So your data was exposed in a breach. What should you do now?

It may seem like the damage is already done by the time you receive one of these notices, but there are actually important steps you can take at this point — both to minimize the damage from the breach that already happened and to help prevent your personal information from getting out there once again. The reality is, “if attackers have your email address and password for one site or app, they may have the keys to much of your life, especially if you’re using the same password for all of your accounts,” said PC Mag.

This could lead to more serious issues, like identity theft or the publicization of private accounts. Follow these tips to stay safe and avoid some more serious consequences.

1. Check all of your accounts — and keep checking them

Especially after being the victim of a data breach, it is essential that you check in on your accounts and make sure nothing looks fishy. But this is good practice to be doing on a regular basis either way. “There are so many ways for hackers and identity thieves to circumvent security measures that you need to regularly check your financial accounts, going line by line and questioning every single charge or debit — no matter how small,” said The Washington Post. Also take a moment to check in on your credit report.

2. Consider a freeze

Another step to consider taking, especially if a breach has already happened, is to place a credit freeze, which makes it so the “credit bureau can’t release any information in your file without your permission,” said the Post. This effectively prevents would-be thieves from opening any new accounts in your name. A freeze is a bit of a pain — you will need to individually make the request at each of the three major credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion — but it is totally free to do, and can offer a reassuring level of protection.

3. Step up your password strength

“Weak passwords are often the bulk of data breach records,” said PC Mag, so once it happens, it is vital to take steps to strengthen yours — especially if you are a repeat user. Some general rules of thumb when choosing new passwords? “Aim for at least 10 to 12 characters” and “avoid common names, places and dictionary words,” opting instead for a “long sentence-like string using a random mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters along with numbers and symbols,” said Ally, an online bank. If you are worried about keeping track, a password manager can make it easy.

4. Think twice before you share

Before signing up for an online account, “consider whether you really need to provide all the requested information: a free gaming account might not need your full name,” said Norton, a cybersafety company. The less you share, the less chances you have of your data getting exposed. This goes for social media as well.

What if overnight, your financial situation meaningfully changed? For some of us, this can and does happen, whether due to an inheritance, a generous gift or a successful investment. When cash like that hits your bank account, it can be hard to stop and think — but it is essential that you do.

While you may assume it’ll be smooth sailing ahead, a “sudden influx of assets can lead to missteps that could undermine your good fortune,” said Fidelity, citing Terri Lyders, the vice president of advanced planning for Fidelity Investments. It is actually common enough that there is a name for it, said Investopedia: “Sudden Wealth Syndrome,” which “can lead recipients to do things that ultimately threaten their good fortune and financial well-being, and may leave them worse off than before they received the money.”

Here are some steps to take so your windfall is a path toward an even brighter financial future, rather than a dead end.

Pause and assess

“While it’s exciting to have cash coming your way, it’s wise to take some time and reflect on how the money would be best spent,” said SoFi. Before you get carried away with treating yourself and others, take a moment to assess your financial situation and notice how you are feeling about the cash influx you just received.

At this point, it is probably best to avoid making any large purchases or otherwise monumental financial decisions. You can, of course, still daydream — just maybe let your new reality sink in before you act. “Take a minimum of six months to a year to get settled in,” said money coach Jennifer Reid to U.S. News & World Report. “Let your emotions cool off, too. Don’t act out irrational behavior and take the time to do your research.”

Consult a professional

Sitting down with a professional, such as a financial advisor or an accountant, can go a long way toward getting things off on the right foot. They can help you go through the various documents and legalese associated with your windfall to ensure you understand everything, including any broader financial implications.

For instance, “depending on the size and source of your windfall, you might owe taxes on it, and it might push you into a different tax bracket,” said SoFi. Rules can get more complicated for retirement accounts or real estate, too. When you inherit a 401(k), for example, “you may be required to take full distribution of the account within a certain amount of time,” said Fidelity.

Take a big-picture view

“If you’ve received a sizable sum, it may be tempting to quit your day job to travel or take on a passion project,” said SoFi. But how realistic is that, really, and will your windfall actually sustain that lifestyle change over the long term?

“Odds are, you’ve got other goals that could use a boost — retirement, college savings and home improvements,” or you might even want to “use your influx of cash to do some catch-up,” whether that is on outstanding debt or an understocked emergency fund, said NerdWallet. While less fun than, say, a brand-new car or a whirlwind vacation, it is likely your future self will thank you for spending that money wisely.

Each new year marks another year closer to retirement. That may feel exciting, but it can also feel daunting — especially if you’re not sure you have enough saved up to stop working.

The sooner you step up your savings, the better your chances of having an adequate nest egg waiting for you by the time you’re ready to hang up your hat. Thanks to compound interest, “your retirement savings can grow by generating earnings on both your original contributions and the accumulated interest over time,” said SmartAsset, a personal finance website. This means that the “earlier you start saving, the more time your money will have to grow.”

Even a little bit more saved this year, then the next, can snowball into a balance that makes you feel confident and ready for retirement. Follow these three steps to step up your retirement savings.

Aim for the updated contribution limits

The maximum amount you can contribute to your 401(k) is inching up next year, thanks to updated contribution limits. For 2026, you can put as much as $24,500 into a tax-advantaged retirement plan — a $1,000 increase over 2025 limits. If you have an IRA, you can contribute up to $7,500 to it in 2026.

“Of course, many workers are nowhere close to reaching the savings max,” with only “some 14%” hitting the upper limit, said The Washington Post, citing data from Vanguard. Still, rather than feel discouraged, think of it as growing room for your savings rate. How much closer can you get to that target next year?

Maximize your employer match

Another incentive to bump up your savings rate if you have an employer-sponsored retirement plan: the employer match, which is where your employer contributes a certain percentage of the amount you put into your plan. This could also offer a more attainable savings target to make sure you are hitting. Assuming your employer offers a match, “try to invest at least enough to get any match,” as “that’s like free money, and it can significantly boost your own saving efforts along the way,” said Fidelity.

Reallocate any ‘extra’ money

While the very concept of extra money may sound far-fetched, if you stop to think about it, you might be surprised by how much excess you find in your monthly spending habits. “To find more room in your budget for saving, look for expenses that could be reduced or eliminated” and then redirect that amount toward your retirement account, said U.S. News & World Report.

You could also commit to putting any little windfalls that come your way during the year toward your retirement. For instance, if you get a tax refund, you could divert those funds. Same goes for “if you receive a bonus, inheritance, prize money or other windfall of cash,” said U.S. News & World Report.

For both the giver and the recipient, a gift card can seem like the perfect present. Neither party has to worry about whether or not their pick is well-received; the beauty of a gift card is that it’s up to the recipient what they procure with the funds.

The problem? All too often, gift cards end up going unused, wasting both people's money. In fact, "over one-third of Americans have lost money on a gift card by letting it expire (20%), losing the card (17%) or seeing a retailer go out of business before they could redeem a card (12%)," said The Wall Street Journal, citing research by Bankrate in 2024.

To make sure your gift card does not suffer the same fate, here are some tips to keep in mind this holiday gift-giving season.

Read up on the fine print

First things first: Check to see whether you have to use your funds by a certain date. "Many cards never expire, but check the packaging or email for confirmation of this," said Investopedia. Note that while "many gift cards, especially bank or credit card-issued cards, have a 'valid thru' date," this marks when the card itself expires, "but not necessarily the balance on it," said the Journal.

Another thing this date may indicate is when the card will start to charge fees for nonactivity. For instance, a Visa Virtual Gift Card "may begin charging a monthly $4.95 maintenance fee after 12 months of inactivity, depending on state laws," which can quickly eat into the card's total balance, said the Journal.

Keep tabs on your balance and fully use it up

Have just a little bit left on your card after making an initial purchase with it? Do not let that money go to waste. You can "keep it on hand for future purchases," or "if you don’t foresee yourself using the card, consider reloading it (if possible) and giving it to someone else for a birthday, holiday or celebration," said Consumer Reports.

Another option, if you have only a small balance still on your card, is to ask for the remainder in cash. Some states "have certain gift card laws that allow gift card holders with an outstanding balance under a certain amount — say, for example, $10 — to just redeem them for cash with the actual retailer," said CNBC Select. You might also consider donating your remaining funds to a nonprofit collecting gift card donations.

Be proactive about avoiding potential scams

If you do not plan to use your gift card immediately, "you should record and register your card," such as by loading your balance onto your account, said the Journal. "This can help you avoid fraud and increase the likelihood you can still use funds if you lose the card."

Finally, be cautious when checking your balance or attempting to resell your gift card, especially through third parties. "They could potentially lead to theft or scams," said Consumer Reports.

Continuing your education is already a decision that entails financial planning. Now, with the Trump administration’s updated limits on federal student loans for professional and graduate students, there are some new considerations to factor into the equation.

Beginning for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, “graduate and professional students will see new limits of up to $20,500 per year ($100,000 total) for graduate studies and $50,000 a year ($200,000 total) for professional programs,” said CNBC Make It. Further complicating these limits is what types of programs are and are not considered professional — not to mention the elimination of graduate PLUS loans, which used to let students borrow up to the full cost of attendance.

How will the new student loan limits work?

The newly imposed limits apply specifically to unsubsidized student loans for graduate borrowers (as mentioned, PLUS loans will no longer be available to graduate students). The limits vary depending on what category a student pursuing an advanced degree falls into: “‘non-professional’ graduate students, who include those in nursing, engineering and social work, among others,” or “‘professional’ students, like those in medicine and law,” said Investopedia.

“Non-professional” graduate students can take out up to $20,500 per year, and up to $100,000 in total.

“Professional” students can borrow double this amount, with limits of up to $50,000 per year and up to $200,000 in total.

Which fields are eligible for higher loan limits?

While the loan limits may seem clear-cut enough, the reality of what programs fall into what category is less intuitive. “According to the proposed regulation, a professional degree ‘signifies both completion of the academic requirements for beginning practice in a given profession and a level of professional skill beyond that normally required for a bachelor’s degree,’” said CNBC Make It. The Department of Education, however, has explicitly stated that the “term does not determine the importance of a program and ‘has no bearing on whether a program is professional in nature or not,’” said NBC News.

As of November, there are 11 degree fields eligible for the higher “professional” student loan limits, said CNBC Make It:

• Chiropractic (D.C. or D.C.M.)
• Clinical psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.)
• Dentistry doctorate (D.D.S. or D.M.S.)
• Law (L.L.B. or J.D.)
• Medicine (M.D.)
• Clinical psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.)
• Pharmacy (Pharm. D.)
• Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.)
• Clinical psychology (Psy.D. or Ph.D.)
• Theology (M.Div., or M.H.L.)
• Veterinary medicine (D.V.M.)

Are there any notable exclusions under the new requirements?

One omission from the list of “professional” programs that has drawn attention is nursing. Some have “argued that health care workers, such as nurses, might choose to leave the industry because they lack sufficient funding for their programs,” said Business Insider. Other professions not on the list include “architects, accountants, educators and social workers,” and reportedly “engineering, a business master's, counseling or therapy and speech pathology,” said Newsweek.

However, it is worth noting that the “loan limit regulation is not final.” The Department of Education is poised to “publish the regulation in its current form in the federal register in the coming months, where the public will have the opportunity to give feedback before it becomes final,” said NBC News.

Regulation of cryptocurrency investments are set to be toughened up in a move to boost protections for investors.

The Treasury has revealed that platforms where users buy and sell cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin will be “backed to innovate and grow” as the government seeks to make the UK a “global destination for digital assets”.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is consulting on new rules to be introduced from 2027. A spokesperson for the City watchdog said “our goal is to have a regime that protects consumers, supports innovation, and promotes trust”.

Millions of people throughout the UK now own cryptocurrency, said ThisIsMoney, with numbers having “surged over the past year”.

How will new rules change how crypto is regulated?

Cryptocurrencies have become a popular alternative investment in recent years, helped by the bitcoin price hitting record highs.

Currently, crypto platforms have to register with the FCA only for money-laundering prevention purposes but the new rules will mean companies are “regulated in the same way as other financial products”, said The Guardian.

This creates a “shift from the current system”, said CoinCentral, and aligns the UK approach “more closely” with the US, while the EU has totally separate rules specifically for crypto.

The FCA said its changes could include new rules on what firms must tell investors “so people have the facts before they invest”, as well as new standards for exchanges to “keep trading safe and reliable”.

Some plans from earlier this year have been “diluted”, said the Financial Times. The regulator will no longer ban trading platforms from offering their own tokens, for example.

How will crypto regulation protect consumers?

Regulation could mean crypto firms are held to account more effectively, “so if you lose your money to a scam then you should be able to get help”, said The Sun.

New rules should also “make it easier for the government to find and address suspicious activity”, said ThisIsMoney.

Regulators will also be able to “impose sanctions or hold firms to account”, said The Independent.

But some areas of the new rules “remain undecided”, added the Financial Times.

The FCA said it would consult early in 2026 regarding whether the market should be covered by its consumer duty rules. These rules require regulated firms to ensure clients receive a good outcome.

Is cryptocurrency a safe investment?

More rules may be coming, but regulators continue to warn about the risks of cryptocurrency investing, said Reuters, especially that investors “should be prepared to lose all of their money”.

Commentators are describing the regulatory shift as a “watershed moment”, with David Heffron, expert in financial services regulation at Pinsent Masons, explaining it would help in “building trust and giving firms certainty”.

The consultation ends in February 2026 and the changes mean it will “likely only get easier” to invest in crypto, said MoneyToTheMasses. But crypto is still a “fundamentally risky investment” and will not be fully regulated in the UK until 2027.

The sticker price alone of a car can feel like a lot. But the cost of having your own set of wheels does not stop there. If you’re trying to figure out how car ownership can fit into your budget, you will also need to factor in the myriad of maintenance and upkeep costs involved. And these costs keep on climbing.

From January 2020 to August 2025, “ownership costs surged by 41%,” said Kiplinger, citing an index from Navy Federal Credit Union. A variety of factors are to blame, including “steep increases in auto insurance premiums following the Covid-19 pandemic” and rising costs for auto repairs, in part because “tariffs of 25% on imported car parts are driving up repair costs.”

While there is not much individual drivers can do to change these factors, there are steps you can take to make the cost of car ownership feel a bit more manageable.

1. Research before you buy

Competitive pricing is top of mind for many Americans when they are evaluating car brands, said YouGov, citing its recent The Road Ahead: U.S. next-gen car outlook 2025. But sticker price alone can be misleading, which is why it’s important to broaden your considerations when buying a car.

Given how costly filling up the tank can be, “picking a vehicle with solid fuel economy rather than a gas guzzler could save you hundreds of dollars a year,” said Kiplinger. Similarly, weighing the “reliability ratings of car brands can help you determine the likelihood of a car needing frequent repairs.”

2. Keep up with routine maintenance

While it may feel like yet another item on your miles-long to-do list, staying on top of car maintenance tasks like getting your oil changed or your brakes inspected can go a long way toward avoiding a steep surprise bill later. “If you miss scheduled maintenance, you can wind up spending more than you need to on avoidable repairs or void your car’s warranty,” said GoBankingRates, a personal finance website.

