This year has brought us a mix of continued and new financial challenges. Inflation stuck with us, with the annual inflation rate ending 2022 at 7.1%, compared with 6.8% at the end of 2021. And due to continued inflation, the Federal Reserve started hitting the economy with rate hikes this year — seven rate hikes, … Read more
Zoriana Zaitseva / Shutterstock.com One of the biggest financial stories of 2022 was inflation The annual inflation rate was 7.1% as of November, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is one of the federal government’s gauges of inflation. But inflation hit some items more than others — shooting as high as 254% … Read more
Once upon a time, I found out my wife had braces when she was really young. Since she has such a beautiful smile, that made a ton of sense. However, this whole situation made me wonder how much braces might cost if all four of our kids wound up needing orthodontic care. When we had … Read more
Inside Creative House / Shutterstock.com As we age, our health risks increase. After all, none of us is going to live forever. However, we all can improve the odds of a longer, more healthful life simply by avoiding the following deadly health mistakes that people tend to make after age 50. One note: Consult your … Read more
Research suggests that — contrary to popular wisdom — money can indeed buy you happiness. But it also offers another gift: a sense of calm and control. Researchers from four prestigious institutions — Harvard Business School, the University of Southern California, Groningen University and Columbia Business School — recently conducted a series of experiments that … Read more
Kardasov Films / Shutterstock.com While another year of progress hasn’t brought us flying cars yet, we’ve gained countless everyday conveniences in recent decades. We can do everything from make a cup of coffee to make a room smell better with just the press of a button. And cheap disposables and ready-made products also make our … Read more
The housing market has been kind to homeowners these last few years. The average home value has jumped 43% since late 2019, and sellers have raked in eye-popping profits because of it. But that was then. As we head in 2023, the market looks very different. With mortgage rates more than double their year-ago level, … Read more
If you shop for a lot of goods online, beware matey — porch pirates may have their eye on your doorstep. The term “porch pirate” is a slang description for thieves who look for — and steal — package deliveries left near front doors and on porches. Recently, SafeWise — which offers home security reviews … Read more
The widespread crypto crash has been all over the mainstream media of late. Millions of people own cryptocurrencies, and the fall of crypto values has been steep. Many crypto investors are still hoping their investment will again grow in value in the future. But many others feel burned by the crypto crash and are looking … Read more
Andrey Armyagov / Shutterstock.com More than 46,000 people lose their lives in traffic accidents in the United States each year. Fatality statistics are one way of measuring a highway’s perils. Another gauge is the fear factor, tallied in tight, hairpin turns, blinding fog that stretches for miles or icy, subzero-degree roads raked by winds powerful … Read more