Personal finance

BraunS | E+ | Getty Images If someone texts you promising a $1,200 stimulus check, it’s a scam. The IRS and a coalition of state tax agencies and tax industry officials are warning individuals who receive such messages not to respond. The text scam typically reads, “You have received a direct deposit of $1,200 from

AscentXmedia | iStock | Getty Images When it comes to managing money, most everybody has doubts as to whether they’re doing it right. So you may breathe a sigh of relief to know that no one is crazy, according to Morgan Housel, author of the book “The Psychology of Money.” That goes for both the

Incoming freshmen ask questions at an informational tent while arriving on campus at University of Colorado Boulder on August 18, 2020 in Boulder, Colorado. Mark Makela | Getty Images Even as cases of coronavirus surge nationwide, a growing number of colleges are bringing students back for the spring semester. Georgetown University, Morehouse College, Smith College,

In this unusual holiday season, many consumers have said they plan to spend less than they did last year due to the Covid-19 crisis. Not all plan to be frugal. Here are answers to some financial questions I received from CNBC viewers about holiday budgeting and keeping your finances straight going into the New Year. 

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a protest calling for the Republican Senate to delay the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Nominee Amy Coney Barrett at the U.S. Capitol on October 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Care In Action) Jemal Countess | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images The

Signs lay on the ground after people gathered outside of an apartment complex with the intention to stop the alleged eviction of one of the tenants in Mount Rainier, MD, U.S., August 10, 2020. Leah Millis | Reuters One of the main ways that state and local governments have tried to slow the spread of

Hundreds of unemployed Kentucky residents wait in long lines outside the Kentucky Career Center for help with their unemployment claims on June 19, 2020 in Frankfort, Kentucky. While the economic recovery has brought back jobs since the lowest point of the Covid-19 crisis, millions of Americans remain unemployed. John Sommers II The U.S. is weeks

Peathegee Inc | Tetra images | Getty Images The clock is ticking to use up the funds in your flexible spending account. FSAs, both health and dependent care, are offered by employers as a way for workers to save money on qualified expenses. The money is set aside pre-tax, but generally must be used by

Marc Romanelli | Tetra images | Getty Images Maria Rangel came to Los Angeles from Colombia five years ago with her infant son and $500, hoping to realize the American dream. And, she did.   ”We had not much and now we have a home,” said Rangel, who bought a condo two years ago.  The 35-year-old

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) attends a confirmation hearing of Judge Amy Coney Barrett on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., October 12, 2020. Susan Walsh | Pool | Reuters As questions loom on Capitol Hill over whether or not there will be second stimulus checks, one senator is introducing a bill to make those payments

Courtney Keating | E+ | Getty Images Talk to anyone who’s gone through divorce and they’d likely say the experience was no walk in the park. Yet the notion may be weighing on more spouses during the pandemic, some research shows. For instance, based on Loanry.com’s internal data, there’s been a 62% increase in loan

It appears that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are in favor of extending the student loan forbearance. Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images Student loan borrowers may not have to worry about their monthly bills until at least May of next year. In a summary of bipartisan legislation circulated on Wednesday that could become

Image Source | DigitalVision | Getty Images As Capitol Hill lawmakers continue to work on the next round of coronavirus relief, a big question remains: Will there be a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks? Based on one new plan, lawmakers for and against those checks could split the difference and send $600 one-time payments

Whether workers get a windfall from Uncle Sam or wind up owing taxes mostly comes down to filling out one form correctly – and few people are doing it. In fact, 45% of the people polled by the American Institute of CPAs said they don’t know when they last reviewed the amount of tax withheld

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, holds a press briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on November 6, 2020. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has called on President-elect Joe Biden to forgive up to $50,000 for student loan borrowers. “Ahead of the new

Twitter CEO and Co Founder, Jack Dorsey addresses students at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), on November 12, 2018 in New Delhi, India. Amal KS | Hindustan Times | Getty Images The Covid-19 pandemic has prompted some advocates to call for providing Americans with guaranteed monthly income to help them get back on their

Pekic | E+ | Getty Images This holiday season is like no other. Millions of families are struggling financially as the coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of abating. Yet many traditions still endure, and that includes tipping those who have provided services for you throughout the year. “It can be easy to think about giving

Getty Images It’s no secret that credit card debt is a burden. But knocking down those balances may be easier or harder, depending on where you live. Research from CreditCards.com takes a look at the total credit card balances in each state and how long they would take to pay off based on the median

U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) takes questions during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, December 1, 2020. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Sen. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer continues to put pressure on President-elect Joe Biden to to forgive up to $50,000 in student debt per borrower on the first day of his

Tenants in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City hold a demonstration to call attention to their rent strike during the Covid-19 pandemic Andrew Lichtenstein | Corbis News | Getty Images Come January, life will get a bit tougher for those already struggling amid the coronavirus pandemic. Unless more aid comes from the government, several