DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

I couldn't afford the Iceland trip and I knew it. See Insider's picks for the best credit cards with primary rental car insurance »I wasn't ready for the billBut wait, didn't we buy car insurance? I had already spent close to $2,000 on the Iceland trip between airfare, Airbnb, the car rental and general food and fun costs. I called my car insurance company, Ariel's car insurance company, and Budget's head office. I even bought a calling card so I could ring up Budget Iceland and try to negotiate with them!

Persons: Ariel, I, I've Organizations: Service, Budget Locations: Iceland, Wall, Silicon, Reykjavík, Halifax, airfare

A lot of people in my life, from my old boss to financially savvy friends, would try to encourage me to start a retirement account, but I ignored them. In addition to growing my net worth, I also wanted to find a way to retire by the age of 50 as a millionaire. With no retirement account and very little cash in savings, I've spent the first five years of my thirties being strategic with my finances. In order to make sure I'm progressing toward my goal of being a retired millionaire by 50, I keep a close eye on every dollar that comes in and out of my account. I make sure I'm spending a smaller fraction of my earnings than I have in the past so I can make up for lost time and save more.

Persons: I've, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

After college, I got into the habit of just switching my car insurance to whichever policy was cheapest. But while I've never had difficulty filing a claim, I have had less favorable customer service experiences. Recently, I've compared prices and thought about switching providers to save money. The customer service is excellent, and we also get free roadside assistance, which I've already used once this year due to a faulty transmission. While finding ways to save money is always a top priority of mine, financial savings sometimes come with a different price: risk.

Persons: I've, J.D . Powers, we've, Stuart Winchester, Winchester Organizations: Service, J.D Locations: Wall, Silicon, J.D .

You're a lot more likely to be able to buy a house in a competitive market if you can pay with cash. Reduce your risk when you buy before you sell with a guaranteed backup offer from Calque. If you're eager to buy a new house and want to make a cash offer but haven't sold your current house yet to have the cash on hand, there are ways to do it. Certified financial planner Taylor Kovar shared three pieces of advice for anyone who wants to make this happen in 2023. Also, it's important to note that you typically cannot make 401(k) contributions while you have an outstanding 401(k) loan.

Persons: there's, haven't, Taylor Kovar, Kovar, you've Organizations: Calque, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Calque

I used to be worried about needing money I had left in a CD — but CD laddering helps with that. This ensures that as CD rates fluctuate, I'll have access to great APYs that become available. Since my CD ladder is set up with a mix of short-term and long-term CDs, once the short-term CDs mature, I replace them with long-term CDs instead of short-term ones. As the short-term CDs mature and are reinvested in long-term CDs, the original long-term CDs will become closer to maturing. That way, when a CD comes to term, I can scope out other CD options with higher rates and reinvest the cash into that new CD.

Persons: I've, I'd, I'm Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

I had been saving to buy a house, but prices in Southern California have made that unlikely. I decided to stop focusing on trying to buy a house, which means I can put more toward retirement. I'm okay knowing I might be renting for life, as it means I can streamline my finances. Instead of using my HSA contributions toward health-related expenses, I'm investing my HSA funds. Now that I've nulled out savings to buy a home, my financial goals feel more streamlined.

Persons: I've, homeownership, Roth, it's, There's Organizations: Service, realtors Locations: Southern California, Wall, Silicon, Los Angeles

After our car insurance premiums doubled, we looked at how much each provider would cost our family. See Insider's picks for the best cheap car insurance for teenagers »1. I got quotes from multiple carriers and eventually went with Allstate's car insurance, as they offered the best bundle with our homeowners insurance policy. Others were more punishing — the Liberty Mutual car insurance quote went up by $140 a month. Progressive went up by $116, though they offer a teen driver discount for customers of a year or more.

Persons: I'm Organizations: Service, . Insurance, Tacoma, Liberty Mutual, Progressive Locations: Wall, Silicon, —

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). I decided to plan a last-minute vacation, and to make it affordable, I'm using credit card rewards points. It was cheaper to book hotels through third-party sites, but I'm using points to get cash back. Cover travel purchases that I couldn't redeem points forSome travel reward credit cards have their own portal where you can book hotel stays using your credit card points. Since I wanted to use points instead of cash, I found that after I booked the hotel stays using my credit card, I was able to cover purchases using my credit card points.

Persons: I've, Read Organizations: Service, LA Dodgers Locations: Wall, Silicon, California

Interest rates are high right now, so we'll rent for the time being, which brings many advantages. Plus, putting more than 20% down may help lower your interest rate. I like to focus on what I can control within my financial plan. An adjustable-rate mortgage, by definition, leaves me with an interest rate that will change in a way that I can't control. Be open to renting while interest rates are highLike I said, we're currently selling our house.

