Household Finance

A woman looks at some papers and her computer.
Household Finance
Money market account vs. money market fund: What’s the difference?
Both offer interest, but only one is an investment.
Household Finance
Alternative minimum tax: Is it only for the wealthy?
A high income may require alternative tax calculations.
Household Finance
Bank runs: What they are and why they happen
It’s about confidence (or lack thereof).
Household Finance
Best rewards credit card: Airline miles, points, or cash back?
The best rewards card is one you’ll use.
Household Finance
Borrowing from your parents (the Bank of Mom & Dad)
Family lending—the right way.
Household Finance
Breaking the taboo: Why you need to talk money with your partner
“The talk:” awkward, but worth having.
Household Finance
Buying vs. leasing a car: Which route is best?
How long do you want to keep it?
Household Finance
Capital gains and losses: Keeping track and paying taxes
What happens when you sell an asset?
Household Finance
CD investor? Tips and strategies to turbocharge your savings
Is it time to ladder certificates of deposit?
Household Finance
Certificate of deposit (CD) vs. savings account: How to choose
One or the other, or both, or neither?
Household Finance
Chapter 11 bankruptcy: A little breathing room while a company restructures
Relieve, reorganize, renegotiate—and hopefully, don’t repeat.
Household Finance
Charitable giving: Learn about the ways and whys of donation
Make the world a better place and (maybe) get a tax break.
Household Finance
Checking account vs. savings account: Choose one or choose both
Tools to power your budgeting, saving, and goal planning.
Household Finance
College savings plans: Why an early start can pay off
Never too early to start.
Household Finance
Commission-free stock trading: Is there a catch?
There’s always a cost to “free.”
Household Finance
Credit card companies: Who’s who and how they make money
Learn about networks vs. issuers.
Household Finance
Credit card reward strategies: Getting more from each purchase
Credit tips, tricks, and potential pitfalls.
Household Finance
Credit limits: What they are and how to increase yours
That limit may be there for a reason.
Household Finance
Debit card fraud 101: Are you liable?
Sidestepping the skim scam.
Household Finance
Dental insurance: Is it worth buying?
Insuring those pearly whites can cost you some green.
Household Finance
Do you need a second-chance checking account?
Take another shot at financial stability.
Household Finance
Donating to a 501(c)(3): Research, verify, donate, itemize, and deduct
Remember to keep your receipts.
Household Finance
Donor-advised funds: A way to give to charity and get a tax break
Set up your own charitable “foundation.”
Household Finance
Don’t fear the gift tax: Understanding gift tax exclusions and rules for 2024
Most people can give without being taxed.
Household Finance
Employee stock options and other equity-based incentives
Getting everyone’s interests aligned.
Household Finance
Facing a financial quagmire? Chapter 13 can help you create a repayment plan
In need of a little breathing room?
Household Finance
Federal student loans: Subsidized vs. unsubsidized loans
You might get one, or both, types.
Household Finance
Filing for personal bankruptcy: What it is, how to do it, and when to consider it
It could solve some problems but create others.
Household Finance
First-time home buyer? Here’s what you need to know
It’s a big step. You ready?
Household Finance
Form 1099: What it’s for and how it affects your taxes
Are you withholding or estimating enough tax?
Household Finance
Give till it hurts: A list of the taxes we pay
A little here, a little there, and it really adds up.
Household Finance
Good debt vs. bad debt: It’s all about targeting your goals
Some types of debt are better than others.
Household Finance
HELOC vs. second mortgage: Different home equity loan types
Two ways to tap home equity.
Household Finance
HO-1 to HO-8: Comparing home insurance policy types
Eight policies to cover your property.
Household Finance
Homeowners associations (HOAs): Pros, cons, and what you need to know
We’re thankful for them (but we complain anyway).
Household Finance
How college scholarships can help you pay for school
Reduce the need for student loans.
Household Finance
How does a mortgage work? A walk through the numbers
Principal, interest, escrow, and more.
Household Finance
How interest rates work: A beginner’s guide for borrowers and savers
What you earn and what you pay.
Household Finance
How money moves in the era of digital payment systems
From tapping (Morse) code to an encoded tap.
Household Finance
How to freeze your credit—and when to consider it
Worried about identity theft and fraud?
Household Finance
How to get around the 401(k) early withdrawal penalty
Try other options first.
Household Finance
How to pay for college: A timeline from preschool to high school
In a word: Start saving soon.
Household Finance
How to raise your credit score
Consider these four money moves.
Household Finance
How to spot a spoofing attack—whether via email, text, or social media
Spoofing scams aim to swipe your info.
Household Finance
How to use credit cards to improve your credit score
Swipe, pay off, repeat.
Household Finance
How to use Federal Work-Study as part of your financial aid
Get guaranteed student income.
Household Finance
How to use pay-by-phone apps
One tap and you’re done.
Household Finance
How your credit report influences your credit score
Good credit has its perks.
Household Finance
Is pet insurance really worth it? Let your pet be the judge
The dog ate my … wallet.
Household Finance
Is your head spinning with mortgage terms?
Here’s a glossary for you.
Household Finance
I’ve got a trip coming up. Do I need travel insurance?
Peace of mind is a good thing, but consider the cost.
Household Finance
Joint bank accounts: The pros and cons of combining finances
With this account, I thee join?
Household Finance
Keys to vehicle buying: How to finance a car
Nail down the numbers.
Household Finance
Managing the cost of college with 529 plans
A tax-advantaged way to save for education.
Household Finance
Money basics for kids: 5 skills to teach them now
Steady saving, smart spending, generous giving.
Household Finance
Money market account vs. CD: Which one should you choose?
