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☆ 41-year-old and her family left the U.S. for Costa Rica and live on less than $30,000 a year: 'We're a lot happier' and never moving back
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Morgan Smith Valentina Duarte | Morgan Smith | Valentina Duarte | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

But in 2018, after Hurricane Harvey destroyed her Houston home, a trip to Costa Rica with her husband Nicholas Hopper and then 9-year-old daughter Aaralyn became a permanent move. From Hopper's perspective, moving to Costa Rica was a no-brainer. Fast-forward six years later, and the Ward-Hoppers are now permanent residents of Costa Rica, with no plans to move back to Texas. The Ward-Hoppers live in Costa Rica with their daughter Aaralyn, 15, and son Nico, 3. Photo: Alejandro FerliniNico's arrival also introduced another element of stability to their lives by making the entire family eligible for citizenship in Costa Rica.

Persons: Kema, Hopper, Hurricane Harvey, Nicholas Hopper, Aaralyn, let's, —, Heidi, Dan Buettner, Buettner, Nico, Alejandro Ferlini Nico's, Costa Rica's, Costa Ricans, Krishnan Organizations: CNBC, U.S . Ward, American Cancer Society, CAJA, Costa Rica didn't, Gas Locations: Costa Rica, Houston, Texas, Costa, Nicoya, Playa San Miguel, U.S, United States, Nicaragua, Spanish

☆ Opinion: Jokes about disability aren’t taboo. But here’s who shouldn’t be telling them
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Opinion S.E. Smith | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

A better and more interesting conversation about comedy and the disabled is not whether people should be allowed to crack disability jokes (they are) or if disability can even be funny (it absolutely can be). The real question is who should be telling these jokes and how the lived experience of disability — punching up, rather than down — can make for radical, truly edgy comedy. Telling jokes about yourself, rather than dunking on others, is a true art form, and disability comedy threads that needle in a way that sometimes makes audiences uncomfortable, pushing at their understanding of disability in society and culture. One reason disability is so terrifying is the unknown factor, since many nondisabled people think they don’t know anyone disabled or that disability itself is a taboo topic, when in fact making disability funny can be accessible and disarming. Some 20% of the US population is disabled, and disability is one of the few marginalized identities that you can take on at any moment.

Persons: CNN —, Shane Gillis, Michaela Oteri Gillis, Dave Chappelle’s “, “ There’s, ” Chappelle, there’s, Gillis, Chappelle, That’s, they’re, Maysoon, coy, disablism, Pat Loller, Harold Foxx, Josh Blue, Steve Lee, Danielle Perez, Nina G, Bo Burnham’s, Gillis ’, They’re, — Organizations: CNN, SNL, Netflix, NBC Locations: Northern California, British, Palestinian American, Afghanistan

☆ Couple earns up to $70,000 a month, still feels stressed about money: 'We're not broke, but it feels like we are'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Brad has been the primary breadwinner throughout most of their marriage, but his income varies month to month. Sandra didn't contribute much income-wise to the couple's finances until a little over a year ago, she told Sethi. Brad feels like he does all he can to achieve their goals, but will never meet the high standard she sets, he told Sethi. "Most people genuinely believe that this process of tracking every last cent puts them in control of their money," Sethi said. "The identity you have created for yourself around money might not be fully accurate with reality," Sethi told her.

Persons: Sandra, Brad, Ramit Sethi, Rich, Sandra didn't, Sethi, it's

☆ I bought a house with my ex 14 years after we broke up. We're saving so much money, and I'm happier.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

My rental in Palm Beach County, Florida, increased dramatically from 2021 to 2023, and it almost became unaffordable for one person. I pay less for my share of the house and have more spaceJohn fell sometime in 2022, and he lived in Daytona Beach, Florida. I began looking in Palm Beach County, and I couldn't touch anything. We also looked in Ormond Beach, Florida, but unfortunately, that didn't work — prices were too high. We looked in Melbourne, Florida, we looked in Palm Bay, we looked in Vero Beach.

