

If you’ve been “saving in a tax-deferred retirement account, like a traditional IRA, and you make taxable withdrawals,” you can also end up owing quarterly taxes, said U.S. News & World Report. The same applies “if you earn enough income while on Social Security.”

You can, however, avoid making quarterly estimated tax payments in this case if you request that enough to cover taxes gets withheld from either your retirement account withdrawal or Social Security benefits.

The rate of inflation slowed in April despite concerns about the impact of the Iran war and oil shortages on household bills, but this dip may be only temporary.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) was 2.8% in April, down from 3.3% in March. The lower energy price cap introduced in April “helped soften the sharp rise in fuel costs since the start of the Iran war”, said The Guardian.

But the fall is expected to be “short-lived”, said CNBC, as the “economic implications of the Iran war materialise”.

It comes as the government announced that fuel duty will be frozen for a further four months until January 2027. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has laid out extra measures for low-income households to help mitigate the worst of the cost-of-living crisis.

What is inflation?

Inflation measures the changing price of goods and services. It is based on the CPI, which tracks a basket of goods, such as food, energy bills and transport costs, monitored by the ONS.

To see inflation in action, said MoneyHelper, “think about what you could buy with £1 over the past few decades”. A higher inflation rate means you can buy “less this year than you could last year for the same amount of money”.

At 2.8%, the inflation figure is above the Bank of England’s target of 2%, but is “well below” the 11.1% figure reached in October 2022, said the BBC.

Will inflation ever come down?

The latest drop in the rate of inflation was “more substantial than anticipated”, said The Independent, but the ongoing Middle East conflict “could soon reverse this progress”.

The reduction in the energy price cap in April was a “key driver” in the latest figures, said Financial Reporter, but “rising global energy costs” are likely to feed through into a higher Ofgem price cap from 1 July, which would push inflation higher.

It comes as Iran’s continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz means “more than half” of the normal oil supply is not getting through. Unless “something changes”, said Kiplinger, this means gas, fuel and food prices will “start rising in the future”. This can push up the rate of inflation.

Oil markets have been “heavily disrupted due to the Iran war”, said MoneyWeek. The commodity is used in the manufacturing of “a significant portion” of everyday items such as plastic, crayons, shoes, backpacks, iPhones, pillows and much more.

This “simple answer” to the question of whether inflation will come down, said Big Issue, is “probably never” and “almost certainly not by very much”.

Inflation still means prices are rising. The rate would have to be negative for prices to actually fall – known as deflation. This can “actually be a quite a bad thing”, as it means the economy is stagnant. In the past, this has been used as “political cover for austerity”.

The Bank of England has the power to “lift or lower interest rates”, said the BBC, to change how households and businesses use their money and control inflation.

But many of the “current pressures” on inflation are coming from outside the UK, meaning the cost of living is “widely expected to rise from here”.

When you have questions, AI is an easy place to turn for immediate answers. People are increasingly leveraging the variety of artificial intelligence platforms available for guidance in an area that can often feel complicated and confusing to navigate alone: personal finance.

As of early 2026, “more than 55% of Americans reported using AI to help with financial management decisions,” said CBS News. This can range from asking questions around homebuying to soliciting advice on investing and retirement savings strategies. However, while this practice may be convenient and in many cases useful, it is still essential to remember the cardinal rule of sensitive financial and personal information: Be cautious about what you share and where.

What are the risks of oversharing with AI?

A Stanford study examining the “privacy policies of six major AI companies — Amazon, Anthropic, Google, Meta, Microsoft and OpenAI — found that all six use chat data by default to train their models, and some keep this information indefinitely,” said The Washington Post. Based on this finding, the researchers issued a “cryptic warning,” suggesting that “either by design or negligence, your data could be exploited.”

Not only is the information living in these systems, but a “subset of conversations are sampled and reviewed by OpenAI and Google employees for quality improvement,” said Ramayya Krishnan, a professor of management science and information systems at Carnegie Mellon University, to Money. Additionally, there is always the risk that your AI account may become compromised. If a bad actor gains access and you had shared sensitive information, that “could empty a bank account or lead to identity theft,” said the Post.

What specific financial information should you avoid sharing with AI?

Given the risks, if you are consulting AI for financial guidance, steer clear of divulging the following:

• Your name, address and date of birth
• Social Security numbers
• Bank and investment account numbers
• Usernames and passwords
• Employment information
• Exact numbers, such as for your spending, debts or account balances
• Detailed financial documents, such as tax returns, investment account statements or paychecks

What is safe to share with AI for financial help?

Just because there are certain things you should not share with AI, that does not mean you cannot effectively leverage AI for guidance in your financial life. As a rule, “always treat AI chats as public-facing logs, avoid sharing any personally identifiable or financial details and verify critical advice with human professionals,” said Investopedia.

