A nonprofit has filed a lawsuit in New York, hoping to clear the way for volunteers to help people defend themselves against debt collection suits.
Tag Archives: Personal Finances
6 Who Finally Got the Public Service Loan Forgiveness They Earned
Waves of borrowers in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program are seeing their debts go to zero. Here’s how six of them finally got there.
Stock Investing in Retirement for Those Able to Bear the Risk
Stocks and bonds are core investments. Now, Vanguard is suggesting that retirees willing and able to bear the risk may want a stock target of 50 percent.
How I Cut My Family’s Cable and Streaming Bill by $170
After I realized we were paying more than $400 a month, I knew I had to do something. Here’s what I learned.
A Guide to Quitting Your Job
From understanding why you want to leave to tackling health insurance and retirement plans, here’s your guide to a graceful exit — without leaving money on the table.
Financial Planning for People With Chronic Diseases
Financial planning for people with chronic diseases is complicated and multifaceted. Start by building a team of people to help.
Navient Reaches $1.85 Billion Deal Over Predatory Lending Claims
The student loan servicer agreed to cancel $1.7 billion in private student loan debts for nearly 66,000 borrowers and to pay $95 million in restitution.
College Merit Aid (or Lack Thereof) Makes Early Decision Ever Murkier
Northeastern University won’t estimate how much merit aid it might offer if you get in. Can schools make you enroll if they don’t give you enough?
Biden Administration Extends Pause on Student Loan Payments
The Biden administration, under pressure from Democratic lawmakers, announced a three-month extension, citing the ongoing pandemic.
How Four Families Used the Child Tax Credit
The monthly payments of up to $300 per child put food on the table, paid bills and even went toward the occasional splurge.
Early Decision Isn’t Binding. Let Us Explain.
If you can’t afford the price a college quotes you, you don’t have to go. We corrected an N.Y.U. blog post and rewrote the Common App for you.
Holiday Tipping Guide 2021: Who and How Much
Who should be on your list — from babysitters to deliverers to restaurant servers — and the typical size of the gift.
You’re Going to Work a Long Time. Here’s How to Build in Breaks.
Living longer can mean having a longer career, whether by choice or necessity. Stopping and starting isn’t easy, but it might be worth it.
Pandemic-Era ‘Excess Savings’ Are Dwindling for Many
The drop in cash reserves has vast implications for the working class and could dampen consumer spending, a large share of economic activity.
A Holiday Gift Guide to Beat Inflation
Prices are soaring for almost everything, but a few choice gifts are even cheaper than two years ago. Or show your love by going on your family’s annual “lard run.”
Inflation and Retirement: How to Protect Your Savings
With prices rising at their fastest rate in decades, people in retirement or approaching it should take extra care to protect their savings.
Leasing a Car? Here’s Why You Can Get a Good Deal if You Buy.
People who leased their cars before the pandemic can probably buy their vehicles at the end of the lease for much less than the going market price.
Starting a Business With Your 401(k)? Be Careful.
As an aspiring entrepreneur, you may have a good idea, but tread lightly before using retirement savings as capital.
How to Save Money on Your Winter Heating Bills
Start with insulating the attic and turning down the thermostat at night. And there’s always your father’s advice: Wear a sweater.
Dream of Buying a Home Gets Harder for Single Mothers
Lost pay during the pandemic and high costs threaten strides they had made in homeownership, often a key driver of long-term wealth.
The True Cost of Upgrading Your Phone
Buying a $1,000 iPhone can be equivalent to giving up $17,000 in retirement savings or 2,500 cups of coffee.
What’s Changed in 13 Years of Writing About the Wealthy
For one thing, they’ve gotten wealthier. But there are still things the wealthy do that other investors can do, too.
They Want to Hand Your Kid a Debit Card. What Do You Do?
Start-ups large and small are offering child-friendly debit cards that allow parents to set up guardrails. Picking one depends on your priorities.
Robinhood Hits College Campuses, Where Credit Card Companies Fear to Tread
The company plans to hit up college coffee shops to spread the word about its services. When credit card companies did it a generation ago, Congress got involved.
Robinhood Hits Campus, Where Credit Card Companies Fear to Tread
The company plans to hit up college coffee shops to spread the word about its services. When credit card companies did it a generation ago, Congress got involved.
