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☆ A millennial with side hustles as a startup founder booking 6 figures and a professional dancer shares her tips for balancing both
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-14 | by ( Allie Kelly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Danielle Shultz is a professional dancer and runs her own corporate wellness business. Her business, Triangle Sessions, has landed contracts with Google, Meta, and Deloitte. She also runs her startup Triangle Sessions, which offers corporate wellness and team-building events. When she's not at dance rehearsal, Shultz teaches Triangle Sessions classes on topics like relaxation and terrarium building. Danielle Shultz, 36, is a dancer with The Metropolitan Opera and runs her own corporate wellness business.

Persons: Danielle Shultz, Shultz, —, Zers, Bankrate —, she's, I've, Robert Nickelsberg, It's, Schulz Organizations: Triangle, Google, Deloitte, Service, Metropolitan Opera, YouGov, Triangle Sessions, The, Sessions Locations: Philadelphia, New York City, York

☆ 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

☆ New data shows inflation is still high. Here's how to measure how that affects you
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

That may not be a surprise to consumers who are still feeling the weight of higher prices. Inflation — as measured by the consumer price index — rose 3.5% from a year ago and 0.4% for the month. The consumer price index, or CPI, tracks the average changes in prices over time for consumer certain goods and services. Consequently, if your wages haven't increased by that much over the same period, you're more likely to feel the pinch of higher prices. About 60% of households are living paycheck to paycheck, McBride said.

Persons: Kazuhiro Nogi, Brett House, Eugenio Aleman, Raymond James, Aleman, Greg McBride, McBride Organizations: Afp, Getty Images, Columbia Business School, Consumers, Bankrate Locations: Tokyo

☆ Cost of gas and housing pushed up US inflation in March
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Alicia Wallace | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Gas and shelter costs contributed more than half of that monthly increase, according to the BLS. Economists were expecting a 0.3% monthly increase and an annual rate of 3.4%, according to FactSet consensus estimates. The Fed has been wanting to see meaningful progress on inflation before it starts cutting rates. Excluding gas and food prices, categories that tend to be more volatile, core inflation rose 0.4% from the month before, bringing the annual rate to 3.8%, the same as February’s reading. Economists had anticipated a 0.3% monthly gain and for the annual rate to inch lower to 3.7%, according to FactSet.

Persons: ” Greg McBride, Bankrate, Economists Organizations: CNN, Federal Reserve, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS

☆ Should you refinance your mortgage? Here are three signs it's time, real estate experts say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Thanks to those high mortgage interest rates, refinance activity in 2023 was at the lowest level in 30 years. In the first and second quarters of 2023 there was only $75 billion and $80 billion, respectively, in mortgage refinance originations nationally, according to Freddie Mac, a government-sponsored entity that buys mortgages from banks. "We're just in a much higher interest rate situation with the economy," she said. "We've been so accustomed to mortgage rates as a baseline being at 2% or 3%," said Veronica Fuentes, a certified financial planner at Northwestern Mutual. Some lenders may require a higher interest rate if you finance closing costs, plus you'll be paying interest on those expenses for the life of the mortgage.

Persons: Freddie Mac, Jeff Ostrowski, Chen Zhao, Zhao, We've, Veronica Fuentes, that's, Ostrowski, CoreLogic's Organizations: Westend61, Getty, Federal Reserve, Northwestern Mutual

☆ Department stores face another squeeze. This time, with store credit card revenue
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Melissa Repko | In Melissa-Repko | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

For fiscal year 2023, credit card revenue totaled $619 million for Macy's and approximately $475 million for Nordstrom . The three companies do not break out how much of total credit card revenue comes from late fees. All of that adds up to dwindling credit card revenue for retailers, who can now expect to see it shrink even further. Target's credit card revenue fell to $667 million last year, down from $734 million in the prior fiscal year. Gap does not disclose credit card revenue, but its Chief Financial Officer, Katrina O'Connell, said on an earnings call that losses from late fees will be "largely offset in 2024 by other levers within our credit card program."

Persons: Robert Nickelsberg, it'll, Jane Hali, Kohl's, David Silverman, Silverman, —, Michael Fiddelke, Macy's, Adrian Mitchell, It's, Nordstrom, Katrina O'Connell Organizations: Getty Images Department, Consumer Financial, Bureau, Associates, Nordstrom, Fitch, TD Bank, Shoppers, Adobe Analytics, Citi, Sam's Locations: New York City

☆ Here's what's wrong with the ‘100 envelope’ method and TikTok’s other viral savings challenges
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-09 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Between "cash stuffing," the "100 envelope" method or the "no-spend" challenge, there's no shortage of suggestions to better your financial standing. How these savings challenges work'Walk before you run'"I would definitely stress walking before you run," Rossman said. Rossman advises having money regularly transferred from your paycheck to a savings account. After a series of interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve, some top-yielding online savings account rates are now paying even more than 5%, according to Bankrate.com — well above the rate of inflation. For example, if you have $5,000 in a high-yield savings account earning 5%, you'll make roughly $250 in interest in a year.