While you may tend to think the more an AI knows, the better support it can provide, the reality is that an AI chatbot “does not need your account number to tell you how to pay down debt, nor does it need your Social Security estimated earnings statement to recommend when to start collecting your retirement benefit,” said the Post. Instead, you can plug in more general questions that you can apply back to your own situation, or even give the AI ranges for figures like your salary or debt, rather than hard numbers, and still get similarly salient tips.

Lastly, keep in mind that the “bots are far from perfect: AI models often make factual errors, stumble when processing current events and oversimplify financial processes,” said Money. So take the advice with a grain of salt.

Sometimes one is just not enough. That is the conclusion many people are drawing when it comes to their sources of income amid ever-increasing economic uncertainty. In a growing trend known as income stacking particularly popular among Gen Z, people are picking up multiple jobs to ensure they can continue to make ends meet and live comfortably.

What is income stacking?

It’s the practice of “taking on multiple jobs to build financial security” through a “side hustle or freelance work on top of a full-time job, or several part-time roles,” said CNBC. One 35-year-old, for example, is “working two jobs — as an usher at an event space and a receptionist at the student center — while finishing her computer engineering studies at the University of the District of Columbia,” said CNBC.

Why is it becoming more popular?

This practice is not necessarily new, especially for younger people just starting out in their careers. But it is becoming more common, partially due to the rising costs of living. It is also happening because “Gen Z isn’t buying into what they see as a broken social contract, where a linear path up the career ladder is the most reliable route to success and financial stability,” said Fast Company.

Social media is additionally contributing. For the younger generations, “freelance employment has been modeled in the form of influencers, content creators and podcasters online,” said Fast Company.

What are the benefits?

The most obvious benefit is the extra money it provides. This can give savers some wiggle room in their budget to cover basic living costs or fund extras. It can also provide a safety net in the event of job loss, with an alternative income source to fall back on.

Used strategically, extra income can help with building wealth. “Extra income could go toward a brokerage account, retirement savings or paying off the student loans that have been dragging you down financially,” said NerdWallet.

As a bonus, juggling multiple jobs can offer a shortcut to building skills and job experience, which can translate into further opportunities down the road. For example, “thrift store arbitrage is a lesson in customer communication, pricing strategy, logistics, cash-flow management and marketing — talents any savvy business would appreciate in a workforce,” said Utah Business.

How can you decide if the practice is right for you?

The biggest consideration is whether you realistically have the time and energy. You might first “consider taking steps like having a career conversation with your boss or maximizing the money you put into a health savings account,” said Vered Frank, a CFP in New York City, to NerdWallet. The former option could allow you to eventually earn more without putting in more hours, while the latter would let you make better use of the funds you are already bringing in.

If you do pursue income stacking, make sure you understand what your added job will entail and why you want to take it on. “It’s easier to make income stacking work when you have a clear goal and timeframe in mind,” said Samantha Mockford, a CFP with San Francisco-based firm Citrine Capital, to NerdWallet. “You may hate sacrificing sleep when you drive rideshare in the evenings, but it may be tolerable if it means being debt-free before the year ends.”

Summer: the season of sunshine, swimming pools, barbecues and a bracingly high electric bill. As temperatures rise and humidity increases, running the air conditioning can become a necessity for some households — and not a cheap one. This year, that bill could get even higher.

The “average seasonal cost for electricity, covering June through September, is projected to be 8.5% higher this year, rising to $778,” said the National Energy Assistance Directors Association in a recent forecast, per The New York Times. Those increases are likely to be felt disproportionately by southern states, with Texas and Oklahoma “expected to see an 11.5% jump to $924,” said the outlet.

While there is not much consumers can do about the primary drivers of these price hikes — namely, “utility grid updates and demand from new data centers that power artificial intelligence, as well as increased use in the summer because of higher temperatures,” said the Times — there are steps people can take to make their bills at least a little more manageable. Here are three.

1. Stay on top of system maintenance

Keeping your air conditioner running as efficiently as possible can go a long way toward better electric bills. Regularly changing air filters is key here, as any blockages can stress the system, causing it to work harder and use more energy.

In general, “air filters should be replaced every two to three months but may require more frequent attention if your air conditioner is used consistently, in a dusty environment or if you have pets in the home,” said Rob Munin of Johnson Controls, a technology and energy company, to Better Homes & Gardens.

2. Minimize sunlight exposure indoors

Just like a “car parked in the sun on a hot day, your home can heat up if you don’t close your blinds while you’re away,” said Matt Malinowski, the building program director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, to CNBC Make It. Before your house starts cooking, look for some easy ways to minimize direct sunlight.

