Personal Finance
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33 Ways The Travel Industry is Picking Your Pocket
With so many cost variables to consider, budgeting a vacation can get difficult. And to make matters more challenging, many travel companies — from flight booking sites to boutique hotels — often employ hidden fees and other underhanded techniques to…
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8 Ways to Give to Charity and Get a Tax Break
For many people, buying gifts for friends and family is just the start of holiday giving. The next step is giving to charities or people in need before the end of the tax year. Although tax laws have become much…
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The Best New Ways to Make Money Part-Time, Ranked
The gig economy continues to proliferate, providing countless part-time jobs for those seeking to supplement their income. But is it working? A 2017 Pew Research Center study found that nearly one in ten Americans has generated income using a digital…
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12 Things to Know About the Earned Income Tax Credit
Many low- and moderate-income households will get a significant tax refund this year because of the Earned Income Credit. The credit, which helps working individuals and families, can sometimes be confusing, but knowing the rules — which can change from…
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11 Reasons for Consumers to Beware of Big Banks
Bigger doesn’t always mean better, especially when it comes to choosing where to park your money. Big banks might dazzle customers with cutting-edge apps and ATM locations across the country, but these benefits come at a high (and sometimes hidden)…
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The Pros and Cons of the Top 6 P2P Payment Services
Whether you’re splitting a dinner check or reimbursing a buddy for concert tickets, P2P (peer to peer) lending apps let you easily transfer cash — and possibly save money doing it. More services are competing for your business than ever…
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11 Benefits of Banking with Credit Unions Instead of Banks
Credit unions remain an often overlooked and misunderstood alternative when it comes to consumer banking. Only about 16 percent of Americans use a credit union as their primary financial institution,…
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10 Smart Ways to Make the Most of Your Holiday Bonus
The holidays are especially joyous with an annual bonus from your employer. According to a recent survey by the consultancy Accounting Principals, 63 percent of surveyed companies are doling out…
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15 Things You Should Never Buy Online
There is a lot to love about online shopping: saving time, better selection, quick access to reviews, and easy price comparison. Some items are always best bought via the web.…
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13 Ways Gen-Xers Can Get Better Returns on Their Money
Generation X is creeping closer to retirement, but are the “slackers” ready? Gen-Xers may have a lot of financial ground to make up for several reasons, including a late start…
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21 Ways to Save $10 a Day (or $3,650 a Year!)
Cutting back to save money doesn’t have to be a big, budget-rocking goal. It can be accomplished on a small scale and eventually add up to impressive numbers: Saving just…
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15 Ways to Simplify Your Finances
Money is a big source of stress — in fact, nearly three-fourths of respondents reported money worries in a 2014 survey by the American Psychological Association. If financial stress is…
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25 Companies That Flopped After Going Public
If there’s one thing we can learn from watching the annual parade of initial public offerings (IPOs), it’s that a good opening day is no guarantee of success. After all…
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The 10 Biggest Investment Scammers of All Time
When we last checked in with legendary fraudster Bernie Madoff, the firm hired to distribute $4 billion to victims of his infamous Ponzi scheme has yet to release a dime…
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20 Secrets to Long-Term Health and Wealth
If you didn’t realize there was a connection between a healthy bank account and healthy body, join the club — or read “Age-Proof: Living Longer Without Running out of Money…
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How Trump’s Executive Orders Could Affect Your Wallet
Unilateral executive orders are among the surest ways a president can flex the muscle of the most powerful office in the world, and U.S. leaders starting with George Washington have…
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Don’t Let These 16 Hidden Fees Catch You By Surprise
Even when fees are disclosed, there is something about them that is both irritating and frustrating. Why not show the total price upfront, with the fees clearly identified? When consumers…
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11 Types of People Who Should Buy the Extended Warranty
An extended warranty might seem like a sensible insurance plan for products such as electronics and appliances, but the reality is, they’re usually not worth the money. Still, an extended…
