FinanceBuzz

Some European cities will pay you to move there. You read that right. They’re so desperate to deal with falling populations and other problems that they are incentivizing foreigners to come. Here are the cities to consider: 𝟭. 𝗣𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗮, 𝗦𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 Ponga is nestled in the Cantabrian Mountains of Spain, making it the perfect location for retirees who enjoy nature. It’s also only an hour-long drive to the northern coast of Spain along the Atlantic. The town will pay a little under $3,200 per person to move to the area, which means a retired couple can earn nearly $6,400 for the move. You have to commit to living in the area for five years in order to make extra money. You may want to persuade other members of your family, such as adult children, to join you. The town will also pay extra to the parents of babies born in the region. 𝟮. 𝗔𝗹𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻, 𝗦𝘄𝗶𝘁𝘇𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 If you’ve thought about retiring to Switzerland, there may be a good option for you in the Swiss Alps. Albinen will pay families almost $54,000 to move to the area, which could make it a lucrative option. The offer is restricted to Swiss residents or those who have lived in Switzerland for a certain period of time. You’ll also have to commit to living in Albinen for 10 years. 𝟯. 𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘇𝘇𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲, 𝗜𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆 Located in the Italian Alps, Borgomezzavalle is trying to entice new residents to move to the area after seeing a decline in population. You could buy an empty house there for as little as one euro, which is equivalent to $1.08. The town will also give you an additional $2,100 if you start a new business in the area. You may also qualify for up to $10,000 and $1,000 per child conceived in the country. 𝟰. 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗮, 𝗦𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗹𝘆 On the island of Sicily is Sambuca, which is well known for its production of the liqueur of the same name. It also has seen a decline in population in recent years and is trying to increase the number of residents by allowing new buyers to pick up a house for one euro, or $1.08. The catch: most of these residences have fallen into disrepair. You’ll probably need to spend more than $15,000 to renovate a home if you decide to move there. 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 So, are you ready to think about retiring in Europe? First, you’ll have to figure out how much money you’ll need for retirement. You may be surprised at the cost of retiring, especially if you factor in a major move to a place like Europe. You also may discover that you can retire early based on how much you’ve saved already plus the incentives you could earn if you move to certain cities in Europe. How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

Here are 5 ways to build wealth—and stop living paycheck to paycheck—without buying real estate: 𝟭. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗧𝗙𝘀 Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are a smart choice for those looking to build wealth without the commitment or hassle of real estate. These investment vehicles pool money from multiple investors to buy a diversified portfolio of assets like stocks, bonds, or commodities. They offer diversification, liquidity, and typically lower costs than traditional real estate investments. With ETFs, you can spread your risk and benefit from market gains while avoiding the complexities of property ownership. 𝟮. 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸𝘀, 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 Investing in individual stocks, bonds, and commodities provides a direct path to wealth accumulation without the need for real estate. Stocks offer ownership in public companies, allowing you to benefit from their growth and dividends. Bonds, on the other hand, are fixed-income securities that can generate regular interest income. Commodities, like gold or oil, offer diversification and can act as hedges against inflation. These investments are highly liquid, making it easier to buy and sell. 𝟯. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 Launching your own business can be a potent wealth-building strategy. As an entrepreneur, you have the potential to create substantial income and value. While it involves risks and hard work, successful businesses can provide substantial returns, making it a favored method to accumulate wealth. It also offers the freedom to shape your financial future and steer your professional path according to your vision and objectives. 𝟰. 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 Living within or beneath your means is a fundamental principle for wealth accumulation. It's not about deprivation but about smart financial management. By spending less than you earn, you can save and invest the surplus, which can grow significantly over time. This approach reduces debt, prevents financial stress, and enables you to channel your money into various wealth-building avenues. 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 Real estate isn't the only path to wealth. You can improve your financial fitness through various strategies by diversifying your investments and embracing financial discipline. Whether investing in stocks, starting a business, or exploring innovative income streams, building wealth without property is a realistic and achievable goal. How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

