Airlines are struggling with lost and delayed bags: What to know and how to pack if you’re traveling this summer

In this article DAL Tim Boyle | Getty Images News | Getty Images Air travel has been rocky this summer — and baggage problems factor among many other issues for travelers like flight cancellations and delays. Nearly 220,000 bags were “mishandled” by U.S. airlines in April 2022, meaning they were lost, damaged, delayed or stolen,…

75% of middle-class households say their income is falling behind the cost of living

In this article PRI Images By Tang Ming Tung | Stone | Getty Images The reality of inflation and the specter of a recession appear to be weighing heavily on middle-class households. Among those whose income falls in the $30,000-to-$100,000 range, 75% say their earnings are falling behind the cost of living, and 77% think…

Student loan borrowers pursuing federal public service forgiveness are getting a new servicer. What to know

Carol Yepes | Moment | Getty Images Most federal student loan borrowers who’ve been pursuing public service loan forgiveness have faced some confusion and frustration along the way. The program, which allows those who work for the government or specific nonprofits to get their debt canceled after 10 years, has been plagued by problems. Borrowers…

A ‘double whammy’: Consumers are feeling the pain of rising interest rates and ballooning credit card debt, economist says

Mikhail Druzhinin / Eyeem | Eyeem | Getty Images To keep up with rising prices, many Americans are falling back on their credit cards once again. Credit card balances rose year over year, reaching $841 billion in the first three months of 2022, according to the most recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New…

Investors want to ‘minimize uncertainty,’ says behavioral finance expert, but 3 strategies can help them adapt quickly

David Sachs | The Image Bank | Getty Images It’s no secret that the first half of 2022 has ushered in a lot of expensive changes for consumers: The S&P 500 Index fell 20.6% in the largest first half decline since 1970, pulling down investors’ portfolios with it. The Federal Reserve in June approved a…

New online tool lets Puerto Rico residents sign up for child tax credit payments worth up to $3,600 per child

Pollyana Ventura | Istock | Getty Images The expanded child tax credit, and monthly payments that came with it, expired last year. But eligible Puerto Rico residents can still claim the sums of up to $3,600 per child. Now, Code for America, a non-profit tech organization, is making it possible for Puerto Rico residents to…

4 strategies that can help you avoid paying extra every month for Medicare premiums

Morsa Images | DigitalVision | Getty Images For some retirees, there’s an extra cost associated with Medicare premiums that can ambush their household budgets. Most Medicare enrollees pay the standard premium amounts for Part B (outpatient care) and Part D (prescription drugs). Yet an estimated 7% of Medicare’s 64.3 million beneficiaries end up paying extra…

Remote work may be an unlikely ally in Federal Reserve’s inflation fight

Momo Productions | Digitalvision | Getty Images The pandemic-era surge in remote work may be an unlikely ally in the fight to tame stubbornly high inflation. As many employees have enjoyed commute-free workdays, less stress and better work-life balance, their employers have also benefited from remote work by paying lower wages than they otherwise might,…

High inflation leads federal minimum wage to reach lowest value since 1956, report finds

An activist holds a placard demanding a $15 an hour minimum wage and tips for restaurant workers during a rally to call for additional relief for restaurants in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 8, 2022. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images Record high inflation has pushed the value of the federal minimum wage down to…

From tuition hikes to higher student loan borrowing costs, inflation is making college even more expensive

Beyond highlighting the overwhelming burden of student loan debt, the last few years of economic turmoil have also shed light on the sky-high cost of college. “Sometimes students feel the sense of ‘My parents are going to make it work,’” said Jennifer Finetti, director of student advocacy at ScholarshipOwl. “I think a lot of students don’t…

Layoffs and rescinded job offers: Take these 6 steps to adjust your career plans for the possibility of rocky times ahead

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images The job market is still hot, but that won’t last forever. In fact, there have already been some signs of a shift, according to John P. Morgan, president of talent development and transition firm Lee Hecht Harrison. To be sure, the most recent data shows strong job growth in…

Inflation poses a ‘clear and present danger,’ says Manchin: Economists weigh in on how it can hurt and help consumers

A person shops for groceries on March 10, 2022 in the Prospect Lefferts Garden neighborhood of Brooklyn. Michael M. Santiago | Getty Images News | Getty Images Inflation hit a new 40-year high in June, and policymakers are working feverishly to tame it — perhaps even risking recession to do so.   Jerome Powell, chair…