Persons: —, Elisa Ball, John, We've, would've, Elisa, we're, Lucie, Brad McGinley, I'm, haven't, Ball Organizations: Service, Business Locations: Palm Bay , Florida, America, Palm Beach County , Florida, —, Daytona Beach , Florida, Palm Beach County, Jacksonville , Florida, Ormond Beach , Florida, Melbourne , Florida, Palm Bay, Vero Beach, Stuart, Port St, California

Following Thursday's trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 2,930 shares of BHC, decreasing its weighting in the portfolio to 0.82% from 1.1%. We're trimming roughly one-quarter of our Bausch Health position to manage our downside risk ahead of a key event. As the likelihood of monetizing its BLCO stake increases, BHC shares are expected to trade appreciably higher. BHC 1Y mountain Bausch Health Companies 1 year What we have on our hands is a binary situation and the outcome could go either way. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio.

Persons: Jim Cramer's, Xifaxan, Bausch, Jefferies, BHC, Johnson, haven't, we've, It's, Jim Cramer, Jim Organizations: Bausch Health, Jefferies, Health, CNBC

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Being rejected for a credit card won't harm your credit score for more than a few months. Fortunately, being rejected for a credit card won't lead to long-term damage to your credit score. What to Do After a Credit Card RejectionWhile being rejected for a credit card won't irreparably harm your credit score, not getting the card you want can definitely. What steps can I take to avoid impacting my credit score with future credit card applications?

Persons: Read, Chase, haven't, shouldn't, you've Organizations: Chase, Citi, American Airlines, Citi Premier, Citi Prestige, you've Locations: Chevron

☆ Bitcoin ETFs see record-high trading volumes as retail investors jump on crypto rally
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Retail traders appear to be using a new tool during this huge rally for bitcoin — exchange-traded funds. The funds, which launched last month, have seen their trading volume surge this week as bitcoin continues to climb. That is well above its previous record high of roughly 43 million shares, which came on Tuesday. The highly active market around these funds is likely a sign that retail traders are using the ETFs to participate in the bitcoin rally. The trading volume is even more impressive when considering the price.

Persons: bitcoin Organizations: Fidelity, Bitcoin

☆ I worked as a Starbucks barista for over a year. Here are 9 signs you're about to get a bad drink.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Dylan Clair | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

As someone who worked as a Starbucks barista for over a year, here are some of the biggest red flags to look out for. It's not always wise to mobile-order a drink with cold foam or shaken espressoCold foam won't last that long on top of a drink. Mary Meisenzahl/InsiderCold-foam cold brews have boomed in popularity over the past few years — pumpkin cold foam, Irish-cream cold foam, almond milk-honey cold foam, the list goes on. A little mixing can taste nice, but you lose the texture of the cold foam, which is a delight in itself. The same principle applies to any shaken espresso drink.

Persons: Baristas, —, aren't, Mary Meisenzahl, barista, I'm, It's, Ramin Talaie, Getty, it's, that's, Sarah Jackson, I've Organizations: Starbucks, Service

☆ Jim Cramer explains why it's important to look for nuance during earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Julie Coleman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

CNBC's Jim Cramer reflected on the earnings season so far, saying investors shouldn't judge stocks based purely on figures from a financial report. he said, referring to earnings season. But comments from CEO Ted Decker about the home improvement giant's inventory made Cramer optimistic. Cramer predicted that TJX would see success despite less-than-ideal earnings where management issued light guidance. "I have no illusions about this issue — It's extremely unlikely that the headline process will actually change," Cramer said.

Persons: CNBC's Jim Cramer, It's, it's, Cramer, Ted Decker, Decker, Lowe's, Marvin Ellison, Ellison Organizations: CNBC

☆ My 91-year-old grandma was filled with wisdom. There were 3 important life lessons I was grateful she passed down.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Jane Ridley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Daisy Ridley is better known as Rey in Star Wars — the sensitive Jedi whose attitude is nonetheless badass. My paternal grandmother, who died at 91, became Daisy Ridley — her maiden name was Duck of all things — in 1932 when she married my grandfather, Robert. And, just as the Star Wars character inspired women and girls to be strong, Nanny was our role model. She didn't want to have to leave at 60 — the retirement age for women in the UK back then. Daisy Ridley was wise and a positive force.

Persons: Daisy Ridley, Daisy Ridley —, Robert, Alison, Rey, Nanny, Daisy, Linda, babysat, Don Organizations: Rey, Star, Business, Star Wars Locations: Scotland

☆ Unemployment benefits, emergency savings. Here's how to get by without a paycheck after a job loss
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Annie Nova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"Job loss is extremely traumatic, but it is important to remember that it is not the end of the world," said Michele Evermore, a senior fellow at The Century Foundation. The average weekly benefit ranges greatly between states, Evermore said. Job loss is extremely traumatic. Michele Evermore a senior fellow at The Century FoundationWhether or not the package affects your unemployment benefits depends on your state's rules, Evermore said. Strategize which savings to tap, in what orderHopefully you have an emergency savings fund to draw from, Curtis said.