Retirement should be safe, fun, and full of life. These 5 U.S. cities check all the boxes: 1. State College, Pennsylvania Population: 40,745 The home of Penn State University boasts a lower violent crime rate than the median among U.S. cities. That's true of each city on this list. You’ll love State College's buzzing atmosphere thanks to the college scene. And you will find yourself right at home if you’re a college sports enthusiast. 2. Glens Falls, New York Population: 14,603 Glens Falls is situated near the scenic Adirondack Mountains. It is a charming city with a rich history and abundant natural beauty. The city offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, fishing, and skiing. With a vibrant arts scene, diverse dining options, and a welcoming community, Glens Falls provides a perfect balance of small-town charm and outdoor adventure. 3. Naperville, Illinois Population: 149,936 This Chicago suburb is a safe and welcoming city that offers a high quality of life and top-ranked schools, beautiful parks, and a buzzing downtown area. Residents enjoy a range of recreational activities and plentiful dining options. 4. Wausau, Wisconsin Population: 39,833 Wausau is nestled along the Wisconsin River in the picturesque heart of the state. It offers a blend of natural beauty and urban amenities. Known for outdoor recreational opportunities and a friendly community, Wausau offers a lovely atmosphere with a range of activities for residents and visitors alike. 5. Cambridge, Massachusetts Population: 118,488 Cambridge is a vibrant city renowned for its prestigious universities, including Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The city offers a rich intellectual and cultural environment, with numerous historic sites, museums, and art venues. It is known for its innovative spirit and lively blend of academic pursuits, technology, and creative industries. Cambridge has a higher cost of living than many other places on this list. But if you have a high level of financial fitness, it is worthy of consideration as a place to retire. Note: Cambridge has less violent crime than the national median, but its rate of property crime is above the median. Consider investing in a home security system to prevent theft. Bottom line Finding a city with a super-low crime rate is a key consideration for retirees seeking a safe and peaceful environment. Retirees seeking historic charm or a great arts scene can pick a place on this list to settle down and enjoy their golden years with peace of mind and a sense of security. Whether you plan to retire early or years from now, the cities on this list are good candidates to call home. How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

These are the best Star Wars movies, according to a first-time viewer: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗱 We put out a job listing for a Star Wars newbie to watch the Skywalker Saga (episodes I-IX) for the first time. We offered our Wookiee Rookie $1,100 for their time (and snacks). 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗲 After reviewing nearly 35,000 applications, we selected Aly Ruffing of Pittsburgh, PA, as our Wookiee Rookie. Aly’s submission was simple: her husband Jeff is obsessed with Star Wars, and this was the perfect opportunity for her to catch up. “My husband is literally the biggest Star Wars fan ever! He has his own lightsaber hanging up on the wall in our house next to all of his Star Wars memorabilia. We recently went on our honeymoon to Disney World, and we wore matching ‘Til Death Star Do Us Part’ shirts,” Aly’s application essay read. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝟭. 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗩𝗜: 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗝𝗲𝗱𝗶 Overall Rating: 10 Favorite Part: THE EWOKS!! Any scene they were in was my favorite! When they thought C-3PO was their leader, I found it to be surprisingly hilarious! 𝟮. 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗜𝗜𝗜: 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝗵 Overall Rating: 9 Favorite Part: The epic battles between Obi Wan and Anakin, as well as Yoda and the Emperor. In your head you know that they all live on with the knowledge from the first trilogy, but you have no idea how it’s going to play out. 𝟯. 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗜𝗫: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗸𝘆𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗿 Overall Rating: 8 Favorite Part: When Babu Frick was resetting C3PO’s memory to be able to translate the Sith language! 𝟰. 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗩: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸 Overall Rating: 7 Favorite Part: When Luke and the other pilots took down the AT-ATs on Hoth. 𝟱. 𝗘𝗽𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗱𝗲 𝗜𝗩: 𝗔 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗛𝗼𝗽𝗲 Overall Rating: 6 Favorite Part: I enjoyed when Han Solo and Luke Skywalker go undercover as Storm Troopers to trick the Empire into thinking they belonged there but were really there to fight back against the Empire. How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

