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small businesses

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 5 banking facts to fortify your finances. Also in the news: Taking a new look at banking in 2022, 6 predictions for small businesses, and how to stop wasting your gift cards.

5 Banking Facts to Fortify Your Finances in 2022

2022. New year. New you. New look at banking? It would be a smart move.
Save for what makes you feel good in 2022
Expenses that don’t put a roof over your head, but do provide joy, rejuvenation and other hard-to-quantify benefits are worth saving for, too.

How will small businesses survive 2022? 6 predictions on what they’ll need for success.
It’s been a rough couple of years for many small businesses—what does the future hold?

How to Stop Wasting Your Gift Cards
Stop letting them collect dust in your wallet.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How to bounce back from a credit card mistake. Also in the news: Why you should pack a travel guidebook even in 2021, 4 traits that helped small businesses survive the pandemic, and how charitable donations can earn you an added tax deduction this year.

How to Bounce Back From a Credit Card Mistake
Errors happen to even the most seasoned credit card users. They can be costly, but they’re not irreversible.

Why You Should Pack a Travel Guidebook, Even in 2021
The pages of an actual guidebook often offer a level of quality and convenience that the internet can’t.

4 Traits That Have Helped Small Businesses Survive the Pandemic
Expanded delivery and online services, among other features, have been attractive to consumers during the pandemic.

How Charitable Donations Can Earn You an Added Tax Deduction This Year
Hold on to those donation receipts.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How COVID-fueled crowdfunding can revive small businesses. Also in the news: How point and mile values have changed over the pandemic, the one trick to traveling cheaply, and this tool tells you what you owe the IRS before they come looking for it.

How COVID-Fueled Crowdfunding Can Revive Small Businesses
Tips for launching an effective campaign.

How Have Point and Mile Values Changed Over the Pandemic?
For the most part, airline miles are worth more than they were last year, while hotel points are worth less.

There’s Just One Trick to Traveling Cheaply: Flexibility
To fly for the lowest price, you should try searching without a specific destination or date in mind.

This Tool Tells You What You Owe the IRS Before They Come Looking for It
Beating the IRS to the punch.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: 5 ways to help small businesses recover from the pandemic. Also in the news: The pros and cons of paycheck advance apps, an update on the housing market, and 23 states that are ending the extra $300 per week in unemployment benefits.
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5 Ways to Help Small Businesses Recover From the Pandemic
As a consumer, there are steps you can take to support businesses in your community. Here are five tips from small-business owners.

Should You Use a Paycheck Advance App?
Paycheck advance apps with low fees seem like a good idea if you need extra cash. Here’s what to know about them.

The Property Line: Housing Shortage Hangs On; Price Crash Unlikely
The housing shortage is blamed on factors including regulations and lack of workers. No need to fear a crash, but fixes won’t be easy.

These 23 States Are Ending the Extra $300 Per Week in Unemployment Benefits
Eleven more states join the list.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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Today’s top story: How small businesses can help workers save. Also in the news: 8 housing and mortgage trends for 2021, 45% of federal student loan borrowers unsure they can pay, and how to get your collectibles appraised.

How Small Businesses Can Help Workers Save
Small businesses can offer inexpensive ways to help workers save automatically through payroll deduction.

The Property Line: 8 Housing and Mortgage Trends for 2021
Low mortgage rates, strong home sales and evictions are among the trends expected in 2021.

Survey: 45% of Federal Student Loan Borrowers Unsure They Can Pay
Millions face the return of their monthly bill in January as the automatic pause for federal student loans ends.

How to Get Your Collectibles Appraised
Just how much is that signed baseball worth?

How small businesses can help workers save

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Donna Skemp of Bend, Oregon, struggled to save before she signed up for an automatic savings plan offered by her employer’s payroll services company. Now, some of her pay goes into a federally insured, interest-paying savings account that she can access any time with a debit card.

“It’s painless, and it’s so easy,” says Skemp, accounting and office manager for the nonprofit Every Kid Sports, which pays sports registration fees for children from low-income families.

Skemp is lucky — more than one-third of private-sector workers don’t have access to workplace savings plans via payroll deduction. Many small-business owners may think such plans are too expensive or complicated to administer. In my latest for the Associated Press, find out why that isn’t so.