Personal Finance

Getty Images If you want a good deal on airfare for the fall and winter holidays, get ready to book. “The best time to book is between today and the second week of October, as prices are low and there are a lot of seats left to book,” Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper, said Thursday.

In this article CAMLX Follow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNT Ascentxmedia | Istock | Getty Images WASHINGTON — Millions of Americans look forward to claiming Social Security retirement benefits after years of paying into the program. But Social Security beneficiaries face the possibility of an across-the board benefit cut of at least 20% in the

Between inflation and economic instability, Americans have depleted most of what they had in their savings accounts. More than half of all Americans now live paycheck to paycheck and most adults — 57% — cannot afford a $1,000 emergency expense, a Bankrate survey from earlier this year found. Meanwhile, experts say having a cash reserve is

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images The “summer of strikes” needs a new name — there is no sign of a slowdown in workers walking off the job this fall. Some 362,000 workers have gone on strike so far in 2023, compared with 36,600 over the same period in 2021, according to data by Johnnie

Members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) union hold a practice picket in front of Stellantis headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on September 20, 2023.  Bill Pugliano | Getty Images Regardless of the outcome, the United Auto Workers strike threatens to cause already high car prices to escalate. After the Big Three automakers — Ford,

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau headquarters in Washington, D.C., on May 14, 2021. Andrew Kelly | Reuters The Biden administration wants to remove medical debt completely from consumer credit reports, so the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Thursday outlined its proposed rules to keep unpaid medical bills from affecting patient’s credit scores. One in 5

Westend61 | Getty Images By now, most student loan borrowers have accepted that, after a three-year break, their payments will restart in October. Some people, however, may actually have more time. CNBC spoke to several borrowers who say have statements from their servicer showing their first payment’s due date is in November or December. That’s

A sign marks the location of the University of Phoenix Chicago Campus in Schaumburg, Illinois. Getty Images The Biden administration announced on Wednesday that it would cancel nearly $37 million in student debt for more than 1,200 students who attended the University of Phoenix. The relief will go to many borrowers who applied for borrower

Woman going over her finances Damircudic | E+ | Getty Images Ready or not, student loan bills are restarting in a matter of weeks. Most borrowers haven’t made a payment on their education debt since Donald Trump was president and the coronavirus was starting to spark concerns. The pause on the bills and the accrual

IRS Commissioner Daniel Werfel testifies before the House Small Business Committee on July 17, 2013. James Lawler Duggan | Reuters The IRS is shifting how it examines tax returns of lower earners as part of its broader effort to fix inequity in enforcement.  Starting in fiscal year 2024, the agency will “substantially” reduce the number

Unexpected medical bills can cost as much as $1,000 or more. Sometimes, these expenses are unavoidable. Still, you can take steps or ask questions of medical providers or your insurance company to avoid overpaying or getting saddled with charges you can’t afford to pay. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, about $88 billion of

Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images Pay transparency is on the rise for job applicants — and momentum suggests that trend will continue, experts said. In August, 50% of online job listings advertised salary, up from 18.4% in February 2020, according to Indeed Hiring Lab, the economic research arm of career site Indeed. Such businesses

Artistgndphotography | E+ | Getty Images The Federal Reserve is likely to pause its aggressive interest rate hikes when it meets this week, experts predict. But consumers may not feel any relief. The central bank has already raised interest rates 11 times since last year — the fastest pace of tightening since the early 1980s. Yet recent

Suriyapong Thongsawang | Moment | Getty Images Inflation is broadly retreating in the U.S. economy. But starting in October, health insurance is poised to act as a countervailing force that buoys inflation for about a year, economists said. That’s significant at a time when policymakers are using inflation data to determine how to set interest

Prapass Pulsub | Moment | Getty Images As year-end approaches, some investors may be weighing a Roth individual retirement account conversion to save on future taxes. But there are several things to consider first, experts say. The strategy transfers your pretax or non-deductible IRA funds to a Roth IRA, which kick-starts future tax-free growth. But

Peopleimages | Istock | Getty Images Unable to come up with the cash for steep college tuition bills all at once, many families opt to pay the tab over time. However, a new report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warns of a number of risks associated with these payment plans, including snowballing charges and