No place is safe from inflation—not even Disney World. FinanceBuzz compared the prices of popular menu items at Walt Disney World to prices from a decade ago to find how much more visitors must pay for beloved snacks: 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 Prices for Disney World food favorites have inflated 61% on average over the last 10 years. Disney World food costs have inflated more than the cost of a single park ticket, which is up 56%. Disney World food prices have outpaced the rate of actual inflation (32%). Most egregious among Disney food inflation is the bread service at Sanaa, a restaurant in the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Since 2014, the price for bread service, which includes 5 breads and 9 dips and sauces, has risen from $9.99 to $22.00—more than doubling in a single decade. The only other iconic Disney World treat to double in price is the corn dog nuggets from Casey’s Corner in Magic Kingdom, which have gone from $4.99 to $10.79 since 2014. Other popular treat prices that have outpaced the rate of inflation: • Mickey Mouse-shaped ice cream bars (63%) • the famous Dole Whip (58%) • churros (54%) • the fish and chips meal at the Rose & Crown Dining Room in EPCOT 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 Mickey waffles are the one beloved snack that has actually seen prices stay below the rate of real-world inflation (30% vs 32%). The price of another core Disney cost, a park ticket, has also stayed relatively reasonable. The cost of the cheapest possible theme park ticket at Walt Disney World has risen by just 21% in the last decade, and it hasn’t changed at all since 2019. The price for the highest-cost Disney ticket (on peak park days) has risen by 91% in the same time period. But peak ticket prices happen only a handful of times throughout the year, when park attendance is at its highest. Prices for every single item have risen by at least $1.50, with most going up by at least $2 since 2014. The price of Sanaa bread service has gone up by $12.00 in ten years, which is more than any other food item we looked at. Corn dog nuggets ($5.80), fish and chips ($4.50), and turkey legs ($4.00) have also gone up in price by $4 or more since 2014. While food costs have skyrocketed, the base price for the most affordable Disney World tickets has remained remarkably stable, going up just $19 from 2014 to 2024. That means that the cost of a ticket to one of Disney World’s four theme parks has gone up just $7 more than Sanaa’s bread service, despite being 10 times more expensive to start with. How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

How much are you overpaying for the convenience of meal delivery kits? FinanceBuzz reviewed six popular meal kit services to determine how much extra customers pay for convenience compared to grocery costs. Here’s what we found: 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴: People who subscribe to a meal delivery service pay at least double the price of grocery store ingredients. 𝗣𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀: Worst value: Purple Carrot, Home Chef, and Blue Apron have the highest ingredient markups. The same items cost anywhere from 55% to 64% less at the grocery store. Best value: While meal delivery services still charge a steep premium, we saw the lowest markups across EveryPlate, Dinnerly, and HelloFresh. 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘁 Cuisine type(s) offered: Vegan and vegetarian Cost per serving (3 meals per week for 2 people): $13.25 Average grocery store cost of meal ingredients: $4.77 Average cost difference: $8.48 (64%) 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗳 Cuisine type(s) offered: Family-style, traditional, vegetarian, oven-ready Cost per serving (3 meals per week for 2 people): $9.99 Average grocery store cost of meal ingredients: $4.41 Average cost difference: $5.58 (56%) 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗻 Cuisine type(s) offered: Family-style, traditional, vegetarian, oven-ready, fully prepared Cost per serving (3 meals per week for 2 people): $10.99 Average grocery store cost of meal ingredients: $4.97 Average cost difference: $6.02 (55%) 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵 Cuisine type(s) offered: Traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian Cost per serving (3 meals per week for 2 people): $9.99 Average grocery store cost of meal ingredients: $4.71 Average cost difference: $5.28 (53%) 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗹𝘆 Cuisine type(s) offered: Traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian, budget-friendly Cost per serving (3 meals per week for 2 people): $7.49 Average grocery store cost of meal ingredients: $3.62 Average cost difference: $3.87 (52%) 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 Cuisine type(s) offered: Traditional, vegetarian, pescatarian, budget-friendly Cost per serving (3 meals per week for 2 people): $6.49 Average grocery store cost of meal ingredients: $3.17 Average cost difference: $3.32 (51%) How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

