Money Smarts

Having a home appraised is a necessary part of the process of buying a home, but the outcome of an appraisal can be equally important to sellers and lenders. After all, the value listed in an appraisal can make a difference in the sale price of a home, the down payment required, or whether the buyer can be approved for financing in the first place.

A nonsufficient funds (NSF) fee is charged when you don’t have enough money in your account to cover a payment. Here are tips on how to avoid these fees.

You can start a business in 10 steps. Get tips on research, marketing, creating a business plan and choosing a structure. Keep reading to learn more.

A hard credit inquiry occurs when you formally apply for financing. A hard credit pull can temporarily lower your credit score.

There are many factors to consider as you look for the best place to spend your retirement. Climate, taxes, and access to local recreational opportunities are just a few.

Freezing or locking your credit can be important to protect yourself from identity theft and unauthorized credit inquiries. When freezing your credit, you prevent lenders and other financial institutions from accessing your credit history without explicit permission.

Wedding insurance can protect you from financial losses related to your wedding ceremony and reception.

Every adult with assets or a family should write a will. Your will specifies who gets your assets, and who will care for your children if you die.

Payday loans can help when you’re in a financial bind. However, they come with steep interest rates and fees, making payday loan alternatives worth considering first.

Looking to move soon? Explore the pros and cons of renting versus buying a home in this guide.

Recent announcements about funding for Social Security and Medicare have raised concerns that both programs may be in financial difficulty. Here is a look at the situation.

A cruise can be a fun and convenient way to visit several locations, but it can also be expensive. Let’s look at some of the best places to book cruises.

Wills and trusts specify who gets what when you die, but only trusts avoid probate. Here's how trusts vs. wills compare to help you choose the best estate planning tool.

The highest credit score possible is 850, but it’s not necessary to reach this score to access the best deals. If you are one of the 23% of Americans with a a score above 800, you’ll still benefit from lower interest rates and easier approval.

State taxes on retirement income, sales taxes, and property taxes can be a factor in the overall cost of living in a particular state. Be sure to understand the state tax situation for retirees in any state you are considering for your home in retirement.

Whether your wedding is for 10 or 100, these money-saving tips can help you save on the big day.

Roadside assistance is a service plan that allows you to call for help if your car breaks down. Here's what you need to know.

Spaving might make you feel like you're scoring a deal, but in reality, you’ll end up spending more. Here’s how it works.

The Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) movement appeals to those who want a life of financial independence. But retiring early is not for everyone.

If you have unused gift cards you don’t want, several companies allow you to sell them for a percentage of their value. Learn more here.

Federal income tax brackets are the percentages of income that are taxed at different filing statuses and income levels.

Early retirement requires diligent planning early on. Find out the steps you'll need to take to retire while you're still young enough to enjoy it.

Understand how to combat the impact of persistent inflation on your savings in an environment of high interest rates and rising costs.

There are more opportunities than ever to make money from home, but you should choose a niche that fits your skills and schedule. These 22 ideas could be the inspiration you need.

Each dollar you earn has a job to do. Maximize those dollars with these strategies for saving, budgeting and earning.

Starting an online store can be simple, but make sure you have a plan for your business before launching it.

Whether you’re building credit from scratch or trying to repair your credit history, you can use loans and credit cards to prove your trustworthiness.

You may be able to improve your credit score in just a few simple steps. Improving your credit score will take effort, but it could be well worth it to get better loan terms, which will save you money down the road.

Learn the simple steps to check your credit score online for free. Get tips on safe and secure methods for accessing your credit information.

Starting a side hustle is easier than ever. From becoming a freelancer to taking online surveys for extra cash, here are the best side hustles for 2024.

Passive income streams can take the form of an investment account or an added income stream attached to your primary job or a side hustle. These income streams can be a valuable addition to your regular income.

It's important to understand what credit monitoring is and how it works, along with the difference between other services, such as credit repair and identity theft monitoring. Here's what you need to know.

Cash App is a mobile app that allows you to send and receive money, in addition to buying stocks and bitcoin. It’s a legitimate financial app that is safe if you use it carefully.

Learn how to score the cheapest airfare by knowing the best time to book flights according to your destination, length of stay and travel season.

Bonuses are variable payments provided by employers to reward and recognize employees for reaching certain objectives, and are generally taxed as income.

Learning how to negotiate a car price can help you save money immediately, but it can also help you pay less overall if you finance.

Traveling doesn’t have to cause you to overspend and blow your budget. These 16 best budget travel tips can help you save more.

A financial planner is a professional who helps their clients with their financial planning and related needs. The Certified Financial Planner (CFP) qualification is the main professional designation for the financial planning profession.