Different accounts for different purposes.
Household Finance
Money market account vs. checking account: Which is best?
Two tools for managing your money.
Household Finance
Money market account vs. money market fund: What’s the difference?
Both offer interest, but only one is an investment.
Household Finance
Mortgage types: Fixed vs. variable, 30-year and other loan terms, and more
You thought choosing paint would be hard.
Household Finance
No strings attached: Your guide to college grants
Pell Grants and more.
Household Finance
Overdraft protection: For insufficient funds in your checking account
Protection is insurance, and insurance costs money.
Household Finance
Pay off your mortgage or invest: A homeowner’s dilemma
Pros, cons, and opportunity costs.
Household Finance
Peer-to-peer payments: How and when to use Venmo, Zelle, and others
P2P apps are quick and convenient. Are they safe?
Household Finance
Pell Grant: What it is, who’s eligible, and how to get one
Get an education without going broke.
Household Finance
Powers of attorney: What they are and how they work
Your wish is their command.
Household Finance
PPOs, HMOs, HSAs, and more: An intro to medical insurance types
Spelling out the alphabet soup of health-care plans.
Household Finance
Private mortgage insurance (PMI): Why it’s sometimes required (and how to avoid it)
It’s another good reason to build equity.
Household Finance
Protect yourself: Identity theft is growing more sophisticated
But you can defend yourself.
Household Finance
Retirement and key savings goal plans: Why an early start can help you get ahead
Why an early start can help you achieve more.
Household Finance
Selling a house? Follow the seven steps in our staging checklist
Declutter, beautify, update as needed.
Household Finance
Set up your emergency fund: Saving for a rainy day
A cushion if you fall.
Household Finance
Seven steps to paying off student loans faster
You can do this.
Household Finance
Should you rent or buy your home? Weighing the costs and benefits
Planting roots or rolling stone?
Household Finance
Should you use a credit union or a bank?
Your money, your choice.
Household Finance
So you want to buy a car? What to know before visiting the dealer
Be sensible, not emotional.
Household Finance
Student loan limits: How much can I borrow, and what happens after that?
You can borrow to pay for your education, but there are limits.
Household Finance
Take cover: Why insurance is necessary and which types you really need
There are several safety nets to consider.
Household Finance
Tax deductions, tax credits, and tax refunds—what’s the difference?
Top line, bottom line, leveling line.
Household Finance
Term life vs. whole life insurance: Which is better for me?
Three questions to ask yourself.
Household Finance
The Biden student loan forgiveness plan is dead. Now what?
Focus on income-driven repayment plans.
Household Finance
The debt-to-income ratio: Your ticket to loan approval and lower rates
Lower your DTI; raise your credit status.
Household Finance
The new job paperwork checklist: Forms I-9, W-4, and more
A little work before you start work.
Household Finance
The parent PLUS cliff is coming in 2025. Are you ready?
An important consolidation loophole is closing soon.
Household Finance
The student aid index (SAI) and FAFSA: The college cost home stretch
How to grab your share of financial aid.
Household Finance
Time is money: An introduction to financial calculators
The math remains the same.
Household Finance
Understanding credit cards: Their purpose, positives, and potential pitfalls
Swipe, tap, or insert—and then pay.
Household Finance
Understanding different types of life insurance policies
Term versus permanent (plus plenty of subtypes).
Household Finance
Unexpected medical bills? The No Surprises Act can keep you out of debt
Medical needs may be unexpected, but bills shouldn’t be.
Household Finance
Using emergency savings vs. getting an emergency loan
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Household Finance
Using the 50-30-20 rule to power your household budget
It’s a great starting point.
Household Finance
Vision insurance: Is it worth the cost?
Make the choice with clear eyes.
Household Finance
What are tax credits (and how do I get them)?
Children, college kids, EVs, and more.
Household Finance
What if you can no longer work? Understanding short-term and long-term disability
Insuring the double whammy of injury and income loss.
Household Finance
What is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and how do I start one?
A tax exemption with approval, compliance, and management complexities.
Household Finance
What is a credit balance transfer? How it works and three benefits
Boost your score and reduce your interest.
Household Finance
What is a credit union? Is it different from a bank?
When a bank isn’t a bank.
Household Finance
What is a health savings account (HSA)?
Tax-advantaged savings for your health care expenses.
Household Finance
What is an independent student? Your status, FAFSA, and taxes
Understand your expected family contribution.
Household Finance
What is due diligence? A professional and personal standard
Be sure to do your homework.
Household Finance
What is life insurance and how does it work?
You could think of it as income insurance.
Household Finance
What it means to be unbanked or underbanked
It’s hard to function financially without a bank.
Household Finance
What to expect when leasing a car: Jargon and math
Wading through the terms and terminology.
Household Finance
What’s a marginal tax rate? How do federal tax brackets work?
Cutting through the tax rate jargon.
Household Finance
When the economy goes south: Recessions, explained
These declines affect everyone.
Household Finance
Why is my paycheck smaller than my salary?
Here’s how to read a pay stub.
Household Finance
Why we still have a gender pay gap in 2024
Wage disparity is persistent and costly.
Household Finance
You can file a tax extension, but should you?
It’s not just free time.
Household Finance
Your guide to opening and using a bank account
There’s a first time for everything.
Household Finance
Your guide to payday loans, title loans, and other predatory loans
Don’t get trapped in debt.
Household Finance
Your guide to setting a monthly budget
The budget you’ll actually stick to.
Household Finance
Your guide to student loan forgiveness types
Potential paths to a clean slate.
Household Finance
Your household balance sheet: Keeping track of what you own and what you owe
Think of it as a net worth calculator.