Set reminders or plan to check in on your vehicle on a monthly basis. If you do end up needing a repair, “this can help you plan ahead, research auto shops and get the best quote for the work you need to have done,” said NerdWallet.

3. Find the best rate on auto insurance

Given the rapid rate at which insurance rates have increased post-pandemic, it is worth checking to ensure you are actually getting the best deal, especially if you have a great driving record. One way to get a better rate may be to switch providers — it is actually recommended that you “call around and compare quotes from auto insurance companies at least once per year,” said Experian.

But you might be able to score savings by staying with the same insurer, too. For instance, some insurance companies offer discounts if you take a defensive driving course or bundle your other insurance policies, such as homeowners, with them.

Grocery shopping is an unavoidable line in your budget. But that does not mean you have to allocate as much of your budget to your weekly food shop as you currently are, especially if you are hoping to trim back to tackle other financial priorities, whether it be paying down high-interest debt or bumping up your retirement account contributions.

A stricter budget at the grocery store does not have to mean a menu of bland meals, either. Rather, like with any area of spending, it is about putting a bit more thought into your expenditures and getting strategic and savvy, as opposed to pushing your cart down the aisles on autopilot.

Understand your current spending habits

If you want to make a change, it first helps to gain an understanding of what your existing habits look like. “You need to know how much you’re spending to begin with before you even start reining it in,” said Beth Moncel of the blog Budget Bytes to The New York Times.

While paying closer attention to the total cost of one week’s worth of groceries can be a start, you’ll get a more complete and accurate picture if you analyze a wider window. “Start by opening up your bank account,” and “go through your spending history and add up how much you spent on groceries each month for the last several months,” said Ramsey Solutions, a personal finance blog. You can then “use the monthly average as your baseline grocery budget amount.”

Give yourself a reasonable spending target

Once you know how much you currently spend, get realistic about how much you could actually get by with spending. “Knowing what factors influence your grocery budget can help you make more informed decisions,” said NerdWallet. For instance, it is key to take into consideration the size of your household, as “larger families tend to spend more on groceries each month” — though they also “can take advantage of buying in bulk to lower per-person costs.” Your location also makes a big difference in what size of budget will make sense, given that “prices and product selection can vary widely by ZIP code.”

Let your pantry guide your meal planning

Using what you already have can go a long way toward saving at the store — not to mention cutting down on food waste. Maybe on a quick sweep it does not seem like you have anything to eat, but most likely, you have at least some ingredients that could play a part in other meals; if you take your pantry items into account, you can lower the total amount you have to shell out on your next grocery store trip.

Consider carving out a time to keep a running list of items you have on hand, then meal plan around those. There are even some “online recipe blogs or sites that offer recipe ideas based off a few ingredients you input,” said Ramsey Solutions, which makes the brainstorming process that much easier.

Thinking about buying or selling a house in 2026? If so, you are likely wondering how the housing market will shape up in the new year — and whether it will offer more favorable conditions than this year did.

The news is good, but not great. In 2026, “it won’t be a quick price correction, and it won’t be a recession,” said real estate company Redfin in its annual predictions. Instead, the “Great Housing Reset will be a yearslong period of gradual increases in home sales and normalization of prices as affordability gradually improves.”

Will mortgage rates come down?

Most experts expect mortgage rates to “stay elevated and relatively steady” in 2026, said Experian. There are two dueling forces at work here keeping rates roughly where they are: the first is persistent inflation, which could prevent “borrowing costs from falling much next year,” and the second is a “weakening job market and geopolitical tensions,” which “may make it less likely that mortgage rates will skyrocket again.”

To get more specific, one economist estimates that mortgage rates will “average around 6% in 2026, down from a roughly 6.7% overall average for this year,” said Realtor.com. Buyers looking for a better decrease than that should note that mortgage rates are “unlikely to return to the 3% level seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Where will home prices head?

In 2026, home prices will probably continue to inch up overall, though at a slower pace than in previous years, when homebuyers experienced an affordability crunch. While exact projections vary depending on the source, per Redfin’s estimates, “prices are expected to increase around 1% year-over-year in 2026, compared to a 2% increase in 2025,” said Business Insider.

It is also worth noting that the “level of improvement really depends on where you live,” said NerdWallet. Some markets are likely to see prices dropping off at a more accelerated rate, while others will experience a faster pickup in prices.

Could inventory improve?

Due to “persistently high mortgage rates and home prices, inventory still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels,” said Experian, citing data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Still, inventory has been slowly but steadily improving — and it may “continue to grow modestly in 2026, with growth predictions ranging from 5% to 10%.”

Home sales may tick up as well, but “only slightly, because affordability will improve just enough to lure some on-the-fence buyers,” said Redfin. Meanwhile, “many house hunters will remain priced out and/or limited by a stalled labor market.”

Inflation may have fallen from its double-digit highs but is still expected to remain above the Bank of England’s 2% target into 2026, which will impact household bills.

Forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) suggested wage growth and energy price volatility could keep inflation, which measures the cost of living, “higher for longer”.

Inflation was measured at 3.6% in October, said MoneyWeek, suggesting it “may have peaked in 2025”.

But lower inflation doesn’t mean prices are falling, said Big Issue, and many people are still “feeling the impact of the cost of living crisis”. Announcements in the Autumn Budget may also impact individual household finances.

Wages

Household budgets could get a boost from pay rises in 2026. The government has confirmed a 4.1% rise in the minimum wage for over-21s to £12.71 per hour from April 2026. It will benefit 2.4 million workers but, while positive, the higher wage will still “fall short of the voluntary real living wage”, said Katherine Chapman, director of the Living Wage Foundation. This is set at £13.45 per hour in the UK, and £14.80 in London.

Meanwhile, employers have raised concerns the wage hike will push up prices, with worries about a hiring freeze among businesses.

Pensioners are likely to be satisfied with a boost to their state pension payments, set to rise by 4.8% to £12,548 per year from April 2026.

But frozen thresholds mean the higher state pension payments and wage growth could see more people “dragged into higher tax bands”, said The Guardian, ultimately hitting your household budget.

Weekly shop

Food prices made the “largest upward contribution” to October’s inflation data, according to the Office for National Statistics, and there are fears that costs may rise further.

A “combination of pressures” is pushing the cost of a weekly shop up, said Saga, including higher costs for fertiliser and animal feed as well as for food, fuel, labour and transport.

The British Retail Consortium has forecast that food price inflation will remain above 5% in 2026, especially as a new sugar tax announced in the Budget “does little to mitigate the rising cost of food and essentials”.

Petrol prices

Drivers were boosted by a freeze in fuel duty in the Budget, with a temporary 5p cut kept in place. But the “sting in the tail”, said This Is Money, is that the 5p cut will gradually be reduced from September 2026.

Motorists, however, may be helped by the launch of a new government-backed Fuel Finder scheme in February 2026. The programme will mandate petrol forecourts to “share real-time price rises in a bid to call out rip-off retailers”.

Energy bills

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said in her Autumn Budget that she would remove £150 from household energy bills by ending the Energy Company Obligation scheme from March 2026.

The ECO previously provided energy efficiency support for households, funded by suppliers through bills, and it would be “unthinkable”, said MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis, if it is not passed on.

But while this "may take the sting out of energy bills right now", costs will need to be picked up elsewhere, said Dr Craig Lowrey, from energy consultancy Cornwall Insight. This may result in higher taxes.

Childcare

The two-child benefit cap for those on universal credit is set to be scrapped from April 2026 in a “huge boost for families”, said The Sun.

Universal credit claimants can currently get up to 85% of their childcare costs repaid up to £1,031.88 for one child and £1,768.94 for two or more.

The payments were previously capped at two children, but parents will get an extra £736.06 for each child above the two-person limit from April 2026.

Labour MPs and charities, said the BBC, have argued that this is the “most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty”.

It comes as data shows it now costs £166,000 for a couple and £220,000 for a single parent to raise a child to age 18, said Moneyfarm. It means “financial planning before becoming a parent is so important”.

Cost of borrowing

With the Autumn Budget out of the way and inflation slowing, the Bank of England is “expected to cut interest rates before Christmas", said This Is Money. This would be positive for those looking to remortgage or climb on to or up the property ladder next year. But while mortgage rates are expected to fall in 2026, said the HomeOwners Alliance it is not necessarily going to be a “sharp drop”.

Life already throws enough costs your way. The last thing you want is to pay extra money for the place you are keeping your money safe, whether you use that bank account to cover daily transactions or to build up your savings.

Not only are fees an inconvenience, they can also take a big bite out of your available funds. A 2024 banking survey by Ernst & Young “found that bank fees have reached nearly $82 billion a year, or about $311 for every adult in the U.S.,” said CNBC Select. But if you are strategic, you stand a solid chance of steering clear of the most common costs that hit account holders.

Make sure to meet any minimum balance or other requirements

A common fee you will run into at banks is a monthly service fee, which is a cost simply for having your account up and running. The good news is that “banks that have these fees usually waive them if you maintain your balance above a specified amount, have a direct deposit set up or make a certain number of transactions with your debit card,” said Bankrate. If these requirements apply, make sure you know what you have to do to meet them, so you do not end up paying the fee instead.

Keep regular tabs on your account balance

Potentially costly fees could apply if you overdraft your account. While you can avoid this cost by signing up for overdraft protection, “unfortunately, this protection also comes at a cost,” said Investopedia. A fee-free way to avoid running into this scenario is to commit to regularly checking in on your account balance. That way, you always know exactly how much you have in your account and do not spend beyond that. As a bonus, it is also a useful budgeting exercise.

Do the legwork to find in-network ATMs

Average total ATM fees, “including both the charge from your own bank as well as from the ATM’s operator, are at a record high of $4.86,” said Kiplinger, citing a recent Bankrate survey. As such, even if it feels like a bit of a hassle, it can quite literally pay off to search for an in-network ATM to use, where these fees will not apply. Some banks, particularly online-only banks, are “members of large networks, such as Allpoint or MoneyPass, that allow customers to withdraw money fee-free from tens of thousands of ATMs around the country,” said Kiplinger.

Sign up for paperless statements

If you are still getting paper account statements in the mail, there is a chance you are paying for them. “In an effort to encourage customers to take advantage of online banking services, many banks are now charging a fee for requesting paper statements,” said SmartAsset, a personal finance blog. Although it “may not seem like much to pay $2 or $3 a month for this service,” those charges “can add up over time”

Your to-do list likely does not need another item added to it. But when it comes to home maintenance, putting off those seemingly small, annoying tasks — think trimming your trees or vacuuming behind your refrigerator — can lead to that much more of your time and money getting taken up later.

Consider the less-than-fun task of cleaning out your gutters. If done yourself, it could take 30 minutes to an hour, maybe a little longer depending on the size of your home, or you could shell out “$100 to $200 for a pro to do the job,” said AARP. But skipping that chore can lead to a backup in rainwater, which can get under your roof or into your walls; the consequent home repairs are likely to cost you “around $3,800.”

Here are four home maintenance tasks that may cost you big — unless you get ahead of them. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

1. Clearing out your gutters

It’s a recommendation worth repeating: Clean out your gutters. “Gutters and downspouts divert water from your home during a storm, preventing erosion, mildew damage and foundation problems,” said Zebra, an insurance comparison platform. All of these are issues you probably want to avoid with your home. By checking the gutters to ensure proper drainage and clearing out any debris like leaves or bird nests that may be preventing it, you can avoid the chance of those much more costly, involved repairs.

2. Trimming your trees

Tree trimming is another task that can be easy to put off, especially since it is not always easy to reach branches yourself, and the cost of hiring someone is not necessarily that small. The “national average cost of tree trimming services is $550,” with more trees leading to a bigger bill, said personal finance website GOBankingRates, citing data from HomeGuide. However, doing so can “prolong the life of your roof (a nearly $9,500 replacement job on average) and gutters (typically about $1,200 to replace), while also slowing the growth of the tree’s roots, which could save you $5,000 or more in foundation damage,” said AARP.

3. Getting your heating and cooling systems serviced

Unfortunately, “many people don’t consider having a professional maintain their HVAC equipment until it’s too late and a breakdown has already occurred,” said Ben Baca, an implementation manager at SmartAC.com, to U.S. News & World Report. But regular check-ins are essential not only for ensuring interruption-free heating and cooling for your home, but for some types of systems’ safety, too. Routine servicing can also help make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible, which can in turn save you money on bills.

4. Cleaning your dryer vent and fridge coils

Your dryer and refrigerator are two large home appliances you probably do not think much about, until, one day, they stop working so well. But regular cleanings will help keep both humming along. A clogged dryer vent “can make your dryer less efficient and can start a fire,” which is why it is essential to clean out at least once a year, said Ramsey Solutions, a personal finance site. Similarly, you should “gently brush and vacuum” the coils on the back of your fridge “once a year to stop the fridge from needlessly working overtime.”

Even if you have already chosen an account for retirement savings, that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t change your mind about it later. In fact, this is not at all uncommon — and many people see meaningful benefits from making a switch further down the line.

One common swap that people make is converting their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. With this move, retirees can skip paying taxes on their withdrawals, but they will need to pay taxes on the money contributed, as a Roth IRA is funded with after-tax funds as opposed to pre-tax funds like a traditional IRA.

To determine whether or not this tax trade-off makes sense, it is important to weigh both the benefits and the drawbacks that a Roth conversion can have.

Pro: You will enjoy tax-free growth and withdrawals.

Since you pay taxes up front with a Roth IRA, the money you put into it can grow tax-free, and later withdrawals are tax-free as well. That tax-free growth can make a big difference in your life — “if you let your investments grow over several decades, that could lead to tens of thousands of dollars in tax savings,” said Ramsey Solutions, a personal finance blog. Plus, if you expect to be in a higher tax bracket later than you are now, that could result in “significant tax savings down the line,” said Vanguard.

Con: Your tax bill could go up right now.

While you may see tax benefits later, you are likely to end up with a tax bill now. When you convert a traditional IRA or 401(k), “you’re recognizing that contribution as income, and you must pay taxes on it — the taxes you didn’t pay when it went into the traditional account with pre-tax dollars,” said Bankrate. Depending on the amount you convert, that could even push you into a higher tax bracket overall.

Pro: You will not have to take RMDs.

A Roth IRA does not mandate taking required minimum distributions (RMDs), which the IRS requires for other account types, such as traditional IRAs, once you hit a certain age. This means with a Roth IRA, “you get to decide how and when you take money out of your account in retirement after a Roth conversion,” said Ramsey Solutions. In the meantime, your funds can continue growing tax-free.

Con: You typically have to wait five years for withdrawals.

“If you’re under 59 ½, you can’t use your funds for five years after a traditional IRA to Roth conversion,” due to what is known as the five-year rule, said Kiplinger. If, for some reason, you need access to the funds sooner, you may get hit with a 10% early withdrawal penalty, depending on your age.

Pro: You can pass on accounts tax-free.

A Roth conversion can also serve as a valuable estate planning tool, as “your heirs could inherit those funds income tax-free,” unlike with a traditional IRA or 401(k), said Kiplinger. Further, “inherited Roth earnings continue to grow tax-free, meaning your heirs have more flexibility on when to withdraw.”

