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☆ Living on $37K a year playing Dungeons & Dragons in Salt Lake City
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Mike Winters | Raffi Paul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

This is an installment of CNBC Make It's Millennial Money series, which profiles people across the globe and details how they earn, spend and save their money.

Organizations: CNBC

People are surprised to learn that Mari Murdock, 36, is a professional game master, a role in which she organizes and narrates tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons. Dungeons & Dragons is an open-ended tabletop game in which the narrative is shaped by the players' choices, whether that's through combat, puzzles or negotiation. But as Murdock played tabletop games through the 2010s, she grew more confident in the skills it takes to run a good game. The timing was fortuitous, as tabletop gaming became more popular during the pandemic. For Murdock, gaming allows you to immerse yourself in "a pretend situation where you are imagining that you are someone else.

Persons: Mari Murdock, Graham Merwin, Murdock, — it's, Scott, Murdock's, Mari, she'd, Dax Levine, —, Levine, Max, we've, it's Organizations: CNBC, Westminster University, Brigham Young University, Hawaii, BYU, Dragons, Guinness World Records, &, PayPal, Hulu, Spotify, Amazon Prime, Max Insurance, Relief Society Locations: Utah, Salt Lake City, Michigan, Hawaii, Japan, Scott, Provo , Utah

☆ The income a family of 4 needs to live comfortably in every U.S. state
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

To live comfortably in Massachusetts, a family of two working adults and two kids would need to earn $301,184 annually. "Comfortable" is defined as the income needed to cover a 50/30/20 budget for a family of four. SmartAsset extrapolated the income needed for a 50/30/20 budget based on the cost of necessities, using data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator. In contrast to these states, Mississippi is the least-expensive state to raise a family, requiring only $177,798 per year in annual income. Here's a look at the income needed for a family of four to live comfortably in each state, listed in alphabetical order.

Organizations: MIT, of Labor Statistics Locations: York , California, Hawaii, it's Massachusetts, Massachusetts, Connecticut, York, California, Mississippi, U.S, New York

☆ The salary a single person needs to live comfortably in every U.S. state
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A single person will need to earn over six figures to live comfortably in the most expensive U.S. states, a SmartAsset analysis reveals. The income needed for each state was extrapolated based on the cost of necessities, using data from the MIT Living Wage Calculator. Here's a look at the five most-costly states for single workers, based on how much money residents would need to earn each year to live comfortably. The national median for living comfortably alone is $89,461, which suggests that a 50/30/20 budget might not be practical for most single people. Here's a look at the income needed to live comfortably in each state, listed in alphabetical order.

Organizations: MIT, Washington, Labor Locations: Massachusetts, Hawaii, California, York

☆ Mark Cuban is ‘proud to pay’ $275.9 million in taxes: 'It’s crazy and unreal in so many ways'
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"I pay what I owe," Cuban wrote on social media site X on Sunday. Long-term capital gains taxes apply to the sale of assets held for more than a year before they are sold. Capital gains rates are based on total taxable income and are generally lower than ordinary income rates. Paying more than a quarter of a billion dollars is "crazy and unreal in so many ways," Cuban wrote on X. "Some people might find it distasteful to pay taxes," Cuban wrote.

Persons: Mark Cuban Organizations: CNBC, Dallas Mavericks, Capital Locations: U.S, Cuban

☆ The 14 U.S. states where you can still afford to buy a home if you earn less than $75,000
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-13 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

There are only 14 U.S. states where residents who earn less than $75,000 can afford a median-priced home, a new Bankrate analysis reveals. Considering that half of the country's households earn a median of $74,580 or less, these 14 states are some of the few places where middle-income earners can afford a typical home. Here's a look at the 14 states where homes are most affordable, based on the annual income needed to cover homeownership costs without spending more than 28% on housing. While these 14 states may have cheaper properties available, there are trade-offs to consider, like higher rates of poverty and fewer high-paying jobs compared with the rest of the country. The median income needed to afford a home in the U.S. overall is $110,871 — up from $76,191 in 2020.