Persons: TikTok, Ted Rossman, Rossman, Matt Schulz, Schulz, Bankrate.com Organizations: Federal Reserve, FDIC

☆ Americans are still splurging on travel and entertainment — even as credit card debt tops $1 trillion
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Jessica Dickler | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Revenge spending is not dead. Even as Americans owe $1.13 trillion on their credit cards, consumers are still willing to splurge on impulsive purchases. It's a phenomenon also known as "doom spending," or spending money despite economic and geopolitical concerns. Roughly 38% of adults plan to take on more debt to travel, dine out and see live entertainment in the year ahead, according to a recent report by Bankrate. "There's still a lot of demand for out-of-home entertainment," said Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate.

Persons: Taylor, Bankrate, Ted Rossman, Rossman Organizations: Bankrate

☆ Workers say employers should pay for their commute if they want them back in the office
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-04 | by ( Lakshmi Varanasi | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

8 out of 10 workers in a new survey said a free commute would persuade them to return to the office. The average commute cost has surged drastically since the pandemic. Ringover surveyed remote workers (or those who were remote until recently) about what it would take for them to be down to return to the office. And while commute times in several cities have shortened since the pandemic, the average one-way office commute is still about 27 minutes, according to The New York Times. That's about an hour spent going back and forth between work every day, and many remote workers now see that as time that could be put to better use in their personal lives.

Persons: —, That's, There's Organizations: Workers, Service, The New York Times Locations: Bankrate, West Virginia, North Dakota

☆ People feel financially worse off than their parents—but say their kids will be better off
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Kamaron Mcnair | In Kamaronmcnair | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

It makes sense then that just 36.5% of adults say they feel they're better off financially than their parents, according to CNBC's International Your Money Financial Security Survey conducted by SurveyMonkey. A greater share — 42.8% — say they're worse off than their parents, while the remaining 20.7% say they're faring about the same. Here are three ways younger generations are financially worse off than their older counterparts. More equality Younger generations have navigated adulthood with more freedoms than a lot of their parents may have had. Gender and racial pay gaps, along with other barriers to wealth-building, certainly still affect Gen X and millennials.

Persons: they're, Gen, Xers, Clever, Gen X, Tara Unverzagt, I'm, millennials, Louis Fed, Unverzagt Organizations: Financial Security, SurveyMonkey, Education Data Initiative, CNBC, Pew Research Locations: U.S

☆ The No. 1 factor that makes people feel financially secure—and how to achieve it
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( Cheyenne Devon | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

For many people, credit card debt is standing between them and financial security. And although many people feel that financial security means having little to no debt, achieving that goal is typically easier said than done. 1 factor that makes them feel financially secure, according to CNBC's International Your Money Financial Security Survey conducted by SurveyMonkey. While there are many different kinds of debt, from student loans to mortgages, by far one of the most expensive forms of debt is credit card debt. The majority of Americans wouldn't be able to cover a $1,000 emergency expense with their savings, per Bankrate's 2024 emergency savings report.

Persons: Ted Rossman, wouldn't, Matt Schulz Organizations: Financial Security, SurveyMonkey, Financial, CNBC

☆ Inflation will be key to Fed's decision on rate cuts: Moody's Mark Zandi
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-03 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailInflation will be key to Fed's decision on rate cuts: Moody's Mark ZandiMark Zandi, Moody's Analytics chief economist, and Ted Rossman, senior industry analyst at Bankrate, and CNBC's Steve Liesman join 'The Exchange' to break down Jerome Powell's Wednesday remarks and more.

Persons: Mark Zandi Mark Zandi, Ted Rossman, Steve Liesman, Jerome Powell's

☆ 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

☆ Housing 'affordability has just totally collapsed,' economist says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Ana Teresa Solá | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

"Since the pandemic, affordability has just totally collapsed," said Chen Zhao, a senior economist at Redfin. February 2021 was the last month when the typical household earned more money than they needed to afford the median home. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) sets the standard of affordability at 30% of household income. Affordability deficit narrowed in FebruaryThe average household fell short $29,448 to afford a home in February, according to Redfin. The affordability deficit narrowed because rates have been on a consistent decline since the last peak in October, according to Zhao.