Con: Your eligibility for government programs could be impacted.

If you “participate in government health care programs or others that depend on your income, a conversion could affect your eligibility in those programs or their cost,” said Bankrate. This is why it’s crucial to be mindful of timing when making a Roth conversion. Otherwise, said Charles Schwab, it “could increase your Medicare premiums and the taxes you pay on Social Security benefits.”

A bonus can be a cherry on top of the salary you are already earning. But just because it is extra money outside of your expected income does not mean you should skip giving some extra thought to how you spend it. Used mindfully, a bonus can actually make a meaningful difference to your financial situation.

Think about it this way: On average, a bonus is about “2.8% of total compensation,” which “means an employee earning $80,000 might receive roughly $2,240, while someone making $120,000 could see closer to $3,360,” said Kiplinger, citing data from Northwestern Mutual. That could mean an extra couple thousand knocked off your credit card balance or deposited into your emergency fund — money you will be glad to have next time you inevitably need a car repair or something breaks around the house.

To help better assess your potential options, here are some savvy ways to make use of that added cash you worked hard for all year.

1. Paying down any high-interest debt

Before you get carried away with thoughts of tropical vacations or lavish dinners out, take a look at the balances on any debt you have, particularly high-interest debt like credit card debt. Applying your bonus toward it offers a one-two punch, said Yahoo Finance: “Not only does this clear your balance faster, but it also saves you money in interest over time.” Given that the average credit card APR is around 25%, on even just a smaller balance, that could translate to hundreds of dollars in savings over time.

2. Topping off your emergency fund

The rule of thumb when it comes to emergency savings is to have at least three to six months’ worth of your living expenses stashed away. That way, if the worst happens, such as a layoff or an unanticipated slew of medical bills, you can come out on the other side still standing.

“Dedicating 25-50% of your bonus to emergency savings can make a huge difference. For example, if you get a $3,000 bonus and put $1,500 toward your emergency fund, you’ve potentially just added a month of financial security without changing your day-to-day lifestyle,” said Hanna Horvath, CFP and Bankrate managing editor, to Bankrate. Ideally, you will put that money into a high-yield savings account, so it is earning interest while it sits there waiting for whenever you may need it.

3. Putting a little more toward retirement

Already have your debts settled and your savings well-stocked? Consider topping up your retirement account if you have not already maxed out contributions for the year. Leveraging your bonus in this way can be extra beneficial, as with retirement accounts like 401(k) plans and IRAs, “you can contribute pre-tax dollars, which allows you to lower your tax bill in April (or get a bigger refund), as well as defer taxes until you make withdrawals,” said Yahoo Finance.

The end of the year is a common time to retire, but how do you know if it is the right time for you? Technically, you can start withdrawing funds from your retirement accounts at age 65 without penalty. But that age may or may not feel like the right time for you to exit the workplace.

Ultimately, the decision to retire is personal, and is one that depends on your financial situation and other life circumstances — not to mention how you are feeling about the drastic transition. If you are starting to notice some of the following signs, you may be about ready to hang up your hat.

Minimal debt

While debt is never ideal to have at any point, it can become a real burden during your retirement years, when you are no longer actively bringing in income and instead have to rely on what you have socked away. “If you are already debt-free, you might be ready to live on a fixed income,” said Investopedia. But if you still have outstanding debt, particularly high-interest debt like credit card debt, then you may have an easier time managing on a fixed income if you have that paid down prior to retiring.

Confidence in your retirement savings

A major determinant in whether or not you are ready to retire is whether you have enough saved up to cover your needs and sustain the retirement lifestyle you have envisioned. To gauge this, “identify all of your sources of retirement income, tally your budget requirements, consider hobbies, travel and unexpected medical expenses and see if your savings, factoring in inflation, are enough to achieve your retirement goals,” said Kiplinger, citing Scott Bishop, the managing director at Presidio Wealth Partners. A financial advisor can also help you run the numbers.

No more enthusiasm for your career

While “from time to time, it’s normal to feel numb to your job,” if you are experiencing these feelings regularly, say, “more than once or twice a week, it might be time to pack it up,” said The Wall Street Journal, citing David Conti, a retirement coach at consulting firm RetireMentors. Other signs it might be a time to retire include lost interest in career advancement, such as if you “shrink from learning new tech tools” or actively “avoid promotions,” or do not even see any prospects on your horizon, said the outlet.

Vision for what lies ahead

A successful retirement also hinges on having a plan for what is to come — otherwise, you may risk feeling lost without the structure of your working life. “If you don’t have any activities you’d like to pursue outside of work, that may be a sign you aren’t ready to retire,” said U.S. News & World Report. But if you have big plans for travel or potential hobbies you are longing to try, alongside a clear budget and a plan for tackling realities like inflation and health care costs, then you very well may be ready to sail off into your golden years.

If you have a great rate on your mortgage, it may feel tough to give that up to move houses — especially if current mortgage rates are significantly higher. But what if you could move your mortgage with you? This is, effectively, what portable mortgages make possible: they allow existing homeowners to take their existing rate with them to a new property.

As of now, this type of mortgage is primarily available abroad. But the Trump administration has floated the idea of making it possible in the U.S. Those in favor “argue that portability could loosen up inventory by making it more affordable for current homeowners to move,” said Kiplinger. However, others contend that it may “introduce significant complications,” not to mention “offer little benefit to renters or first-time buyers struggling with today’s prices.”

How do portable mortgages work?

While “selling your home usually means saying goodbye to that loan and the rates and terms attached, a portable mortgage allows you to move with it,” said Realtor.com. Say, for example, there is a “homeowner selling their house for $400,000 with half of that paid off on a 3% mortgage,” said CNN Business. If they had a portable mortgage, they “could sell their home and transfer the $200,000 left on the loan to the new house, keeping the 3% rate.”

The math can get more complicated if the new home costs more than the last one did. In that case, it would be necessary to cover the difference in cost between the two properties, “either in cash or through a second, smaller loan likely issued at the current higher interest rate,” said CNN.

Why are portable mortgages not already available in the US?

In the U.K. and Canada, it is already possible to get a portable mortgage. But the concept has not made its way to the U.S. yet. This is largely due to a vast difference in the usual lengths of mortgage terms. While in the U.S., mortgage terms are typically 15 or 30 years, in the U.K. and Canada, terms are usually only two to five years. These shorter loan terms “lend themselves to portability because borrowers can’t lock in an interest rate for decades,” said Yahoo Finance.

An additional complication is the central role of mortgage-backed securities in the U.S. housing market. Those are “essentially bundles of mortgages that banks or lenders sell to investors, which gives the banks the cash they need to issue new loans and keep the mortgage market flowing,” said CNN Business.

Could portable mortgages help with home affordability?

In short, “while there’s a clear upside to portable mortgages for homeowners with low interest rates, there’s little benefit to everyone else,” said Realtor.com. First-time homebuyers, for instance, who do not already have a competitive mortgage rate locked in, would still have to contend with whatever current mortgage rates are.

There is also the possibility that the practice, if implemented, could backfire — and not just due to complications around mortgage-backed securities. The “favorable financing of some” might in turn “push home prices up for all by increasing buying power, much like what happened during the pandemic housing boom,” said Realtor.com, citing senior economist Jake Krimmel.

Medical debt can already feel like a double whammy. First, you have a medical event to contend with, and then you are saddled with bills from the whole ordeal. But could there be a third blow, with your credit score taking a hit if you struggle to pay the bills?

For a while, the three major credit bureaus were on track to remove medical debt from the credit reports. But that plan hit a roadblock when a “court ruling this summer canceled a Biden-era federal effort,” said The New York Times. Now, the Trump administration is “seeking to thwart similar state efforts,” making it all the more likely that those struggling with medical debt may see a credit impact.

When does medical debt affect your credit?

Medical debt can have an impact on your credit if your debt is over $500. The three main credit bureaus “voluntarily removed medical debts under $500 from credit reports in 2023, and that policy remains in place,” said the Times, citing a spokesman for the credit bureau industry association.

If your bills are over that amount, then they will appear on your credit report and can “negatively impact your credit score if your account is sold to collections and you don’t pay the bill within the 365-day grace period,” said Experian, one of the three major bureaus. That mark can remain on your report for up to seven years, though it will fall off once you have repaid your debt.

But even with the recent reversals, medical debt may not have a huge impact, depending on the credit scoring model. “Newer FICO credit scoring models give less weight to unpaid medical collections than to other types of collections, and newer VantageScore® credit scoring models don't consider unpaid medical collections at all,” said Experian. That said, some models may still account for it.

How can you avoid credit impacts from medical debt?

The best way to prevent medical debt from harming your credit is to ensure that debt does not end up in collections. “As long as your debt remains with your provider, it’s not reported to the three main credit bureaus,” said CNBC Select. It is only “after several months of non-payment” that “your provider may sell your debt to a collections agency” — a period during which you should take action.

What options do you have to help address medical debt?

Medical debt can be an unexpected and unavoidable expense. To pay off your medical bills and avoid them dragging down your credit, consider:

Negotiating. “Health care providers are often willing to work with you if it means they’ll receive at least partial payment rather than nothing at all,” said Experian.

Asking about a payment plan. Depending on your provider, you may be able to set up an arrangement to pay your total bill in installments, “possibly with no interest,” said CNBC Select.

Looking into financial assistance options. It is also worth finding out if your hospital offers any financial assistance options, some of which are income-dependent. “Even if your hospital stay was over a year ago,” it may be “possible to get financial assistance retroactively,” said Bankrate, citing Lindsey Zischkale, a policy analyst at Undue Medical Debt. Nonprofit organizations may also be able to offer help.

If you are of a certain age and have saved money in a tax-advantaged retirement account like a 401(k) or IRA, the year will inevitably come when you have to start withdrawing those funds. These withdrawals, known as required minimum distributions (RMDs), are mandated by the IRS to ensure that at some point, you pay taxes on the balance you have amassed.

While it may sound straightforward enough to simply remove the money from your account, RMDs introduce a minefield of rules and particulars. You will want to make sure you are aware of these, especially since certain missteps can lead to a sizable tax penalty.

1. Missing the deadline

As the end of the year approaches, so, too, does the deadline for taking your RMD. If you miss this deadline, the IRS “imposes a 25% penalty on the amount not withdrawn by the deadline,” said Kiplinger. You may be able to lower the penalty to 10% if you correct your mistake within two years, but you will still face a penalty.

The only variation in this annual deadline is the first year you are required to take your RMD. The year you turn 73 (75 if you were born in 1960 or later), the IRS gives you until April 1 of the following year to take your first RMD. But putting it off until then can introduce challenges, as it will mean “you have to take two RMDs in less than 12 months — the one you held over to the end of March, and the regular one due on Dec. 31,” said Investopedia. Depending on your account size, that could translate to hefty withdrawals, and, thus, a hefty tax bill.

2. Miscalculating RMD amounts

Many retirees “struggle with accurately determining their RMD due to confusion about which IRS life expectancy table to use or how to account for year-end account balances,” said Kiplinger. This can result in not taking out enough and then owing penalties. Again, the penalty for this is 25%, and it would apply to the amount not withdrawn on time, in addition to the regular income tax already owed.

The good news: You likely do not even have to do this math yourself — either your 401(k) plan administrator or IRA custodian should be able to tell you the proper amount of your RMD. The bad news: “An outstanding rollover or transfer will cause the calculation to reflect an amount that is less than your true RMD,” said Morningstar. This could throw a wrench into the equation, which is why it is vital to ensure you are providing all relevant information to your account provider.

3. Getting mixed up on rules for different account types

Another way RMDs commonly trip people up is when there is more than one account type involved, such as a 401(k) and an IRA, or more than one of each. For instance, “RMDs from 401(k) plans must be calculated and withdrawn separately for each account, meaning they can’t be combined with RMDs from IRAs,” said Kiplinger.

However, “with traditional IRAs and with 403(b) accounts, if you have more than one account, once you total your RMDs from all of your accounts, you can withdraw that total sum from just one or from multiple accounts,” said The Motley Fool. That said, you cannot “withdraw an RMD for an IRA from a 403(b) or vice versa,” said Kiplinger.

Any mixups can lead to taking insufficient RMDs, which, once again, can lead to a penalty. To clear up confusion, talk to a tax professional or financial adviser.

Kicking yourself for not spending a little bit extra on travel insurance for your next trip? You may already have it.

As it turns out, some credit cards — particularly travel credit cards — automatically come with travel insurance coverage. When you use a card with built-in coverage to book a trip, you may be able to get reimbursed in the event of cancellations, delays or interruptions; for instance, if you find out that your flight home for Thanksgiving is now not slated to land until well after the turkey dinner.

What does credit card travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance through credit cards will typically offer reimbursement “for a trip cancellation, delayed or lost luggage, rental car insurance and other travel-related expenses,” said CNBC Select. Medical-related incidents, like treatment or an evacuation, are also commonly covered.

However, the types and amount of coverage you get can vary widely. “With a higher annual fee, you’ll typically get more types of coverage and higher coverage amounts,” said NerdWallet. Almost across the board, though, the rule of thumb is that you have to have used the card with the coverage to pay for the trip to take advantage of it. Additionally, “most credit card travel insurance is secondary insurance: If your luggage is stolen, you have to file a claim with your homeowners insurance provider before your card company will pay out,” said CNBC Select.

How does credit card travel insurance compare to a standalone policy?

The major differences between the travel insurance offered through a credit card and a standalone travel insurance policy come down to cost and the amount and types of coverage provided. While you do typically have to use the card to pay for your trip costs, you will generally not face any additional costs to take advantage of the perk. For a standalone policy, however, you will probably pay “between 4% and 8% of a trip’s total value,” said CNBC Select.

Standalone policies tend to be much more comprehensive in the coverage they provide. With credit card coverage, there may be some notable exclusions. For instance, “most credit card trip interruption and cancellation insurance benefits exclude cancellations or interruptions caused by a sudden recurrence of a preexisting condition,” said The Points Guy, a credit card blog. Another thing commonly excluded are “adventure sports like base jumping, sky diving, free soloing, diving, mountaineering and paragliding.”

How can you make use of your card’s travel insurance coverage?

If you want to fall back on your card’s travel insurance for an upcoming trip, make sure to read the fine print first. “Some benefits require you to enroll — and virtually all require a formal claim process, with no reimbursement guarantee,” said The Points Guy.

Hang onto any receipts along the way, as you will likely need to provide them to file a claim. The same goes for “key documentation such as showing how a loss occurred, correspondence with travel providers proving they won’t reimburse you, doctors’ notes, police reports or any other applicable paperwork,” said Bankrate.

Keep in mind that you must submit your claim within a certain timeframe, usually “less than 60 days,” said Bankrate. You will “download a claim form from the credit card provider’s website and submit evidence of the losses or situations for which you’re seeking reimbursement,” after which your credit card provider will get in touch with their decision.

An adjustable-rate mortgage, or ARM, can seem like an enticing offer, as they often offer initially lower rates than the more standard fixed-rate mortgage. But later on, the rate is subject to change based on wherever mortgage rates head — and that certainly can be upward, leaving borrowers with higher payments as a result.