Organizations: U.S, CNBC Locations: U.S, . Mississippi, Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana, Alabama, Kansas, Dakota, Virginia, United States, California, New York, Mississippi

☆ 11 U.S. cities where you need to earn over $200,000 to buy a typical home
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

You'll need to earn just over six figures to buy a typical home in the U.S. right now. San Jose is by far the most priciest place to buy a home, even among 10 other metro areas where qualifying income exceeds $200,000. Some of the wealthiest people in the U.S. live in cities like San Jose, San Francisco and Anaheim. In contrast to California's most expensive markets, the qualifying income needed to buy a typical home in the U.S. overall is $103,835. It's even cheaper in the Midwest and the South, where the qualifying income is $74,967 and $95,511, respectively.

Persons: NAR's Organizations: National Association of Realtors, Thousand Oaks, San, Housing Finance Agency, CNBC Locations: U.S, California, San Jose, Jose, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara , California, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Irvine , California, Francisco, Oakland, Hayward , California, Honolulu, Hawaii, Salinas , California, Diego, Carlsbad , California, Oxnard, Ventura , California, San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles , California, Angeles, Long, Glendale , California, Boulder , Colorado, Naples, Marco Island, Florida, San Francisco, Atherton, Midwest

☆ More than half of Americans are surprised by moving costs—here’s how much they pay
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

It's a common problem, too: 53% of Americans who moved in 2023 say their total moving costs were higher than expected, according to a recent survey of 2,000 Americans by Clever Real Estate, a real estate brokerage. Based on the findings, the approximate median cost of moving is "very close" to $2,000, according to Clever's data analyst. Just under two-thirds of movers used a professional moving company. While hiring professional movers can be expensive, there are other easily overlooked costs to consider as well, even if you take the DIY route. Here's a look at some of the common reasons why people underestimate moving expenses and what you can do about it.

☆ You need to earn $100,000 a year to buy a typical home in these 23 U.S. places
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Most people don't earn six figures, but it's become the new benchmark for whether or not you can afford a typical U.S. home. Americans need to earn an annual income of $110,871 to buy a median-priced home of $402,343 — a 46% increase since January 2020, according to a new Bankrate analysis of Redfin sales data. For context, households currently earn a median income of $74,580, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data available. As a result, the number of places where you need to earn $100,000 or more to afford a median-priced home has climbed from seven to 23 since January 2020. In Montana, the income needed to buy a median-priced home increased 77% since 2020 — the largest jump of all states.

Persons: it's, Bankrate, homeownership Organizations: Census, of Columbia, Washington, Rhode, Center, of Labor Statistics, CNBC Locations: U.S, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Colorado, Jersey, York, Utah, Montana, Hampshire, Oregon, Connecticut, Florida, Vermont, Idaho, Nevada, Arizona, Maryland, Virginia, Maine, Texas, Hawaii , Massachusetts, New York, Utah , Montana and Idaho, Midwest, Mississippi , Ohio , Arkansas , Indiana , Kentucky, Iowa, Oklahoma

☆ Pet insurance didn't feel worth it—until my cat needed a $3,000 surgery
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-30 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

My wife and I never gave pet insurance much thought, until our cat Wally needed a $3,000 surgery. My wife and I never gave pet insurance much thought — until we were told our cat Wally needed surgery that would cost nearly $3,000. Apparently, we weren't alone in that thinking, as only about 25% of pet owners have pet insurance, according to a recent NerdWallet survey. What you get with pet insuranceTypically, pet insurance covers accidents, illness and wellness, which pays for routine care like annual exams. How to know whether pet insurance is right for youFinancial planners who spoke with CNBC Make It were divided on whether pet insurance is worth the cost.