This can include “using indoor plants to create shade, keeping your curtains closed to block out the sunlight during the day and investing in reflective blinds or UV-reflective film for windows,” said CBS News. You might also consider outdoor additions, like “extending roof eaves or adding a trellis or awning to shade windows,” or “planting trees on the south and west sides of your house,” said Better Homes & Gardens.

3. Consider a thermostat upgrade (or adjustment)

You will pay a little bit for a smart thermostat up-front, but over the long run, having one could end up saving you. That is because “smart thermostats can ‘do the work for you’ by programming to turn on and off based on your schedule,” said Piero Caballero, the senior product manager at Johnson Controls, to CNBC Make It.

Of course, you can always adjust the thermostat yourself, especially when you leave the house. “In states with high summer temperatures, the energy directors association recommends keeping your thermostat at 70 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit when people are home and at 78 when the house is empty,” said the Times. Even a slight temperature change can make a difference, given “every degree of increase between those temperatures saves about 3% on your electric bill.”

Between inflation and gas prices, the cost of living can feel hard to keep up with. Add the rapidly rising costs of homeownership to the equation, and it is no surprise that some people are falling behind.

In the first quarter of 2026, “U.S. foreclosure filings hit a six-year high,” said The Wall Street Journal, citing property-data provider Attom. The “number of U.S. properties with a foreclosure filing rose to almost 119,000,” a “26% jump from the same period a year earlier.” The culprit? “Fast-rising homeownership costs such as property tax and insurance bills.”

If you are finding yourself in a financial bind or worry one is just one unexpected expense away, here is what to know.

What happens in foreclosure?

Foreclosure is the consequence of not making mortgage payments. After a prolonged period of non-payment, a mortgage lender will repossess, or foreclose, on a home to recoup their losses.

This does not just happen overnight, however, and homeowners will have a heads-up. Before anything happens, the lender will let a borrower know there is a risk of foreclosure, usually after the loan enters default, which occurs after “three to six missed mortgage payments,” said Bankrate. This alert “marks the beginning of the preforeclosure process, but the borrower still has time and options to avoid losing their home,” said Rocket Mortgage.

At this juncture, the borrower and lender can work together to find a solution. But if this does not happen, the process of foreclosure can move forward. In that case, “your lender will file a notice of sale” and “your home will be placed up for auction at a specified time and place,” said Bankrate. After your home is sold, “you’ll generally have a few days to gather your belongings and move to a new residence,” or face eviction.

What are the impacts of foreclosure?

Foreclosure carries some heavy consequences. For one, you will lose your home, which served as collateral, backing the mortgage loan you took out and were unable to repay as promised. “Not only will you lose your place to live, but you’ll also lose the money and effort you put into it,” said Bankrate.

Then there is the effect on your credit. “Like bankruptcy, foreclosure has one of the most serious negative impacts on your credit,” and it will remain on your credit report for seven years, said Experian.

Additionally, “depending on your state’s laws, you may owe money if your home sells at the foreclosure auction for less than you owe,” a gap known as a “deficiency,” said Bankrate. If you are unable to pay any deficiency, “you may be sued, face wage garnishment and more.”

How can you avoid foreclosure?

Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to avoid the nightmare that is foreclosure.

Proactively communicate with your lender. “As soon as you think you’ll have trouble making your monthly payment (or shortly after you fall behind), call your mortgage servicer,” said Nolo. They can walk you through your options before it is too late, whether that is working out a repayment plan or modifying your existing loan.

Get help from a housing counselor. A housing counselor can help you determine what your options are and how to access them. “You can contact a local HUD housing counselor or dial the HOPE hotline at (888) 995-HOPE to connect with a housing expert for 24/7 help,” said Bankrate.

Apply for forbearance. If you fell behind due to a passing financial crisis, a forbearance “offers temporary relief — usually via a payment pause or reduction — to help you get your finances in better shape,” said Yahoo Finance.

Consider a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. “If you can’t catch up on your mortgage payments or don’t qualify for any options to prevent foreclosure, you may want to consider signing a deed instead of foreclosure, where you can hand over the property to the lender voluntarily,” said Rocket Mortgage. This won’t allow you to hold onto your home, but you will “avoid some repercussions of foreclosure.”

Older people are becoming increasingly vulnerable to scams, and the latest target appears to be inheritance tax.

From April 2027, pensions are to be used in inheritance calculations, but criminals are attempting to “exploit people’s concerns” by inventing fake scams claiming a person’s retirement savings can be invested abroad instead, said The Guardian.

The impact of scams is “often emotional as well as financial”, said Age UK. In terms of the financial cost, research by VirginMedia 02 found that over-65s falling victim to such fraud lose £831 on average.