How much you should spend on rent is determined by your income and other expenses. Learn more on how to calculate this important expense.

Looking to sell clothing for cash? These online marketplaces make it easy to earn extra money.

Read to learn more about the difference between fixed and variable expenses and why they are important when budgeting and planning for your future.

Having a baby can be expensive. Here’s what to expect in the first year as a new parent.

A trust is a type of estate planning vehicle that allows a trustee to hold assets on behalf of trust beneficiaries as designated by the grantor of the trust. There are various forms of trust that can be used to accomplish your objectives.

Estate planning lets you decide who gets which of your assets when you die or become incapacitated, who can make legal and financial decisions on your behalf and who will care for your children if you cannot.

TSA PreCheck offers departure benefits at eligible U.S. airports, whereas Global Entry provides expedited reentry after travelers return to the United States.

The average American spends about 11% of their income on groceries. Setting a budget for groceries can help you manage your spending.

There are several ways to pay for home renovations, including credit cards, home equity loans or lines of credit, personal loans, government home improvement loans or cash.

You can cut your tax bill by deducting the mortgage interest paid on the first $750,000 of your principal loan amount for married couples ($375,000 for single homeowners).

With just a smartphone or a computer, you can bring in extra cash through these online money-making endeavors.

A passport is a document issued by your home country that allows you to travel internationally. A visa is a different document that may be required to enter another country.

Beware of Cash App scams - they're on the rise. Protect your money by learning how to spot and avoid common Cash App fraud tactics like phishing, fake support and unauthorized transactions. Stay vigilant to keep your funds safe.

Weddings can be expensive. If you don’t have savings, there are a number of financing options available, some better than others.

There are some great opportunities for teenagers to make money online. Here are some of them.

There are many “surveys for cash” apps available today. We share the best online survey apps to help you earn money for your opinions from your phone.

Wondering how much should you save each month? There’s no set answer, but learn how you can determine the best savings amount for your situation here.

You might have to make estimated tax payments if you don’t have a salaried position or if you’re not withholding enough money from your paychecks in a tax year.

There are nine states in the U.S. that don’t have income tax: Alaska, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.

The average residential solar system costs $25,000, but lower electricity bills can mean you’ll break even in eight to nine years.

Debt can be used strategically to improve your situation, but it’s important to avoid too much debt. Learn how much debt is too much and how to avoid taking on more than you can handle.

Debt snowball is a method for paying off multiple debts, starting with the smallest and moving to the largest. It can be an effective way of streamlining your debt payments and reducing the interest you pay.

A reverse mortgage lets homeowners aged 62 or older tap into their home equity to boost their retirement income, but it's not free money. Here's how a reverse mortgage works.

Are you thinking about starting a home renovation project? Before getting started, make sure you know the cost. We’ve broken things down by project and room.

If you don’t know the difference between APR and APY, you’re in good company. The two abbreviations are similar, but one applies to loans and the other to savings products. Learn the difference here.

Knowing how to save money can reduce your spending and help you reach your financial goals. Learn various ways to save in this article.

Debt consolidation can help streamline your debt and lower your monthly payments and interest rate. However, there are pros and cons to this option.

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are savings accounts used by those with high-deductible health plans to help pay for qualified medical expenses before a deductible is met.

Since the Federal Reserve started its most aggressive rate hiking campaign in decades, the landscape for savers and investors has changed profoundly.

A line of credit (LOC) is similar to a credit card because it’s revolving credit you can access as needed.

Your Social Security benefits may be subject to federal taxes based on your income and filing status. Most states do not tax Social Security benefits.

If you did not receive all the COVID-19 pandemic economic stimulus payments in 2020 or 2021, you may still be able to file for payments through the Recovery Rebate Credit.

The home-buying process can require up to 15 steps from start to finish. We break it down from first finances to closing costs.

If you have a large amount of money, or you’d just like to learn how to manage your money better, it may be time to hire a financial advisor. But first, you’ll need to choose a financial advisor.

Target recently launched its same-day delivery service, Circle 360. Members get a variety of perks for only $99 a year. Here’s what you need to know.

Learn about how compound interest works and why it’s a powerful tool for financial planning and maximizing returns.

The gift tax is a federal tax on property or assets transferred from one person to another where the giver doesn’t receive the full value of the items in return.

When thinking about how to budget money, understand that there are different types of budgets and that certain budgets may work better for you than others do.

You can use a secured credit card or credit-builder loan to establish a credit history, but the most important factor in achieving a good credit score is making credit repayments on time.