Persons: Wally, Mike Winters, periodontitis, there's, Rikin Shah, Carol Fabbri, — Organizations: CNBC, Insurance Locations: Denver

☆ The income a family of 4 needs to live comfortably in 20 major U.S. cities
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A family of four needs to make more than $275,000 to live comfortably in some of the most expensive U.S. cities, a recent SmartAsset analysis reveals. "Comfortable" is defined as the income needed to cover a 50/30/20 budget for a family of two adults and two kids. That's followed by other cities known for having notoriously expensive housing costs, including Boston, New York City, Honolulu and Los Angeles. Out of all 99 cities SmartAsset examined, a family of four would need a median of $226,886 to live comfortably. But that's still higher than the median family income in the U.S. of $92,750, according to the most recent U.S. Census bureau data available.

Persons: That's Organizations: MIT, Boston, New, Urban, Santa, Chula, Seattle, Legislative, Office, for Community & Economic Research, CNBC Locations: San Francisco, Jose , California, Arlington , Virginia, New York City, Oakland, California, Urban Honolulu, Hawaii, Irvine , California, Santa Ana , California, Portland , Oregon, Diego, Chula Vista , California, Newark , New Jersey, Jersey City , New Jersey, Aurora, Colorado, Long Beach , California, Anaheim , California, Angeles, Washington, Francisco, Boston , New York City, Honolulu, Los Angeles, In California, U.S, Houston

☆ Mega Millions jackpot is up to $1.1 billion—what billionaire Mark Cuban says you should do if you win
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

For the sixth time in Mega Millions lottery history, the jackpot prize is worth over $1 billion ahead of Tuesday night's 11 p.m. If you match all six numbers on your ticket, you'll have the choice between $1.1 billion paid out as an annuity over 30 years or taking home a lump sum payment of $525.8 million, per usamega.com. Most winners choose the lump sum option, even though it's less than half of the total jackpot amount. With the lump sum payout, winners are theoretically able to invest and start growing the funds right away. However, Mark Cuban, self-made billionaire and star of ABC's "Shark Tank," thinks winners should take the annuity instead.

Persons: Mark Cuban Organizations: Mega

☆ The best- and worst-paying college majors, 5 years after graduation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

If you want to make the most money possible right after college, study to be an engineer. Engineering degrees occupy nine of the top 16 college majors with the highest incomes five years after graduation, a recent New York Federal Reserve study reveals. Computer engineering majors ranked first with an annual median salary of $80,000, followed by chemical engineering and computer science — the only two other majors that earn more than $75,000 annually. They make roughly double that of the lowest-paid majors, which tend to be degrees in the liberal arts or humanities. Here are the 16 highest-paying college majors, five years after graduation:

Organizations: York Federal, Computer

☆ The 16 worst-paying college majors, five years after graduation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-16 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

All three majors made a median annual income of $38,000, the lowest out of the 75 majors in the study. Other low-paying majors include leisure and hospitality, history, fine arts and psychology, all of which made $40,000 or less per year. With liberal arts degrees, graduates tend to get paid less overall, for various reasons. Education majors tend to be paid less, as well. When looking at "mid-career" graduates — those ages 35 to 45 — education majors are the worst paid among all majors.

Organizations: York Federal, Census, Economic Locations: U.S

☆ Mega Millions sixth-largest jackpot hits $792 million—how much you'd actually take home in every U.S. state
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Mega Millions jackpot prize has grown to $792 million ahead of Friday night's draw — its sixth highest total ever. To win the jackpot, you'll need to match numbers with all five white balls, plus the gold Mega Ball. If you win, you can take a 30-year annuity for the full jackpot amount, or an upfront cash lump sum that's worth about 48% of the jackpot. While the lump sum is much less than the annuity, winners often choose that option since they receive more money right away. The prize amounts for both lump sum and annuity amounts are calculated by usamega.com.