These 5 tips can help retirees simplify their lives and save money: 1. Smoking and drinking You want to set yourself up for a healthy, long life in retirement, so eliminating unhealthy habits is a good place to start. Smoking puts you at risk for all manner of diseases, as well as high blood pressure. Drinking alcohol can damage your liver and poses other potential health consequences. Both of these habits have a negative impact on your energy level and health. Eliminating them can help you feel better and ready to dive into retirement. 2. Clutter around the home Retirement is a good time to eliminate possessions you don’t need so you can embrace a simpler existence. You might find that life is more relaxing with fewer trinkets and possessions weighing you down. Start by decluttering one room at a time. Go through your closet or the kitchen. Be honest with yourself about what you need, and get rid of the rest. 3. Extra space Getting rid of the clutter might reveal that you need less square footage than you previously thought. If that is true, downsizing can make a significant impact on retirement. Moving into a smaller home or apartment can save you money on a mortgage and rent. It also can lower your utility, insurance, and property tax costs. All of this is a huge plus when you’re on a fixed income. 4. People pleasing Many of us fall into the trap of doing things just to make others happy. But as you try to enjoy your golden years, it might be time to leave those people-pleasing tendencies behind. You no longer have to kowtow to a boss, clients, or anyone else. Once you hit retirement, focus on what you want. 5. Stop aggressive spending and revisit how you invest Perhaps you were used to spending a lot of money during your working years. This is especially likely if you had a big income and could afford to splurge. But unless you have a large amount of savings, you might have to be more careful about spending in retirement. It might also be wise to revisit your investment portfolio’s asset allocation strategy. Make sure you're not taking on too much risk now that you are in retirement. Consulting with a financial advisor can help you chart the right path forward. If all of this leaves you worried, consider picking up a part-time job, developing a side hustle, or finding another way to make extra cash and give yourself more financial breathing room. Bottom line Retirement is when many people focus on what really matters in life. There's no need for the things that don’t matter. Eliminating some items on this list might help lower your financial stress and increase your enjoyment of this phase of life. How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

These 10 jobs saw the worst wage growth relative to inflation from 2013 to 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: While some service industry jobs saw remarkable wage growth, others struggled to keep pace with inflation. Postal workers experienced the lowest wage increase of any profession, with salaries increasing just 18% from 2013 to 2023, significantly below the national inflation rate of 31%, and a lower rate than any other job. Other service sector jobs lagging behind inflation included real estate agents (+24%), accountants and insurance agents (+25% each), plumbers and K-12 teachers (+26% each), and electricians (+27%). 𝟭. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $49,720 2023 salary: $58,660 (+18%) Difference from national inflation: -13% 𝟮. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $67,780 2023 salary: $83,190 (+23%) Difference from national inflation: -8% 𝟯. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 2013 salary: $58,900 2023 salary: $73,010 (+24%) Difference from national inflation: -7% 𝟰. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 2013 salary: $72,500 2023 salary: $90,780 (+25%) Difference from national inflation: -6% 𝟱. 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 2013 salary: $63,610 2023 salary: $79,700 (+25%) Difference from national inflation: -6% 𝟲. 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $53,820 2023 salary: $67,840 (+26%) Difference from national inflation: -5% 𝟳. 𝗞-𝟭𝟮 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $56,802 2023 salary: $71,771 (+26%) Difference from national inflation: -5% 𝟴. 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 2013 salary: $53,560 2023 salary: $67,810 (+27%) Difference from national inflation: -4% 𝟵. 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 2013 salary: $69,030 2023 salary: $88,040 (+28%) Difference from national inflation: -3% 𝟭𝟬. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 2013 salary: $38,250 2023 salary: $49,810 (+30%) Difference from national inflation: -1% How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

