How effective were those stimulus checks? Some argue the money may have fueled inflation

People rally during a demonstration in support of Covid-19 relief, organized by Shutdown DC, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 25, 2021. Al Drago | Getty Images When the U.S. began to shut down the wake of the onset of Covid-19, it meant millions of families were suddenly without the income they…

Here’s what people expect to spend more on as inflation continues to surge

Fuel prices at a Shell station in Menlo Park, California, US, on Thursday, June 9, 2022. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Americans are still grappling with the worst inflation in roughly 40 years, and many are changing their spending habits to keep up. In May, prices were 8.6% higher than they were…

Do you want to know how inflation impacts your savings? The ‘rule of 72’ may help

Catherine Mcqueen | Moment | Getty Images Inflation is eroding the value of consumers’ savings at the fastest pace in four decades. The Consumer Price Index, which gauges how quickly costs are rising for a basket of goods and services, jumped 8.6% in May from a year earlier, the U.S. Department of Labor said Friday….

More companies are offering an after-tax 401(k) option to big savers. Here’s how to use it

Prathanchorruangsak | Istock | Getty Images Maxing out your 401(k) isn’t easy, but if you reach the limit with money to spare, there may be a way to save more.  In 2022, employees can defer $20,500 plus $6,500 for investors 50 and older. However, after-tax contributions may bypass those caps up to $61,000, including company…

Here’s how retirees can give to charity and create an income stream at the same time

Kieferpix | iStock | Getty Images For retirees who want to put their charitable dollars to work right away but worry about giving away a large sum all at once, there’s a relatively easy strategy that may be a good fit. It’s called a charitable gift annuity. It’s basically is a contract with a nonprofit…

Why saving in a 401(k) plan may be tough for frequent job switchers

Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Saving in a 401(k) plan may be tough for workers who switch jobs frequently — a dynamic that’s come into greater focus amid the Great Resignation. In 2021, 14% of people saving in a 401(k) plan left their employer, according to a new report from Vanguard Group, which is…

Credit card balances spike to an all-time high of $841 billion after stimulus checks helped reduce debt

For many Americans, the pandemic-induced slowdown offered a rare opportunity to better their financial standing. Government stimulus checks and fewer opportunities for spending drove the personal savings rate to a level not seen since World War II, with many consumers using the cash they had on hand to pay down debt — primarily their credit…

Michigan is poised to become 14th state to mandate personal finance education

Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer poses at an event where General Motors announced an investment of more than $7 billion in four Michigan manufacturing sites on January 25, 2022 in Lansing, Michigan. Jeff Kowalsky | AFP | Getty Images High school students in Michigan will soon be guaranteed a personal finance course before they graduate….

Here are the changes Americans are willing to make to fix Social Security, survey finds

Allison Shelley | Getty Images News | Getty Images The clock is ticking when it comes to how long Congress has to act to repair Social Security’s trust funds. New projections from the program’s trustees show the combined trust funds will be depleted in 2035, at which point 80% of benefits will be payable. That’s…

Women are narrowing the confidence gap with men when it comes to managing money, study shows

Amnajkhetsamtip | Istock | Getty Images Women are closing in on men when it comes to their self-evaluated financial prowess, recent research shows. Overall, 55% of women and 60% of men are confident in their ability to manage their finances, according to U.S. Bank’s 2022 Women and Wealth Insights study. That compares to 48% and…

Leaving your job? Here are options for handling that unpaid 401(k) loan

Charnchai | Istock | Getty Images If you’re heading to a new job and still owe money on a 401(k) plan loan from your former employer’s retirement savings plan, be sure you know what will happen to that outstanding balance. While you may be permitted to continue paying off the loan in installments, most companies…

Unemployment system plagued by delays, fraud and racial gaps during pandemic, says watchdog agency

Demonstrators participate in a protest asking U.S. senators to support the continuation of unemployment benefits on July 16, 2020 in Miami Springs, Florida. Joe Raedle | Getty Images The nation’s unemployment system suffered multiple failures during the Covid-19 pandemic, including delayed payments, elevated fraud and “substantial” disparities in receipt of benefits along racial and ethnic…