This week’s money news

This week’s top story: 5 tips for avoiding tax scams in 2024. In other news: How a travel credit card can be your ticket to big savings, what to know when applying life insurance for transgender people, and government shutdown threat finally put to rest for now.

5 Tips for Avoiding Tax Scams in 2024
If someone unexpectedly tries to rush you into a tax decision, they are likely a scammer. Here are five tips for spotting and avoiding tax scams this season.

How a Travel Credit Card Can Be Your Ticket to Big Savings
A travel credit card can provide savings for your next vacation if you can make full use of its valuable features.

Life Insurance for Transgender People: What to Know When Applying
Gender identity won’t impact eligibility, but you may have to share your sex assigned at birth or medical history.

Government Shutdown Threat Finally Put to Rest — For Now
Early on Saturday, shortly after the midnight deadline, Congress approved a spending bill to avoid a shutdown.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 5 questions to ask before canceling your travel credit card. Also in the news: Think it’s bad now? Wait until hurricane and fire seasons start, 8 types of credit card relief you can ask for, and tomorrow is the deadline to receive your Coronavirus payment by direct deposit.

5 Questions to Ask Before Canceling Your Travel Credit Card
You might hurt your credit score.

Think it’s bad now? Wait until hurricane and fire seasons start
Mother nature doesn’t care about your pandemic.

8 types of credit card relief you can ask for
From delayed payments to credit line increases.

Tomorrow Is the Deadline to Receive Your Coronavirus Payment by Direct Deposit
Get your information in.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Why family loyalty shouldn’t apply to your credit cards. Also in the news: What you should do with your travel credit card, what you need to know about roadside assistance, and what the near zero interest rates mean for you.

Why Family Loyalty Shouldn’t Apply to Your Credit Cards
You could be missing out on valuable rewards.

Ask a Points Nerd: What Should I Do With My Travel Credit Card Right Now?
A little retention attention.

Roadside Assistance: Where to Get It, What to Ask
We’ll be back on the roads eventually.

Fed holds rates near zero — here’s what that means for you
Historically low rates continue.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 8 ways to keep your travel credit cards working for you. Also in the news: Baby steps can get your credit life rolling, how one-way flights could be just the ticket when booking with miles, and 6 things to know about student loans before you start school.

8 Ways to Keep Your Travel Credit Card Working for You

Baby Steps Can Get Your Credit Life Rolling

Booking With Miles? One-Way Flights Could Be Just the Ticket

6 Things to Know About Student Loans Before You Start School

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 8 ways to keep your travel credit card working for you. Also in the news: How being neighborly can save you money, why new federal student loans are getting cheaper, and to save more for retirement, add this to your budget.

8 Ways to Keep Your Travel Credit Card Working for You
Making sure your card is pulling its weight.

How Being Neighborly Can Save You Money
Borrowing tools and beyond.

New Federal Student Loans Are Getting Cheaper
Interest rates are dropping.

To Save More for Retirement, Add This to Your Budget
Making savings a line item.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Make a home down payment without wrecking your finances. Also in the news: What could happen to your credit score when you close accounts, how to sidestep the potential pitfalls of travel credit cards, and why most teens don’t believe they’ll be financially independent from their parents by age 30.

Make a Home Down Payment Without Wrecking Your Finances
Don’t leave yourself empty-handed.

Ditching Credit Cards? Here’s What Could Happen to Your Score
Closing your accounts could lower your score.

How to Sidestep the Potential Pitfalls of Travel Credit Cards
Dodging blackout dates.

Teens don’t believe they’ll be financially independent from parents by 30: Survey
Bad news for parents.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: What really happens when you try to win money to pay down student loans. Also in the news: How to sidestep the potential pitfalls of travel credit cards, new Barclays feature gives you more spending control, and how to pay the exact amount of taxes you owe in advance.

What Really Happens When You Try to Win Money to Pay Down Student Loans
Behind the scenes.

How to Sidestep the Potential Pitfalls of Travel Credit Cards
Free travel can be costly.

New Barclays Feature Takes Card Locking One Step Further
More ways to control your spending.

How to Pay the Exact Amount of Taxes You Owe in Advance
Using the IRS Withholding Calculator.