Here are the most inflation-proof jobs in America, according ot salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics between 2013 and 2023: The service industry led the pack in wage growth, significantly outpacing inflation in recent years. Seven of the 10 highest pay increases since 2013 were in the service sector. Waiters and bartenders topped the list, with 75% and 70% wage increases, respectively. Servers and bartenders were also two of just three jobs where wages rose at a rate more than double the rate of inflation (31%). The third was farming, which saw a 69% increase in earnings from 2013 to 2023. Low initial salaries significantly influenced these wage growth percentages. Nine of the 10 jobs with the highest salary increases relative to inflation were among the 11 lowest-paying jobs in 2013. 𝟭. 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $20,880 2023 salary: $36,530 (+75%) Difference from national inflation: +44% 𝟮. 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $21,770 2023 salary: $37,090 (+70%) Difference from national inflation: 39% 𝟯. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $22,080 2023 salary: $37,370 (+69%) Difference from national inflation: 38% 𝟰. 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀 2013 salary: $36,000 2023 salary: $57,500 (+60%) Difference from national inflation: 29% 𝟱. 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁-𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $18,980 2023 salary: $30,110 (+59%) Difference from national inflation: 28% 𝟲. 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $22,130 2023 salary: $34,650 (+57%) Difference from national inflation: 26% 𝟳. 𝗖𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 2013 salary: $22,440 2023 salary: $34,360 (+53%) Difference from national inflation: 22% 𝟴. 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $20,420 2023 salary: $30,710 (+50%) Difference from national inflation: 19% 𝟵. 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 2013 salary: $21,490 2023 salary: $32,070 (+49%) Difference from national inflation: 18% 𝟭𝟬. 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 2013 salary: $27,550 2023 salary: $40,440 (+47%) Difference from national inflation: 16% How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eXtwgRM3

Which fast food value meals offer the most savings for customers? Our team at FinanceBuzz looked a list of value menus to determine which ones are the best value compared to buying a la carte. 1. Taco Bell Luxe Cravings Box Value meal cost: $7.00 Included items: Chalupa Supreme®, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Double Stacked Taco, Chips and Nacho Cheese Sauce, and medium drink Combined menu price of individual items: $15.65 Savings: $8.65 (55%) 2. Wendy’s $5 Biggie™ Bag Value meal cost: $5.00 Included items: Choice of Crispy Chicken Sandwich or Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, 4-piece chicken nuggets, junior fries, small drink, and small Frosty® Combined menu price of individual items: $10.75 Savings: $5.75 (53%) 3. McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal Value meal cost: $5.00 Included items: Choice of McChicken® or McDouble®, 4-piece Chicken McNuggets®, small World Famous Fries®, and small drink Combined menu price of individual items: $9.96 Savings: $4.96 (50%) 4. Pizza Hut My Hut Box™ Value meal cost: $6.99 Included items: Choice of 2-topping Personal Pan Pizza® or half order of Melts plus choice of side of fries or 4-piece boneless wings Combined menu price of individual items: $12.29 Savings: $5.30 (43%) 5. Burger King $5 Your Way Meal Value meal cost: $5.00 Included items: Choice of Whopper® Jr., Chicken Jr., or Bacon Cheeseburger, plus 4-piece chicken nuggets, value fries, and value drink Combined menu price of individual items: $8.66 Savings: $3.66 (42%) 6. KFC Taste of KFC 2 Piece Deal Value meal cost: $4.99 Included items: 2 pieces of dark meat chicken (1 drumstick and 1 thigh), side of mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuit Combined menu price of individual items: $8.20 Savings: $3.21 (39%) 7. Starbucks Pairings Menu Value meal cost: $6.00 Included items: Tall iced or hot coffee or tea and breakfast sandwich Combined menu price of individual items: $9.20 Savings: $3.20 (35%) 8. Arby’s Shake Up Your Burger Meal Value meal cost: $9.99 Included items: Deluxe burger, medium fries (curly or crinkle), and a regular shake Combined menu price of individual items: $14.37 Savings: $4.38 (30%) 9. Popeyes Big Box Value meal cost: $6.99 Included items: 2 pieces of chicken, two regular sides, and biscuit Combined menu price of individual items: $8.50 Savings: $1.51 (18%) Several restaurants have also introduced multi-item value menus to win back budget-conscious consumers. Notable examples include: Taco Bell’s Cravings Value Menu — 10 items priced under $3 each Subway’s $3 Footlong Dippers — 3 items priced at $3 each Jack in the Box Jack’s Munchies Under $4 Menu — 12 items priced under $4 each Sonic FUN.99 Menu — 5 food items and 7 classic shake flavors priced at $1.99 each How do you compare? Subscribe to Worthy, our free newsletter and find out how your finances stack up against other Americans. https://lnkd.in/eg_JEhZN