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Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 3 steps to breaking unhealthy financial habits. Also in the news: Another $400 in free college aid, 4 retirement savings strategies for family caregivers, and what to know about the trend in buying “vacation homes” before a regular “starter home.”

3 Steps to Breaking Unhealthy Financial Habits
How do you know if you have unhealthy financial habits, and what can you do to build better ones?

Another $400 in Free College Aid Could Be Coming Your Way
The 2022 federal budget increases the annual Pell Grant limit, and students could receive more aid as a result.

4 Retirement Savings Strategies for Family Caregivers
Providing care for a family member can put a dent in retirement savings, but there are ways to get your finances on track.

Should You Buy a Vacation Home Before a Starter Home?
Why millennials are buying a “second” before their first.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How buy now, pay later loans could alter credit. Also in the news: An interview with Tori Dunlap, founder of the blog Her First $100K and the “Financial Feminist” podcast, when to refinance student loans, and how to get ready to pay $5 a gallon for gas.

How Buy Now, Pay Later Loans Could Alter Credit
No one should expect that their buy now, pay later purchases will instantly open the door to better credit.

Smart Money Podcast: How I Got Here: Tori Dunlap of Her First $100K
Sean interviews Tori Dunlap about how she got to where she is today and the lessons she learned along the way.

Should You Rush to Refinance Your Student Loans?
Private student loan borrowers, whose payments aren’t suspended and who won’t benefit from any federal cancellation, may be wondering if now is their last chance to refinance at interest rates near historic lows.

Are You Ready to Pay $5 a Gallon for Gas?
Honing your driving skills and paying with a rewards card can help you control gas costs in a time of uncertainty.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to maximize paying taxes with a credit card for points. Also in the news: How travel is back, 5 reasons to be optimistic about your summer travel plans, and how rising fed interest rates affect home buyers, homeowners.

How to Maximize Paying Taxes with a Credit Card for Points
You can rack up some serious points by paying your taxes with a credit card — just be conscious of fees.

Travel Is Back, in Case You Missed It
The pandemic has changed the way we travel, but the industry is bouncing back.

5 Reasons to Be Optimistic About Your Summer Travel Plans
The gradual travel bounce-back from deep COVID looks poised to accelerate this summer.

How Rising Fed Interest Rates Affect Home Buyers, Homeowners
Interest rates on mortgages and home equity lines of credit may rise following the Federal Reserve’s rate increase.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to know if you qualify for free file and use it. Also in the news: 5 things to know about guaranteed universal life insurance, the worst that will happen if you file your taxes late, and if gas is really cheaper at Costco.

Analysis: Taxpayers Waste Billions on Filing Federal Returns
Each year, 70% of taxpayers qualify to file federal returns for free, but few do. The unnecessary spending could top $13 billion.

5 Things to Know About Guaranteed Universal Life Insurance
Here are five things you should know before buying a guaranteed universal life policy.

What’s the Worst That Will Happen If You File Your Taxes Late (or Not at All)?
Taxes are the least-popular aspect of modern civilization, but filing late—or not at all—is a big mistake.

Is Gas Really Cheaper at Costco?
Gas prices likely aren’t dropping any time soon. Could Costco be your saving grace?

How buy now, pay later loans could alter credit

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Expanding access to credit is a worthy goal. Too many people can’t get a mortgage or an emergency loan at a reasonable rate because they can’t show a solid credit history. They may pay more for insurance or make large security deposits to get utilities or rent an apartment.

Recently, the three major credit bureaus announced plans to incorporate “buy now, pay later” plans, a hugely popular type of point-of-sale financing that until now remained mostly outside the traditional credit ecosystem.

But no one should expect that their buy now, pay later purchases will instantly open the door to better credit. If you want reliable access to the largest number of lenders, building credit through traditional means is still the better route.

In my latest for the Associated Press, learn more about buy now, pay later loans and how to build better credit now.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Combating inflation, and saving for retirement amid climate change. Also in the news: 3 ways to lessen the impact of inflation on your small business, 3 ways small-business owners will feel a fed rate increase, and how to get on top of planned expenses with sinking funds.

Smart Money Podcast: Combating Inflation, and Saving for Retirement Amid Climate Change
Things may seem grim, but you can still take steps to set yourself up for long-term financial success.

3 Ways to Lessen the Impact of Inflation on Your Small Business
Lessen the impact of inflation on your business by raising your prices, refining your operations and working with a financial advisor.

3 Ways Small-Business Owners Will Feel a Fed Rate Increase
The Federal Reserve plans to raise interest rates multiple times in 2022.

Get on Top of Planned Expenses With Sinking Funds
Mapping out big purchases in advance gives you time to save by adding regularly to “sinking funds” for each goal.