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This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Life insurance living benefits. In other news: What you can do dealing with FAFSA glitches and confusion, what you can do when no-warning credit limit cuts happen, and more student loan changes are on the way.

What Are Life Insurance Living Benefits?
Life insurance living benefits provide extra financial security while you’re still alive, but they come at a cost.

Dealing With FAFSA Glitches and Confusion? Here’s What You Can Do
Technical glitches, new processes and confusing questions are making it tough to complete the redesigned 2024-25 FAFSA, which fully launched on Jan. 8.

Why No-Warning Credit Limit Cuts Happen and What You Can Do
Issuers often cut credit limits to reduce their own risk exposure, but there are things you can do to protect your credit lines.

More Student Loan Changes Are on the Way. Here’s What to Expect
From a redesigned FAFSA to halved monthly payments, a debt cancellation Plan B and more, here’s what’s coming in the college financial aid world.

3 time-sensitive money tasks for new widows and widowers

Widows and widowers are often told not to make any major decisions for a year or more after a spouse’s death. Grief can cause you to make choices you later regret.

Some financial tasks, though, shouldn’t be postponed. Revising your budget, meeting with a tax pro and securing access to credit can help protect you from unpleasant surprises later. In my latest for ABC News, learn 3 time-sensitive money tasks for new widows and widowers.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: White House touts U.S. economy’s strength as election year begins. In other news: 5 signs you should consolidate your credit card debt in 2024, the cost of literally keeping your chin up, and 5 cities where you can book a 5-star hotel for cheap.

White House Touts U.S. Economy’s Strength as Election Year Begins
Jared Bernstein, chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, discusses December’s strong jobs report, wage growth and easing inflation.

5 Signs You Should Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt in 2024
Credit card consolidation combines multiple balances, ideally under a lower interest rate, which can help you get out of debt faster.

Forever Young? The Cost of Literally Keeping Your Chin up
Good skin isn’t always cheap, but there are ways to stretch a self-care budget. Don’t forget the sunscreen.

5 Cities Where You Can Book a 5-Star Hotel for Cheap
Destination cities in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and elsewhere offer surprisingly affordable five-star experiences.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: January mortgage rate forecast. In other news: 4 things that could impact your credit in 2024, the new 2024-25 FAFSA, and how to pay for promising medications like Ozempic.

January Mortgage Rate Forecast: Steady While Waiting for Spring
Mortgage rates might not change much in January, after going through a tumultuous spell toward the end of 2023.

4 Things That Could Impact Your Credit in 2024
Here are four things to look out for that could impact your credit in the new year.

The New 2024-25 FAFSA is Open. Intermittently.
The 2024-25 FAFSA has “soft-launched” after a three-month delay. Submit the simplified form as soon as possible to maximize your financial aid.

How to Pay for Promising Medications Like Ozempic
Ease the cost of prescription medications like Ozempic by understanding your insurance coverage, payment options and budget.

Overspent in December? Here’s how to battle the January blues

The first workday in January after the holidays hits a little bit differently: The parties are over, debt payments are soon due and it can feel like there’s nothing to look forward to.

You may be able to minimize the doldrums with some planning and other steps to turn things around, financial experts say.

“Financial stress can be temporary,” says Tonya Rapley, financial educator and founder of the millennial money and lifestyle blog My Fab Finance. She suggests focusing on small steps such as paying this month’s bills, then reminding yourself that you can recover from December’s overspending. In Kimberly Palmer’s latest for the Seattle Times, learn how to battle the January blues.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Should you use your home or car as collateral for a credit card? In other news: 5 financial new year’s resolutions for 2024, airline that has been the most reliable in 2023, and to cash a check at any bank or check-cashing service.

Should You Use Your Home or Car as Collateral for a Credit Card?
Asset-secured cards backed by collateral rather than cash can give consumers more spending power and lower interest rates, but they won’t be the best fit for everyone.