Persons: Michele Evermore, Evermore, you've, Carolyn McClanahan, McClanahan, Curtis Organizations: Google, Microsoft, Paramount, CNBC, The Century Foundation, The Century, Employment Security Department, Planning Partners, CNBC's Locations: New York, Washington, Jacksonville , Florida

☆ Homebuyers are flocking to areas most exposed to extreme weather risk and pushing prices higher, JPMorgan says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

But the firm says rising insurance costs could eventually dampen demand. The researchers then gave each county a composite climate risk score, measured against each area's house price index. AdvertisementA positive relationship also emerged between higher climate risk and population growth, indicating that more people were migrating in than leaving these areas. Others may simply have no intent on selling, and consider themselves too old to experience these rising costs. But changes to property insurance may force prospective buyers to give more attention to climate risks, JPMorgan noted.

Persons: Alexander Wise, Jan Loeys, Risks, Redfin Organizations: JPMorgan, Service, Foundation Locations: Florida

☆ Broadcom makes a wise sale of its remote access unit. Here's what it can do with the $4 billion
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Morgan Chittum | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Every weekday the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer holds a "Morning Meeting" livestream at 10:20 a.m. Broadcom shares jumped nearly back to last week's all-time high after the company agreed to sell its remote computer access unit to KKR for $4 billion. As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB.

Persons: Jim Cramer, Dow, Nikesh Arora's, We're bullish, Jim Cramer's, Jim Organizations: CNBC, TJX, Palo, Networks, Management, The, Broadcom, KKR, VMware, We're Locations: New York City, billings

☆ Cash is no longer king. So why are we still printing so much?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

An economics expert tells BI that cash still remains crucial for "certain segments of consumers." AdvertisementWhen it comes to how Americans prefer to spend their money, cash is actually not king. That represents a consistent decline in cash payments since the pandemic in 2020, which saw many shifts in consumer behavior, including an acceleration of online shopping. The following year, the study showed that cash made up 19% of payments and has not recovered since. Cash is still king of some thingsEconomics experts say that despite increasing reliance on cards, cash remains resilient and an important payment method for many consumers.

Persons: —, Cash, Christopher Bechler, Bechler, Benjamin, Sage Handley, Kenneth Rogoff Organizations: Service, Federal Reserve, . Federal, University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, Business, Association for Consumer Research, Federal, Street Journal, Harvard University

☆ Want to invest like Warren Buffett? Ignore pundits and 'never risk permanent loss of capital,' says the billionaire
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-26 | by ( Ryan Ermey | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

While she has some knowledge of how accounting works, Buffett writes, she wouldn't pass a CPA exam. A major asset for Bertie and investors like her: "She is sensible — very sensible — instinctively knowing that pundits should always be ignored," says Buffett. "Bertie understands the power — for good or bad — of incentives, the weaknesses of humans, the 'tells' that can be recognized when observing human behavior," Buffett writes. And so far, so good," Buffett writes. "Soon, things turned around and now that index hovers around 38,000," Buffett writes.

Persons: Warren, Berkshire Hathaway, you'll, Buffett, Bertie —, Bertie Organizations: Berkshire, YouTube, Dow Jones Locations: Berkshire, America

☆ Harvard-trained investor says this is the 'really powerful' financial lesson she wishes she’d learned at a young age
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Alexa von Tobel realized the importance of being financially savvy at a young age, but she still wishes she'd learned more about money as a kid. Like most children in the U.S., von Tobel received "no formal education" on personal finance. "Appreciating that you can have your dollars work hard for you, and on behalf of you, is a really powerful concept," von Tobel says. 'A skill set that you need for your whole life'Given her success as a fintech founder and investor, von Tobel clearly mastered that particular financial lesson eventually. "That concept is very powerful," von Tobel says.