What’s Changing in the New FAFSA and What’s Not
The latest version of the federal form for college aid will be available on Oct. 1 for the 2022-23 academic year. But a planned major overhaul of the form may not take effect for several years.
$10 Billion in Student Debt Erased Under Biden, but Calls Grow for More
Even without the blanket forgiveness that progressives have pushed, the administration has sped up and broadened its relief efforts before borrowers are set to resume payments in January.
Your Finances Took a Hit From the Pandemic. Here’s What You Do Now.
Find someone wiser than you, check your credit report and taxes, and stop catastrophizing. This is how you can do it.
Affirm and Afterpay Soar as Customers Buy Into Paying Later
Installment payment services are everywhere thanks to fresh deals with Amazon and Square. It’s a simple idea that can quickly get complicated for users.
When to Collect Social Security: Why You Should Wait
More details on why experts advise to wait to claim benefits and on benefits for divorced spouses.
How to Enjoy Retirement Without Going Broke
The problem of decumulation is a tricky one, even for Nobel Prize-winning economists.
Financial Advice for Couples: How to Keep Things Equal
Whether you’re newlyweds or not, your marriage can only benefit from a better balance that eases the stress on both of you. But be ready to talk — “we” statements only, please.
Apps Try Putting Financial Literacy at Kids’ Fingertips
They can be valuable resources to help parents teach children about money — but may encourage risky behaviors, some experts say.
Home Depot Co-Founder Donates to Mentorship Program for Teens
A co-founder of Home Depot increased his giving for children in the pandemic because, he said, “they don’t always have the tools to deal with what’s happened to them.”
This Is a Terrible Time for Savers
In an upside-down world of financial markets, expected returns after inflation are at record lows.
New Report Measures ‘Return on Investment’ of Various College Degrees
A new report measures the “return on investment” offered by various higher education programs.
Child Tax Credit Payments Have Begun. Should You Opt Out?
While the payments in advance of tax season are a welcome relief for many families, there may be reasons for others to decline the money, for now.
For Some People, Working From Home Sped Up Their Decision to Retire
Those near the top of the income ladder said it had given them a different perspective on work. As one financial manager put it, “They’re getting a flavor of what retirement will look like.”
Americans Are Retiring Earlier Because of Pandemic
After years in which Americans worked later in life, the latest economic disruption has driven many out of the work force prematurely.
Supreme Court Limits Suit Against TransUnion
In a 5-to-4 decision, the court said only people who had suffered “concrete harm” from being associated with terrorism had the right to sue.
The Young Fall for Scams More Than Seniors Do. Time for a Warning.
Stop it with the ageism and delusions of invincibility. Young adults often don’t recognize the bad checks coming at them, or fake job offers, either.
Banks Slowly Offer Alternatives to Overdraft Fees, a Bane of Struggling Spenders
Aggressive overdraft fees are worth tens of billions of dollars a year to the banking industry. Account holders are finally getting some better options.
Add Boats to the List of What’s Hard to Find (and More Expensive)
Sales and charters of boats of all sizes are up this summer. You can forget about bargaining, brokers say.
The 20-Day Money Challenge: How to Set Up Your Financial Future
We picked 20 truly essential money lessons, paired with simple tasks for you to take on.
Federal PLUS College Loans Can Trap Parents in Debt
The popular parent PLUS loans are made without regard to the ability of borrowers to repay, and have fewer protections when they can’t.
Ron Lieber: Invest in the People You Love
If you’re emerging from the pandemic in better financial shape than before, ask yourself this: What will you spend to renew your bonds, and how will you do it?
Here Are Some Tips for Teenagers on Landing a Summer Job
Openings abound now but may go quickly, so it’s wise to submit applications soon. And don’t wear jeans and a T-shirt to the interview.
How to Buy Happiness (Responsibly)
The great reopening offers ample opportunity to lift your spirits if you have some money to spare. Here’s how to do it right.
529 Plans for College: Shop Around and Save Fees
There was big growth in account balances during the pandemic, but some states are offering promotions to attract even more savers.
How the Pandemic Has Changed Attitudes Toward Wealth
Americans found that money cannot buy everything, and they used their wealth to build relationships and help others, according to two recent surveys.