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If we had not had homeowner's insurance, my parents would have spent thousands of dollars per storm just fixing the essential parts of our house. After living through many hurricanes, here are three times when homeowner's insurance helped my family's finances stay afloat after a storm hit us hard. Most homeowner's insurance policies cover damage caused by wind. See Insider's guide to what homeowners insurance covers »2. Our homeowner's insurance policy didn't cover flood damage.

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

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). When I graduated from college, I thought I needed to pay off my student loans as fast as possible. I'm not worried about continuing to have student loan debt — I'm prepared for the future. If I had continued paying my student loan debt as aggressively as I did then, I would be debt-free now. Even though I still have student loan debt in my 30s, I feel much more secure than I anticipated.

Persons: I'm, — I'm, wasn't Organizations: Service, CNBC, Mint Locations: Wall, Silicon

When I was getting started with my business, I hired a business coach, and it was a great investment. My business coach helped identify ways I could grow my reach, find a niche, and make more money. Around that same time, I hired my first business coach — and it cost me $5,000. My business coach helped answer my questions in five ways. A business coach is trained to see your potential and all the opportunities that are right under your nose.

Organizations: Service, — Locations: Wall, Silicon

Our experts answer readers' personal loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess personal loans). Personal loans aren't always the right choice, but I've learned they can be useful in many cases. When we were selling our home, we paid for renovations with a personal loan and paid it off after the sale. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyI used to think that personal loans were always considered bad debt, but then I realized that all personal loans are not the same. It's helpful to use a personal loan calculator so I can estimate costs before getting a loan.

Persons: aren't, I've, it's Organizations: Service, Discover Locations: Wall, Silicon

Growing up, my parents believed money was hard to come by and that nobody likes their job. For instance, I had trouble saying "no" to work, worked myself to the point of exhaustion, and tended to stockpile funds so I would be ready for any lull. It took quite an adjustment for me not to feel obliged to work 40 hours a week, or that I needed to adhere to traditional working hours. I've also expanded how I make money through working on a book that I'll be self-publishing and starting an Etsy store selling stickers and stationery. For instance, some of my top values are increasing my own financial literacy, financial security, and opportunities to be creative and help others.

Persons: I've, Austin L Organizations: Service Locations: Wall, Silicon, Hawaii, Vietnam, workcations

Our experts answer readers' student loan questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess student loans). With the student loan forgiveness plan struck down, my husband and I are revising our budget. After all, $20,000 in student loan forgiveness could have a significant impact on my bottom line. If you're looking at your expected student loan payments and the number seems daunting, don't give up just yet. We both have a fair amount of student loan debt, so allocating a big chunk of our budget to pay those eventual student loan payments was necessary.

Persons: Joe Biden's, I'm, we've, It's Organizations: Service, Hulu Locations: Wall, Silicon

You can earn rewards with a travel credit card and by sticking to a favorite airline and hotel vendor. Get a travel credit cardThere are loads of discussion about credit card hacking and selecting the best credit card for travel rewards. If travel is a focus for you, then I recommend considering a credit card that offers travel rewards. I personally use my travel rewards credit card for my day-to-day spending all year round. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

Persons: I've, —, you've, we've Organizations: Service, Target, Walmart, Chase, Chevron, Reading Chevron, Southwest Airlines Locations: Wall, Silicon, Paris, Delta, Bahamas

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). A travel rewards credit card will help get me back on trackBut I was determined, and giving in felt like letting myself down. Though I considered them all, none felt like the right move, until I started thinking about opening up a travel rewards credit card. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application. Like many travel credit cards, my card has a high interest rate, so I always pay it off in full.

Persons: I've, haven't Organizations: Service, Target, Walmart, Chase, Chevron, Reading Chevron Locations: Wall, Silicon

I looked into getting new homeowners insurance and found I could save around $900 a year. We have also had a $2 million umbrella insurance policy for the last few years, which complicates matters even more. But in recent years, we've sold our two rental properties, so we're back down to the basics of homeowners insurance, auto coverage, and umbrella insurance. Note that you can also use a homeowners comparison site like The Zebra to compare several homeowners insurance quotes in one place. Comparing costs and coveragesUltimately, I found that switching homeowners insurance companies could help me save as much as $900 per year.