Scammers are often “emotionally manipulating” their victims, said StopThinkFraud, before they steal money or personal data. But you can protect yourself or encourage your family members to be careful by “staying vigilant and always taking a moment to stop, think and check” the source of the information.

‘Grandparent’ scams

One of the “most common scams”, said The Mirror, is where criminals pose as a grandchild or close relative. In instances like these, the scammer claims to have a new number and says they are in trouble, all in the “hope of being sent money”.

A major red flag is that scammers often request to be paid “through gift cards or wire transfers” so victims “have no way to ever recover their money”, said the National Council on Aging. This scam is seen as particularly effective “because it exploits people’s emotions”.

Authorised push payment fraud

Victims can “lose their life savings in a matter of seconds” from authorised push payment (APP) fraud, said Age UK.

This involves scammers pretending to be the police, a government department or your bank and “tricking people into transferring money” to an account under their control.

This type of scam is “more attractive” to criminals because they can “quickly take the money and run”, said FICO.

Romance scams

Romance scams involve fraudsters setting up a fake profile to steal money. Scammers lure in their victims with the promise of a genuine relationship, gaining trust before requesting funds.

Victims aged between 75 and 84 lost £9,054 on average in 2024 from romance scams, said Lloyds Bank, 52% more than all other age groups.

Scammers often target older people, said the Daily Express, who are seen as “less tech savvy and more likely to be keen to forge a new relationship”.

Modelling scams

A “new twist on a well-known scam”, said the BBC, is fake modelling agencies aimed at older people who may be searching for opportunities in retirement, or to branch out with a side hustle.

These “phoney modelling agencies” have been taking cash from “desperate” young people for years, and scammers have “found a new target” – older people.

AI scams

National Trading Standards has warned of a “new and advanced” phone scam that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to clone voices, said Which?.

It appears to be targeting older people, using the “ruse of a ‘lifestyle survey’ cold call”. The survey responses given are used to create “AI-generated voice clones” to then start direct debits “without your knowledge”.

How to protect yourself from scams

Scams can often be “sophisticated” and therefore “difficult to spot”, said the Financial Conduct Authority. But there are “warning signs” to look out for.

You can protect yourself by “treating all unexpected calls, emails and text messages with caution”, and check the FCA register online to see if a firm asking about financial products is regulated.

If you think you have been scammed, “act quickly to help limit the damage”, said MoneyHelper. Contact your bank or card provider “immediately” using their official phone number, and stop any further payments “straight away”.

Those who are targeted can also highlight the matter to Report Fraud.

You finally found the right house to make an offer on — only to discover you’re not the only one. If you are competing against one or more prospective buyers for the same house, you have ended up in what is known as a bidding war.

A set-up like this obviously puts the seller at a major advantage, as they have their pick when it comes to offers. As a buyer in the running, putting up more money is likely going to be key, but it is not the only factor that will lead to landing the house.

How does a bidding war work?

Bidding wars are “common when housing supply is low and buyer demand is high — often referred to as a seller’s market,” said Zillow. This scenario, with more buyers than there are houses, leads to multiple buyers making an offer on the same house.

Once they learn they are not the only one in the running, homebuyers will “go back and forth adjusting their offers to make them more appealing to the seller,” said Chase.

This usually means pushing up the purchase price of the home, with offers in a bidding war going above the asking price. But there are also other ways buyers can sweeten the deal, like making an earnest money deposit, limiting contingencies or trying to accommodate the seller’s preferred closing timeline.

How can you improve your odds of winning a bidding war?

Sellers are typically looking for the highest price they can get, particularly when a bidding war over their property emerges. “However, since potential buyers have no idea what other offers may be submitted, they can include escalation clauses,” which effectively “indicate that they are willing to bid higher if needed,” up to a specified ceiling, said U.S. News & World Report. You can also increase the amount of your earnest money deposit to demonstrate your seriousness as a buyer.

The amount you put up is not all that matters — how you are paying can also make a difference. For instance, “bidding with a cash offer may provide an edge over higher bids that require financing,” since cash offers “aren’t contingent on a lender approving a mortgage so they give the seller confidence that the deal will close,” said U.S. News & World Report. If you are not in a position to make a cash offer, it is important to have all of your ducks in a row with financing — namely, mortgage preapproval.

Sellers may additionally be assuaged by having greater certainty a deal will actually go through, which is why limiting or waiving contingencies, such as for a home inspection or appraisal, can boost your odds. Just make sure to think twice before doing this, as it can expose you to more risk.

Lastly, keep in mind how much flexibility can work to your advantage. For example, a “seller might be moving across the country for work and need to close by a specific date,” said SoFi. “So if you can get the appraisal and inspection done swiftly, that could be a huge plus.”

When should you walk away from a bidding war?