Persons: you'll, usamega.com Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, D.C Locations: California, Florida , New Hampshire, South Dakota , Tennessee , Texas, Washington and Wyoming, Washington

☆ The 16 highest-paying college majors, 5 years after graduation
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-14 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

If you're looking for a college degree with maximum earning potential, you'll want to be an engineer. Engineering degrees took nine of the top 16 rankings for college majors with the highest income five years after graduation, according to a recent New York Federal Reserve study of full-time workers. Computer engineering majors ranked first with an annual median salary of $80,000, followed by chemical engineering and computer science — the only two other majors that pay more than $75,000 annually. STEM jobs — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — are expected to grow twice as fast as non-STEM jobs through 2031. Here are the 16 highest-paying college majors:

Organizations: York Federal, Computer

☆ Trump attacks Biden for 'through the roof' prices—here's how much they've actually risen since 2021
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Former President Donald Trump took aim at President Joe Biden over inflation during a call-in appearance on CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Monday. "People are going through hell," due to rising prices, Trump said, with energy and food costs "through the roof." Trump then made the false claim that cumulative inflation was up as much as "over 50%" in the past few years. While inflation has hit Americans hard in the past few years, cumulative inflation is up 18% since 2021, when Biden took office. The inflation rate is based on consumer price index data which measures the cost of everyday items that Americans tend to buy.

Persons: Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Trump, Biden

☆ Selling your home in 2024? Here's why you should list it in June, according to Zillow
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

If you're thinking of selling your home this year, you might want to do it in the first two weeks of June. U.S. sellers who listed their home during that time span in 2023 sold their homes for 2.3% more when compared to other months in the year, according to a new Zillow analysis. Zillow's analysis of its 2023 listings supports this conclusion: Spring and summer months had a 0.5% to 1% increase in sales prices compared to the yearly average. Conversely, sales prices dropped by about 2% during winter months, compared to the yearly average. June should be the standout month of 2024 too, Zillow experts expect.

Persons: Nicole Beauchamp Organizations: Sotheby's

☆ You could 'owe huge taxes' next year if you don't make this update, says CFP—how to check if you need to
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you contribute too little money, you might receive a sizable tax bill you weren't expecting when you file your taxes next year. Take adding dependents, for example: They can lower your tax bill by thousands of dollars if you claim credits like the child tax credit, the child and dependent care credit or the earned income tax credit. "Tax withheld on bonuses and stock compensation is typically — though not always — withheld at a flat 22% for federal taxes," says Carla Adams, a certified financial planner in Michigan. However, those in a higher tax bracket could owe huge taxes." How to check if your tax withholding is on track

Persons: it's, Roth, Michelle Gessner, Carla Adams Organizations: Internal Revenue Locations: Houston, Michigan

☆ Bitcoin will soon be 'halved'—what that means for its price
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Halving happens automatically when 210,000 "blocks" are created as part of the bitcoin mining process. The last halving event was in 2020, and the next one is expected sometime in April. Bitcoin's price has surged 36% since spot bitcoin ETFs were approved on Jan. 10. The built-in mechanism mimics the scarcity of gold and ensures that bitcoin mining becomes more expensive over time. "When supply goes down, price goes up, assuming demand remains the same or greater," says Boneparth, who holds investments in bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

Persons: Douglas Boneparth Organizations: Bone, CNBC's Locations: bitcoin

☆ You might have extra time to file your tax return—here's who qualifies
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

For most Americans, the deadline to file your 2023 federal tax return is April 15. ConnecticutResidents affected by severe storms and flooding that began Jan. 10 now have until June 17, 2024 to file their federal tax returns. MaineResidents affected by severe storms and flooding that began on Dec. 17, 2023 now have until June 17, 2024 to file their federal tax returns. TennesseeResidents affected by severe storms and tornadoes that began on Dec. 9, 2023, now have until June 17, 2024 to file their federal tax returns. WashingtonResidents of Spokane County affected by wildfires that began Aug. 18, 2023, now have until June 17, 2024 to file their federal tax returns.

