Get smart with your money
Behavioral economist Dan Ariely and his colleagues at Duke University’s Center for Advanced Hindsight have a pact. Every week, the group of 50 people picks one small business in Durham, North Carolina, and each person spends $100 there. A one-time $5,000 infusion wouldn’t make a difference to Amazon, Costco or any other large retailer, but […]
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Today’s top story: New lawyers frustrated, depressed by student loan debt. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on lower mortgage rates and moving during a pandemic, how to take a high-interest loan and skip the debt cycle, and why you’ve got more time to pay off federal student loans. New […]
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Dear Liz: My mother received a stimulus payment on behalf of my late father in April. Per an IRS directive on May 6, I returned the money to the IRS. As of Aug. 1, the check I sent has not been cashed. I have made two phone calls to the specific IRS phone number that […]
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Dear Liz: I was employed as a tour guide for seniors but because of COVID-19, all our trips are canceled. I depended on the income because I have no other, besides Social Security, which I started at age 62. I now have credit card debt. I also needed a new car (mine was 24 years […]
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Today’s top story: Can you have too much credit? Also in the news: How to safely move during a pandemic, what personal finance apps should be doing to better serve older people, and how to avoid paying a penalty if you missed the tax filing deadline. Can You Have Too Much Credit? Credit scoring formulas […]
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Today’s top story: Can you have too much credit? Also in the news: 5 things to know about gold’s record breaking run, the Equal Opportunity Act and its effect on women’s finances, and negotiating with your landlord during COVID-19. Can You Have Too Much Credit? Credit scoring formulas don’t punish people for having too many […]
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Today’s top story: Mortgage outlook for August. Also in the news: Why graduate students need to mind their mental health this fall, your best shot at lowering the cost of private student loans, and how to get help with missing coronavirus relief payments. Mortgage Outlook: Recession Presses Down on August Rates Likely record lows for […]
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Today’s top story: Why student loan borrowers shouldn’t wait on Congress for more relief. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on safe travel and handling old debts, how to make sure a contract tracer isn’t a scammer, and what to do if your health insurance drops your monthly prescription. Smart […]
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