Buying a house is already an emotional process, and once the element of competition enters the equation, it can be easy to get carried away. But the reality is that “you don’t want to overextend yourself financially and can continue looking for a home you can afford,” said Rocket Mortgage.

If a home is moving out of your budget, or if you are taking on more risk than you are reasonably willing to stomach, it may be better to move onto the next house. There is bound to be another you will feel excited about.

Sure, you may know that being annoyed costs you mentally and emotionally. It could be costing you financially as well.

The so-called annoyance economy refers to the web of spam calls, customer service chatbots and impossible-to-cancel subscriptions, among other aggravations, that Americans have to navigate in their regular financial lives, whether it’s to rebook a canceled flight or to stop paying for a service they are no longer using. All these small tasks, and the time and headaches they can involve, add up to a real financial cost.

What’s the annoyance economy?

To boil it down, it includes the “everyday interactions that should be simple but often turn into fraught ordeals,” said a report from Neale Mahoney, a Stanford economist, and Chad Maisel, a policy fellow at Groundwork Collaborative, per The New York Times. Common examples of these interactions include customer service calls, spam calls and texts, wait times, junk fees and health insurance paperwork.

Take this relatable scenario: “You call your insurance company about a nixed claim, get routed through a phone tree, wait 40 minutes, explain your problem to a chatbot that can’t help, then start over with a human agent who asks for the same information. By the time you hang up, you’ve burned an hour on what should’ve been a two-minute fix — and you might have to call again,” said Investopedia. Repeated over the course of the year, this constitutes the overall framework of annoyances that is costing Americans big, both in money and time.

How can it impact your bottom line?

Per one estimate, the “accumulated cost” of the annoyance economy “adds up to $165 billion a year in lost time and wasted money for American families,” said the report. Some of its costs are a little less quantifiable, such as “delaying needed medical care because of overwhelming paperwork,” said The New Republic.

The annoyance economy’s impact can be starker for those surviving on tighter budgets. For families “living paycheck to paycheck, the burden of excessive overdraft fees,” for example, can “add up and mean the difference between affording enough to eat or not,” said The New Republic. For others who “fall through the cracks of the complex healthcare system, it can mean tens of thousands of dollars in unexpected medical bills.”

Is it possible to avoid falling victim to it?

While it may be tough to opt out entirely, there are steps you can take to mitigate the impact. For one, pay attention to junk fees. Often, these fees are designed to slip by unnoticed, but you can save by keeping an eye out. When a “charge doesn’t match an advertised price, contest it” by filing a complaint with the FTC, said Investopedia.

Also, know your rights when canceling. “Several states now require businesses to make canceling as easy as signing up,” said Investopedia. So if the process seems tougher than it should be, document and report it.

Finally, be proactive about blocking spam. Cut down on fielding pesky calls and texts by exploring options to block them. You can register your number at DoNotCall.gov, and some carriers also offer tools for filtering calls.

Pressure is growing to give people living together more rights so that they share the same benefits as married couples.

The makeup of UK households has changed over the past decade, with the latest data from the Office for National Statistics showing the number of cohabiting-couple families in 2025 was 3.5 million, up from 3.2 million in 2024. This makes up 17% of households. In contrast, married couples accounted for 65.3% of families in 2025, or 13 million, down from 66% in 2015.

This trajectory is “intensifying pressure”, said Forsters Law, for “long-awaited” reform of laws for unmarried couples who live together.

The government has promised to consult on changes, but for now, many couples appear unaware of the risks from remaining outside of marriage’s legal framework.

What rights do couples have?

Common-law marriage may be recognised in some countries, said solicitors Bell Lamb & Joynson, but it is “a myth in the UK”.

Cohabiting couples do not have many rights around finances, property or children, which can be an issue if a relationship breaks down or a partner passes away.

If an unmarried couple splits up, there are no automatic rights to each other’s property, assets or income, apart from property that is jointly owned and child maintenance.

What happens to property?

Unlike a married couple, a cohabiting partner has no rights to claim a percentage of their partner’s assets or property, regardless of how long they have lived together or if they have children together. Unless it is a joint ownership.

It may be worth owning a property as ”tenants in common” with a deed of trust, said MoneySavingExpert, if it is “more complicated than a simple 50/50 split”.

But you have far fewer rights if the property is solely owned by your partner in the event of a split.

Are there Inheritance rights?

Very few. Unless assets are jointly owned or an individual applies to the courts, they will not inherit anything from a partner, unlike married spouses or those in a civil partnership.

A valid will, outlining beneficiaries, can provide reassurances that money or assets such as property can be passed on.

Those who inherit assets from their partner will benefit, but under current law, married couples enjoy far more protection and allowances. For example, spouses can pass assets to each other tax-free, but for those not married, anything worth above £325,000 in a deceased person’s estate could face an inheritance tax charge.

