Mortgage rates drop to lowest level since May 2023
A key measure of home-purchase applications surged last week as mortgage rates dropped to the lowest level in more than a year. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) index of mortgage applications...
View ArticleWhere Can I Get Free Bankruptcy Counselling in Canada?
How to Get Free Bankruptcy Counselling Generally, you have two options to receive free bankruptcy counselling to help you determine if it’s the right path for you. They include: Speaking to a Credit...
View Article4 Steps to Navigate Marriage and Debt
Marriage and debt are like pregnancy and . . . nausea. For most people, you can’t have the exciting part without the latter. In fact, 63% of marriages start out in debt.1 Take Grace’s story, for...
View ArticleA Guide to Student Loans: What You Need to Know Before You Borrow
According to Education Data Initiative’s student loan debt statistics, the total student loan debt amounts to $1.753 trillion. Many Americans have utilized a student loan to finance their college...
View Article7 banks that offer free checking accounts (or easily avoidable fees)
Banks often charge monthly fees just to maintain your checking account. Some charge penalties if your account dips below the required minimum balance, or they may charge fees for using competing...
View ArticleCredit card balances hit a new all-time high
Americans’ credit card balances rose 2.4 percent in the second quarter of 2024 to a record-high $1.14 trillion, according to the New York Fed. That marks a staggering 48 percent increase since the...
View ArticleWhat is dividend yield and how is it calculated?
Our writers and editors used an in-house natural language generation platform to assist with portions of this article, allowing them to focus on adding information that is uniquely helpful. The...
View ArticleHow I’m combating unexpected pet care costs with my VentureOne card
On the surface, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a travel card. Under the surface, it’s a flat-rate card with a surprisingly good rewards structure that’s travel-optional. Four years...
View Article5 things to know about unsecured home improvement loans
Key takeaways Unsecured home improvement loans can be a financing solution when you need quick funding, don’t want to dip into your savings or put your house on the line to get money for renovations....
View ArticleDefined Benefit Plans for the Self-Employed
Unlike other retirement plans, a defined benefit plan for the self-employed promises a specific payout upon retirement, calculated based on factors like salary history and duration of employment. This...
View ArticleJobless claims rise less than expected to 233,000
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose less than expected last week, potentially easing some concerns about the health of the labor market following the disappointing July jobs...
View ArticleBudgeting Tips for Single Moms
Career woman. The kids’ taxi driver. Master of the budget. Grocery shopper, chef, and cleaner-upper. Single moms carry these titles and more day in and day out. Talk about busy schedules filled with...
View ArticleHow one National Debt Relief client paid off $36,000 in 3 years
When Dave applied for National Debt Relief, he was $36,883 in credit card debt and fighting to keep the balance down. With his paychecks swallowed by monthly payments and interest, even everyday...
View ArticleWhat is the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC)? Meet the key policymakers...
Meet the faces behind the U.S. central bank. The Federal Reserve is tasked with maintaining a stable and sound financial system — most notably by raising or lowering interest rates at (what’s...
View ArticleCan you pay your deductible? 59% of Americans are uncomfortable with...
Home and auto insurance can help you bounce back after experiencing a covered financial loss, but that might not be the case if you can’t afford your deductible. Bankrate’s annual emergency savings...
View ArticleWhat is a trust?
A trust is a legal vehicle that allows a third party, a trustee, to hold and direct assets in a trust fund on behalf of a beneficiary. A trust greatly expands your options when it comes to managing...
View Article6 types of bad credit loans and their uses
urbazon/ Getty Images; Illustration by Austin Courregé/Bankrate Key takeaways Bad credit loans often come with high interest rates and may require collateral or a co-signer. Payday loans are...
View ArticleAlternative investments: What they are and popular types for making money
When it comes to investing, most people think of securities like stocks and bonds. These investments, along with cash, are considered traditional investments and make up the bulk of retirement...
View ArticleStates With Tax Breaks for Renters: Do You Qualify?
“Tax breaks for renters are different from homeowners,” said Aaron Cirksena, CEO and Founder of MDRN Capital. “To qualify, renters need to be a resident in the state they are renting in, the property...
View ArticleHow to Claim Spousal Social Security Benefits
If you’re married, divorced, or widowed, you may be wondering how to claim spousal security benefits based on your spouse’s work record. This can be particularly beneficial if your own earnings...
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