Personal finance

Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images After months of back-and-forth negotiations, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreed on another stimulus package that includes direct payments to many Americans for $600. Then President Donald Trump shocked Washington when he called the package a “disgrace” and suggested he wouldn’t approve of the bill unless the checks were

Frederic J. Brown | AFP | Getty Images Mega Millions players can let the daydreaming continue. With no one hitting all six numbers drawn Friday, the jackpot has jumped to an estimated $376 million. And Powerball, with the next drawing set for Saturday night, is at $341 million. Of course, due to taxes, those advertised

hobo_018 | E+ | Getty Images As happens every time the calendar flips to a new year, Medicare cost adjustments are about to take effect. This generally means paying more for some parts of your coverage, effective Jan. 1. For Medicare’s 63 million beneficiaries — most of whom are 65 or older — certain costs

Vladimir Vladimirov | E+ | Getty Images Giving to charity is about to pay off a little more — that is, if the latest Covid relief bill becomes law. The $908 billion pandemic relief bill features $600 stimulus checks, $300 unemployment supplement payments and a second round of forgivable loans for small businesses. It also

AleksandarNakic | E+ | Getty Images The year is almost over. Yet you still have time to make some financial moves and set the stage for a fresh start in 2021. While there are timely tax savings to consider, it’s also a good time to assess your budget and other money matters. “We, as human

For many Americans, the classic carol “I’ll be Home for Christmas” will literally describe their plans this holiday weekend, as most opt to celebrate in place amid the ongoing pandemic. Only about a quarter of people nationwide will travel for Christmas and New Year’s, down from about one-third or so last year, and most of

John Moore | Getty Images News | Getty Images More than 20 million Americans are eagerly anticipating a $300 boost to their weekly unemployment benefits.   The sum would nearly double weekly aid for the average worker and help lift millions out of poverty. But it’s unclear when exactly that cash will hit workers’ bank

There won’t be $2,000 stimulus checks coming for the holidays. House Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats on Thursday to pass a standalone bill to raise direct payments to Americans to $2,000 from $600. The push to amend the $900 billion Covid relief bill came after President Trump demanded lawmakers increase the second round of

Handmade signs litter the ground after an anti-eviction protest outside a Mount Rainier, Maryland, apartment complex on Aug. 10, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters Second stimulus checks are in the works for millions of Americans. Now, Congress and President Donald Trump must agree: Should those payments be $600 or $2,000 per person? The latest coronavirus

Volunteers fill cars with food at a drive through food bank. Aimee Dilger/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Benefits ‘cliff’ is inevitable President Donald Trump called the relief bill a “disgrace” on Tuesday, throwing his signature into question. Trump called for $2,000 stimulus checks for individuals, more than the current $600, a policy House Republicans rejected

Federal stimulus checks are prepared for printing at the Philadelphia Financial Center May 8. Jeff Fusco | Getty Images News | Getty Images Americans likely won’t see $2,000 stimulus checks, and those $600 direct payments may be further delayed. House Republicans on Thursday blocked an attempt by Democrats to pass $2,000 checks, an amount President

Millions of struggling Americans will spend the holidays this year not knowing where their next paycheck will come from. And now, due to President Donald Trump’s last-minute opposition to the stimulus package lawmakers agreed on, they also won’t know if they can count on more unemployment benefits, another stimulus check and not being evicted from

FatCamera | E+ | Getty Images People using flexible spending accounts to put away money for dependent care could get a big break from the latest Covid relief bill: They will likely be able to use money left in those accounts over the next two years. The bill, which Congress passed on Monday, removes the

Angela Weiss | AFP | Getty Images At some point — whether this week or in coming weeks — at least a couple of people are going to suddenly find themselves a whole lot richer. The Mega Millions jackpot has reached an estimated $330 million for Tuesday night’s drawing. Powerball’s top prize isn’t far behind

Karol Serewis/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Financial advisors recommend various uses for this extra cash, depending on individual and family circumstances. Unemployed workers may need the money for basic living expenses. Some who have fallen behind on bills such as rent, utilities or mortgage payments should consider paying down some or all those arrears, advisors

No-Mad | iStock | Getty Images A bipartisan coronavirus aid deal that lawmakers struck on Sunday will extend the national eviction moratorium through January and establish a rental assistance fund of $25 billion. The relief comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s eviction moratorium was set to expire at the end of the

Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images Unemployed workers would get an extra 11 weeks of jobless benefits and a $300 weekly enhancement to aid payments as part of a Covid relief deal Congress reached Sunday. Certain self-employed and gig workers would also get an extra $100 a week, according to a document summarizing the legislation. The

After months of failed negotiations, lawmakers have finally agreed to a new $900 billion coronavirus relief package.  Congressional leaders have not yet released text of the more than $2 trillion legislation — which will include broader government spending measures — but the pandemic recovery bill was set to include direct payments of up to $600

Audrey Saracco / EyeEm Millions of Americans can finally expect to see second stimulus checks in their bank accounts soon. This time, however, those payments will be up to $600 per person for those eligible — half the $1,200 that was sent in the first round of checks in the spring. The new one-time checks

Student loan borrowers won’t get more time to pay their bills in the stimulus deal. Ines Fraile | iStock | Getty Images Americans were already struggling with their student loans before the pandemic hit and drove up unemployment, with more than 1 in 4 borrowers in delinquency or default. Outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. has