2020 was a real anomaly, and we definitely felt it in our financial lives. Many people lost work and had to learn to function with less. Some found themselves with a surplus of cash from stimulus checks and reduced spending due to shutdowns. Getty Images Here are 11 notable things we learned about budgeting during a pandemic. Enter: thebare-bones budget. A bare-bones budget prioritizes only your absolute essentials, such as your rent or mortgage, utilities and food....

Data breaches that give hackers access to our personal information happen all too often. The more we depend on digital passwords, the more Bad Guys want to steal them. And while data breaches are down in 2020, identity theft through other methods is up. There are scams happening around stimulus checks, Amazon and Apple purchases and fake IRS calls. Its always best to verify it directly from the source its coming from....

Its finally (finally!) time to sayau revoirto 2020. And while these drinks can be notoriously expensive, its actually possible to find bargains that also taste good. Its just a matter of knowing what to look for. Sparkling Wine vs. Champagne: Whats the Difference? Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week. This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed. Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire....

Its literally what makes it possible for normal people to retire with a million dollars. But for the average person, learning how to invest can be overwhelming. ), but what else can you do to grow your money? There are so many different options that it can feel like were gambling. And to some extent, it is a gamble. Investing comes with varying levels of risk; it just depends on how much youre willing to lose....

Trump signed the bill six days after Congress rushed to approve the package. Well update this post as we learn more. How much will I get for the second stimulus check? This post refers to stimulus checks issued in 2020. For the most up-to-date info, check out ourrecent tax articles. Thats half the amount of the first round of checks. For each child 16 or younger in the household, youll also get the full $600....

The secret to saving money on clothes? Its all about making them last longer. Just imagine how much money youd save if your clothing didnt shrink, pill, tear or stain. However, learning how to make your clothes last longer can help you decrease your expenses. Doing so can also help minimize the pollution that the fast fashion industry causes. No Interest Til Almost 2027? Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code...

If you have a retirement account, you probably just became a Tesla investor. No, Elon Musk didnt gift you shares of the electric carmaker. So how did you become a Tesla investor without even noticing? Theyre passively managed, which means the fund manager doesnt decide what to invest in. They buy and sell shares so that the funds makeup and performance reflects the index. How Did Tesla Join the S&P 500?...

Its the question we usually ask our parents late one night while sitting around the kitchen table. Or we ask our siblings when they become parents for the first time. Do you have a will? But even if youre young and feel invincible, you should probably have a will, tool. Life can come at you fast. What Is a Will, Anyway? Probably not as good as youd like. It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings....

I follow the news closely. The amount I owe on my mortgage is right around $100,000, as well. What Im wondering is, should I withdraw my investments now and use it to pay off my mortgage? I have no other debt besides my mortgage. Is this a good strategy? But even smart people have bad ideas on occasion. This is one of those times. Youre right that thestock market is going to crashagain because crashes are completely normal....

She had a spray tanning business. I texted her and she told me everything I needed to do, Skidmore said. She ordered the Aura Allure Spray Tan Machine, which isavailableon Amazon. The starter pack comes with the machine and trial sizes for three different solutions. That cost $300, she said. Each full-sized bottle of solution is $50. Normally I can get about 35 to 40 tans out of one of those bottles, she added....

Its been a rough year. (Thats the understatement of the century.) These recipes will help you get that spa day glow without spending spa day dollars. This recipe will yield eight ounces, so youll have enough for one large jar or two smaller ones. (And by the way, this recipe smells good enough to eat.) Ingredients: Directions:Mix all of the ingredients together. Gently exfoliate your skin, then rinse. Coconut oil also contains Vitamin E, which is an antioxidant with protective properties....

That, in a nutshell, is whatPersonal Capitaldoes. What Is Personal Capital? Personal Capital isnt a simple budgeting app. Still looking for the perfect app? Here’s our roundup of thebest expense-tracking apps. It goes well beyond tracking your spending and sorting your transactions into budget categories. Personal Capital is a wealth management app with an emphasis on investing. Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week....

For a lot of customers, COVID-19 is changing the way life insurance works. The whole ordeal typically took weeks. But newer companies likeBestoware updating and disrupting the life insurance industrys traditional way of doing business. Bestow uses algorithms instead of medical exams to evaluate applicants. Probably not as good as youd like. It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings. But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?...