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This week’s money news

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This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on more money hot takes, and leaving your job. In other news: How businesses can navigate digital options, forgiveness, forbearance and other student loan changes to know, and what concierge medicine is.

Smart Money Podcast: More Money Hot Takes, and Leaving Your Job
This week’s episode starts with a round of Money Hot Takes.

The Tip Jar Is Dead. How Businesses Can Navigate Digital Options
Setting up tipping screens is a delicate balance. Here’s how businesses are making the most out of the new norm.

Forgiveness, Forbearance and Other Student Loan Changes to Know
Be proactive to get ahead of major federal student loan changes.

What Is Concierge Medicine? (And Should You Consider It?)
Less waiting, more access, longer visits — find out if concierge medicine is right for you.

How to make summer camp more affordable

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To create a fun but affordable summer for her daughters, ages 11 and 13, Flossie McCowald plans out camps well in advance. The Pennsylvania resident snags early bird discounts, takes advantage of a church-based sleepaway camp that offers scholarships and leverages sibling discounts.

“Every little bit helps,” says McCowald, who is the founder of SuperMomHacks.com, where she writes about parenting.

That’s especially true when camp is more expensive than ever. “We’re in an inflationary environment, and camp is no exception,” says Tom Rosenberg, president and CEO of the American Camp Association, which represents camps and industry professionals. He adds that camps are facing price increases across every major cost category, including staffing, insurance and transportation.

In Kimberly Palmer’s latest for the Associated Press, learn how to make summer camp more affordable.

This week’s money news

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This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on the future of college debt, and rent vs. buy (with a dog). In other news: Record levels of debt, how trusts can support loved ones with mental illness, and Fed has ‘moved a long way’ but doesn’t promise rate hike pause.

Smart Money Podcast: The Future of College Debt, and Rent vs. Buy (With a Dog)
This week’s episode starts with a discussion on the future of college debt.

The Worst Inflation of All: Record Levels of Debt
Money News & Moves: Battle adding more debt, and if you’re struggling to pay bills on time, take action in days, not weeks.

How Trusts Can Support Loved Ones With Mental Illness
Setting up a loved one with a mental illness for financial stability often requires an estate planning tool like a trust.

Fed Has ‘Moved a Long Way’ — But Doesn’t Promise Rate Hike Pause
The federal funds rate level is now 5% to 5.25%.

Audit your credit cards for greater savings

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Credit card rewards help our family save money on groceries, gas and other necessities. We also use rewards for airline tickets, hotel rooms and airport lounge access.

We’re in good company. Most Americans have at least one rewards card, and nearly half of rewards cardholders are using their perks to help offset rising inflation, according to a 2022 Wells Fargo survey.

But a recent review of our cards revealed that some are no longer worth their annual fees or have been eclipsed by better offerings.

Credit card fees, reward rates and benefits change all the time. So do the ways we spend our money, which means a card that used to be a good fit may no longer work as well. Given all that, it’s not surprising that fewer than one-third of credit card users feel that they’re making the most of their rewards cards, according to J.D. Power’s 2022 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study.

In my latest for the Associated Press, learn how to audit your credit cards for greater savings.