Still, more buyers are increasingly willing to take that gamble, given the current housing market that has left some “desperate for affordable monthly payments when home prices are up more than 50% since 2019 and are near all-time highs,” said The Wall Street Journal. Many people are accepting ARMs in the hopes that “mortgage rates will fall in the coming years, enabling them to refinance before the fixed terms of their ARM loans expire.” But there is no guarantee that will happen, nor is that the only risk of this type of mortgage loan.

How do adjustable-rate mortgages work?

An ARM has two periods: a fixed period and an adjustment period. During the fixed period, which usually lasts anywhere from three to 10 years, the interest rate on the loan does not change. After that, the adjustment period begins, when the rate can start changing, going either up or down based on market conditions.

These rate changes during the adjustment period typically occur every six or 12 months. When those intervals hit, “if there’s a drop in the benchmark index your lender selects when your ARM resets, your rate will go down,” whereas “if there’s an increase in that benchmark, that rate will go up,” said CNBC Select.

What are the risks of an ARM?

When the interest rate on your mortgage is changing periodically, it introduces uncertainty into your financial situation. There is always the chance that your rate will go up, which in turn will increase your monthly payments. Managing these swings requires some budgeting flexibility.

If, for whatever reason, you cannot afford the higher payments when they happen, “you could default, harm your credit and ultimately face foreclosure,” said Bankrate. Even if you can swing the steeper payments, you could “end up paying more overall for an ARM than if you’d initially taken out a fixed-rate mortgage instead,” even if the initial rate was lower in comparison, said Rocket Mortgage.

Plus, securing an ARM in the first place is potentially “more difficult” than a fixed-rate mortgage, as “you’ll need a higher down payment of at least 5%, versus 3% for a conventional fixed-rate loan,” said Bankrate.

When can an adjustable-rate mortgage make sense?

Despite the risks, an ARM can be a “smart financial choice if you are planning to keep the loan for a limited period of time and will be able to handle any rate increases in the meantime,” said Investopedia. For instance, if you “expect rates to drop before your ARM rate resets, taking out an ARM now, and then refinancing to a lower rate at the right time, could save you a considerable sum of money,” said Bankrate.

Additionally, said Bankrate, for those “planning to sell before the fixed period is up,” such as buyers who are purchasing their starter home and soon plan to upgrade, an ARM “can save you a bundle on interest.”

The holiday season is notoriously tough on the wallet. And this year, the impact may be even more dramatic, thanks to price hikes resulting largely from the slate of tariffs enacted under President Donald Trump.

Even though the “impact so far this year has been muted, tariffs are expected to catch up with prices consumers pay just in time for the holiday shopping season,” said CNBC. There may also be fewer, and less generous, discounts to soften the steeper price tags.

What effects will tariffs have on holiday shopping?

If Trump’s current tariffs had been in place during the 2024 holiday shopping season, it is estimated that “consumers would have shouldered an estimated $28.6 billion” in added costs on gift purchases, said LendingTree, citing its analysis of data sources including the NRF and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Per shopper, this translates to $132 more spent, said the outlet.

As retailers are also dealing with tariffs, the sales that have come to define the holiday season may be less generous. “There will absolutely be items on sale this Black Friday that you may want to purchase, and there will be plenty of legitimately good deals,” but it is unlikely that this Black Friday will be a “bonanza of all-time great deals,” said Wirecutter.

Shoppers will additionally want to look out for the “small chance you’ll receive a tariff bill upon delivery,” said Wirecutter. Though not especially common — “many companies are opting to incorporate the additional tariff costs into their retail price” — it could force you to pay that much more if you want your package delivered.

How much will prices increase due to tariffs?

Tariffs will hit some categories harder than others. For instance, looking back at 2024 once again, “electronics would have the largest per-shopper burden at $186, followed by clothing or accessories at $82,” said LendingTree. “Conversely, food or candy would have the smallest per-shopper burden, at just $12,” followed by personal care or beauty and toys, “with both at $14.”

Also worth taking into consideration: “Most consumer tech gadgets are still exempt from tariffs due to carve-outs for products with chips in them,” said Caitlin McGarry, a Wirecutter editor overseeing tech coverage, to the outlet. However, this may not continue to be the case.

Are there any ways to save amid tariffs?

Just because tariffs are an uninvited guest to your holiday season, does not mean you cannot still have a jolly good time. Some ways to save in spite of tariffs include:

Planning ahead. A category that is likely to get hit hard by tariffs is holiday decoration, like lights and wreaths. “Stocking up before Black Friday, when inventory typically starts to tighten, could help you avoid tariff surcharges,” said AARP.

Shopping secondhand. Buying used or vintage items could help you skirt past tariffs, as “these items typically aren’t subject to tariffs when resold in the country in which they were initially bought,” said Matt Schulz, a chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree, to the outlet.

Doing your homework. Not convinced the deal you are getting is actually a good one? Consider checking an item's price history to serve as a guide. Taking the time to browse multiple retailers can also provide context.

In an ideal world, you would never have any credit card debt. But sometimes you may end up carrying a balance, whether it’s because you recently made a large purchase or your finances were unexpectedly tight that month. There is a fine line, though, between a balance that is manageable and one that is potentially a problem.

If you are unsure whether you have crossed into troublesome territory, here are some telltale signs that will tip you off.

1) Your credit utilization is starting to affect your credit score

Your credit utilization reflects how much of your total credit you are currently using. If you have used up most of the amount available to you across your lines of credit, that “not only signals that you might be overextended, but it also actively damages your credit score,” said CBS News.

Generally, “experts recommend a credit utilization below 30%,” or even lower, to avoid impacts on your score, said Yahoo Finance. Anything at or above that threshold “could mean your monthly debts are becoming burdensome.”

2) You can only afford to pay the minimum due each month

Struggling to pay any more than what you absolutely have to each month to avoid a late fee? That should sound an alarm.

“While occasional cash flow issues might force you to make one minimum payment here and there, a pattern hints at trouble,” said CBS News. It not only signals that you have racked up more debt than your budget can comfortably accommodate, but it can also trap you in a cycle of debt. The reality is, “minimum payments are designed to keep you repaying your credit card balances — often at a high interest rate — over a long time,” said U.S. News & World Report.

3) Your balance is not going down, even with regular payments

If you are “continually adding to your debt rather than making consistent progress on paying down the balances, you’re headed down the wrong path financially," said financial analyst Greg McBride to Bankrate. A steadily ballooning balance can signal that your credit card balance is part of a larger trend of overspending, rather than a one-time thing that you have a handle on.

Further, if your overall debt load compared to your earnings — known as your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio — creeps over 36%, it can be “difficult to pay off and can make accessing credit more challenging,” said NerdWallet.

4) You are neglecting other financial priorities due to your debt

If your other financial priorities, such as stocking your emergency fund and setting aside money for your retirement, have fallen to the wayside as you pour more and more into paying down your debt, that is a definite red flag. Credit cards can be a useful financial tool when used properly. However, “too much debt, and the wrong kind of debt, will stand in the way of making financial progress,” said McBride to Bankrate.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the way people live and work. But while there may be fears the technology could spark job losses, there are also investment opportunities.

AI is the “hottest area of technology”, said Fidelity, and many investors are keen to gain exposure to it.

Fortunately, there are numerous avenues for those looking to invest in this way. But there are also numerous risks.

How to invest in AI

A substantial number of options are available for those who want to invest in AI, with many companies developing and producing AI technology across various sectors. Some may be listed on stock markets such as the Nasdaq and the S&P 500.

One of the biggest is semi-conductor chip maker Nvidia, which controls the majority of chip sales with its hardware and software ecosystem.

There are hundreds of AI stocks, said IG, but the market is dominated by a “handful of US blue chips” such as Microsoft, Google, Meta and Tesla.

Investors don’t need to be a “tech expert or spend hours digging through company reports to join this trend”, said Barclays Smart Investor.

Options include investing through a professionally managed fund or exchange-traded fund focused on AI and technology, “which can spread your money across a range of companies from major players in global tech to smaller, fast-growing innovators.”

Is AI a good investment?

AI could “impact every sector”, said Hargreaves Lansdown, such as helping with diagnosing diseases or offering bespoke retail advertising tailored to each consumer, which has “investors excited about their prospects”.

The “scale of the opportunity” has become a “major driver” for investing in AI, said Saxo.

The AI market is expected to be worth more than $826 billion (£621 billion) by 2030, the multi-asset platform added, “reflecting robust adoption across various industries”.

The risks of AI

The “market impact” of AI has been massive, said Trustnet, with major players such as Google, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and Nvidia helping double the value of the Nasdaq since the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022.

But investors are “growing increasingly concerned” about AI stocks being a bubble that could be about to burst.

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JP Morgan, along with the Bank of England, are among the latest to warn that the stock market is “saturated with AI megacaps”, said MoneyWeek.

This would be poor timing in the UK, said Politico, with chancellor Rachel Reeves rumoured to be planning cuts to the cash ISA allowance to “push Britain’s savers into the stock market”.

Investors need to see a return from AI stocks, added Hargreaves Lansdown, and there is “evidence of herd mentality” where consumers put money into shares in fear of missing out, “rather than because of company prospects”.

It is important to “understand the specific risks of a fund or trust” and check that its objectives align with yours.

Investment is often risky, and there is a lot of uncertainty as the technology is still developing. As such it is important to do your research, and only invest in companies with a “proven track record of success in the AI space”, said Unbiased.

The clocks have gone back as we approach winter and as temperatures drop, there may be more pressure on your wallet.

Winter can be an “expensive time of year”, said Age UK, particularly with high energy bills to contend with and Christmas fast approaching.

The rising costs of the season can “put a chill on even the strongest of household budgets”, said StepChange.

Wages

If you worked a night shift when the clocks went back, you may be entitled to extra money this month.

Staff who are paid hourly or for set hours without time specifics, “should be getting paid an extra hour’s wage” if they did a night shift when the clocks changed, Will Burrows, a partner at Bloomsbury Square Employment Law, told The Sun.

And if your hourly rate is higher on a Sunday in your role, there is added “good news” as this sum will apply to the extra hour, too.

Car repairs

Insurers see the “highest rate of single vehicle claims” during the winter, said Policy Expert, as drivers are “far more likely” to lose control due to “poor road conditions” from ice, snow or rain.

Consequently, it is important to to “plan ahead” before venturing into the cold this winter, said the RAC, especially if you want to keep costs as low as possible. This includes knowing your route, ensuring you have petrol, oil and that fluid levels are topped up. Try to avoid potholes and road defects that can cause “unnecessary damage to your vehicle”.

The festive season

Shoppers are expected to spend an average of £1,371 in the six weeks before Christmas, said The Independent, despite a third of people feeling “financially worse off this year”.

The winter months are “never going to be a cheap time of year”, said Yahoo Finance, with Christmas approaching and the pressure of presents and parties.

So if you want to make sure your finances aren’t negatively impacted, it will be vital not to get carried away. Protect yourself with a “strict budget and a shopping list”.

With the nights drawing in, there is also the risk of lower serotonin levels that “can affect your mood”. As shopping “tends to release dopamine”, we can be more inclined to impulse spend, so always “stay alive” to these risks.

Energy bills

The winter months mean households will “start to reach for the thermostat”, said Which?, meaning higher energy bills.

There are “easy things” you can do to keep your energy bills down, such as DIY draught-proofing and “making the most of your boiler settings”.

Households can also consider “everyday actions and home improvements”, said Ofgem, including turning the heating down, setting the washing machine to 30 degrees and using smart controls so you can set your heating and hot water “to come on only when you need it”.

Crime waves

There is often a “seasonal rise in burglary and car crime” during the winter, said Met Engage, as criminals use the “cover of darkness” as an opportunity to strike.

Home and car owners can protect themselves by locking doors and windows, and making sure alarm systems are activated. External security lights can help “deter burglars by lighting up when someone approaches your property”.

Autumn Budget

Tax hikes and spending cuts are “almost inevitable” when the Autumn Budget is announced by the chancellor on 26 November, said MoneyWeek, due to “high borrowing costs, weak economic growth and stretched public services”.

Rumours include changes to property taxes and pension relief, but any reported changes are just rumours for now, said Fidelity, so making “snap decisions” could prove “very costly” to your finances in the long run.

It’s a bull, it’s a bear, it’s a — what? You may have heard these terms thrown around in reference to what the stock market is currently doing. In short, a bull market is one that is on the up-and-up, whereas a bear market is on the decline.

So, which one are we in now? As it turns out, the bull and the bear are not so easy to spot — at least not in the moment. While these terms are “often misused as a prescription for the future,” in actuality, they are intended to describe market conditions that have come and may already be gone, said The New York Times.

What is a bull market?

A ‘bull market’ refers to a market that is “on the rise and where the conditions of the economy are generally favorable,” said Investopedia. Commonly, this rise is “defined as a 20% or more increase” in asset prices “from their most recent low,” though it can also “refer to a price spike in a specific market,” said Bankrate.

When the market is bullish, investors are typically feeling good, buoyed by solid economic conditions and a sense of optimism about where markets are headed. This “drives demand for stocks and pushes prices higher,” similar to a bull “thrusting its horns upward,” hence the name, said personal finance blog SmartAsset.

What is a bear market?

A bear market is “one that is in decline,” though a market is “usually not considered a true ‘bear’ market unless it has fallen 20% or more from recent highs,” said Investopedia. Again, this term can refer to just one asset class.

The cause of the downward trend can be a “slowing or sluggish economy, high inflation, rising interest rates, geopolitical instability, substantial shifts in the economy and other factors that impact investor sentiment and create uncertainty,” said Bankrate. These markets “tend to occur before an economic downturn and may signal a recession,” as was the case with “the Great Depression, the dot-com bubble, the Great Recession and as the pandemic started in February 2020.”

Understandably, these market conditions leave investors feeling less optimistic, in turn slowing down trading. The good news: “Bear markets almost never last as long as bull markets,” said The Motley Fool, an investing blog.

How should you approach investing in a bull vs. bear market?

Given the major implications of the differences between a bull vs. a bear market, it may seem like it makes sense to pivot your investment plan accordingly. But “by the time investors recognize a bear or bull market is happening, it’s often too late to shift strategies,” said Bankrate.

If you are a “buy-and-hold investor, you probably shouldn’t change your investing strategy based on prevailing market conditions,” said The Motley Fool. Instead, strategies like diversification and dollar-cost averaging, where you regularly invest regardless of price, will help your portfolio stay on track no matter if the market is soaring or slumping.

We have endured the dot-com bubble and the housing bubble. And now, according to some experts, we may be in an AI bubble.

As of mid-October, Wall Street is “growing louder with warnings that the artificial intelligence trade may be overheating” following “months of record gains in AI-linked stocks and corporate spending,” said Yahoo Finance. Still, “some analysts argue the market’s strength reflects conviction, not complacency, and that the AI trade, while stretched, still has fundamental backing.”

Only time will tell which side is right when it comes to the potential AI bubble. But in the meantime, you can brush up on what exactly a bubble is — and what the consequences of one popping may be.