Persons: Alexa von Tobel, she'd, von Tobel, Von Tobel's, von Tobel's, von, Von Tobel Organizations: Harvard University, CNBC, Northwestern Mutual Locations: U.S

☆ Some Gen Z workers are turning to AI for career advice and it's actually not a bad idea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Tim Paradis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In a survey, about half of Gen Zers said AI and social media gave better career advice than a boss. Bosses shouldn't rely on tech to give career advice to their teams, a business professor told BI. Almost half of GenZers said in a recent survey that chatbots and social media offered better career advice than their managers. In the survey, 62% of Gen Z workers said they'd like to talk more about their career path but that their boss was often too busy. "People could kind of say, 'Well, I get better skill-building from a YouTube tutorial than from my manager,'" Myers said.

Persons: Gen Zers, —, it's, Gen, GenZers, inspo, Christopher G, Myers, they'd, Daniel Jolles Organizations: Service, an Academy of Management, Johns Hopkins University, London School of Economics, Political

☆ Avoid these overcrowded trades by hedge funds as the rally powers on, according to Morgan Stanley
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

As the rally continues, it's wise to avoid overcrowded trades among hedge funds as herd mentality often leads to trouble in the stock market, according to Morgan Stanley. Investors in overcrowded trades could run the risk of getting caught in a losing bet when hedge funds, especially systematic traders, form a herd-like stampede to exit the same trades. Morgan Stanley found that hedge funds were most overweight in the consumer discretionary, industrials, and health-care sectors last quarter. Even though they have been extremely popular, these stocks tend to have outsized share counts that make hedge funds' ownership less significant. Avis Budget Group was the most over-owned stock by hedge funds at the end of 2023 with half of its outstanding float shares owned by the cohort, according to Morgan Stanley.

Persons: Morgan Stanley, Russell, Howard Hughes, Janus Henderson, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Avis Budget Group, Liberty Media, Liberty Media , New York Times Locations: Wendy's, Liberty Media ,

The economy has been doing surprisingly well so far this year, and it's pushing mortgage rates back up. Average 30-year mortgage rates rose 13 basis points to 6.90% this week, according to Freddie Mac. Average 15-year mortgage rates also increased to 6.29% this week, a 17-point jump. Once the Federal Reserve starts lowering the federal funds rate, mortgage rates are expected to go down as well. This means your entire monthly mortgage payment, including taxes and insurance, shouldn't exceed 28% of your pre-tax monthly income.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Sam Khater, Freddie Mac's, you'll, Fannie Mae Organizations: Federal Reserve, Zillow, Mortgage, Association, Sky Locations: Chevron

☆ Republicans are panicking about IVF treatment being restricted in Alabama
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The former president's statement came as Republicans try to distance themselves from an Alabama ruling. The Alabama Supreme Court controversially found that frozen embryos are children. AdvertisementFormer President Donald Trump on Friday broke his silence on a controversial Alabama Supreme Court ruling that has threatened the future of access to in vitro fertilization. Trump's comments come after the White House and Democrats have torn into Republicans over the Alabama ruling. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall's office said that he "has no intention of using the recent Alabama Supreme Court decision as a basis for prosecuting IVF families or providers."

Persons: Trump, —, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Joe Biden's, Kellyanne Conway, NRSC, Jason Thielman, kZR5LqRt5p — Lauren Fox, Zev Williams, Kevin Stitt, Stitt, Politico, Jay Mitchell, Mitchell, Steve Marshall's, Kay Ivey Organizations: Alabama Supreme, Service, White House, Democrats, The New York Times, Senate Republican, Republican, Trump White House, National Republican, CNN, Pew Research Center, Columbia University Fertility Center, Oklahoma Gov, GOP, US, Alabama Republicans, Alabama Locations: Alabama, America, Oklahoma

☆ How antimatter engines could fly humans to other stars in just a few years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Adam Barnes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

AdvertisementInterstellar travel is only something humanity has achieved in science fiction — like Star Trek's USS Enterprise, which used antimatter engines to travel across star systems. "Annihilation of antimatter and matter converts mass directly into energy," Weed, cofounder and CEO of Positron Dynamics, a company working to develop an antimatter propulsion system, told Business Insider. Space travel at record speedProxima's star system, shown here, could be reached in just five years with antimatter-powered technology. For example, let's take a trip to our nearest star system, Proxima, about 4.2 light years away. And since the '80s, there's been talk of thermal antimatter engines, which would use antimatter to heat liquid, gas, or plasma to provide thrust.