The lack of rights for unmarried couples might seem “harsh”, said law firm Slater and Gordon, but marriage provides a “certain degree of clarity” and comes with the “benefits and liability of a contract”.

However, “marriage isn’t the only type of legal contract”, and a cohabitation agreement or a declaration of trust can also provide some legal protection.

Can pensions be passed on?

Not in the majority of cases, which makes them a particularly “big risk area” for unmarried couples, said The Times.

Most schemes will automatically pay out to a spouse, but there are “no guarantees” for cohabiting partners. In some cases, payments for long-term partners will be allowed, and is worth investigating to see whether certain documentation needs to be completed in advance, such as an expression of wish form.

Packing for a trip is stressful enough without the added worry of how much it will cost you to bring your suitcase on the plane. But with many airlines raising checked baggage fees amid the ongoing war with Iran, it is becoming a cost that is worth taking into account in your travel budget.

In recent months, “most major airlines have hiked the price to check a bag by about $10” in an effort to “address the added costs” of operation and of jet fuel, both of which have increased since the start of the war, said The New York Times, citing airline executives. That means for most airlines, “you’ll pay at least $90 to check a bag on your next round-trip domestic flight,” said CNBC Select. And if you are traveling with your full family or with more than one suitcase, that bill can quickly increase.

Here are some smart ways to scale back (and not necessarily on what you pack) so you can save your funds for the actual fun of vacation.

1. Understand each airline’s policies

The specifics of baggage fees — when they apply, how much they run and what you can do to waive them — may vary a lot from airline to airline. If you know you will be checking bags, take a look at those fees when you are booking, rather than just considering the cost of the flight itself.

With United, for instance, you will pay $45 for the first checked bag and $55 for the second, said the Times. Meanwhile, for Jet Blue, the cost will vary depending on whether or not you are flying during peak travel times: The first checked bag is “$39 off-peak, $49 peak,” while the second checked bag is “$59 off-peak, $69 peak.”

2. Check your credit card’s perks

If you carry an airline credit card, “chances are you don’t have to worry about baggage fees,” given that “several top airline credit cards offer a free first checked bag for the cardholder — and sometimes for companions traveling on the same itinerary as well,” said NerdWallet.

For example, the Citi/AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard “grants cardholders and up to four companions traveling on the same reservation a first checked bag for free on American Airlines flights,” said CNBC Select. Another option, the Delta SkyMiles Gold American Express Card, allows “you and up to eight people traveling on the same reservation to get your first checked bag free.” Just note that you may have to make your reservation using the card to get this perk.

3. Take advantage of frequent flyer status

If you are in the air often, it can make sense to take advantage of airlines’ frequent flyer programs. Many of these “allow members with elite status to fly with checked bags for free,” and sometimes even multiple bags at no cost, said NerdWallet.

Flying frequently is not the only way to get this status, either. For instance, “if you have elite status with a hotel chain, you might be able to get elite benefits on a partner airline,” plus some credit cards offer automatic status as well, said NerdWallet.

If you need to take out a mortgage to purchase a house, the rate you get makes a major difference in how much you ultimately pay over time. Even just a percentage-point contrast can mean shelling out hundreds more per month on your mortgage payment. Understanding what factors influence your mortgage — and which of those you have some control over — can go a long way toward helping you secure a better rate.

What broader economic and market factors shape mortgage rates?

The “overall level of mortgage rates is set by market forces,” with rates moving “up and down daily, based on the current and expected rates of inflation, unemployment and other economic indicators,” said NerdWallet. In particular, the following has a bearing:

The overall economy. The broader economy, particularly factors like inflation and unemployment, has a sizable influence on mortgage rates. As a general rule of thumb, “mortgage rates tend to fall when the economy is slowing down, inflation is falling and the unemployment rate is rising,” said NerdWallet.

10-year Treasury yields. This yield “helps to show market trends in interest rates,” said Investopedia. “If the bond yield rises, mortgage rates typically rise as well,” and “the inverse is the same.”

Demand for mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Mortgage rates “change based on demand for MBS within the bond market,” which are effectively bundles of mortgages that lenders sell to government-backed entities, said Rocket Mortgage. “If more people are flocking to bonds,” which tends to happen more during periods of economic uncertainty, the yield “doesn’t have to be as high and mortgage rates are lower.”

The Federal Reserve. While the Federal Reserve itself does not set mortgage rates, the “biggest single factor that determines mortgage rates and all other borrowing rates in the U.S. is the Federal Reserve’s decision on the rates it charges banks in order to maintain the stability of the system,” said Investopedia.

What are the borrower-specific factors that influence mortgage rates?