What is a stock market bubble?

A stock market bubble is a “significant run-up in stock prices without a corresponding increase in the value of the businesses they represent,” said The Motley Fool. Usually, this is driven by “highly optimistic market behavior,” said Investopedia. Then, when investors’ sky-high levels of optimism start to wane as they realize their hopes are not panning out, they all begin to sell off, sending stock prices tumbling and causing an abrupt contraction in the market.

Take, for example, the dot-com bubble of the late 1990s: In the lead-up to this bubble bursting, “investors piled into any stock of just about any company with a website, regardless of its share price, revenue or profit outlook,” said U.S. News & World Report. Later, “when the dot-com bubble burst in 2000, the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped nearly 80% over the next two years.”

What are the signs of a bubble?

Surging stock prices do not necessarily indicate a bubble — assuming they are bolstered by a company’s strong performance. If, however, there is a mismatch between the information and the valuation, that could suggest a bubble. “During the height of market bubbles, prices often continue to rise even following bad news, such as earnings misses or analyst downgrades,” said U.S. News & World Report.

Bubbles frequently emerge from stocks that carry a “compelling story” with a “promise to transform the world,” such as the advent of the internet, said Bankrate. This usually leads to widespread enthusiasm, with bubbles “marked by large groups of novice or amateur investors who believe experienced investors are behind the curve or simply just don’t ‘get’ the new market paradigm,” said U.S. News & World Report.

How can a bubble affect investors?

While bubbles can benefit investors who get in early, “many investors end up losing a lot of money during market bubbles because they don’t start buying until asset prices are already significantly overvalued,” said U.S. News & World Report.

The effects of a bubble are not necessarily isolated to those who chose to invest, either. When a bubble bursts, it tends to precede a “downturn in the economy, creating a recession,” said Bankrate, which can lead to declining portfolio values and even layoffs.

Meeting someone online is easier than ever these days. But with the advent of AI and the profusion of scams, it is also harder than ever to know whether that special someone is actually who they say they are.

While potential scams are not the most romantic thing to think about when you are looking for love, they are an unfortunately common reality. Consumers lost an estimated $1.14 billion to these scams in 2023, with median losses of $2,000 — the “highest reported losses for any form of imposter scam,” said the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That is why it’s vital to be aware of the danger signs.

How do romance scams work?

“So-called romance scams involve building a relationship and trust with the victim so that the target willingly provides access to their accounts or transfers money to the criminal,” said CNBC, citing Tracy Kitten, the director of fraud and security at Javelin Strategy & Research, a financial research services firm.

A common scam tactic is catfishing, which “involves creating a false online persona,” often using “photos of other people,” said Yahoo. It is common for these scams to start through online dating platforms, but scammers may also “send victims messages ‘out of the blue’ on social media or even via SMS,” said Norton, a cyber safety company.

What are the signs of a romance scam?

If you are dating in the digital age, here are some red flags to look out for:

They quickly want to move off the platform. “Because dating apps and sites threaten their nefarious mission, romantic scammers will suggest moving off the app to text or email,” said Reader’s Digest.

They seem almost too perfect. It is a warning sign if the person is “suddenly very interested in the same things as you,” said CNBC. Also, think twice if someone is too fast to fall for you, as “scammers often use flattery, pet names or exaggerated claims of love from the start to build trust and emotional dependence,” said Equifax, a credit bureau.

They won’t do a video call. Excuses like a “broken camera or bad internet often mean they’re hiding their real identity,” said Equifax.

They are working or living abroad. Scam artists “often say they are in the building and construction industry and are engaged in projects outside the U.S.,” as this “makes it easier to avoid meeting in person — and more plausible when they ask for money,” said the FBI.

They refuse to meet in person. “Frequent last-minute cancellations and vague explanations often mean they’re avoiding in-person meetings,” said Equifax — so be wary if plans keep getting pushed back.

How can you protect yourself?

If you are dating online, there are steps you can — and should — take to help ensure what you are finding is love, and not a trap expertly laid out by a fraudster:

Insist on a video call. Video chats are “almost impossible to fake, so ask the person you’re talking to for a cam-on discussion to determine if they’re real,” said Norton. Just be mindful about what you share.

Do some research. A reverse image search can reveal where else the person's photo appears online, and whether it may be stolen. Also, see if you can confirm their background, such as “their age, location, job, education and anything else they’ve told you,” said Norton.

Avoid sending money. “Never, ever send money to someone you just met online,” regardless of whether they say they “need funds to visit you or offer up a sob story about a medical emergency,” said Reader’s Digest.

Traditionally, purchasing a home is positioned as a must-do on the checklist for financial success. But does that mean it is actually a good investment, especially when saving up for a down payment means forgoing other investment opportunities?

As of late, investors — particularly younger ones — are increasingly less convinced. Given the recent “record stock market” and the “unaffordable housing market,” younger people “either can’t afford to get on the property ladder or think they can earn a better return elsewhere,” leading many to skip out on homeownership altogether and instead opt to rent and invest in the stock market, said The Wall Street Journal.

So, is skipping home ownership the right move for you? That depends not only on an examination of potential returns but also on your personal situation and the less tangible benefits of homeownership.

Why can a house be a worthwhile investment?

Homes are “generally thought of as investments due to their ability to appreciate over time,” though of course, like any investment, there are no guarantees, said LendingTree. Still, over time, home sale prices have largely proven this to be true: “The average sale price for U.S. homes in the first quarter of 2024 was $513,100 — 10 years previous, in Q1 2014, that figure was just $331,400,” said Bankrate, citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Plus, unlike when you are renting, “your monthly mortgage payments go toward building equity in your home, allowing you to build wealth over time,” as well as giving you the opportunity to borrow against that equity in the future, said LendingTree. Home ownership also offers some tax deductions that are not available to renters.

Additionally, “there are reasons to buy a home that have nothing to do with financial returns,” such as “the predictability of mortgage costs into the future, the freedom to do what you want with the property and having it paid off by retirement,” said the Journal.

Why can a house be a worthwhile investment?

Homes are “generally thought of as investments due to their ability to appreciate over time,” though of course, like any investment, there are no guarantees, said LendingTree. Still, over time, home sale prices have largely proven this to be true: “The average sale price for U.S. homes in the first quarter of 2024 was $513,100 — 10 years previous, in Q1 2014, that figure was just $331,400,” said Bankrate, citing data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Plus, unlike when you are renting, “your monthly mortgage payments go toward building equity in your home, allowing you to build wealth over time,” as well as giving you the opportunity to borrow against that equity in the future, said LendingTree. Home ownership also offers some tax deductions that are not available to renters.

Additionally, “there are reasons to buy a home that have nothing to do with financial returns,” such as “the predictability of mortgage costs into the future, the freedom to do what you want with the property and having it paid off by retirement,” said the Journal.

What are the drawbacks of investing in a home?

As some investors are determining, a home is not always a good investment. For starters, home ownership often has a high cost to entry, especially since “housing prices have skyrocketed, and mortgage interest rates also remain steep,” said Bankrate. Then there are added expenses like closing costs, home maintenance, insurance and property taxes, all of which can work against the appreciation — which is not even certain to happen.

To really stand a chance at turning a profit, you will generally need to commit to staying put for a while. “If you only live in the home for a short period of time, you may not build enough equity or see enough appreciation to cover transaction costs and walk away with a profit,” said Rocket Mortgage. To just “break even,” it will “typically take five to 10 years,” which restricts the flexibility you would otherwise find with renting.

Should you invest in a house or elsewhere?

Ultimately, whether to sink your money into a house or another investment opportunity depends on a variety of factors, including “your financial health, risk tolerance and short- and long-term goals,” said Bankrate. It is important to be clear-eyed about the fact that while “real estate does tend to increase in value over time,” there is no guarantee of appreciation, and “you may get a better return on your money by investing in bonds or the stock market.”

When it comes to an investment like a home, however, it is about more than just the numbers. Many people “value homeownership for the stability it provides, as well as the freedom to customize the home to their preferences,” said LendingTree.

If you are like many Americans, the income from your 9-to-5 is no longer cutting it. Amid rising costs due to inflation, not to mention steepening student loan payments and tariff-driven price hikes, many people are finding their paychecks stretched thinner than ever. Enter: the side hustle.

To try and cover expenses, “almost two-thirds of currently employed Americans are looking to get a second job in the next year, according to a survey of 2,000 adults conducted by the American Staffing Association,” said Investopedia. A second job can certainly help when it comes to supplementing income or working toward financial goals like boosting savings or paying down debt. But before you take one on, it is worth assessing the full range of possibilities, so your side gig feels like less of a burden.

1. Online selling

Online selling is a flexible side hustle that can take a variety of forms and slot into the hours that work best for you. “Platforms like Poshmark, eBay and Depop make it simple to flip clothes, sneakers and vintage finds,” said Forbes. Or, if you are crafty and can, say, “knit, make jewelry or create art,” you might consider listing those handmade items on a site like Etsy.

Of course, whether or not you make money depends on whether you find buyers. You will have to carve out the time to set up your page and photograph your items, and then handle shipping whenever you make a sale.

2. Babysitting

“This might be the fastest way to pick up extra cash,” with some sites posting rates of “up to $23 per hour,” said Inc. Plus, the demand is almost guaranteed to be there, as “parents need sitters all the time for date nights or busy days,” said Ramsey Solutions, a personal finance site.

Try online websites like Care.com to view available gigs in your area. You might also have luck just from asking around.

3. Dog walking

Kids not your thing? Consider caring for dogs instead. “Apps like Wag and Rover offer on-demand dog walking, so you can pick up walks when your schedule allows,” and “there’s potential to earn an extra $300+ per month” once you have established a regular roster of clients, said NerdWallet. Just keep in mind that “success can depend heavily on location and market.”

4. Freelancing

“Freelance websites such as Upwork, Fiverr and Freelancer.com” post a “variety of freelance jobs, like writing, programming, design, marketing, data entry and being a virtual assistant,” said NerdWallet. This work allows you to earn money from the comfort of your home, and will maybe even add a line to your resume.

You may have to work a little bit more on other people’s schedules to meet deadlines, but you have the power to set your own rates and decide what jobs you take on.

5. Yard care

“Whether it’s mowing the lawn and weeding, raking fall leaves or cleaning out the gutters, there’s an incredible amount of demand for this side hustle,” said Inc. While demand is likely to be highest in warmer months, you could still keep this side gig going in the winter if you are willing to shovel snow.

As for how to land these types of gigs, “your neighborhood Facebook page is a good place to start advertising your services,” as is Nextdoor, said Inc.

So you need a new car. But which one? With hundreds of different car brands and thousands of models to choose from, you will certainly have no shortage of options when it comes to buying a car — though you may also encounter a bit of decision fatigue in the process.

By zeroing in on just a few key factors, however, you can quickly narrow down the options. Here’s how to ensure you find a car that is the right fit for you.

Decide on a realistic budget

If money is no object, skip this step and go ahead and get that convertible. For most of us, though, money is a major factor that influences the car we buy. To figure out how much you can afford to shell out, “take a few minutes to run down what you spend every month,” deducting costs like rent and groceries and contributions to savings from your total take-home pay, which will reveal “how much money you have left over and how much car you can afford,” said Edmunds, an automotive website.

Based on that amount, work backward using one of the many car affordability calculators online. These calculators take into consideration your monthly target payment, alongside added costs like sales tax and registration fees — and, if you are taking out an auto loan, interest — to give you a defined price range to shop within. Some sites will even make suggestions on specific models.

Assess your lifestyle and driving habits

When it comes to a major purchase like a car, “being honest with yourself and thinking ahead will serve you well,” said U.S. News & World Report. This means ditching images of cruising around solo on a Saturday afternoon when, in reality, you are hauling kids to and from soccer games.

Think about what you are actually going to use your car for, and who is most likely to ride in it often. For instance, “sedans are well-suited to commuting and city driving,” while “SUVs work well for families, transporting and outdoor adventurers,” said NerdWallet.

Another major factor not to overlook is where you will be primarily using your car. “While a tiny subcompact might be a great solution in the city, it might not be a good choice for snowy mountains,” said U.S. News & World Report.

Evaluate fuel costs and efficiency

Even if you stay on budget for your car purchase, those savings will be canceled out if filling up the tank each week breaks the bank. There are a couple of ways you can estimate the fuel costs of a specific vehicle: You can “track your mileage and fuel economy in your current car and compare it to the estimated mpg ratings,” or you can check out the EPA’s “detailed listing of fuel economy figures and annual fuel cost estimates for both new and used vehicles,” said Edmunds.

If you are considering an electric vehicle or a hybrid, it is important to factor in the costs associated with charging, too. For instance, with an EV, “you could have upfront costs of installing a home charger or difficulty finding a public charger,” said NerdWallet, potentially adding mileage if you take frequent road trips.

From specialty travel rewards cards to cards that offer generous cash-back or points on everyday purchases, there are a plethora of choices for your wallet. It might feel hard to choose just one credit card — but do you really have to?

As it turns out, not necessarily. Having more than one credit card can even offer financial benefits, such as a higher credit limit to work with and a backup card just in case. But there are drawbacks to weigh, too, especially if you tend to struggle with overspending or organization.

Here is a look at both the pros and cons, so you can determine whether you would like to have more options or if you are better off staying true to one card only.

Pro: You will have more flexibility, and a backup

Having more than one credit card can introduce an element of flexibility. Say you encounter an emergency expense. In that situation, by “splitting the cost of a big expense, such as medical bills, between two credit cards, you are eating up less of your credit limit on one,” said CNBC Select. Plus, you have a card to fall back on if “one of your credit cards becomes compromised or is declined,” said SmartAsset.

Con: You will have more to keep track of

The more credit cards you use, the “harder it is to keep track of your purchases, balances and due dates,” said Experian. Any lapses could lead to missing a payment, in which case “you’ll be slapped with a late fee on top of interest charges for the month,” and even “damage your credit if you’re late by 30 days or more.”

Pro: Your credit limit will go up, which can help your credit score

“With a thin file, how you use your credit can have a bigger effect on your scores than if you had more accounts,” given that “with only a few cards, it might not take much spending to use a lot of your overall credit limit,” said NerdWallet. Adding another card to the rotation could lower your credit utilization, which can benefit your credit score.

Con: You can more easily rack up debt

If you are “prone to overspending or already struggling with credit card debt, having more than one card is risky,” said SmartAsset. With multiple cards, you will get greater latitude to spend, and also have a harder time getting a quick snapshot of how much total debt you have accrued, since balances are spread around.

Pro: You can better maximize rewards

“Carrying multiple credit cards allows you to earn a greater variety of rewards — including cash back on grocery purchases, points on travel bookings and more,” said Bankrate. You can even strategically use cards to line up with specific rewards or bonus categories, such as reserving one card for gas fill-ups and grocery store trips, and another for booking travel.

Con: Your credit could take a hit, at least temporarily

“Charge offs, late payments and high credit utilization rates can create negative marks on your credit reports if you are not careful,” said Equifax. And even if you are, that does not mean you are immune to credit dips. Because the average length of your credit history influences your score, “new card accounts often lower your credit score about five points,” said CNBC Select, alongside any impact you may see from the hard inquiry associated with your application.

