boston herald

By JOSH BOAK (Associated Press) WASHINGTON (AP) — Lori Shelton can’t fathom ever having the money to buy a home — and that’s a major reason why so many voters feel down on the economy ahead of this year’s presidential election. Shelton, 67, drives an Uber to help pay rent in Aurora, Colorado. An advance on her pay covered her apartment’s security deposit. But it also cut into her next paycheck, leaving her bank account dangerously low when the rent was due — a cycle that never seems to end. “I’m always one step behind,”…

Samantha Masunaga and Sean Greene | (TNS) Los Angeles Times Abygail Liera sympathized when she first read about people who were “quiet quitting,” refusing to go above and beyond at their jobs. But it wasn’t until a few months later that she understood. The resident of Los Angeles’ Winnetka neighborhood got a new boss and was expected to train him, but when she asked for a raise, she said she was told, “We’ll see.” Her boss discouraged open and honest feedback, making her work environment feel toxic and disrespectful. “I…

By Sara Rathner | NerdWallet As you’re growing up, you learn about money from the people who raise you. Their lessons are based on their life experiences, which means there’s likely some bias built in. That’s not necessarily a bad thing — you may have a savvy aunt who taught herself to manage her own money after a divorce, or a parent who cautioned you about debt because they struggled to pay down theirs. Hearing their stories can spare you from making financial mistakes. Even with all that history, though, you’re likely…

By Tommy Tindall | NerdWallet Traditional grocery store advice is to stay out of the aisles and shop the perimeter to spend less and eat healthier. That’s harder to do at Costco, says Addie McHale, a Denver-based certified financial planner. Each visit is a treasure hunt. You get there, take it in and want to walk the whole store to “hunt down those values,” says McHale. Jenny Martin, the writer behind coupon website SouthernSavers.com, says Costco knows what it’s doing. Tall ceilings, big open aisles and tons of products…

By Holden Lewis | NerdWallet You feel demoralized about the housing market, right? Hold on. After a grim 2022 and 2023, it looks like 2024 is shaping up to be less hostile to home buyers. Here’s a summary of what’s been rotten in the state of housing: Home prices skyrocketed from the middle of 2020 to mid-2022. Then, mortgage rates took off, and the 30-year fixed-rate home loan crested at almost 8% in October 2023. Home buyers struggled with affordability as high interest rates eroded their borrowing power. They had few…

By Zach Wichter, Bankrate.com Buying your first home can be an overwhelming experience: a high-stakes adventure that can leave you feeling elated and exhausted all at the same time. And, as a newbie, it’s easy to make (sometimes costly) mistakes if you don’t know how the homebuying process works. Whether you are a brand-new house hunter or one returning to the market after many years, you can sidestep potential pitfalls by understanding the basics of homebuying and home financing, and knowing what questions to ask. Here’s…

By Phillip Molnar, The San Diego Union-Tribune The Super Bowl is close and brands are, once again, paying millions to get advertisements on the broadcast. Advertisement space sold out in November, said The Hollywood Reporter, and it cost as much as $7 million for a 30-second ad during the game. The big ads we know about are one from Lionel Messi for Michelob Ultra, a Jenna Ortega Doritos commercial, and a major push from Bud Light to reshape its image. It’s debated among advertisers and academics if it is worth the…

By Amrita Jayakumar | NerdWallet The surge in inflation may have slowed, but the cost of everyday items is still high enough to put a strain on your travel budget. If winter already has you dreaming of a luxury beach vacation, it’s worth finding a destination where the U.S. dollar delivers more bang for your buck. Fortunately, there are several options around the world where five-star accommodations are surprisingly affordable, even without using travel rewards. Travel search engines Skyscanner and Kayak both analyzed…

Holly D. Johnson | Bankrate.com (TNS) Overall inflation of consumer prices increased 3.4% over the 12 months leading up to December 2023, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data. the largest increase in over 40 years. After that, regular inflation numbers finally slowed, with the most recent figure coming in at 4.0% during the 12 months leading up to May of 2023. Consumers are bearing the brunt of rising prices and interest rates, unfortunately. And while this isn’t great news, Americans have weathered…

James Royal, Ph.D. | Bankrate.com (TNS) If you’re an investor, be sure to give special attention to the taxes you’ll have to pay on your investments. In many cases, you have ways to legally reduce, defer or even eliminate taxes on your investment gains and keep more of your profits. So it pays to know the smartest ways to minimize your taxes and keep more of your money working for you. Here are some of the best ways to keep taxes low on your investment income. How your investments are taxed The Internal Revenue Service…