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Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Helping after a disaster: will your insurance protect you? Also in the news: How to prevent credit card photo-bombs on your social media, Millennials are falling for young stocks, and how to lift or cancel a credit freeze.

Helping After a Disaster: Will Your Insurance Protect You?
What you need to know.

Prevent Credit Card Photo-Bombs on Your Social Media
Don’t overshare.

Millennials Are Falling for Young Stocks. Will It End in Tears?
Picking trendy stocks?

How to Lift or Cancel a Credit Freeze
Important info post-Equifax breach.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Equifax messed up – who pays? You do. Also in the news: 5 foolproof ways to build wealth without a lottery ticket, 3 ways to score after iPhone 8 and iPhone X release, and your ‘money personality’ is first step to financial freedom.

Equifax Messed Up — Who Pays? You Do

5 Foolproof Ways to Build Wealth — No Lotto Ticket Needed

3 Ways to Score After iPhone 8, iPhone X Release

Your ‘money personality’ is first step to financial health

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How a public adjuster can help with hurricane insurance claims. Also in the news: How to choose a student credit card, how millennials got a 6-figure start on retirement saving, and Equifax is waiving their credit-freeze fees.

How to Choose a Student Credit Card
Finding the right card for you.

How a Public Adjuster Can Help With Hurricane Insurance Claims
You don’t have to go it alone.

How Millennials Got a 6-Figure Start on Retirement Saving
Already ahead of the game.

Equifax Is Waiving Their Credit-Freeze Fees for 30 Days
How kind.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How 3 people conquered credit trouble and bought homes. Also in the news: Top 10 apps for buying the right car at the right time, biting on Whole Foods new prices, and 6 Equifax hack rumors fact-checked.

How 3 People Conquered Credit Trouble and Bought Homes
How to come back from credit trouble.

Top 10 Apps for Buying the Right Car at the Right Price
Get the car you want at the price you want.

Should You Bite On Whole Foods’ New Prices? Maybe Not
Are you really saving?

6 Equifax hack rumors fact-checked
Fact from fiction.

Predict ‘surprise’ bills, no crystal ball needed

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It doesn’t take much to upend many Americans’ finances. A car that won’t start, a furnace that dies or a trip to the hospital can leave households struggling to make ends meet.

According to the Federal Reserve, 44 percent of U.S. adults say they would have trouble coming up with $400 to cover an unexpected expense. Even families who have more in the bank can flounder. Surveys by The Pew Charitable Trusts found that 51 percent of families with at least $2,000 in savings reported trouble paying the bills after a financial shock.

Yet it is hardly a shock if an appliance wears out or a car breaks down.

It’s time to rethink what we mean by unexpected expenses. In my latest for the Associated Press, how to predict surprise bills without a crystal ball.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Lock down your data right now after Equifax breach.Also in the news: Health insurers ease rules for Harvey Victims, protecting critical documents from disaster with a bug-out bag, and the credit move than can bump your score in 30 days.

Lock Down Your Data After Equifax Breach — Right Now
Immediately.

Health Insurers Ease Rules for Harvey Victims
Checking your options.

Protect Critical Documents From Disaster With a ‘Bug-Out Bag’
Be ready to go at a moment’s notice.

The credit move that can bump up your score in 30 days
Pay your bill early.