Personal finance

Audrey Saracco / EyeEm Millions of Americans can finally expect to see second stimulus checks in their bank accounts soon. This time, however, those payments will be up to $600 per person for those eligible — half the $1,200 that was sent in the first round of checks in the spring. The new one-time checks

Student loan borrowers won’t get more time to pay their bills in the stimulus deal. Ines Fraile | iStock | Getty Images Americans were already struggling with their student loans before the pandemic hit and drove up unemployment, with more than 1 in 4 borrowers in delinquency or default. Outstanding student loan debt in the U.S. has

People wait in line to receive uncooked food donations from the food pantry at the Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen on December 15, 2020 in New York City. Robert Nickelsberg | Getty Images The $900 billion stimulus package Congress agreed upon Sunday night includes more money for nutrition benefits to support vulnerable families struggling amid the

Window shoppers view holiday decorations at the Williams & Sons Country Store in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, on Dec. 13, 2020. Joseph Prezioso | AFP | Getty Images While the Covid crisis has boosted the wealth of many of the richest Americans, it has made some reconsider their holiday spending. Nearly a quarter of millionaires surveyed for

wera Rodsawang | Moment | Getty Images As you check off your to-do list for the end of the year, don’t forget to look at your retirement savings. Whether it is an individual retirement account, an employer-sponsored plan like a 401(k) or a brokerage account, assessing your portfolio is crucial. That means checking to see

Randy Chase, 57, does masonry work on construction crews. With unemployment benefits stalled since April and no savings left, he’s been living in his pickup truck outside of Denver since September, using an electric heater to keep warm. Randy Chase Randy Chase has lived in his pickup truck for months. Luckily, the tiny cab of

Getty | Johner Images U.S. retirement savers may want to look to their elders for a cautionary tale about racking up debt: It might be with you well into your golden years. The share of people age 75 or older who lead a household and carry debt jumped to 51.4% in 2019 from 41.3% in

Sarah Silbiger | Bloomberg | Getty Images Millions of Americans are poised to receive second stimulus checks. Yet a fight is taking place on Capitol Hill over how much money will be included in any payments. The latest proposals include direct payments of $600 per person. In contrast, the first round of checks sent out

Getty Images The coronavirus pandemic is slamming the most vulnerable Americans, pushing many into financially precarious situations. The best way to combat the financial fragility that’s brought on by such an event is helping Americans build and maintain an emergency savings fund, according to experts. But most people need the support of the government and

It’s the season of giving — and New England Patriots linebacker Brandon Copeland is doing his part. This holiday season, he got together with 19 other current and former NFL players to surprise 200 underserved families each with $800 Amazon gift cards. The total giveaway: $160,000. The players are “guys who we are literally competing

Tom Brenner | Reuters A second set of stimulus checks could be in the works for millions of Americans, based on Congress’ ongoing negotiations for more coronavirus relief legislation. But a fight is brewing over the amount that will be written on those checks. Currently, those talks point to new direct payments to Americans of

LifestyleVisuals | E+ | Getty Images Yes, Medicare’s annual enrollment period ended Dec. 7. No, not all hope is lost if you realize the Advantage Plan you picked for 2021 is a mismatch. That’s because Medicare has a three-month window at the beginning of each year, Jan. 1 through March 31, when you can swap

Hermione Granger | Moment | Getty Images Bitcoin has done it again — the cryptocurrency topped $20,000 Wednesday to reach its second record in three weeks and its highest level since 2017. The digital currency has been on a tear this year and is now up more than 180%, driven in part by new institutional

a It’s looking more likely that direct payments to Americans will be included in the new coronavirus aid Congress aims to pass before lawmakers head home for the holidays. Those stimulus checks could be around $600 to $700 per individual, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., told reporters on Wednesday. That’s just about half of the $1,200

Investors are increasingly interested in companies that are environmentally and socially conscious, and the world’s largest asset manager is no exception. In an annual letter to CEOs earlier this year, BlackRock Chairman and CEO Larry Fink said “climate change has become a defining factor in companies’ long-term prospects … But awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe

Hero Images | Hero Images | Getty Images The coronavirus pandemic threw everyone for a loop in 2020. And as the year winds down, it’s time to reflect, reset and prepare for 2021. It may be especially important for families to assess their financial health for the new year. The coronavirus pandemic had a major

Bill Clark | CQ-Roll Call, Inc. | Getty Images The Covid relief bill released Monday by a bipartisan group of senators has many helpful — if temporary — provisions for unemployed workers, according to experts. The relief package — which, if passed, would be the first since the CARES Act in early spring — extends

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V., speaks alongside a bipartisan group of Democrat and Republican members of Congress as they announce a proposal for a Covid-19 relief bill on Capitol Hill on Dec. 14, 2020 in Washington, D.C. Lawmakers from both chambers released a $908 billion package Monday, split into two bills. Tasos Katopodis | Getty Images

Ergin Yalcin | E+ | Getty Images For the nation’s oldest individuals who are eager for protection against Covid, the waiting game has commenced. Shipment of 2.9 million doses of the first U.S.-authorized coronavirus vaccine began Sunday, headed for hundreds of sites around the country. With initial supply limited — the total U.S. population is

Erin Scott | Reuters Capitol Hill lawmakers are wrestling with a big question that’s plagued them for months: How to put together another coronavirus relief package that will garner enough support from both parties. On Monday, a new $908 billion bipartisan proposal aims to do just that, except it lacks one key area of aid