This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Biden cancels another $9B in student debt for 125,000 borrowers. In other news: Tips for managing holiday budgets and stress, 4 ways married couples can use tax breaks to build wealth, and how climate change could affect when and where people travel.

Biden Cancels Another $9B in Student Debt for 125,000 Borrowers
So far, the Biden administration has canceled $127 billion in student loan debt.

Finance Nerds Share Tips for Managing Holiday Budgets and Stress
The holidays can be a financially stressful time. Saying yes to budgeting and no to overextending yourself can help.

4 Ways Married Couples Can Use Tax Breaks to Build Wealth
Married couples can use multiple strategies to build wealth when they take advantage of various tax credits and deductions.

How Climate Change Could Affect When and Where People Travel
After a summer of record-breaking temperatures, tourists may opt to travel in cooler months or to cooler places.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on student loan repayments and midyear money review. In other news: What disability lawyers to and how much they cost, women’s soccer games are way cheaper than men’s, and  how can U.S. airport terminals be better.

Smart Money Podcast: Student Loan Repayments and Midyear Money Review
Learn how to conduct a midyear financial check-in with help from hosts Sean Pyles and Liz Weston, who offer practical advice for reassessing your financial situation and getting back on track if you’ve fallen behind.

Disability Lawyers: What They Do and How Much They Cost
A disability lawyer assists you with your SSDI application and appeal process. Their fees are capped by federal law.

Women’s Soccer Games Are Way Cheaper Than Men’s, So Cheer Them On
The National Women’s Soccer League is home to some of the best players on the planet.

Ask a Travel Nerd: How Can U.S. Airport Terminals Be Better?
Airport terminals across the country need improvements, starting with better infrastructure and quiet airport programs.

This week’s money news

This week’s top story: Smart Money podcast on smart ways to get out of debt, and pet insurance planning. In other news: Not enough homes are for sale, so let’s pay owners to sell, how to pay for an expensive summer move, and growing loyalty programs mean more travelers competing for perks.

Smart Money Podcast: Smart Ways to Get Out of Debt, and Pet Insurance Planning
Personal finance Nerd Tommy Tindall joins Sean Pyles and Liz Weston to discuss alternative ways to pay off debt when you can’t get a personal loan.

Not Enough Homes Are for Sale, so Let’s Pay Owners to Sell
Tax credits could encourage people to sell their homes in a meager housing market.

How to Pay for an Expensive Summer Move
A credit card or personal loan can help you pay for a pricey summer move, but pay attention to interest rates and trim costs where you can.

Growing Loyalty Programs Mean More Travelers Competing for Perks
If you thought it’s been harder to get upgrades or lounges have been more crowded lately, you’re not alone.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: Mortgage rates are unlikely to cool in August. Also in the news: 6 ways to support small businesses hit with inflation, has remote work changed the travel landscape, and oat milk and coffee drink are part of a major recall.

Mortgage Rates Unlikely to Cool in August
Mortgage rates will likely rise in August as the Federal Reserve continues to yank interest rates higher.

6 Ways to Support Small Businesses Hit With Inflation
Business owners explain how they’d like to see their community show up for them as prices rise.

Has Remote Work Changed the Travel Landscape?
Widespread access to remote work has changed the travel industry, perhaps for good.

A Bunch of Oat Milks and Coffee Drinks Are Part of a Majo53 nationally distributed products have been recalled due to possible bacteria contamination.
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53 nationally distributed products have been recalled due to possible bacteria contamination.

Friday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: What to look at before investing in a friend’s business venture. Also in the news: How Apple makes airport security less painful for some travelers, why you should stop using coupons, and 17 huge red flags from personal finance ‘influencers.’

Should You Invest in a Friend’s Business?
Examine all angles before investing in a friend’s business venture.

Apple Makes Airport Security Less Painful for Some Travelers
Residents in Arizona can now add their driver’s license to Apple Wallet to show it to TSA in Phoenix. More states will follow.

You Should Stop Using Coupons
The whole reason coupons exist is to get you to spend more money—and it works.

17 Huge Red Flags From Personal Finance ‘Influencers’
There’s good advice out there, as long as you can tell the good financial influencers from the shady ones.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to maximize paying taxes with a credit card for points. Also in the news: How travel is back, 5 reasons to be optimistic about your summer travel plans, and how rising fed interest rates affect home buyers, homeowners.

How to Maximize Paying Taxes with a Credit Card for Points
You can rack up some serious points by paying your taxes with a credit card — just be conscious of fees.

Travel Is Back, in Case You Missed It
The pandemic has changed the way we travel, but the industry is bouncing back.

5 Reasons to Be Optimistic About Your Summer Travel Plans
The gradual travel bounce-back from deep COVID looks poised to accelerate this summer.

How Rising Fed Interest Rates Affect Home Buyers, Homeowners
Interest rates on mortgages and home equity lines of credit may rise following the Federal Reserve’s rate increase.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 6 ways technology is evolving travel in 2022. Also in the news: Headwinds that first-time home buyers faced again in Q4, and how now is a bad time to lease a new auto.

6 Ways Technology Is Evolving Travel in 2022
The pandemic has pushed the travel industry to embrace contactless tech like digital room keys and virtual queues.

First-Time Home Buyer Metro Affordability Report – Q4 2021
Prices stall and active listings fall: There was little relief for first-time home buyers in the fourth quarter.

Whatever You Do, Don’t Lease a Car Right Now
Leasing a car is rarely a great idea financially speaking, but it’s a particularly bad one in 2022.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to choose a seat on a plane. Also in the news: Lock in your access to hotel refunds as travel remains iffy, and why your first credit card will likely not be a travel credit card.

How to Choose a Seat on a Plane
This basic component of air travel has become another way airlines tack on fees.

Lock In Your Access to Hotel Refunds as Travel Remains Iffy
Avoid third-party booking platforms and know the terms of your reservation to prepare for possible cancellation in case of travel interruptions.

Can Your First Credit Card Be a Travel Card?
Likely no, but you can offset travel costs by joining loyalty programs and opening a cash-back card in the meantime.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: 7 secrets to surviving group travel With different budgets. Also in the news: Why Puerto Rico is the ultimate travel destination this year, and 5 ways to avoid travel headaches this year.

7 Secrets to Surviving Group Travel With Different Budgets
Communication and planning are key when setting financial expectations for travel with friends.

One Big Reason Why Puerto Rico Might Be the Ultimate Travel Destination This Year
High vaccination rates and fewer travel restrictions make Puerto Rico a draw.

5 Ways to Avoid Travel Headaches This Year
COVID-19 is still negatively impacting travel, so plan accordingly.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

Today’s top story: How to crush your holiday debt. Also in the news: A new episode of the Smart Money podcast on paying for Covid tests, needing booster shots before you travel, and small business trends that are here to stay.

How to Crush Your Holiday Debt
Here’s what you can do to take control of your holiday debt.

Smart Money Podcast: COVID Tests, and Reversing a Credit Score Drop
This week’s episode starts with a discussion about how to get COVID-19 tests right now.

Will You Need a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster to Travel?
Travel rules remain in flux, so be sure to check your destination’s requirements.

These Small-Business Pandemic Trends Are Here to Stay
Virtual services, social media and online sales will continue to be key to small business success in 2022 and beyond.