Your favorite musician is coming to town, and you can’t wait to buy tickets. Until, that is, you find out the price. Maybe the cost seems swingable at first glance, but by the time you get to checkout and the layers of fees are tacked on, you have some serious sticker shock.

As it turns out, this experience is so prevalent that even the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken notice. In September, the FTC “sued Live Nation, accusing it and Ticketmaster of coordinating with brokers to allow them to use thousands of proxy bot accounts to purchase large ticket blocks, which were then resold at high markups,” said NerdWallet. Additionally, the suit “alleges that prices were advertised at lower amounts than what consumers actually paid.”

It’s possible this lawsuit will bring a price check for tickets to concerts and other live events, especially given that Live Nation and Ticketmaster, “under the joint ownership of Live Nation Entertainment, control roughly 80% of the event ticket sales market,” said NerdWallet. In the meantime, here are some other avenues to saving, so you can see your favorite artist and stay on budget.

Jump on presale opportunities

To avoid missing the initial rollout and having to buy often pricier resale tickets, consider taking advantage of presale, which allows you to purchase tickets before they go on sale to the wider public. There are many ways you may be able to gain access, such as if you “join artist fan clubs, subscribe to newsletters or follow your favorite artists on social media,” said CNET. Your credit card or “concert ticket-distributors, such as Ticketmaster, Live Nation and AXS,” may also offer access.

Tap tools to track prices

Ticket prices can fluctuate. To make sure you do not miss it if they dip, consider using a “ticket marketplace’s mobile app,” which lets you “set a price-drop alert” so you do not have to keep constant tabs yourself, said U.S. News & World Report. You might also consider an option like Event Spy, which sends you “instant notifications when resale ticket prices drop below your target” through either email or WhatsApp.

Buy through the venue instead of a third-party

“Going straight to the source — be it venue, theater, teams or performers — can help you avoid unnecessary markups through secondary resell platforms,” said NerdWallet. If there is a box office and you are willing to swing by in person, that can offer further savings, as “you may not have to pay the convenience fee that many venues charge for online purchases,” said U.S. News & World Report.

Purchase using a rewards credit card

While it will not slash the price of the tickets you are buying, your credit card can return at least a little bit of the cost in the form of credit card rewards. For instance, with an “entertainment rewards credit card, you can save up to 4% on concert tickets, helping offset the cost,” said CNBC Select.

Day trading is the inverse of the slow and steady approach of buy-and-hold investing. With day trading, you buy and sell investments quickly — in less than a day, hence the name — in the hopes of scoring a profit off of price fluctuations in the market.

This may sound exciting; there is certainly more action involved than the waiting game that is long-term investing. But there is also substantial risk.

What is day trading?

With day trading, you are buying and selling securities, such as stocks, all within the course of a day, often multiple times a day. The hope here is to turn a profit off of short-term movements in prices that arise due to volatility in the market.

Put another way, day trading is effectively placing “numerous bets on short-term price moves in securities,” said Robert Johnson, a professor of finance at the Heider College of Business at Creighton University, to Business Insider. Day traders are “properly classified as speculators and not investors.”

Day traders often “work for large players like hedge funds and the proprietary trading desks of banks and financial institutions,” which provides a leg up because of their access to helpful tools and capital, said Investopedia. Individual traders can also engage in the practice, though they generally have more limited resources.

What is the allure of day trading?

The major reason that investors day trade is the “possibility of realizing profits within a single trading session, providing investors with opportunities to compound returns quickly,” said Kiplinger. Some investors also enjoy the strategy and expertise involved, as successful day trading requires that they “continuously evaluate market data and make informed decisions in real-time.” There is also the element of power, as day traders are in charge of “monitoring their own portfolio, which gives them complete control over what they do with their investments,” said Business Insider.

How risky is it to day trade?

If you are considering day trading, “make no mistake: you’re facing long odds and steep risks,” said NerdWallet. This includes “sudden market reversals, excessive trading costs, emotional stress and the potential for major losses,” said Kiplinger.

There is also the reality that day trading is hard work. It “requires intense focus and rapid decision-making, which can be draining,” and you will need to “devote a significant amount of time researching, planning and making trades,” said Business Insider.

For most individual investors, it likely is not worth taking the risk or sinking in the time and energy, even for the potential returns. Ultimately, “investors who buy and hold low-cost index funds that track a broad market index like the S&P 500 could see higher returns over a long period,” said NerdWallet.

The concept of FIRE (financial independence, retire early) requires extreme saving and frugality so that participants can leave the workforce sooner than is typical. But while the increasingly popular idea sounds appealing, actually achieving it is difficult. Still, many are using a variety of methods to reduce expenses.

Background

While the origin of the FIRE acronym is unknown, the concept was popularized in 1992 by the book “Your Money or Your Life” by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. The book “encourages you to rethink your relationship with money so you can achieve financial independence and live a life that aligns with your goals and values,” said NerdWallet.

Since then, FIRE followers have hoped to “retire earlier than the conventional retirement age range of 65 to 70, or they may hope to gain greater financial independence,” said Investopedia. People who aim to retire in their 50s, 40s or even 30s “may plan to live solely off small withdrawals from their portfolios, or they may incorporate part-time work into their strategy.”

There are also different types of FIRE. Lean FIRE is mostly for people who already lead minimalist lifestyles and “may save more than half of their income to achieve financial independence faster,” said NerdWallet. Those who want a more extravagant life after retirement may opt for Fat FIRE, which requires a “high salary and aggressive savings and investment strategies for it to work,” said Investopedia.

Some people may not want to escape work entirely and choose to do Barista FIRE, a method in which individuals “save enough to cover some or most of their retirement expenses,” said NerdWallet. They then “draw on those investments to help fund their lifestyle while they work less or in a lower-paying job.”

The latest

Being able to retire early is a dream for many, but achieving it is not so easy. It “often requires cutting expenses to the bare minimum so you have more income to invest,” said NerdWallet. FIRE followers “could be saving 50% to 70% of their income or more, and that’s not possible for everyone.” The goal for many FIRE followers is to reach Coast FIRE, or the point when their investments are “large enough that they will grow to reach their FIRE number by their desired retirement date without saving another dollar.”

One way people have opted to reduce their expenses is through geoarbitrage. This strategy entails “moving to regions with a lower cost of living while continuing to earn income from higher-cost areas, allowing you to save more or enhance your quality of life,” said Moneywise. Geoarbitrage took off during the pandemic, as working from home became more normalized.

The reaction

In a time when society has embraced the “grind,” especially with the growing cost of living, many people would prefer to “embark on a super-saving path to ditch corporate drudgery ahead of schedule and retire on [their] terms,” said Insider. Unfortunately, the “aggressive savings rate may not be realistic for some people,” said Investopedia, “especially those who are taking care of children or older parents.”

FIRE also "doesn’t solve your happiness problems," said Peter Adeney, who blogs under the name Mr. Money Mustache and retired at age 30, to CBS News. You still have to "confront some demons and some emotional issues.”

Personal loans and credit cards both allow you to borrow money, whether for a large purchase that you do not want to pay for all at once or an emergency expense. But beyond their broad usability, personal loans and credit cards have some major differences. Understanding what those differences are, and the unique pros and cons of personal loans vs. credit cards, can help you better assess which one is the right fit for your purposes.

What is the difference between a personal loan and a credit card?

A personal loan is an installment loan in which you receive the full amount in a lump sum upfront. You will then repay that amount in a series of fixed monthly payments, plus interest, over a set period, often years. This offers a sense of predictability, making payments easier to budget for.

A credit card is also a type of loan, but it’s a revolving loan. Rather than receiving a lump sum upfront, you have a borrowing limit. You can continue to borrow, up to that limit, and then repay the balance, again and again. Credit cards also charge interest, but “you pay interest only on the funds you use,” and “you can avoid paying any interest at all if you pay your balance in full each month,” said Investopedia. Monthly payments are less predictable because they vary depending on your balance and the accrual of interest charges.

When does a personal loan make sense?

A personal loan can make sense “if you know how much you need to borrow and can afford to make monthly payments for your full loan term,” said Yahoo Finance. They can also be the superior option for debt consolidation, as personal loans “usually have lower rates than credit cards.”

Where a personal loan may make less sense is “for smaller expenses that you could pay from your savings or by the end of your credit card’s grace period, since there’s no way to avoid interest with a personal loan,” said Bankrate.

When is a credit card a better option?

A credit card could make sense if you “have good or excellent credit and you’re unsure exactly how much you need to spend,” said Yahoo Finance. This is the borrowing option you will generally want to tap for “responsible everyday spending” — think small charges like a trip to the grocery store or a fill-up at the gas station — especially since cards “have rewards systems for frequent use,” said Bankrate.

Ultimately, what is crucial with a credit card is ensuring you can pay off your balance quickly, ideally never carrying a balance at all to avoid paying interest. Otherwise, "if you know that you won't be able to pay off a balance for a long time, financing a purchase on a credit card will cost much more money in the long run than it would to pay for it using a personal loan," said Business Insider.

More than £1.5 million is waiting to be claimed by young people who may not realise they are owed money from their child trust funds.

The previous Labour government established child trust funds as a way to get the younger generation saving, with accounts opened by the government on behalf of children born between September 2002 and January 2011.

But some parents may have “forgotten they have an account, or don’t know where it is”, said MoneyWeek.

With September “the most common birth month”, said HMRC, thousands of 18-year-olds may not realise they have just become eligible to claim their child trust fund savings pot. And it is those currently aged between 18 and 23 who could benefit.

What is a child trust fund?

Child trust funds were government-backed saving schemes opened with banks and building societies that helped parents “build a nest egg” for their children, said Metro.

The accounts were opened automatically by the government when a child was born, with £250 from the state, or £500 for low-income families. Parents could then top up the account.

Young people can take over the trust fund from age 16 and withdraw money once they turn 18.

With interest added, “most grow to be worth much more than when they were set up”, said The Independent. But many have forgotten about their account, or are unaware that it existed in the first place.

The latest HMRC data shows 758,000 18- to 23-year-olds have yet to claim their matured child trust fund, with an average of £2,242 unclaimed.

How to claim your child trust fund money

HMRC is urging parents and young people to contact their child trust fund provider and there is a Gov.UK locator tool if you are unsure about where the account was set up.

Submitting a request takes around five minutes, and you will need the account-holder’s National Insurance number and date of birth. It takes around three weeks to hear back.

HMRC confirmed more than 563,000 young people went online to find their child trust fund in the 12 months to the end of August 2025.

The taxman has also warned against using third parties to find child trust funds, said The Independent, as “in extreme cases” they have been known to charge £350 or even 25% of the account’s value.

What to do with your child trust fund cash?

Child trust funds no longer exist. They were replaced by Junior ISAs in 2011, which typically have “lower fees, better investment choices, or better interest rates”, said MoneyWeek.

So if the child in question is still under 18, the money can be transferred to a Junior ISA, providing the “same tax benefits”. You can save or invest up to £9,000 tax-free for your child each year, added the financial website, “with the money locked away until the age of 18”.

Once an account holder is 18, the child trust fund is converted into an adult ISA. It is then up to the holder how they choose to use the funds.

But do check “the alternatives available”, added Metro. Investigating the various options including Lifetime ISAs, other ISAs or traditional savings and investment accounts will help you decide what “works better for you”.

After leaving the benchmark interest rate untouched for a nine-month stretch, the Federal Reserve in September made the first in what is anticipated to be a series of rate cuts. These cuts will have ripple effects across the broader economy — but will they do anything to reshape the housing market, namely, mortgage rates?

Initially, “amid expectations that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates, mortgage rates fell to their lowest level in nearly a year, dropping to 6.30%,” said Bankrate, citing its national survey of lenders. But then, “once the rate cut became official, mortgage rates rose.”

How are mortgage rates and the federal funds rate connected?

For starters, it is important to note that the Fed “does not directly set mortgage rates, which instead tend to follow the yields of long-term bonds,” said Realtor.com. When the yields of 10-year government bonds go up, they “tend to push up mortgage rates, and vice-versa,” said The Associated Press.

However, bond markets are influenced by the Federal Reserve, specifically “investor expectations about future Fed policy and financial conditions, including inflation and government deficits,” said Realtor.com. The direction of that correlation is not always so obvious, however — for instance, “when the Fed cuts rates that can give the job market and overall economy a boost, it can also fuel inflation,” which “in turn, could push up mortgage rates,” said the AP.

Will a Fed rate cut push down mortgage rates?

A rate cut by the Fed alone is not enough to push down mortgage rates, particularly given the complex combination of a weakening job market and stubborn inflation that the central bank is currently contending with. “It’s not just about what the Fed is doing today, it’s about what they’re expected to do in the future, and that’s determined by things like economic growth, what’s going to happen in the labor market and what do we think inflation is going to be like over the next year or so,” said Danielle Hale, a chief economist at Realtor.com, to the AP.

As things stand, experts predict that the “mortgage interest rate forecast for the fall could bring lower rates, but probably not anything major,” said CBS MoneyWatch.

Should you wait for further rate cuts to buy a house?

Given the unpredictability of where everything will head — and how decisions by the Fed could indirectly influence mortgage rates — it is not necessarily worth continuing to wait if you have been standing on the sidelines as a prospective homebuyer.

Plus, if interest rates were to drop, that would “increase the number of people looking to buy and lock in a lower interest rate,” which then “drives up demand for the already limited supply of homes,” said Yahoo Finance. A lower mortgage rate will not do you that much good if you just end up paying more for a house, which goes to show that the cost equation for homebuying is multi-factored.

For the uninitiated, the world of investing can feel a little bit like alphabet soup. One of the many acronyms you’ll need to familiarize yourself with as you dip your toe into things is ETF. Short for exchange-traded funds, ETFs can be a great choice for beginners because they allow you to buy into a portfolio of assets rather than just one stock or bond, offering instant diversification.

But ETFs are not only for beginners. In fact, “demand for exchange-traded funds continues to grow as investors seek lower-cost, tax-friendly options to meet their financial goals,” said CNBC. Here is what to know about them.

What are ETFs, and how do they work?

An ETF is a “basket of investments made up of assets such as stocks or bonds, which allows you to invest in many securities all at once,” said NerdWallet. By buying a share of an ETF, you gain ownership of the various investments within it, giving you a small stake in many securities at once. As the name suggests, exchange-traded funds are bought and sold on an exchange, just like a stock.

It is possible for ETFs to be “structured to track anything from the price of a commodity to a large and diverse collection of stocks — even specific investment strategies,” said Investopedia. For instance, you may purchase an ETF for “income generation, speculation or hedging risk in a portfolio.”

What are the pros of investing in ETFs?

ETFs have a number of potential benefits for investors. For one, they provide built-in diversification, “meaning you get diversification (and lower risk) than if you bought just one or two stocks,” said Bankrate. There is also a range of different ETFs available to choose from, allowing most investors to find a fund that aligns with their goals.

