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Friday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 6 empowering money moves to boost your financial confidence. Also in the news: Credit card fees likely to hit $40 in 2020, when everything will go on sale in 2020, and why saving for retirement is about to get easier.

6 Empowering Money Moves to Boost Your Financial Confidence
A confidence boost for the new year.

Credit Card Late Fees Likely to Hit $40 in 2020
The case for autopay.

Here’s When Everything Will Go on Sale in 2020
Shop strategically.

Saving for Retirement Is About to Get Easier
Introducing the SECURE Act.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to make your money biases work for you. Also in the news: How to get airline perks without elite status, where people with the best – and worst – credit card habits live in the US, and spending down your FISA starts with the right payment card.

How to Make Your Money Biases Work for You
Making our quirks work to our advantage.

How to Get Airline Perks Without Elite Status
You don’t need to be a jet-setter.

This map shows where people with the best – and worst – credit card habits live in the US
Where are you on the list?

Spending down your FSA starts with the right payment card
When to use your FSA debit card.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 9 money resolutions (and tips) for 2020. Also in the news: How and when to ask for a credit card retention offer, the high-interest account you’ve never heard of, and how to avoid a tax audit in 2020.

9 Money Resolutions (and Tips) for 2020 From Our Experts
A chance for a new start.

How and When to Ask for a Credit Card Retention Offer
Making the banks keep you as a customer.

The High-Interest Account You’ve Never Heard Of
Learn about cash management accounts.

How to Avoid a Tax Audit in 2020
Crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: New Year, Fresh Finances: How to rebound after banking troubles. Also in the news: Gift card expiration dates, 5 great reasons to carry a hotel credit card, and why lawmakers may kill this popular retirement tax break for the wealthy.

New Year, Fresh Finances: How to Rebound After Banking Troubles
Giving yourself a fresh start.

When Do Your Gift Cards Expire?
Checking the fine print.

5 Great Reasons to Carry a Hotel Credit Card
Extra perks that make it worthwhile.

Lawmakers may kill this popular retirement tax break for the wealthy
Say goodbye to the “stretch IRA”?

How to make your money biases work for you

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The way our brains work can cost us a lot of money. But some of our mental quirks can be turned to our advantage.

Cognitive biases are the faulty ways of thinking that can persuade us to run up debt, save too little and make stupid investment decisions. The bandwagon effect, for example, entices us to buy the hot stock everyone’s talking about, rather than the mutual fund that makes more sense for our long-term goals. Or we sign up for a too-large mortgage because of optimism bias (“I’ll figure out a way to make the payments, somehow!”).

We can try to be more rational, but sometimes it makes sense to exploit our faulty wiring instead. In my latest for the Associated Press, three money biases that you could put to work for yourself.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: Retirement costs that could surprise you. Also in the news: A new episode of the SmartMoney podcast on keeping your New Year’s money resolution, how procrastinators can win at gift-giving, and another reason to not pay for your gas at the pump.

Retirement Costs That Could Surprise You
Covering all the bases.

SmartMoney podcast: ‘How Can I (Actually) Keep My New Year’s Money Resolution?’
Making it past the first week and beyond.

How Procrastinators Can Win at Gift-Giving
You might need to leave the house.

Another Reason to Not Pay for Gas at the Pump
Hackers have a new way to steal your info at the gas station.