The Biden administration unveiled updated guidance last month for borrowers in the SAVE plan. Millions of borrowers who had sought lower payments and eventual student loan forgiveness under the program remain stuck due to legal challenges, and the future of SAVE is now in serious doubt. The SAVE plan is the newest income-driven repayment, or IDR, plan, that was released last year by the Biden administration. The program provides borrowers with lower payments, interest benefits, and several routes to eventual student loan forgiveness. But SAVE remains blocked following a court order issued last August in response to a legal challenge…

President Donald Trump is expected to secure the confirmation of Pam Bondi as Attorney General. Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General, became Trump’s nominee after Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration due to insufficient support ahead of his confirmation hearing. Bondi’s primary task will be to reshape the Department of Justice (DOJ), a frequent target of Trump’s criticism during his campaign. Among the DOJ’s priorities will be the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), one of the largest budgetary demands within the department and one fraught with operational challenges. The BOP is facing significant financial pressures. Despite the inmate population decreasing…

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Learn how to budget irregular income, set sustainable financial goals, and curb mindless spending for a better 2025.How do you create a budget when you’re paid in large, irregular chunks of income? What are practical ways to curb unnecessary spending and stick to financial goals? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss how to break down irregular income into manageable monthly budgets and how to cut out habits that hurt your finances, like mindless phone scrolling. They begin with a discussion of financial New…

Investing can be a pathway to financial freedom, but it requires a combination of knowledge, discipline, and emotional resilience. Whether you’re building long-term wealth or pursuing short-term gains, success depends on having a clear strategy and staying focused on your goals. This guide provides actionable insights to help investors build sustainable habits, make informed decisions, and achieve their financial objectives. By applying these foundational concepts, you can cultivate the mindset needed to thrive in an ever-changing market landscape. 1. Create A Plan And Stick to It A well-defined investment plan serves as a roadmap, outlining your goals, strategies, and guidelines…

Microsoft recently announced a new addition to its bug bounty program as well as an invitation-only hacking contest to encourage white hat hackers to find previously undiscovered vulnerabilities in its AI and cloud products, Microsoft AI, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Identity, M365, Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Power Platform. Black hat hackers is the term for cybercriminals who find previously undiscovered vulnerabilities in software, often called “zero day defects” and exploit these vulnerabilities for criminal purposes, while white hat hackers is the term used to describe hackers who are able to discover the same vulnerabilities, but instead of criminally exploiting these flaws,…

Current mortgage rates play havoc with homeowners who want to split up. The first Monday after New Years is believed by many family practice attorneys to be their busiest day of the year, so they call it “Divorce Monday.” But the mismatch between current mortgage interest rates and the rate at which many homeowners refinanced a few years ago may reduce divorce filings. Yes, breaking up is hard to do. The present challenge that home ownership makes for couples trying to split up was pointed out to me by Donna Cates, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, in an email exchange.…

President-elect Donald Trump prides himself on making deals. Here is one for him: Keep Joe Biden’s commitment to have Medicare pay for GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy for weight loss. But only if the drugmakers agree to substantially reduce their prices right away. Such a move would be fraught for Trump and his Republican allies on multiple levels. But it presents the incoming president with a major political opportunity as well as some significant challenges. And not doing the deal brings its own risks. The Backstory While Medicare pays for the GLP-1 drugs for people with Type-2 diabetes…

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Learn how to tackle financial regrets, set achievable money goals, and make 2025 your best year, financially.How can you avoid repeating my biggest financial regrets this year? What are simple steps to improve your savings and spending habits? Hosts Sean Pyles and Sara Rathner discuss financial regrets and practical resolutions to help you take control of your money in 2025, beginning with a discussion of top financial regrets from 2024. Then, Sara talks to NerdWallet Senior Economist Elizabeth Renter about strategies for creating achievable…

Growing your savings is a crucial step toward financial stability and achieving long-term goals. By adopting practical and innovative strategies, you can create a savings routine that ensures steady progress. Below are 13 simple ways to increase your savings this year and beyond: Track Your Expenses Ensure you record all your expenses, even the small ones. By closely monitoring where your money goes each month, you gain valuable insights into your spending habits and identify areas where you can cut back. It can be a big eye-opener. For example, you may notice excessive spending on dining out or coffee, which…

As the Biden administration winds down and Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House, the federal student loan system is more chaotic than ever. While millions of borrowers have received student loan forgiveness under Biden administration initiatives, others are seemingly stuck. To make matters even more frustrating, the landscape for borrowers seems to be ever-changing. In addition to programs ending or shifting, many borrowers may see big increases in their monthly payments this year. And it doesn’t look like the turbulent environment is going to improve anytime soon. Here are the biggest student loan forgiveness updates as we…