Retire with MONEY

"The Fed Cut Rates to 0%. Here's What It Means for Mortgages, Student Loans, Credit Cards, and More" by Kaitlin Mulhere, Ian Salisbury and Martha C. White The Federal Reserve announced emergency steps to help the economy Sunday, as businesses across the U.S. slowed or shut down down entirely ahead of the spread of the coronavirus. The Fed’s moves — which involved cutting the short-term Federal funds rate to between zero and 0.

Is My $1,000 iPhone a ‘Want’ or a ‘Need’? My 24 Hour Quest to Find Out, by Alyssa Fischer One of the most crucial money conversations you can have with yourself is determining the difference between your “wants” and your “needs.” These decisions vary for everyone, but in general, knowing what’s essential to include in your monthly budget (like bills, groceries, and medical expenses) makes you less likely to live above your means.

Every Major Hotel Chain's Coronavirus Cancellation and Refund Policy by Brad Tuttle Airlines are responding to the coronavirus outbreak by waiving change fees for passengers who want to postpone their trips.

Take These 4 Steps to Protect Yourself After a Data Breach by Zachary Hoccheim Data breaches have become a little like the weather—something we complain about in line for our morning coffee, but ultimately so beyond our control that we simply accept nothing can be done. Unfortunately, there’s only one sure way to protect yourself completely from data breaches: don’t live in the 21st century.

Record Low Mortgage Rates Give Millennial Homeowners Much-Needed Breathing Room by Daniel Bortz When Chris and Danielle Betz bought their three-bedroom rowhouse in Washington, D.C, last year, they had to stretch to afford the $740,000 purchase price. Since then mortgage rates have tumbled to record lows. For the Betzes — along with thousands of other millennial homeowners — that’s meant a much-needed windfall worth hundreds of dollars a month.

Meet the Retirees Who Volunteer in National Parks and Live There for Free by Paul Schrodt Mike Craig got inspired to live and work in America’s national parks for a very simple reason: He didn’t want to sit down. “I got tired of being a couch potato,” says the 62-year-old retiree of his life after ending his career in information technology in 2016. “My wife was still working. We had the RV idea—drive around, figure out where we want to retire.

Hey, Stop Being Weird on LinkedIn by Kit Warchol At its core, LinkedIn has always positioned itself as the prim-and-proper social network — the corporate aunt to Instagram’s brand of selfies and food photos. It’s there to do its job (by helping you do yours). But there are times when LinkedIn feels less “corporate slick,” more slimy. Spammy connection requests are on the rise from bogus users trying to inflate their contact lists.

Fears of the deadly coronavirus have sent stock and bond markets reeling and recently prompted the Fed to cut interest rates. Amid the concern, there’s one piece of good news for homeowners: Falling interest rates mean mortgage rates are coming down too — and that could mean hundreds of dollars in monthly savings for strapped family budgets.

New Job, New Office, New 401(k). But What Should I Do With My Old One by Julia Glum MONEY got a new parent company last fall, and it meant a whole bunch of changes. I got a new email address, julia.glum@money.com. I got a new desk, which I promptly decorated with a Spencer Pratt prayer candle and a half-eaten box of Thin Mints. I got a new office on the 25th floor with a killer view perfect for zoning out and pondering the universe.

Three Steps to Protect Your Retirement from Coronavirus Market Swings by Carla Fried After weeks of resistance, the U.S. stock market was laid low by the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). From February 19th through February 27, the S&P 500 fell more than 11%, as the reality set in that our economy will slow at least temporarily as production in major supply markets (namely, China) is curtailed, and consumer spending may decrease.

Coronavirus and Travel Insurance: Everything You Need to Know As the coronavirus continues to spread worldwide, travel plans of millions are being thrown into disarray. Thousands of flights — from China and elsewhere — have been canceled and cruise ship itineraries are being changed, leaving millions to wonder: will my travel insurance cover me if I want to cancel my trip? The answer: probably not.

Hundreds of Colleges Automatically Bill Students for Books. Is That Fair? by Kaitlin Mulhere Colleges and publishers say a growing model for purchasing textbooks drives down costs and improves access to course materials, yet critics say it reduces student choice and fails to make a meaningful dent in costs. The textbook programs are opaque and include a variety of red flags that limit students’ ability to freely shop for course materials, says U.S.

5 Smart Moves to Make With Your Tax Refund, Work Bonus or Other Surprise Windfall by Martha White So you’ve come into some money. Maybe your tax refund is fatter than usual this year, or you received a modest inheritance or a bonus at work. After you do your happy dance, break out the calculator. While your first impulse might be to spend your good fortune, financial advisors say an unexpected infusion of cash can shore up your finances if you take advantage of it.

Mortgage Rates Are Near Record Lows After Monday's Big Stock-Market Drop by Ian Salisbury Monday was a difficult day for stock market investors. But it was a great one for anyone shopping for a mortgage. The average rate for a 30-year mortgage — which had already been falling for weeks, helping spark a surge of mortgage applications — tumbled to a new low of 3.34%, according to at least one measure, its lowest level in at least three years.

The Dangers of Using Trendy Online Installment Programs to Buy Stuff You Can't Afford by Julia Glum So here’s a confession: Although I’m frugal at heart, I love looking at stuff I know I can’t afford. I can’t stop checking the prices on plane tickets to Las Vegas for the upcoming Jonas Brothers residency. I’m constantly browsing fancy menus on Yelp or taking virtual tours of mansions on Zillow.