This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on using AI to budget and save and debit vs. credit card pros and cons. In other news: What the 2024 Social Security COLA could mean for your retirement, what parents of college students need to know about new FAFSA, and first-time home buyer affordability report.

Smart Money Podcast: Using AI to Budget and Save and Debit vs. Credit Card Pros and Cons
Learn how to use AI for help with budgeting and saving money, then learn whether credit cards or debit cards are safer.

What the 2024 Social Security COLA Could Mean for Your Retirement
Social Security benefit amounts adjust for inflation every year; here’s how to make the most of those changes for 2024.

New FAFSA: What Parents of College Students Need to Know
The new 2024-25 FAFSA will have a greater impact on divorced parents, undocumented parents and those with multiple kids in school.

First-Time Home Buyer Affordability Report — Q3 2023
High mortgage rates sidelined home buyers and sellers alike in the third quarter, making the already lofty financial goal of homeownership potentially unattainable for would-be first-timers.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on seasonal housing market trends and travel credit card tips. In other news: How to survive a strike, act fast to preserve credit when a credit card issuer decides to close an account, and home hospital care is on the rise.

Smart Money Podcast: Seasonal Housing Market Trends, Travel Credit Card Tips
Seasonal housing market trends can have a big impact on homebuying (or selling!), which is why NerdWallet data writer Liz Renter joins today’s episode to discuss the latest patterns.

How to Survive a Strike
The more savings you can set aside in the event of a strike, the better you’ll feel about supporting the cause when the time comes.

Issuer Closing Your Credit Card? Act Fast to Preserve Credit
When a credit card issuer decides to close an account, there may be a narrow window of time to safeguard credit.

Home Hospital Care Is on the Rise — Is It Right for You?
The pandemic gave a boost to the concept of sending patients home for certain types of care. Here’s what to know.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on saving on Disney trips, and self-employed retirement. In other news: How a credit card saved me over $1,100 on a home remodel, 5 times credit card rewards aren’t worth it, and as Fed resumes rate hikes, Chair Powell isn’t ‘optimistic’ yet.

Smart Money Podcast: Saving on Disney Trips, and Self-Employed Retirement
Unlock the magic of making your next Disney vacation more affordable with insider tips from travel Nerd Sally French.

How a Credit Card Saved Me Over $1,100 on a Home Remodel
A ‘triple-threat’ credit card, combined with a high-yield savings account, helped me defray a portion of the project.

5 Times Credit Card Rewards Aren’t Worth It (and 1 Rule Breaker)
Using a rewards credit card for purchases can put money back in your pocket, but not always. Knowing when to pay with cash can result in savings, too.

As Fed Resumes Rate Hikes, Chair Powell Isn’t ‘Optimistic’ — Yet
Still targeting inflation, the Federal Reserve has raised the federal funds rate a quarter of a percentage point to a range of 5.25% to 5.50%.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on social media shopping tips, and investing spare cash. In other news: Student debt canceled for 804k longtime borrowers, stop using paper checks, and Hollywood on strike 2023.

Smart Money Podcast: Social Media Shopping Tips, and Investing Spare Cash
Personal finance Nerd Kimberly Palmer joins hosts Sean Pyles and Liz Weston for a look at how your social media feed may be leading you to spend more money than you should.

Student Debt Canceled for 804K Longtime Borrowers
The Education Department is forgiving $39 billion in student debt — with more relief expected this year.

Stop Using Paper Checks, Already
Check fraud tied to mail theft is on the rise. Take these steps to keep your payments (and bank account) safe.

Hollywood on Strike 2023: What Happens Next?
Roll up the red carpet because Hollywood is officially on strike.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on tipping, and managing high credit card annual fees. In other news: If you should financially support adult kids, how to use ChatGPT to plan your next trip, and if you can’t afford long-term care.

Smart Money Podcast: Nerdy Tips on Tipping, and Managing High Credit Card Annual Fees
Feel less awkward about tipping with our Nerds’ tipping tips. Then learn about credit cards with high annual fees.

Should You Financially Support Adult Kids?
45% of parents with a child 18 or older spend an average of over $1,400 per month supporting their kids financially, excluding adult kids with disabilities.

How to Use ChatGPT to Plan Your Next Trip
Though they have limits, language models like ChatGPT can act as personalized travel guides for your next trip.

What If You Can’t Afford Long-Term Care?
From reverse mortgages to hybrid insurance, here are some avenues available to people who can’t afford the care they need.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on travel tips and budgeting for a non-traditional life. In other news: Getting more EVs will require recycling more old batteries, June Fed meeting and a pause on rate hikes, and 7 ways for couples to earn travel points and miles together.

Smart Money Podcast: Nerdy Travel Tips, and Budgeting for a Non-Traditional Life
Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions.

Getting More EVs Will Require Recycling More Old Batteries
Battery recycling is in its infancy. The EV future depends on it growing up.

June Fed Meeting: Finally, a Pause on Rate Hikes
After 10 consecutive rate hikes, the Fed paused the federal funds rate at its June meeting.

7 Ways for Couples to Earn Travel Points and Miles Together
Two wallets are better than one. Earning with your partner can really boost your points game.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on money scams, and renting credit card tradelines for cash. In other news: AI and hiring decisions,  June 2023 rent report, and CFPB warning that student loan borrowers will struggle with repayment.

Smart Money Podcast: Money Scams, and Renting Credit Card Tradelines for Cash
This week’s episode starts with a discussion about new scams, including Google Voice and AI scams.

AI Could Prevent Hiring Bias — Unless It Makes It Worse
Advocates say AI can eliminate human biases in hiring. Skeptics point out that AI tools are trained by … humans.

June Rent Report: Rent Growth Is Cooling, but Prices Remain High
The May data, released June 6, shows typical rent prices in the U.S. are now $2,048.

Student Loan Borrowers Will Struggle With Repayment, CFPB Warns
One in five borrowers could struggle when student loan payments resume later this summer.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on making hobbies affordable, and saving money priorities. In other news: What a usury law is and how it affect interest rates, May jobs data shows strong growth, even as unemployment rose, and 3 signs it’s time to pause credit card spending.

Smart Money Podcast: Making Hobbies Affordable, and Saving Money Priorities
This week’s episode starts with our tips about how to make hobbies more affordable.

What Is a Usury Law and How Does It Affect My Interest Rates?
A usury law is essentially an interest rate law. For the most part, loan rates are controlled at the state level.

May Jobs Data Shows Strong Growth, Even as Unemployment Rose
The May unemployment rate is 3.7%.

3 Signs It’s Time to Pause Credit Card Spending
Switching your payment method to cash or debit may help you reach financial goals or pay down debt faster.

This week’s money news

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.