Persons: Chen Zhao, They've, Zhao, It's, Jeff Ostrowski, Veronica Fuentes, Fuentes, Ostrowski, Buyers, Redfin, Louis, What's Organizations: Getty, Redfin, Finance, U.S . Department of Housing, Urban Development, Northwestern Mutual, Cleveland Locations: U.S, Detroit, Pittsburgh, St, Philadelphia, Indianapolis, Warren, Mich, Cincinnati, Milwaukee , Kansas City , Virginia Beach, Va, Antonio, Columbus , Ohio

☆ Retirement crisis looms as Americans struggle to save
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( Nicole Goodkind | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

“However, I am fully aware that I’m creating another problem for myself down the road.”For now, his retirement plans sit on the back burner. Retirement savings in the United States were long thought of as a three-legged stool. Americans had pension plans, Social Security benefits, and defined contribution plans like the 401(k). Social Security payments still provide about 90% of income for more than a quarter of older adults, according to Social Security Agency surveys. She’s had to rely on her 401(k) retirement savings to support her and her son more than once.

Persons: Eric Payne, there’s, ”, Payne, I’ve, he’ll, What’s, Larry Fink, “, –, ” Fink, Fink, Jamie, She’s, – Jamie, wasn’t, Donald Trump, ” Trump, Joe Biden, Karoline Leavitt, Trump, Biden, Bernie Sanders, Sanders, BlackRock’s Fink, Beth, ” Beth Organizations: New, New York CNN, CNN, Social Security, Social, Social Security Agency, Security, Lawmakers, BlackRock, CNBC, Vermont Independent, Medicare Locations: New York, Portland , Maine, United States, Central Texas, Pittsburgh

☆ Here's what salary you need to make in every state to afford its median-priced home, from $63,000 to $197,000, according to Bankrate
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-02 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: 1 min

Housing affordability has significantly declined as home prices and mortgage rates have surged. The average salary required for a median-priced home in the US has jumped 45.5% since 2020. A $100,000 annual income is now needed in almost half of US states to afford a median-priced home. This means that across the board, the salary needed to afford a home has risen. According to a Bankrate analysis, the average salary required to be able to afford a median-priced home in the US has jumped by 45.5% since 2020, from $76,191 to $110,871.

Organizations: US, Business

☆ Map shows how much income you’ll need to buy the median-prices home in your state
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-01 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | Rachel Wilson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

(The median is the price at which half of homes for sale in an area are more expensive and half are less expensive.) Back in January 2020, a six-figure income was needed in only six states and the District of Columbia. Assuming you make a 20% down payment and get a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at the average 52-week rate, this map shows you how much household income Bankrate’s analysis found you’ll need to afford the median-priced home in your state. “Manageable” means it won’t exceed 28% of your gross household income. It’s worth noting, too, that the median price of a home in a given state won’t necessarily reflect the median price in the part of the state you’re seeking to buy.

Persons: Bankrate.com Organizations: New, New York CNN, District of Columbia Locations: New York

☆ In these 22 states, you need a six-figure income to afford a typical home, analysis finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-31 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Buying an affordable home in the United States has gotten a lot harder for many people since 2020. A new analysis from Bankrate.com finds that in 22 states and Washington, DC, buyers need a six-figure household income to comfortably afford a typical median-priced home. That’s a lot more than in January 2020, when Bankrate found buyers needed a six-figure income in just six states and the District of Columbia. For instance, Bankrate found that the income needed to buy a median-priced home rose the least in North Dakota (up 9.2%); Illinois (up 27.2%); and Kansas (up 29.3%). The complete Bankrate analysis can be found here.

Persons: Bankrate, ”, Jeff Ostrowski, –, Redfin –, homebuyers, ” Ostrowski Organizations: New, New York CNN, District of Columbia, “, United States –, of Columbia, Washington State Locations: New York, United States, Washington, DC, West, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, South, Midwest, Mississippi, Ohio, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Dakota, Illinois, Kansas

☆ 3 smart money moves to make in your 20s to be more successful
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Annie Probert | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

If you're questioning how to put your money to use in your 20s, here are three smart money moves to set yourself up for success later in life, according to two certified financial planners. The most common forms of debt for twentysomethings include credit cards, auto loans, student loans and personal loans. High interest rates have made paying off debt even harder, and in 2023 people under 29 carried an average of nearly $3,000 in credit card debt. To tackle credit card debt, Rossman recommends either signing up for a 0% balance transfer card or consolidating your credit card debt if you have several balances on different cards. Student loans are another common burden for many young people, with nearly 35% of adults ages 18 to 29 carrying student loan debt, according to the Education Data Initiative.

Persons: you've, Z, Andrew Fincher, Joe Conroy, Ted Rossman, Rossman, Fincher Organizations: Financial, CNBC, Education Data Initiative Locations: what's

☆ Gen Z Is Primed to Succeed at Starting Their Own Small Business
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-25 | by ( Eve Upton-Clark | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

He was able to scale the business to more than $600,000 in revenue by 2018, when he graduated from high school. Before the internet, starting a business was a serious hassle. The problem wasn't that people weren't interested in starting a business: A 2016 EY study found that 62% of 18- to 34-year-olds had toyed with venturing into business ownership. That has made starting a business all the more appealing — and affordable — for prospective entrepreneurs. And with the plethora of digital tools we have today, starting a business is more accessible than ever.