Persons: We're, I've, we've, outsized, we're, … Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

Going "car-lite" and cutting nonessential car travel can be an affordable, impactful choice. That may sound expensive, but even a used car in the US now costs about $32,000. Even a brand-new, high-end bike costs about 90% less than the average used car. Public transit costs vary, but one household can save $10,000 a year by using public transportation instead of a car. Smart's research shows that families with a car experience an average income growth of 1% every two years.

Persons: Sonja Langford, Charlotte , North Carolina —, Langford, she's, Peter Krull, Krull, Michael Smart, Smart, Langford isn't Organizations: Service, University of North, Transportation, Earth Equity Advisors, Tesla, Rutgers University, Subaru, Charlotte, Bloomberg, Research Locations: Wall, Silicon, Charlotte , North Carolina, University of North Carolina, Asheville , North Carolina, Los Angeles

Buying a new home before you've sold the old one is hard, but planning early makes it easier. Lenders are salespeople, so it's a good idea to talk to an expert who can offer objective advice. Reduce your risk when you buy before you sell with a guaranteed backup offer from Calque. She offered this advice to anyone trying to sell their first home in order to afford a new one. Next Steps: Calculate how much equity you could convert into a down payment on your next home if you buy before you sell with Calque.

Persons: you've, Tammy Trenta, Trenta Organizations: Calque, Family Financial Locations: Calque

☆ My friend broke up with her awful boyfriend and invited me to Greece in his place — but I didn't realize she expected me to pay half. Can I back out?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Olivia Christensen | Avril Ayers | Read More | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

For Love & Money is a biweekly column from Insider answering your relationship and money questions. This week, a reader's best friend invited them on a vacation after a breakup ruined her original plans. Write to For Love & Money using this Google form. Your best friend recently ended her relationship with a man she was serious enough about to plan a summer vacation with. Rooting for you both,For Love & Money

Persons: —, let's, cabanas — Organizations: Service, cabanas Locations: Wall, Silicon, Greece

I didn't really know all the details when I first set up my retirement plan years ago. My retirement plan focuses on a variety of index funds with low fees now. I rolled my old 403(b) into a traditional IRA plan at Fidelity, where my Roth IRA was housed. My Roth IRA was in a targeted retirement plan then, meaning the investments would rebalance to become less aggressive as I neared retirement. Once I made the index funds switch for my IRAs, I got started on my husband's retirement accounts.

Persons: Roth, IRAs, Roth IRAs, that's, R.J, Weiss, It's Organizations: Service, Fidelity, Roth IRA Locations: Wall, Silicon, Minneapolis

If you can sublet rooms in your apartment, you can make passive income each month. You could instead invest that money in stocks or an entrepreneurial passive income stream. Certified financial planner Christopher Manske has three ways that renting can make you wealthier than owning a home does. You would then be able to pay the rent and earn an additional $2,000 a month in passive income. If you want to live in one of those rooms, your cost of living could be covered by renting out the rooms for more money.

Persons: Christopher Manske, Manske Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

If you're moving into a more expensive house, remember that utilities and other expenses may be higher. And how do you handle the transaction if you need to buy another home before you sell your current property? Financial planners have three tips for anyone thinking about buying a new house before selling their current house. That said, there are notable downsides that come with buying a home before you sell from a financial standpoint. A bridge loan is a short-term loan that helps "bridge the gap" when you're buying a new home before selling your old one, and it typically lasts for around one year.

Persons: Glen Hedrick, Brandon Juodikis, you'll, Hedrick, Juodikis, There's Organizations: Calque, Wealth Management, BRJ Wealth Management Locations: Old, Calque

I'm a freelancer, so when my husband and I bought our house, we did it with his income. We were lucky to be able to buy at a time when houses were affordable, and we refinanced last year. We could have had a bigger house, but I'm glad we're investing more and not having to make hard budget choices. I'm a freelancer, and my husband was starting a new corporate job, and we decided to purchase a house solely on his earnings. We didn't want to be 'house poor'While being "house poor" is a lot more common these days, I knew it wasn't the right choice for us.

Persons: I'm, I've, we're, spender I've, we've Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Florida

When my partner and I got married, we decided to keep our finances separate. We both prefer different types of investments, and we have different spending habits. After being married for two years, I realized that by keeping our finances separate, we've saved thousands a year. I can stick to my own budgetAnother reason we decided to keep our finances separate is because we disagree about the type of budget to keep. I prefer cutting costs when it comes to spending money on food and entertainment.

