After a strong start to the holiday season, consumer spending is on track to reach record levels this year. But many of those purchases will soon be returned. December’s peak shopping days are closely followed by the busiest month for sending items back, which experts dub “Returnuary.” This year, returns are expected to amount to 17% […]
What it would cost to live like the ‘Home Alone’ family today
Home Alone (1990) 20th Century Fox The classic Christmas movie “Home Alone” tells the improbable tale of a family who leaves their 8-year-old son home when they leave for vacation. Yet in the years since the 1990 film was released, viewers have focused on another question — how wealthy was the fictitious McCallister family featured […]
Here’s what you need to know before investing in bitcoin ETFs
Fernando Gutierrez-Juarez | Picture Alliance | Getty Images It has been a banner year for spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds, with some of the biggest asset managers introducing ETFs that hold the flagship digital currency. But there are things to consider before adding these ETFs to your portfolio, experts say. The U.S. Securities and Exchange […]
How much Mariah Carey makes from ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’
Mariah Carey performs “All I Want for Christmas Is You” at the 2023 Billboard Music Awards. Gilbert Flores | Penske Media | Getty Images “I don’t want a lot for Christmas / There is just one thing I need / An answer to just one question / An estimate of Mariah Carey’s song royalties, please?” […]
What’s next for the Social Security Fairness Act
Richard Stephen | Istock | Getty Images As Congress managed to avoid a government shutdown, the Senate also passed a key bill that will increase Social Security benefits for some public workers. The Social Security Fairness Act, which passed by a vote of 76-20 in the early hours of Saturday, will eliminate Social Security provisions […]
Biden forgives $4.28 billion in student debt for 54,900 PSLF borrowers
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the economy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, U.S. December 10, 2024. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters The Biden administration announced Friday that it would forgive another $4.28 billion in student loan debt for 54,900 borrowers who work in public service. The relief is a result of fixes the […]
Some shoppers prefer retail credit cards over buy now, pay later plans
Filadendron | E+ | Getty Images High interest rates aren’t deterring many shoppers from store credit cards. When asked to choose between a store card or a buy now, pay later plan, 58% of surveyed shoppers prefer store cards, according to a new report by LendingTree. The remaining 42% picked BNPL loans. The site polled […]
How to leverage the higher 401(k) plan contribution limit for 2025
Fcafotodigital | E+ | Getty Images If you’re eager to save more for retirement, it’s not too early to boost 401(k) plan contributions for 2025, financial experts say. For 2025, you can defer up to $23,500 into 401(k) plans, up from $23,000 in 2024. For workers age 50 and older, the 401(k) catch-up contribution remains […]
There’s ‘urgency to act’ to get best returns on cash
Alfexe | Istock | Getty Images With the Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates again this week, it’s a great time to earn competitive returns on cash, experts say. “The best offers on savings accounts, money markets and CDs [certificates of deposit] are still well above inflation, and that’s likely to persist well into […]
The ‘vibecession’ is over as optimism picks up, reports show
Pixdeluxe | E+ | Getty Images As the Federal Reserve prepares to lower interest rates once again at the end of its two-day meeting this week, Americans’ assessments of the future are improving. Although a prolonged period of high inflation took a toll on household budgets, consumers are feeling increasingly optimistic about their financial situation, according to a […]