Another major upside of ETFs is that they tend to be low-cost. “Though costs will vary by investment, ETFs typically have lower fees compared with actively managed mutual funds,” another investment product that offers access to a collection of assets, said NerdWallet.

This is true for tax consequences as well, since “ETFs are structured so that they minimize distributions of capital gains, helping you keep your tax bill lower,” said Bankrate.

Are there any drawbacks to investing in ETFs?

There are some risks to ETFs. For one, though generally low, there are still costs involved, namely expense ratios, a fee for the management of the fund. There is also the possibility you may have to sell sooner — or later — than hoped. If the fund closes, “you may be forced to sell earlier than expected — perhaps at a loss,” whereas if you have an ETF that “isn’t traded frequently, it may be harder to unload,” said NerdWallet.

You will also want to verify a fund’s holdings before buying into it, both to ensure ample diversification and that the fund actually focuses on the target as advertised. “If you don’t look under the hood, you may think you’re buying a diversified fund when in reality you’ve bought something extremely narrow and risky,” said Jared Gagne, a CFP with Claro Advisors in Boston, to CNBC.

Given how ubiquitous it is, buy now, pay later (BNPL) may seem more innocuous compared to other types of debt. After all, all you often have to do at the checkout screen is click to split your payment into multiple installments, often without interest.

But at the end of the day, BNPL is debt just the same as any other debt — and it can majorly weigh down your financial situation if it starts to pile up. This is especially true given recent changes that mean BNPL will soon affect your credit score.

Yet increasingly, BNPL users are reportedly paying late. "More than half of BNPL users (54%) say they've paid late on a BNPL loan in the past, including 41% who paid late on one in the past year," said LendingTree in a recent survey. If that is your situation, here are some ways you can wave goodbye to your BNPL debt — before it affects your credit.

Try the debt snowball or avalanche approach

Having a plan in place can make all the difference between repaying your BNPL debt on time and not. “Without a plan, it can be easy to forget, and suddenly a convenient payment option can generate fees and interest,” particularly since “buy now, pay later payments may not be due on the monthly or 30-day cadence you are accustomed to,” said Experian.

Two common DIY options that can help with debt payoff — especially if you have more than one BNPL loan or other debts that you are paying down — include the debt snowball method and the debt avalanche method. With the snowball method, you focus on “paying off the smallest balances first” to build “momentum,” whereas with the avalanche method, you address the “highest-risk accounts first,” said CBS News. For BNPL debts, this may mean the account with the highest fees or interest rate, if applicable.

Consider debt consolidation

One of the “easiest ways to get rid of your BNPL debt is to roll multiple accounts into one low-rate personal loan,” said CBS News. Those with multiple BNPL loans may uniquely benefit from this option, as it rolls your debts into just one personal loan, with a single payment due date to keep track of.

That said, “getting a personal loan can be relatively more challenging — and might be especially difficult for some BNPL borrowers who haven't yet gotten ‘credit’ for positive payment histories,” said Bankrate.

Look into the possibility of debt forgiveness

While more of a last resort option, “buy now, pay later debts can potentially be included in a debt forgiveness program,” said CBS News. It is possible that “providers, particularly those offering longer-term installment loans through banks or finance partners, may participate in settlement negotiations if an account has become seriously delinquent,” though “others, like retailers managing their own buy now, pay later programs, might not negotiate at all.”

There are important caveats to note with this option. For one, you will likely have to work with a debt relief company, which usually requires having a certain amount of debt that “individual buy now, pay later debts rarely reach” on their own, said CBS News. You will also have to pay the company a certain percentage of the debt that gets settled.

The IPO market sprang back to life last week, said Bailey Lipschultz in Bloomberg. Six companies raised more than $4 billion in “the busiest period” for initial public offerings since 2021. The highlight was Klarna, the fintech firm that raised $1.37 billion and saw its shares pop 30% on their first day of trading. Gemini, a crypto exchange founded by the Winklevoss twins, and Figure, a crypto lender, also made strong debuts. For those using the flood of deals as a measure of “just how frothy the stock market is getting,” however, the reading was “mixed.” The median listing “opened 31% above the offer price,” which, while strong, doesn’t “point to unbridled enthusiasm.” Still, it was encouraging for the IPO market, which has been bottled up for years. “Roughly $29 billion has been raised on U.S. exchanges” so far this year, which “pales in comparison to the manic years during the pandemic.”

Conditions for an IPO rebound look favorable now, said Pan Yuk in the Financial Times. “Stock markets are at or near all-time highs, and the market is pricing in a high likelihood of an interest rate cut” this week. Much of the tariff drama from the Trump administration is behind us. Renaissance Capital anticipates 40 to 60 more U.S. IPOs “could raise roughly $10 billion” before the end of the year. It’s notable, however, that much of the IPO excitement “is being driven by companies from pumped-up sectors,” like AI and crypto. You can be sure that bankers will be rushing to use this window of market calm for listings, said Paul J. Davies in Bloomberg, because experience shows that it can slam shut quickly. “Industry and finance have adjusted to President Trump’s mercurial policymaking,” but “he hasn’t lost the power to shock with some new wild decision.”

Retail investors are playing a bigger role in IPOs than ever before, said Corrie Driebusch and Hannah Erin Lang in The Wall Street Journal. Individuals typically get about 6% of the IPO, with institutions buying up the bulk of the shares. But Gemini and others “earmarked nearly a third” of shares for retail investors, a sign of their growing influence on the actions of Wall Street. Retail demand is starting to change the dynamics of IPO pricing, said Madison Mills in Axios. “Typically, a bank handling an IPO would sell shares to a select group of institutions or funds” that it can work with to set the price. But companies are coming around to the idea that they want individual investors in their IPOs, and more management teams “want to engage retail from the beginning.” Retail investors create buzz, and they hang on to their shares longer than money managers who often sell as soon as the stock “pops” on the first day.

Amid persistent inflation and a flurry of changes under President Donald Trump, Social Security beneficiaries may be wondering what to expect for their benefits in the coming year. There are certainly some changes ahead, from annual cost of living (COLA) adjustment, which could increase monthly checks, to a higher wage cap, which could mean a bigger bite out of that monthly check due to taxes.

While the specifics of these shifts will not become public until mid-October, when they are typically announced by the Social Security Administration, many experts already have a good idea of what is to come.

A potentially more generous COLA adjustment

It is projected that beneficiaries will see a “2.7% to 2.8% increase to their monthly checks in 2026,” said CNBC, citing estimates based on the latest government inflation data. This uptick would mark an increase (though not a significant one) from the average 2.6% COLA adjustment over the past 20 years, per the Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior citizens group.

In terms of actual amounts, this would mean an additional $54 or so tacked onto the average monthly retirement benefit, which is around $1,955.

An increase to full retirement age

Even before the new year arrives, another notable change is coming to Social Security. In November 2025, the “full retirement age (FRA) — the age at which individuals are eligible to receive 100% of their Social Security benefits — will increase to 66 years and 10 months for those born in 1959,” said Kiplinger. This will change once again in 2026, though for the final time, when the FRA “will reach 67 for those born in 1960 or later.”

These shifts come as the final steps in a “gradual schedule to increase the retirement age from 65 to 67, set in motion by the 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act,” said Kiplinger. This change is intended to “reflect longer life expectancies, reduce financial strain on the program and shore up the trust fund.”

A higher wage cap for Social Security taxes

For Social Security, there is a limit to the amount of income you pay taxes on. In 2026, that limit is expected to increase, though it is not yet certain by how much. The 2025 Social Security Board of Trustees Report “estimates the maximum taxable earnings limit will be $183,600 in 2026, an increase of $7,500 from the 2025 ceiling of $176,100,” said Kiplinger. This “would translate into owing an extra $465 annually for a total tax of $11,383.20." This change will primarily affect “high earners,” who “should expect to open up their wallets a bit more,” said The Motley Fool.

An end to paper checks

Another change coming will not affect how much your Social Security benefits are, but rather how you receive your benefits. Due to an executive order that Trump signed in March, the government will stop issuing any paper checks as of Sept. 30. So this means “starting in October, you’ll need to have a direct deposit set up with your bank account or use a Direct Express card,” said The Motley Fool.

If you are still among those receiving paper checks, make sure to update your information before the end of September to avoid any delays in your benefits.

Speculation is rife about what could be in chancellor Rachel Reeves’ much anticipated Autumn Budget.

Reeves will deliver her latest fiscal update on 26 November and there are likely to be “significant changes to wealth and property taxes”, said BDO, with changes to pension tax reliefs and inheritance tax also a possibility.

The chancellor is facing pressures of a fragile global economy and “anaemic” UK growth, said Fidelity, so while everything is just speculation for now, she will be looking for “new ways to raise revenue this year”.

Here is how you can prepare.

1. Hurry up your home sale

There have been reports that property taxes could be reformed, replacing stamp duty, plus capital gains tax could be charged on the sale of certain homes.

It could be worth “pushing to complete before November” if you are currently selling, said The Times, so that you still get the capital gains tax exemption.

2. Top up your pension

Pension rules are often a source of speculation ahead of the Budget, said BBC News, with possible changes such as “tax relief available to savers and the level of the tax-free lump sum which can be withdrawn”.

It is “rarely a bad idea to top up your pension”, said Continuum, as pensions are an “incredibly tax-efficient way to save for the future”.

You could also withdraw more now before any reported restrictions but it’s “really important not to rush in”, said Rest Less, as anyone who takes money out of their pension is putting it into a taxable environment.

3. Boost ISA contributions

There is “widespread speculation”, said Fidelity, that the overall £20,000 ISA limit could be cut for cash ISAs amid a government review.

It “makes sense to make the most of the ISA system as it stands”, said Saga, by making full use of your allowance.

Stocks and shares ISAs “typically return higher growth over time” compared with cash ISAs, but may not be suitable if you may need money in a hurry “or if you’re not comfortable with a level of risk”.

4. Make use of tax allowances

Reeves may have “unfinished business” with capital gains tax, said AJ Bell, having “pushed rates up a bit” in the previous Budget.

It is worth planning how to use your £3,000 capital gains allowance, said Continuum, plus spouses and civil partners can transfer assets to each other tax-free, “letting you benefit from their allowance as well as your own”.

The “easiest way to protect your money” from tax rises is to make use of “all your allowances”, said The Times, including the £20,000 you can put in an ISA, £60,000 that can go into pensions and the £500 that can be earned in dividends outside an ISA tax-free.

5. Consider inheritance tax

Inheritance tax may be another target for the chancellor, having already used the previous Budget to apply the charge to pensions.

If she wants to “target inheritances again”, said AJ Bell, she could either reduce inheritance tax thresholds or extend the “seven-year rule” for lifetime gifts.

Making any “significant gifts” before the Budget could help “secure today’s more generous rules”, said Clarke & Wright, but “be strategic, not hasty” as acting too quickly could cause tax charges and “leave you short of funds you may need in the future”.

6. Don’t panic

Any changes may not be “implemented immediately”, said CheltenhamIFA, so it is important not to panic.

You will usually have time to digest the changes and “carefully consider how you’ll respond”. Plus, it may be worth speaking to a financial planner “rather than making a snap decision”.

If you have traveled internationally, there is a good chance you have encountered duty-free. Maybe you strolled through duty-free shopping post-security at the airport, passing by brightly lit shelves of perfumes, alcohol, cigarettes and chocolate. Or perhaps you took advantage aboard a cruise ship, where you were lured in by not needing to pay taxes. But you may have wondered: Am I actually getting a good deal?

As it turns out, it is possible to get a good deal this way — though the “amount of savings depends on an array of variables, such as the overall markup of the item and whether the product is made locally or imported,” said The Washington Post. Whether or not duty-free can offer even more lucrative savings amid Trump's tariffs, however, remains an open question.

What is duty-free, and how does it work?

“Import, value-added and sales taxes — aka duty — are imposed on imported and exported products,” said U.S. News & World Report. So when a shop is selling items duty-free, it is offering those goods without tacking taxes onto the price.

These shopping opportunities are typically situated in “no man’s land” — such as “international airports, sea terminals, onboard cruise ships or during international airline flights” — so “you’re neither in nor out of any particular host country, including the one in which the terminal is located,” said Investopedia. This effectively becomes a “justification for shielding passengers in transit from host country taxes.”

What is key about this arrangement is that the buyer will not use their purchase on-site, which is why any purchases “will be sealed and delivered to the boarding gate,” said the Post. Further, “to ensure the shopper is departing the country, they will have to present a boarding pass and passport at checkout.”

Can shopping duty-free save you money?

It is possible — though not guaranteed — to save money through duty-free shopping. “Sometimes the only savings is on taxes, not the actual purchase price,” said Travel + Leisure. In certain cases, “some may even cost more due to exclusive packaging or edition releases,” said Reader’s Digest.

Further complicating the answer, “duty-free prices vary widely, depending on the country and airport — or even among airport terminals,” said Travel + Leisure. To ensure the price you are getting is indeed a good one, do some comparison shopping ahead of time on any planned purchases, and make sure you know the currency conversion.

Are there any restrictions on duty-free shopping?

Just because an item was duty-free in the host country does not necessarily mean you will not pay taxes when you return home. “Duty-free regulations vary depending on your country of residence, your travel destination and the length of your stay,” plus “other rules apply to the items purchased, the cost of the article and the country of its manufacture,” said Investopedia.

Upon arrival, you will need to fill out a U.S. Customs form declaring anything you might have bought abroad. There are also certain limits on how much you can purchase duty-free: “In the U.S., you can bring back $200, $800 or $1,600 in personal goods, depending on the countries you visited,” and there are also “caps on the amount of tobacco and alcoholic products,” said the Post. Expect to pay a flat rate of 3% on any amount over those limits.

If you are buying and selling a house simultaneously while on a budget, you likely have all your fingers and toes crossed that the timing works out just right. But what happens if the perfect house comes on the market, but you still have yet to get any bites on your current one?

In this scenario, a bridge loan can make the math possible. Basically, a bridge loan is a type of short-term financing that can provide immediate cash to fund a down payment or closing costs if, say, you do not yet have the proceeds from the sale of your current home. While this option is a definite asset to have on the table when you are in a tight financial spot, it does have some downsides and risks, though.

How does a bridge loan work?

A bridge loan is a "short-term loan — often less than a year — that can help you quickly buy a new home without relying on the equity from your existing home to make the down payment," said Nerdwallet. So, you might use one to "cover the down payment on the new home or the costs of having two mortgages until your first home sells," or to "pay off your first mortgage while you take out a new one," said Yahoo Finance.

The assumption is that your current home will sell in the near future, and you'll then use the proceeds from that sale to pay off the bridge loan. Though payment structure can vary, "borrowers typically make interest-only payments during the term and have a balloon payment when it ends," said CNBC Select.

What are the pros and cons of a bridge loan?

Perhaps the biggest advantage of bridge loans is the opportunity they can offer buyers: You can purchase a new home before selling your existing one, without needing to include a potentially deal-breaking sale contingency in your offer. Funding from bridge loans typically comes through "pretty quickly," too. "Depending on your mortgage lender, you can often have your cash within a few weeks," which "allows you to act fast when you find that dream home," said Yahoo Finance.