Persons: we've, we'd Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

For Love & Money is a biweekly column from Insider answering your relationship and money questions. This week, a reader's partner wants to put them on an allowance so they can pay off student loans. Write to For Love & Money using this Google form. I've dialed back now, but my partner wants me to stick to a tiny allowance so we can make larger student loan payments. This may be difficult for your partner because it sounds like they have a lot of anxiety about your student loans.

Persons: I've, we've, they're, you've Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). My husband and I aggressively paid of $80,000 in student loans during the pandemic. I would have stopped conflating net worth with my self-worthI've spent so much energy demonizing debt in the past, especially student loans. I wish I could reach out to my younger self and remind her that student loans are an investment in the future. Tons of people have student loans, and they don't have to be a huge psychic weight.

Persons: Ramsey, we'd, David Bach, I've Organizations: Service, PMI Locations: Wall, Silicon, Dave

I assumed I didn't need renters insurance if I didn't have expensive things in my home. But I was wrong — renters insurance covers many costs that mattered to me then. Most renters insurance policies have personal property coverage, which covers stolen belongings up to a certain limit minus the deductible. Most renters insurance policies cover water leaks from a broken pipe, so the damage would have been covered. Most renters insurance includes liability insurance, which covers payment if someone gets hurt on your property.

Persons: couldn't Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, New York City

A year later, rates were down even further, and we realized we could save long-term by refinancing. We're coming up on the break-even point, and long-term, we'll save over $63,000. See Insider's picks for the best mortgage refinance lenders »We could break even on a refinance after 4 yearsWe moved in right before Thanksgiving and spent the next year making our house feel like a home. After this time, the savings on our mortgage going forward would outweigh what we would pay in refinancing closing costs. Although we didn't refinance to pay off debt, it still made sense to do it soon after purchasing our home.

Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). I've never been eager to do all the work needed to get the most out of credit card travel hacks. I'm happy just saving money each month and getting the most out of my credit cards when I need them. I use my credit cards for everything from booking trips to paying for meals — and pay it off with my savings. My two go-to credit cards I used for travel are my business credit card for work trips, and my travel rewards credit card for personal vacations.

Persons: I've, Jackson Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Jackson Hole , Wyoming, Las Vegas, Portland, Santa Fe , New Mexico

My husband and I were ready to sell our home — then our buyer backed out due to an interest rate hike. Reduce your risk when you buy before you sell with a guaranteed backup offer from Calque. In May 2022, my husband and I decided to list our house for sale. We strategically switched RealtorsI can't stress enough how important choosing the right Realtor for the job is. We considered different loan typesAt first, I was afraid to accept offers from FHA loan buyers.

Persons: —, didn't, we'd Organizations: Calque, Federal Reserve, Realtors Locations: Calque

I got COVID-19 halfway through a two-month trip that I'd carefully budgeted in advance. I had to find a hotel where I could quarantine and had to get all my meals and supplies delivered. The hotel had standard hotel rooms, which meant that I had access to a microwave, refrigerator, and sink, but no kitchen. Getting COVID-19 was inconvenient and stressful, but it didn't have any impact on my overall financial health going forward. There are many options when you travel, such as having a travel emergency fund or paying for travel insurance.

Persons: vising, COVID Organizations: Service, FAA Locations: Wall, Silicon, Philadelphia, West Virginia, Washington

☆ Tucker Carlson's show on Twitter makes ad deal with anti-ESG shopping app
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson's new Twitter show has landed one of its first advertisers. Carlson agreed to a seven-figure advertising deal with Public Square (PublicSq. Carlson's show appears to match well with the conservative leanings of Public Square. The Public Square ads are expected to start appearing on Carlson's show in late August. A February press release for the merger said the deal "is expected to provide up to $158.5 million in cash" to Public Square.

Persons: Tucker Carlson's, Carlson, Carlson's, Andrew Tate, Tate, Tucker, Michael Seifert, Seifert, Omeed Malik, Malik, Nick Ayers, Mike Pence, Peter Thiel, Blake Masters, Ayers, Thiel, Neil Patel, Patel, Ron DeSantis, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Kennedy, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: Fox News, Public, Fox, Systems, Twitter, Republican, Diversity Equity, Breitbart News, New York Stock Exchange, Colombier, Daily Mail, Wall Street, Arizona Senate GOP, Street Journal, Republican Florida Gov, Democratic, Quinnipiac Locations: Arizona

Search resuls for: "Ayers"

25 mentions found