Persons: Dickson, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, California Residents, Connecticut, Mohegan Tribal Nation, Pequot Tribal, Pequot Tribal Nation ., Tennessee Residents, Washington Residents, West, West Virginia Residents Locations: California, San Diego County, New London County, Pequot Tribal Nation, Pequot Tribal Nation . Maine, Androscoggin, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis , Somerset, Waldo, Washington counties, Michigan, Eaton, Ingham, Ionia, Kent, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Wayne counties, Rhode, Providence County, Cheatham, Davidson, Gibson, Montgomery, Weakley, Spokane, West Virginia, Boone , Calhoun, Clay, Harrison, Kanawha, United States, Puerto Rico

☆ Half of aspiring homebuyers can't afford a down payment—and the No. 1 reason why isn't student loans
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Around half of potential homebuyers say they can't afford a down payment and closing costs on a property in the U.S. because they don't make enough money and living costs are too high, a new Bankrate survey finds. Considering that down payments are often 20% of the home price, they represent a considerable upfront cost for most buyers. Closing costs, at usually about 3% to 6% of the mortgage loan, are often quite expensive too. Bankrate surveyed 864 U.S. adults January 2024 who are aspiring or prospective homeowners, which includes those who have owned a home in the past but currently don't, as well as first-time homebuyers. And as home prices continue to rise, the size of down payments are likely to grow as well.

Persons: Bankrate Locations: U.S

☆ 28-year-old with a net worth over $500,000 shares 5 signs you're better with money than you think
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

But a lot of people who feel helpless are probably doing better than they think they are, says the 28-year-old former financial analyst, who has a personal net worth of more than $500,000. To help people feel "less hopeless," the author of "Break Your Budget" recently shared several signs you're doing better financially than you think you are on TikTok. Here are five signs that you're on track with your personal finances, according to Allocca. Allocca suggests putting the money in a high-yield savings account to maximize the interest you earn on those funds. This includes high earners who still live paycheck to paycheck because they aren't tracking their expenses.

Persons: Michela Allocca, Allocca, they're Organizations: CNBC, Financial Locations: Allocca, U.S

☆ 35-year-old's design side hustle brought in $414,000 last year—and she only works on it 5 to 10 hours a week
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Mike Winters | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Last year, Chisom Okwulehie's architectural design business, Juntero, brought in $414,000 in revenue. While Juntero's first sales were mostly one-off graphic design gigs, the company soon attracted bigger projects, like floor plans for small businesses. By the end of 2021, Juntero had garnered $55,000 in revenue. Getting started: 'I've always been a hustler'In early 2021, Okwulehie had just given birth to her daughter and was looking to secure more income for her family. With Juntero, however, she's able to do more design work for residential projects.

Persons: Okwulehie, Juntero, I've, Chisom Okwulehie, Zach Green, John F Organizations: Port Authority of New, CNBC, Port Authority, Kennedy International Locations: Port Authority of New York, New Jersey, Cliffside Park , New Jersey, Upper Nyack , New York, New York, Harrison , New Jersey, China, Texas, Juntero

This confidence is echoed by other recent metrics, including a survey by Morgan Stanley showing that consumer sentiment hit a five-month high in January. Economists who spoke to CNBC Make It say it's likely the cumulative effect of wage growth, low unemployment and slowing inflation. "But with slowing inflation and strong wage growth, adjusted-for-inflation incomes are increasing, giving consumers more buying power," he says. Wages increased 5% in January 2024, a three-month moving average of nominal wage growth for individuals, as measured by the Atlanta Fed's Wage Growth Tracker. Wage growth, slowing inflation and low unemployment are the main factors for improved optimism among Americans, Ernest says.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, what's, Robert Johnson, Here's, Gus Faucher, Johnson, Jonathan Ernest, Ernest Organizations: of Michigan, Consumers, New York Federal Reserve, CNBC, Creighton University's Heider College of Business, PNC Financial Services Group, U.S . Department of, Treasury, Federal Reserve, Stock, Case Western Reserve University Locations: New, Atlanta

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