5 Financial New Year’s Resolutions for 2024
Use 2024 to shore up your financial knowledge, set goals, earn more interest, pay off student debt and more.

Which Airline Has Been the Most Reliable in 2023?
Alaska and Delta are neck-and-neck for most reliable based on the data, with Alaska coming out slightly ahead.

Can I Cash a Check at Any Bank or Check-Cashing Service?
Not every bank and credit union will cash checks if you aren’t a customer, so you’ll need to evaluate your options.

More retailers are charging return fees. Here’s how to pay less

If you’re someone who likes to return and exchange gifts after the holidays, prepare yourself: Making returns could feel a little different this year.

“It’s going to be hard for consumers to navigate,” says shopping expert Trae Bodge. “The return policies are all over the place.” The biggest change, she adds, is that more retailers are charging fees for returned merchandise.

About 40% of online and brick-and-mortar retailers are charging fees for returns this year compared with 31% last year, according to David Morin, vice president of customer strategy at Narvar, which handles shipping, tracking and returns information post-purchase for online retailers. Those return shipping or restocking fees are generally $3.99 to $9.99, he says.

The good news is there are ways to minimize return fees and in some cases avoid them altogether. In Kimberly Palmer’s latest for the Seattle Times, learn how to pay less return fees.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: How to overcome the challenges buying a house in 2024. In other news: How to put a ting on it and save for a house, too, what documents to protect and how if a disaster strikes, and how the Fed affected your savings account in ’23 and what’s next.

Buying a House in 2024: What to Expect
The market remains tough for buyers, but there’s still no time like the present to start shopping.

How to Put a Ring on It and Save for a House, Too
Using practical budgeting strategies, couples can plan a wedding without giving up their homebuying dreams.

Would Your Documents Survive a Disaster? What to Protect and How
Floods, fires, historic storms — make sure you’ve got your important papers in a safe spot.

How the Fed Affected Your Savings Account in ’23 and What’s Next
Savers end 2023 on a high note. But a Fed rate pause may extend to 2024.

Investing for retirement — Why you might want to reconsider that 403(b)

Like many other educators, high school science teacher Robert Curtiss of Dearborn, Michigan, thought he was doing the right thing by investing in his school district’s 403(b) retirement plan. Then federal regulators charged the company handling Curtiss’ investments with fraud.

In July 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission said Equitable Financial Life Insurance Co. had misled investors — mostly public school employees — about what their investments cost. Equitable often issued quarterly statements showing $0 in fees, when in reality the expenses were much higher, according to the SEC. Equitable agreed to pay a $50 million civil penalty to harmed investors.

After hearing about the fine, Curtiss learned that his retirement investments were costing him two to three times what a typical 401(k) investor would pay. Getting his money out would cost even more: the investments, known as variable annuities, had surrender charges of 5% to 6%.

“I felt so frustrated,” Curtiss says. “If I would have known sooner, I would have never put my money there in the first place.” In my latest for ABC News, learn why you might want to reconsider that 403(b).

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on using AI to budget and save and debit vs. credit card pros and cons. In other news: What the 2024 Social Security COLA could mean for your retirement, what parents of college students need to know about new FAFSA, and first-time home buyer affordability report.

Smart Money Podcast: Using AI to Budget and Save and Debit vs. Credit Card Pros and Cons
Learn how to use AI for help with budgeting and saving money, then learn whether credit cards or debit cards are safer.

What the 2024 Social Security COLA Could Mean for Your Retirement
Social Security benefit amounts adjust for inflation every year; here’s how to make the most of those changes for 2024.

New FAFSA: What Parents of College Students Need to Know
The new 2024-25 FAFSA will have a greater impact on divorced parents, undocumented parents and those with multiple kids in school.

First-Time Home Buyer Affordability Report — Q3 2023
High mortgage rates sidelined home buyers and sellers alike in the third quarter, making the already lofty financial goal of homeownership potentially unattainable for would-be first-timers.

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