While many of the forces shaping mortgage rates are out of borrowers’ control, there are still quite a few exceptions. That’s because lenders also evaluate the risk of lending to a specific individual when issuing a loan.

To make this determination, lenders look at factors like:

Credit score. A higher credit score almost always translates to a lower rate, as creditworthy borrowers present a lower risk to lenders.

Loan-to-value ratio. Your LTV ratio “compares the amount you’re borrowing with the price of the home,” said Bankrate. The “larger your down payment, the lower your LTV ratio and, generally, the lower your rate.”

Debt-to-income ratio. If you have a low ratio, “meaning the percentage of your income that goes toward monthly debt payments is low, it could result in a lower rate,” said Experian.

Loan term. The shorter your loan term, the “lower your mortgage rate is likely to be,” said Rocket Mortgage.

Property type. You can expect to pay a lower rate for a mortgage for a primary residence as opposed to a vacation or investment property. The idea is that if you “ever get into financial trouble, you’re more likely to prioritize the payment on the home you live in most of the time," said Rocket Mortgage, making a mortgage on a primary residence less of a risk in the eyes of the lender.

There are many ways to put money away, but are you better off sticking with savings or placing funds in your pension?

Putting money into savings or pensions, said Flagstone, “helps grow your wealth for the long term”. And while pensions provide “generous tax breaks”, said MoneySuperMarket, they aren’t as “flexible” as savings accounts. So how do you decide which is “best for your nest egg”?

Pros and cons of pensions

You can get a pension through your workplace or set up your own self-invested personal pension to manage the pot yourself.

Pensions have “valuable tax advantages”, said PensionBee, including tax relief on money you put in as well as employer contributions on workplace schemes, but the money can’t be accessed until you are 55 – and this is rising to 57 in 2028.

Once you hit the minimum age, 25% of your pension savings can be taken tax-free, said MoneyHelper, which you are “free to spend or save in any way you like”.

Up to £60,000 can be put into a pension each year, said GoCompare, and the money is invested in the stock market so there is “no limit to how much your pension investments can grow”, depending on the performance of financial markets.

Additionally, earnings in your pension are tax-free and you only pay tax once you start making withdrawals.

The earlier you start “the more your fund can grow”, said Flagstone, but as with all investing, “you can lose your money”.

Should you stick with savings?

Relying on a pension, said GoCompare, means you won’t have “easy access to money in the short-term”.

In contrast, you could put money into a savings account to set funds aside for “the future, for emergencies or to buy expensive purchases like a new car or a holiday”, said Citizens Advice, plus you will earn interest on your money.

Savers can choose from easy access, regular saver or fixed accounts. Many let you “access your cash whenever you like”, said MoneySavingExpert, but some versions such as notice accounts or fixed rates may have restrictions.

There is also a personal savings allowance of £1,000 for basic rate taxpayers and £500 for those on the higher rate.

Unlike pensions, said MoneySuperMarket, savings accounts have “no age-related restrictions” plus interest can be earned tax-free through a cash ISA, which makes them an “appealing option for many savers”.

Up to £20,000 can currently be placed into a cash ISA and also into a stocks and shares ISA. An ISA can be beneficial, said LV=, for those with “shorter- to medium-term goals”, or “people who value flexibility and access to their savings”.

Many savers have benefited from high interest rates in recent years, said MoneyWeek, but if your savings are outside an ISA and above the savings allowance, your returns can easily be “eroded away further by tax and inflation”.

Benefits of both pensions and savings

Pensions will provide a “much higher return” than cash savings, but you won’t have access to it in the short-term and there is tax on withdrawals, unlike taking money from an ISA. The “real answer” is that you can have both.

The “ideal approach”, said GoCompare, is to “take advantage” of the benefits of both pensions and savings.

You could combine the tax relief and employer contributions that you get with a pension with the “flexibility and accessibility” of savings and tax-free withdrawals from an ISA to build a “balanced financial future”.

Skipping the pump entirely by owning an electric vehicle may sound more enticing than ever as the cost of gas continues to skyrocket. Since the start of the war in Iran, the price per gallon of regular gasoline has pushed $4 in many locations. And with the average passenger car carrying between 12 and 16 gallons of fuel, according to online car-shopping guide Edmunds, costs can add up quickly per fill-up.

An EV, of course, allows you to avoid that cost entirely. But charging an electric vehicle is not necessarily free either, and there are other costs to consider in the overall equation, such as higher sticker price and faster depreciation.

How much can an EV save you on gas?

The answer depends largely on how and where you charge your vehicle. An analysis published by The New York Times in 2025 found that “driving an electric vehicle instead of a gas-powered car would save the average driver $8 every 100 miles” — but that’s “true only if you install a charger at home,” said Kelley Blue Book. If you plan to rely more often on public chargers, you may not see as notable of savings. In fact, some chargers can “cost more per mile than gas,” said Consumer Reports. However, “in every state, home charging is less expensive than gasoline,” said Kelley Blue Book.