Persons: I'm, —, I've, we've Organizations: Service, Allstate, State, Liberty Mutual, GEICO Liberty Mutual, Central Indiana, Insurify, Progressive Locations: GEICO

The way I shop, budget, and save now is drastically different from when I started my personal finance journey. These had a lot of helpful information about how to stick to a budget, pay off debt, and put our needs before our wants. The main takeaway was "spend as little money as possible." When you can't afford anything beyond food, rent, and tuition, making spending decisions is easy — the answer is always "no." I realize now that it probably would have been easier to focus on making more money instead of squeezing the life out of every penny.

Persons: —, We'd, I'd, I've Organizations: Service, eBay

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Accounts pay high interest rates Check mark icon A check mark. No fees Check mark icon A check mark. Open accounts you might not be able access outside of Raisin Check mark icon A check mark. Only way to deposit or withdraw money is by connecting to an external account Dash icon A dash.

Persons: —, I've, It's, it's Organizations: Service, Mint, FDIC, Chevron

We pay nearly $2,600 a year for homeowners insurance, flood insurance, and an umbrella policy. See Insider's picks for the best homeowners insurance companies »Our insurance coverageYou might be wondering what kind of hurricane insurance we have. You can get flood insurance, windstorm insurance, and homeowners insurance. And when someone, especially a Floridian, talks about hurricane insurance, they're usually talking about a combination of these policies. We have a combination of homeowners insurance and federally-backed flood insurance through FEMA.

Persons: —, I'd, I've Organizations: Service, FEMA, The Florida Department of Health Locations: Florida, Northeast, United States

My dilemma is that because they think I'm "rich", my siblings and sometimes even my parents expect me to pay for everything. How do I tell my family that I can't afford to pay for everything and I need them to step up? 4 ways to take control of your credit card debt »That said, generosity and family are some of my highest values. You asked me how to tell your family that you can't pay for everything and that you need them to step up. Still, as I am sure you know, credit card debt is often more complicated than being a shopaholic.

Persons: —, it's, Scrooge Organizations: Service Locations: San Fransisco, Kansas City

I'm trying to double how much passive income I make — first, by investing it in new side hustles. I'm on the lookout for the best high-yield savings accounts and CDs to roll my money into each year. While I prefer low-risk investments, I also sometimes put money in an index fund like the S&P 500. Once the course launched, it brought a variable amount of passive income every month (from $150-$600 a month). Not only was I able to double that initial investment, but the money helped me fuel a new recurring passive income stream.

Persons: I'm, —, it's, It's Organizations: Service Locations: America

All-inclusive packages can be an easier way to travel, and road trips are a great budget option. These higher costs are leaving everyone wondering what kind of travel they can actually afford over this year's summer vacation season — and rightfully so. Travel in late summer if you canScott Keyes of Going says that summer flights for 2023 are expensive in general, but not equally expensive over the full summer travel season. Consider a summer road tripTravel expert Anu Agarwal of Destination CheckOff says that summer 2023 is a great time to consider a new type of trip if you're trying to keep costs down: summer road trips. "Flights in the 2023 summer travel season are expensive, plus airlines have hefty change or cancellation fees for flights," he says.

Persons: —, Sharael Kolberg, Kolberg, Kaitlyn Rosati, Scott Keyes, Greg Johnson, Johnson, Linda Orceo, Gulps, Arceo, you'll, Jacob Wade, Wade, Anu Agarwal, Agarwal, Ray Aberman, Brett Keller, Keller Organizations: Service, Family Travel, Travel Locations: Ipsos, Anguilla

Maternity clothes can be a frustrating expense, but budgeting for them is possible if you plan ahead. It's usually better to wait until you're sure you'll need an item rather than getting everything early. You can buy used maternity clothes and sell or donate items you no longer need later. What kind of Mother's Day sale excludes maternity clothes? Inflation is high, and maternity clothes are typically neither FSA-eligible nor tax deductible.

Persons: —, you'll, Belle, PinkBlush Organizations: Service, Navy Locations: Target

Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here's how). We've always been thoughtful about how we split our expenses — and how we split our time managing money. We're getting a prenup so that if we ever part ways, our financial decisions will have come from a loving place. We've been dating for five years, and we've been talking about our relationship with money from the beginning. We're getting a prenup so that our future money decisions remain lovingAnother important conversation we've had as we approach marriage is a prenup, which we've mutually agreed to get.

Persons: We've, We're, —, Tiffany, Brett, we've, we're Organizations: Service

I regularly move my money between various high-yield savings accounts and CDs for better rates. Over the years, this has helped me earn thousands of dollars in passive income, since I've been able to find interest rates that often tower over 5%. See Insider's picks for the best 1-year CD rates »1. Since I'm usually moving thousands of dollars at a time, I need to make sure that I'm making a smart money move before taking the leap. Interest rates are constantly changing, which means they sometimes become lower.