Persons: Elon Musk, Ryan Weed, Weed, Brice, Maximilien, Gerald Jackson, Forbes, It's, Jackson, he's, Eugen Sänger, there's, Paul M, Sutter, Steve Howe, Howe Organizations: Enterprise, Dynamics, Southern, NASA, CERN, Fermilab, Hbar Technologies, Space, Alpha Locations: Switzerland, Austrian

Best air fryer Jen Gushue/Insider We tested over 40 models to find the best air fryer. Check out our favorites:Best overall: Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven - See at AmazonInstant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven - See at Amazon Best value: Beautiful Touchscreen Air Fryer - See at WalmartBeautiful Touchscreen Air Fryer - See at Walmart Best toaster oven: Oster Digital Air Fryer Oven with RapidCrisp - See at AmazonAdvertisementBefore you get startedWhen it comes to using parchment paper in the air fryer, first read the appliance manual to confirm what your specific model can handle. You can punch holes in parchment paper yourself if you don't have air-fryer-specific perforated parchment paper. How to use parchment paper in the air fryer Always make sure your parchment paper is cut no larger than the bottom of your air fryer. That's why it's important not to cover the whole bottom of the air fryer with parchment paper.

Persons: fryer, —, Meredith Laurence, Blue Jean Chef, fryer Jen Gushue, Laurence, I've, that's, it's, Natalya Danko, EyeEm Organizations: Service, Walmart, Oster Digital, Fryer

☆ The No. 1 money mistake to avoid if you're laid off: The 'long-term consequences' will be 'very painful’
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"The long-term consequences of that are going to be very painful," she tells CNBC Make It. You'll generally need to pay income tax on any money you withdraw, which could result in a higher tax bill. You may derail your long-term retirement goalsIn addition to potentially facing a costly tax bill, cashing out your 401(k) may negatively impact your ability to meet your long-term retirement goals. When you withdraw funds invested through your 401(k), that money loses out on the opportunity to continue growing through the power of compound interest. On top of that, cashing out your 401(k) means you're essentially restarting your retirement saving journey.

Persons: Anne Lester, you've, Lester, Ed Slott Organizations: CNBC

☆ Hunter Biden says special counsel used Alexander Smirnov’s discredited bribery claims to derail his plea deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | Holmes Lybrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Hunter Biden’s lawyers accused special counsel David Weiss on Tuesday of using a since-discredited bribery allegation from an FBI informant to blow up his plea deal last year. House Republicans have championed Smirnov’s uncorroborated bribery claims against the Bidens and used his tips to fuel their impeachment inquiry into the president. Prosecutors were asked directly if the Justice Department could still bring charges against Hunter Biden under the Foreign Agents Registration Act despite the deal. Hunter Biden’s attorney, Christopher Clark, said he disagreed with the prosecutor’s assertion. Tuesday’s filing from Hunter Biden’s attorney also accused prosecutors of failing to abide by their obligation to turn over discovery in the Delaware case, including over allegations that Hunter Biden’s alleged gun bag had cocaine on it.

Persons: CNN — Hunter, David Weiss, Weiss, Alexander Smirnov, Smirnov, Weiss ’, Joe Biden, Prosecutors, Smirnov’s, ” Hunter, ”, ” Weiss, Hunter Biden, “, Leo Wise, Hunter Biden’s, Christopher Clark, ” Wise Organizations: CNN, FBI, Republicans, Prosecutors, Justice Department, Foreign Locations: Nevada, Ukrainian, ”, Delaware

☆ I bought a house in Japan for less than $45,000. I live in the peaceful countryside close to every convenience, and everything's cheaper here.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Jordan Pandy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Ned Watson bought a home in Japan that had been abandoned for two years for less than $50,000. The lack of guns and violence is one of the best things about Japan. My house was abandoned for two years, but didn't need much workI've been living in Japan since 2010, and I got this house in late 2019. I could basically live this lifestyle forever for $20,000 a year, which to me is not a lot of money. So really think about the area that the place is in, what type of personal infrastructure you're going to need to live there.

Persons: Ned Watson, Watson, I've, they're, you'll, It's, that's, it's, you've, I'm, Ned — he's Organizations: Tokyo Station Locations: Japan, Shisui, Japan's Chiba Prefecture, Australia, Georgia, America, New York City, Tokyo, Chiba Prefecture, Narita City, Narita, Watson's

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