Savings can also vary from location to location. That is because gasoline prices “vary depending upon the state, partly due to state taxes and partly because of the cost of transporting the stuff longer distances from where it’s refined,” said Kelley Blue Book. Electricity rates are similarly not fixed — and in many places, they are climbing. As such, in some states, the gap between the cost of electricity and the cost of gas may be wider or narrower, and it may change over time.

What other costs factor in when comparing an electric vs. gas car?

While gas tends to be the car-ownership cost we are confronted with most often, it is certainly not the only cost associated with owning a car. Before trading in for an EV, be sure to additionally weigh:

Sticker price: “Traditional gasoline cars usually have the lowest sticker price compared to their electrified counterparts,” said CNET.

Maintenance and repair costs: “EVs and PHEVs have 80% more problems on average than gas-only cars,” said Consumer Reports, citing its surveys of “hundreds of thousands of vehicle owners.” That said, they do have fewer parts and systems involved to maintain, and some offer “generous warranties on parts like batteries and electric drivetrains.”

Insurance costs: While “insurance costs vary a lot depending on the type of car you own,” on average, EVs are the “most expensive to insure because they have the highest sticker price, and because components such as batteries are more expensive to replace,” said CNET.

Depreciation and resale value: “Historically, EVs have experienced higher and faster depreciation than gas vehicles,” in part because the “EV technology improves so quickly,” said CNET.

Carbon costs: Environmental costs are also worth considering. “Producing an EV typically emits more greenhouse gases than manufacturing a gas car, but EVs are much less carbon intensive to drive,” with average total CO2 emissions of 30 tons for an EV sedan (including manufacturing and travel) versus 70 tons for a gas sedan, said The New York Times.

You hear the terms buyer’s market and seller’s market get tossed around a lot when the real estate market changes, whether due to varying supply and demand or mortgage rate movements. But if you are getting ready to enter the market, either as a buyer preparing to make a purchase or a seller listing their property, what does it actually mean for your homebuying — or selling — experience?

These terms effectively give you a clue as to which party will likely have the upper hand in transactions. If you are a buyer entering a buyer’s market, you can generally expect more options to choose from and greater leverage in negotiations. A seller’s market, by contrast, gives the seller the advantage, meaning they may get a better sales price, will have to offer fewer credits and repairs to seal the deal and even see bidding wars.

What is the difference between a buyer’s vs. seller’s market?

A buyer’s market happens when the “number of homes for sale exceeds the number of active buyers,” said Realtor.com. When this is the balance in the market, it typically “gives buyers more leverage as sellers compete to outshine one another.”

In a seller’s market, the exact opposition is true: there “will be more buyers than homes for sale, so sellers have more control over the transaction,” said Yahoo Finance. As a result, buyers have a “lower chance of getting a home they want for a lower price, negotiating for repairs or receiving closing cost assistance from sellers,” and they may even “have to compete for a property in a bidding war.”

How can you tell if it is a buyer’s or a seller’s market?

One of the biggest tipoffs is home inventory. The “larger the inventory, the more likely it is that your local area is in the midst of a buyer’s market,” said Rocket Mortgage.

Another way to gauge market conditions is by digging into homes that were recently sold. For instance, “if you find that homes generally have been selling above their asking price, it’s a good indication that you’re in a seller’s market,” said Rocket Mortgage. If homes are sitting on the market for a while and there are price cuts, that suggest a buyer’s market.

Lastly, mortgage rates and where they have been headed can be an indicator. “Rising interest rates make it more expensive for buyers to borrow money for a mortgage loan,” which can mean “first-time buyers and those on tighter budgets are often pushed out of the market entirely, reducing overall demand,” said HomeLight, a home buying and selling platform. Lower rates, on the other hand, will have more buyers ready to make moves.

Is it bad to sell in a buyer’s market, and vice versa?

Not necessarily, as long as you understand the implications and adjust your expectations and strategy accordingly. If you want to sell your house in a buyer’s market, “consider your list price carefully, compare the numbers for a good estimate of what the sale proceeds will be and be ready for a possibly slower sale,” said Yahoo Finance.

On the flip side, as a seller in a buyer’s market, it is important to balance making a competitive offer without compromising on your budget or eventual home purchase. In this situation, a knowledgeable real estate agent, a mortgage preapproval, an earnest money deposit and some flexibility around a closing date can go a long way. Patience is also key, since “during a seller’s market, sometimes buyers lose out on homes they’re interested in,” said Rocket Mortgage, and they may have to make multiple offers and commit to a longer search.