Persons: —, I'm, I've, isn't, that's Organizations: Service

I opened up a new bank account to save on ATM fees during a trip to Japan. At the last minute, one more question came to mind: Did I need a new debit card for the trip? The rest of my foreign payment strategiesIn my travel experience, the most important card you need while traveling is a credit card with no foreign transaction fees. If you select your own currency, the credit card issuer may charge an extra fee for converting the funds. When you take out foreign currency, you will have to get it converted back to your regular currency at the end of the trip.

Persons: —, it's Organizations: Service Locations: Japan

For people of color, talking about money with a financial planner or money coach can be daunting. "If we don't talk about our money goals or wins, how can we view money as a tool?" Figure out what kind of help you're looking forFirst, ask yourself if you're looking for a financial advisor or money coach, or potentially both. Many financial advisors are fiduciaries, who are legally obligated to act in your financial interest. If that's you, find a financial advisor to help you deepen your understanding while respecting your boundaries with risk."

Persons: —, who's, I've, Jazmin Higgins, Higgins, it's, Tori Dunlap, Rich, Ramit Sethi, that's, aren't Organizations: Service, Financial

Pros Check mark icon A check mark. Five different account levels to choose from Check mark icon A check mark. GroundfloorA different type of real estate investing platform I found was Groundfloor, which specializes in debt-based real estate. Roofstock matches you with a property manager that helps oversee your investment(s) Check mark icon A check mark. Company offers the option to buy, sell, or bring your own property to the table Check mark icon A check mark.

Persons: —, I'm, Roofstock Organizations: Service, Investments, Forbes, Reading Chevron, Company, Dash, Chevron, Roofstock

For LGBTQ+ couples, starting parenthood can be a complicated, expensive process. Having a financial plan can make a lot of difficult questions easier to answer. Whether it's IUI, IVF, reciprocal IVF, surrogacy, or adoption, all paths to parenthood are a major financial decision. "It's a great time to get a financial plan and work out all the details on the front end," she said. A financial plan can help answer the challenging questions lesbian couples face.

Persons: —, Jonathan, it's, Jess Dinney, Dinney, I, I'd, Kathy Fish, Fish, It's, Sara Swikard, Swikard Organizations: Service, Brookings Institution, Dinney, Fish, Associates Locations: Florida

But even with her salary and subsidies, Smith couldn't afford childcare. Vermont offers higher income eligibility and larger amounts for childcare subsidies than New Hampshire. During the pandemic, the Biden administration offered childcare assistance for both parents and childcare providers, but this money is set to run out in September. "My motherhood is deeply woven into how I think and how I work because it's all care work. She wants parents to feel comfortable openly saying that they're overwhelmed and can't afford childcare.

Persons: —, Smith, Smith isn't, It's, Michelle McCready, Jess Carson, Carson, McCready, Biden, James Heckman, they're Organizations: American, Service, Craigslist, US Census Bureau, America, Center for Social, University of New, Carsey, of Public Policy, New Hampshire ., US Locations: Grant's, Hampshire, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Hampshire . Vermont

☆ New US home construction surges by most in 3 decades in May
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Housing starts rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.631 million units last month from April's downwardly revised 1.34 million, the Commerce Department said on Tuesday. May's rate was the highest since April 2022, which was then the highest since 2006. Starts rose by double-digit margins in the South, Midwest and West while declining by nearly 19% in the Northeast. Permits for future construction, for instance, rose 5.2% to the highest since October at 1.491 million units, led by a 27.1% surge in the Northeast. Permits for single-family projects rose 4.8% while multi-family were up 7.8%.

Persons: April's, Ben Ayers, Alicia Huey, Dan Burns, Conor Humphries, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Federal Reserve, Housing, April's downwardly, Commerce Department, Reuters, Nationwide, National Association of Home Builders, Mortgage, Association, Thomson Locations: South, Midwest, West, Wells Fargo

Not all financial advice turns out to be solid — and many claims about crypto haven't come to pass. That's also when financial writers like me started hearing (and reading) wild claims and advice surrounding crypto investing. So how can you know when financial claims like this one are not what they seem? And what should you look for when deciding which financial claims may actually come true one day? The same is true for all the self-proclaimed "crypto experts" that have been all over the media over the last few years.

Persons: —, cryptocurrency, That's, FTX, Taylor, CFP Mike Earl Organizations: Service, CFP Locations: Africa

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