That said, bridge loans typically have higher interest rates than conventional loans, plus additional fees and closing costs, and the repayment term is short. You may also end up in a spot where you "own two houses — with two mortgage payments — for a bit," said Nerdwallet. Further, if you do not sell your former home "before the loan comes due, you may owe the full amount of the bridge loan on top of your new mortgage payment," which "could lead to financial stress or even default," said the outlet. And with a bridge loan, your home is typically used as collateral.

How can you get a bridge loan?

Alongside the usual income and credit requirements, to get a bridge loan, "most lenders require a homeowner to have at least 20% home equity built up," said Rocket Mortgage. Additionally, "many financial institutions will only extend a bridge loan if you also use them to obtain your new mortgage," said the outlet.

Keep in mind that "not all financial institutions offer bridge loans," said Yahoo Finance. To get one, you may need to look to "local banks, credit unions, online mortgage companies and specialty lenders."

The rumour mill is swirling ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ latest attempts to balance the books in the 2025 Autumn Budget.

She will deliver her latest fiscal update on 26 November, “amid anaemic growth and higher-than-expected government borrowing”, said The Telegraph. There are fears that Reeves will announce either more tax rises or further spending cuts.

There has already been “plenty of speculation” about tax changes, said Fidelity International, but it is important to “not make snap decisions based on rumours”.

Property tax reform

The Treasury has been considering a “radical overhaul of stamp duty and council tax”, said The Guardian.

Ministers have reportedly been tasked with examining the impact of a new national property tax on the sale of homes worth more than £500,000, with another levy replacing council tax “to repair battered local authority finances”.

The changes would be a boost for homebuyers, said MoneyWeek, but would raise “issues of regional unfairness” as most high-value homes are in the south of the country, plus it could distort the market and disincentivise downsizing.

Landlords could also face “yet another tax raid”, said This Is Money, with the chancellor rumoured to be considering “imposing National Insurance on rental income”. This could “apply further pressure to landlord budgets”, and could push rents higher.

ISA reform

The chancellor’s Spring Statement announced a review of individual savings accounts (ISAs). This has prompted “widespread speculation”, said Fidelity International, that the overall £20,000 limit could be cut for cash ISAs to encourage more people to invest.

But if Reeves wants to encourage people to put their money into the stock market, Richard Wilson, chief executive of interactive investor, said she needs to make “UK stocks and shares more investable” by removing stamp duty on UK shares.

Pension changes

Rumours about changes to pensions come up “every single year”, said Which?, often “not based on anything official”.

A regular rumour is that pension tax relief could be changed to a flat rate for everyone, which would “reduce the perk for those on higher incomes”.

The lifetime allowance, scrapped by the Tories, “could also be brought back by Labour”, said City A.M., but pension reform is a “complex business” with a “high risk of unintended consequences”.

Wealth taxes

The “most fevered speculation” this year is about wealth taxes, said The Times.

The chancellor is rumoured to be considering making capital gains tax applicable on sales above £1.5 million, something that could substantially increase the tax take from high-value property sales.

But the success of a wealth tax would depend on the design, said HFMC Wealth, as it “may lead to unintended consequences such as capital flight, underreporting, and minimal fiscal impact”.

Stealth taxes

While Labour vowed in its general election manifesto last year that it wouldn’t raise taxes on working people, said City A.M., think tanks have suggested the government could “feasibly get away with” extending a freeze on income tax thresholds. The action could raise more than £9 billion.

However, this would create a “stealth tax”, said The i Paper, as “more people are pulled into paying higher rates of tax” as wages grow.

Sometimes, life gets in the way of making your student loan payments. Maybe you have faced an unexpected job loss that shrinks down your budget to the bare essentials. Or perhaps you are going back to school and need some way to put payments on pause while your income is, too.

There are ways to do exactly that — and lately, more and more Americans are taking advantage of options to press pause on the years-long venture that is paying off student loans. "Around 10.3 million borrowers were enrolled in a payment pause known as a forbearance in the third quarter of 2025, up from around 2.9 million during the same time period in 2024," said CNBC, citing data analyzed by higher education expert Mark Kantrowitz. Meanwhile, "another 3.4 million federal student loan borrowers had deferred their payments in the third quarter of this year."

What are your options for pausing student loan payments?

There are two ways to temporarily stop making payments on student loans: deferment and forbearance. These options are available for federal student loans, and some private lenders may offer them as well.

Deferment and forbearance "act the same way for private student loans: Interest always accrues, and you're always responsible for paying for it," said Nerdwallet. However, there are differences for federal loans: With deferment, "interest does not accrue on subsidized federal student loans and Perkins loans," whereas "interest accrues on all loans" with forbearance, said the outlet.

There are also differences in eligibility requirements, as deferment typically requires a specific qualifying event, such as being unemployed or attending school at least half-time. Forbearance, on the other hand, typically does not require such an event.

When does student loan forbearance or deferment make sense?

If you are starting to worry about missing payments, deferment and forbearance can help you "avoid the harsh consequences of falling behind," said CNBC. Pressing pause on this one particular bill can also "free up some cash to cover other essential expenses and give you some time to get back on your feet financially," said Experian.

There are also some specific life situations that allow you to qualify for deferment (which, unlike forbearance, can last longer than 12 months at a time and also stops interest from continuing to accrue). This includes if you are:

• Unemployed
• Experiencing economic hardship
• Attending school at least half-time
• On active military duty or in the Peace Corps
• Undergoing cancer treatment
• In an approved rehab program

Are there any downsides to pausing student loan payments?

While a pause can offer short-term relief, it is not a long-term solution. Put another way, "you may feel some relief in the moment, but your debt isn't going away," said Ramsey Solutions, a personal finance blog.

Additionally, "time spent in a deferment or forbearance can be incredibly costly," said CNBC. Since interest continues to accrue in forbearance, "a typical federal student loan borrower can see their debt grow by $219 a month in interest charges alone while they pause their payments," said the outlet. This can make the debt more challenging to contend with down the road, potentially interfering with other financial priorities, such as saving for retirement or a down payment for a house.

Moving into a brand new house — maybe even one that you can customize to your liking — may sound like an ideal homebuying experience. Repairs and maintenance needs are likely minimal, and you will not have to deal with the wear and tear from previous owners, or their design choices.

But purchasing a new build can also bring headaches of its own, though different ones than you may find when buying an existing home. Before signing on to buy a home still under construction, it is important to weigh the drawbacks against the advantages to ensure it is the right move for you, both literally and figuratively speaking.

What are the upsides of buying a newly constructed home?

Arguably, the biggest benefit of a new build is the fact that it is new. Unlike with an existing home, "you will be the first person to live there, the first person to use the appliances, flip the light switches, etc.," said Bankrate. There is even a chance you will have picked them all out yourself, if your new build allows for customization.

Plus, there is no need for repairs or renovations at move-in, or for a while going forward. Since everything is brand new, "maintenance costs (and time) should remain at a minimum for at least the first few years," said Realtor.com. You may even end up saving on energy bills, as "new homes often feature the latest energy-efficient systems and materials," said Ramsey Solutions, a personal finance blog.

To further sweeten the deal, "some builders offer incentives to attract buyers," like "free upgrades on home appliances or building materials, mortgage rate buydowns or a credit toward your closing costs," said Homes.com. You may even get access to "special loan options or a lender credit if the builder works with a specific mortgage company."

What drawbacks do new builds have?

While new builds can offer the cost-saving opportunities mentioned above, you may end up paying more for the house itself. "The median price of an existing U.S. home in February 2025 was $398,400, while the price of a new home that same month was $439,000," said Zillow. Plus, there typically is not "much leeway on closing costs or purchase price with a newly built home," said Ramsey Solutions.

And while choosing every last detail of your home may sound exciting initially, "it's easy to get overwhelmed by all the choices out there," said Bankrate. Not to mention, customization and upgrades can tack on money — and time — to the process, which can already drag on if a home is under construction.

Should you buy an existing home instead?

Moving into an existing home can be easier upfront. The house is ready for you to move into, and you may face lower costs, as well as a greater likelihood of negotiating. Plus, while you will not get to choose everything, "older homes are more likely to have architectural details that would be hard and expensive to replicate," not to mention "they also sometimes have great stories behind them," said Zillow.

That said, depending on the existing home, you may face additional challenges after move-in. It is more likely there will be repairs and updates to contend with, even if you did not buy a fixer-upper. The cost and chaos of renovations may also apply if there are design elements or features you decide to revamp.

A flourishing Washington, D.C., neighborhood has seen an explosion of apartment building that may offer lessons in how to address the nation’s housing crisis, said The Economist. Once known as Swampoodle and now called NoMa, the area a little north of the Capitol “has added more new apartment units since 2017” than any other ZIP code in the U.S., according to data from Yardi, a real estate software company.” Get off the Washington metro there, and you’ll be “barraged by ‘Now Leasing’ signs boasting rooftop pools, full-featured gyms, and one-month-free rental offers.” Prices in Washington aren’t exactly cheap, but they are “at least less exorbitant than East Coast peers like New York or Boston.”

The YIMBY—“yes in my backyard”—movement wants to claim what’s happening in D.C. as a victory, said Brian Shearer in the Washington Monthly. And indeed, the city is now “building more housing per capita than Houston.” But it hasn’t done it through deregulation. The city created housing loans, built mass transit to create new neighborhoods, traded zoning exceptions for cheaper housing, and purchased and bundled lots to lease to developers for big projects. All this has happened without the policy changes that the YIMBY cohort keeps pushing. “Perhaps surprisingly, the wide-ranging effort didn’t include uniform city-wide dezoning, upzoning, or permitting reform.” That undersells the pro-housing movement, said Ron Davis in The Atlantic. It’s not just about “a specific set of regulations” but a “populist” movement that challenges vested interests. Progressives and other foes of market-rate housing want to write off the YIMBYs as conservatives. But there’s nothing inherently conservative about “a push to lower housing costs.” In fact, the battle over zoning regulation doesn’t follow traditional political lines at all, said Derek Thompson in his Substack newsletter. Look at Dallas. As the city has been built out, it has been burdened with more rules, such as minimum lot size requirements, that discourage smaller, cheaper housing. Predictably, home prices in Dallas have doubled. “Texas NIMBYs now sound just like their California counterparts when you get them in a room with city councils, just with jauntier twang.”

The bad news for just about everyone who thinks about housing is that interest rate cuts are not coming to homebuyers’ rescue, said Sydney Lake in Fortune. Historically low mortgage rates during the pandemic—some below 3%—soared to more than 8% in late 2023 and still hover around 6.5%. Those high rates are a key “facet of the housing affordability crisis.” For a typical home to be affordable to the average buyer, rates need to drop to 4.43%, according to an analysis from Zillow—a decline that’s “currently unrealistic.”

You do not always have a choice about when you move — it may be required for a job opportunity or access to a different school district. But if you do have the flexibility to pick when you pack up, timing can make a big difference.

That is because "seasonality tends to affect factors such as inventory, the number of homes for sale and purchase price," said Kiplinger. However, which season is best for homebuying ultimately depends on the specifics of your homebuying situation. There are pros and cons to each season.

What season is best for home buying?

The best season for home buying depends on what you are looking for as a buyer. "Spring and early summer are the busiest and most competitive time of year for the real estate market," said Bankrate, which in turn means "there's usually more inventory listed for sale than other times of year." This will give you plenty of options to choose from. However, "home prices tend to be steeper to reflect the increased demand."

Meanwhile, if you are after a bargain, "winter is traditionally the slowest season for home sales and, as a result, it's the cheapest time to buy a home," said Kiplinger. Since there is "usually less competition between buyers," it is likelier that "sellers may be more willing to negotiate to make a sale." That said, you will have less to choose from in the colder season.

Fall can offer a sweet spot amid the pros and cons of the other seasons. "Prices usually go down in late summer and early fall, since fewer buyers are looking at homes, and inventory is still pretty high after the busy spring selling season," said Ramsey Solutions, a personal finance blog. You might have slightly fewer options than you would during peak season, but because "many sellers want to avoid moving during the holiday season," you may also have "more room to negotiate," said Rocket Mortgage.

What other factors should you consider when timing a home purchase?

Time of year is just one factor among many that go into deciding when to purchase a home. "Market conditions, such as job growth, mortgage rates and tax incentives, also influence the best time to search for a new house," said Kiplinger.

The specifics of the housing market in the area you are planning to move also matter. "If you're moving to a 'hot' city or neighborhood, you might encounter higher prices and lower inventory," which could mean it makes sense to wait until things cool off, said Rocket Mortgage.

You will also want to consider your personal situation — both financially and otherwise. For example, "if you are getting married or having a baby in August, you may not be able to wait nearly a year for a larger home," said Bankrate. Having enough money saved up for a down payment and ensuring your debt and credit are in a good place are additionally crucial to starting homeownership off on the right foot.

A number of factors are most likely already on your mind as you weigh an impending move and its associated costs: mortgage rates, home prices, market availability — and, of course, location, location, location. Another thing not to overlook in your calculations? The expense of relocating itself.

Even if you are planning to pack up your stuff yourself and move just a few streets over, you should probably budget for some packing supplies and transport. If you will need to hire professional help and the distance you are moving is much farther, you can expect a more significant line item in your budget.

What is the average cost of moving?

The average cost to "hire professional movers is $1,710, with local moves ranging from $882 to $2,566," said HomeAdvisor. However, a variety of factors can shift that cost much lower — or significantly higher.

If you plan to DIY your move, it "costs an average of $150 to rent a moving truck for local moves," plus the added expenses of "gas, moving supplies, taxes and often a per-mile fee," said NerdWallet, citing Move.org.

On the other hand, if you are eyeing a long-distance move, generally defined as "one that spans 100 miles or more," you typically will pay anywhere from $2,417 to $6,863, though "costs can rise to $10,000 or more if you're bringing a lot of items or are moving a great distance, such as coast-to-coast or overseas," said NerdWallet, citing data from HomeAdvisor.

What factors influence moving costs?

Moving costs are "generally based on the size of your home and the distance you're moving, as well as the weight of your furnishings and whether you'll need them stored for a time while you relocate," said Bankrate.

You can also expect to pay extra for getting your belongings packed up and then unpacked at your new home. Premiums will apply if you are planning to bring along anything that requires "specialized equipment, extra care or more labor to move," such as pianos or hot tubs, or items that "need special care," like antiques, artwork or musical instruments, added NerdWallet.

Lastly, the time of year you choose for your move can also move the needle on cost. For instance, "summer months are a popular moving window because kids are out of school, so your costs could be higher then due to increased demand," whereas you may pay less moving "from November through the New Year's holiday," said Bankrate.

How can you save money on a move?

To free up money for more exciting aspects of your move, or simply enjoying your new location, consider the following money-saving moving tips:

Be selective about what you bring. The less stuff you move, the lower your moving costs will be. This is especially true for large or specialty items.

Avoid paying for new boxes. "Local grocery and other retail stores might give you their old cardboard boxes and packing material for free if you ask," said RocketMortgage.

Strategize your timing. "Demand dips through fall, winter and early spring — and so do prices," said NerdWallet, so plan your move for then, if you have flexibility.