Persons: Luke Lintz, Lintz, Bernhard Schroeder, Schroeder, Gen Zers, —, Martin Warner, Warner, GoDaddy, HighKey, Nicki Minaj, Kevin Hart, Khloé Kardashian, Tom Peters, Peters, " Schroeder, ZenBusiness, Gen, Zers, he'd Organizations: Apple, Shipping, Lavin Entrepreneurship, San Diego State University, Entrepreneurship, Dynamics Statistics, Business, Fast Company, Small Business Administration Locations: North America, China

☆ What's behind the increase in car insurance rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | Jeniece Pettitt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailWhat's behind the increase in car insurance ratesCar insurance has gotten expensive. The average annual premium for full coverage car insurance in the U.S. rose 26% to $2,543 compared to last year, according to Bankrate. Fewer auto mechanics, a tighter supply of used vehicles and increased health care bills are fueling rising prices. As premiums have spiked so too have the number of uninsured drivers.

Locations: U.S

☆ After traveling in a van for 2 weeks, I saw how the lifestyle could be cheaper than my Denver life
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Monica Humphries | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

I wanted to explore the US, but I also wanted to see if van life was something I could do full-time. I quickly realized that these small costs — eating out, gas station snacks, souvenirs — are where van life can get expensive. AdvertisementSo finding a lifestyle like van life, which includes adventure and potential savings, sounds too good to be true. Monica Humphries/Business InsiderI experienced ways that living in a van could be cheaper than my lifestyle todayThere are hidden costs that come with van life. I'm not saying van life is necessarily cheaper than city living, but I am convinced it can be if I work at it.

Persons: —, ProMaster, I've, Apartments.com, Axios, It's, Brittany Newson, Monica Humphries, it'd, Zach Nelson, Joe's, Joshua, Ram, van, I'd, I'm Organizations: Service, Denver, Mercedes, Benz, Costco, Walmart Locations: Denver , Colorado, Denver, Southwest America, Plenty, San Fransico, Joshua Tree

☆ Why auto insurance rates are skyrocketing in the U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-23 | by ( Shawn Baldwin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Car insurance is getting more expensive. The average annual premium for full coverage auto insurance in the U.S. rose to $2,543 in 2024 — up 26% from the previous year, according to Bankrate. "That has led to an environment where the consumer, the insured, is out shopping for auto insurance and finding that they cannot find an insurer that has a lower premium for them." Around 215 million Americans carry auto insurance and the market is valued at roughly $353 billion, according to IBISWorld. So, what other factors are behind the spike in auto insurance rates and what impact are rising premiums having on consumers and large publicly traded companies such as Allstate, Progressive and Berkshire Hathaway's Geico ?

Persons: Stephen Crewdson, Berkshire Hathaway's Organizations: American, Casualty Insurance Association, Allstate, Progressive, Berkshire Locations: U.S, .

☆ The Fed hasn't touched interest rates since July, but they're still moving. What that looks like for credit cards, mortgages and savings accounts
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Gabriel Cortés | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

It's one of the silver linings to the current rate environment, said Ted Rossman, chief credit card analyst at Bankrate. Credit cardsThe flip side to the positive environment for savers is the expensive credit card market: Consumers carrying balances on their cards face historically high rates. "The Fed is not going to come to your rescue on credit card rates," Rossman said. The Fed is not going to come to your rescue on credit card rates. Mortgage ratesWhile savings and credit card rates are very sensitive to maneuvers from the Federal Reserve, the area that might see the most movement is housing.

Persons: Ted Rossman, There's, Rossman, they've, they'd, Bankrate Rossman Organizations: Hinterhaus, Getty, U.S . Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, Federal Reserve

☆ How to make high interest rates work for your hard-earned savings
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-20 | by ( Jeanne Sahadi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

However, that won’t happen if you just let it sit in a traditional checking or savings account that yields next to nothing. High-yield online savings accountsThe average annual percentage yield on bank savings accounts was just 0.52% as of March 13, according to Bankrate. As with any bank savings rate, high-yield savings account rates can change overnight, and the bank may not alert you when it lowers it. But don’t confuse money market accounts with money market mutual funds, which invest in short-term, low-risk debt instruments. Unlike money market deposit accounts, money market mutual funds are not insured by the FDIC.

Persons: ”, Ted Rossman, ” Rossman, Ken Tumin, Schwab, you’d, Tumin, Doug Ornstein, Andy Smith, Ornstein, doesn’t, ” Smith Organizations: New York CNN, Bankrate, JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Fidelity, TIAA Wealth Management, FDIC, Securities Investor Protection Corp, Edelman, AAA Locations: New York, Wells Fargo, United States

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