Personal finance

Ariel Skelley | DigitalVision | Getty Images The idea of “slowing down” in retirement is quickly becoming an antiquated concept. To today’s retirees, retirement is no longer simply defined as the end of work, but the beginning of a whole new chapter of life, with new choices, freedoms and challenges. This new beginning is born

Tenants of the Woodner apartment building in Washington, D.C., protest to demand their rent be forgiven during the Covid-19 pandemic. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP via Getty Images Unemployed workers living in most U.S. cities can’t cover basic living expenses with jobless benefits alone. In fact, Americans living in just 12 out of 109 metro areas could afford

Philadelphian’s rallied at City Hall before taking to the streets to demand Congress return and come to a deal on Unemployment and other key features of the HEROES Act in Philadelphia, PA, on August 20, 2020. NurPhoto | NurPhoto | Getty Images Most states have gotten approval to offer workers at least $300 a week

Almost half of all Americans would consider booking a vacation if they got a second stimulus check, a survey has found. Financial advisors, however, say that’s probably not the best way to spend the money — unless you’ve already crossed all your “t’s” and dotted every “i” when it comes to your finances. To that

zimmytws | iStock | Getty Images President Donald Trump has put a temporary payroll tax holiday in place in his latest bid to help shore up an American economy crippled by the coronavirus pandemic. While that means some workers will take home bigger checks, others worry that such a change could deplete funding for Social

Parents with children in kindergarten through college are bracing themselves for a tumultuous start to the school year. As they look toward the higher education landscape today — and anticipate what it could be like years down the road, some parents may be wondering if saving for college is really worth it.  A  survey by

Public School 159 in the Bayside neighborhood of Queens is one of 1,866 schools in New York City. Shannon Stapleton | Reuters “I hope they figured out something better,” said New York City parent Crystal Berroa, 27, of her expectations for distance learning this fall.   For Berroa, who lives in a homeless shelter with

marekuliasz | iStock | Getty Images Deciding when to claim Social Security retirement benefits is probably one of the most important financial decisions you will make in your lifetime. Yet many people are at risk of failing to pick the right strategy for them. The stakes are high. If you claim too early, you’re signing

The U.S. Department of Education will automatically suspend payments for most student loan borrowers through the end of the year. Mark Chilton | iStock | Getty Images Most student loan borrowers don’t have to start making payments on their debt again until January 2021.  With Republicans and Democrats locked in a stalemate on the details of

JGI/Jamie Grill There may never be a better opportunity than now to teach your kids about money. Many parents are likely spending more time with their children thanks to closed summer camps and virtual schooling brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.  “We don’t always get a chance in our life to pause and be this

franckreporter | E+ | Getty Images College students whose parents have lost their jobs could be facing more pain next year. That’s because their financial aid packages could fall far short of what they need to cover the cost of their education. On Oct. 1, students can start filling out the Free Application for Federal

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at a June 25 campaign event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Mark Makela | Reuters Health insurance for the nation’s older population could undergo some changes if Joe Biden wins the presidential election in November. The Democrat nominee wants to expand both Medicare coverage and eligibility for the program, as well

Jennifer Moon has waited more than two months for unemployment benefits — and the delay presented a scary situation. Absent any income, the 46-year-old, who lives in Cedartown, Georgia, fell behind on bills. Lenders repossessed her car. She lost water at her home, which she rents, before a friend helped pay the bill. Most significantly, Moon,

CasarsaGuru | E+ | Getty Images This fall’s back-to-school shopping list certainly isn’t looking like those of years past. With many schools across the country going virtual, or offering part-time distant learning, parents are rethinking what their kids will need as the school year gets underway. “We’re being forced to really look at how we

Former Vice President Joe Biden, Democratic presidential nominee, speaks during the Democratic National Convention at the Chase Center in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., on Thursday, Aug. 20, 2020. Stefani Reynolds | Bloomberg | Getty Images Joe Biden accepted the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night, which could be the beginning of a series of reforms for

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is overseeing program funding, had approved 13 states to offer the extra unemployment benefits as of around noon ET on Friday.  Those states are: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Utah. Seven others — Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Texas and West

When it comes to a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks, there’s good news and bad news. The good news: Both political parties have said they want to send Americans more direct payments. The bad news: Congress needs to agree on the next coronavirus stimulus package in order for that money to come through. Talks

Unemployed Kentucky residents enter the Kentucky Career Center for help with their unemployment claims on June 19, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. John Sommers II/Getty Images Kentucky and Montana It appears just two states — Kentucky and Montana — are opting to pay $400 instead of $300. As of Thursday, Montana was the only state to implement the

Events and entertainment workers gather in a protest to bring attention to their labor and unemployment on August 19 in Las Vegas, Nevada. BRIDGET BENNETT/AFP via Getty Images) Larry Kudlow, director of the U.S. National Economic Council, speaks during a press briefing at the White House on July 2. Michael Reynolds/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images Up

A President Donald Trump and a former Vice President Joe Biden supporter converse before the Joe Biden Campaign Rally at the National World War I Museum and Memorial on March 7, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. Kyle Rivas | Getty Images When Americans go to the polls this November, preventing Social Security benefit cuts will