November is a great month for bargains. Black Friday happens this month after all, and the supposed single-day sale holiday seems to get stronger and go longer every year. Plus, online retailers like to keep you guessing and may drop a worthy deal on any given day. Your strategy to save money this month? Review your budget, make a list of what you want and remember to ABC: always be checkin’ (or just set deal alerts) for discounts. Consult this Nerdy list of the best things to buy and skip in November, too.Buy: ElectronicsBlack Friday, which falls on Nov. 29…

In advance of Nov. 5th, owners of small businesses–the most trusted institution in America–report record levels of uncertainty. But both parties are playing to their concerns. By Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes Staff Despite the deep divide between the political parties, one patch of common ground remains: Small businesses are likely to benefit, no matter who wins the November 5th election. Politicians have long pandered to the sector, a tradition Ronald Reagan highlighted in 1983 when he joked in a radio address that “every week should be Small Business Week, because America is small business.” It makes sense. Small businesses not only…

Money management in the U.S. for new immigrants Navigating the sometimes-complex United States financial system can be daunting when you’re just starting out. We’ve gathered NerdWallet’s top resources for new immigrants who want to find housing, open a bank account, build credit and ground themselves in their new lives. Once your basic needs are met, take a look at these topics to get a clear understanding of how they work and how you can find the best options for your financial situation. NerdWallet’s top picks In the U.S., navigating the financial system often depends on your credit history, which is…

The American dream is to get an education, get a job, buy a home, and live the good life. When that dream becomes a reality, especially when you own a home, you likely will be able to build a nice nest egg and pass it on to your family. Latino Homeownership And Wealth Accumulation For Latinos, achieving the American dream is harder. Although Latinos are buying homes at an accelerating rate — according to a 2023 report from the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, nearly 50% of Latino households have purchased a house — they never really own…

Welcome to NerdWallet’s Smart Money podcast, where we answer your real-world money questions. In this episode: Get tips for saving money on Halloween costumes and decorations, plus how to leverage credit cards when making big purchases.How can you use credit cards to maximize rewards when making big purchases? What are some ways to save money on Halloween costumes? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss saving money on Halloween costumes and decorations to help you understand how to be festive without breaking the bank. They begin with a discussion of Halloween budgeting, with tips and tricks on DIY costume ideas,…

A federal appeals court seems inclined to strike down President Joe Biden’s newest student debt relief initiative that reduces payments for millions and provides a pathway to student loan forgiveness. And a potential far-reaching ruling could eliminate loan forgiveness under several much older repayment programs, as well. In August, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals issued a nationwide injunction blocking Biden’s SAVE plan while a legal challenge brought by Republican-led states continues. SAVE is the newest income-driven repayment, or IDR, plan. Like all IDR plans, the program uses a formula to tie a borrower’s monthly student loan payments to their…

Barring sudden changes, the national average price of gas looks like it could soon drop below $3 per gallon for the first time since May 2021. It’s an arbitrary threshold but it feels significant. 2021 prices? That’s practically pre-pandemic!As prices fall, drivers are regaining some buying power at the gas pump. To show how much, let’s say you have $20 to spend on fuel, and you’re paying the national average for regular gas (as of Oct. 28). At the current U.S. average price of $3.13 per gallon, you could buy about six gallons for $20, filling roughly half a tank. (Gas…

In many ways, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris have drawn tax policy maps that are mirror images of one another. While few ideas overlap, the two 2024 presidential candidates could not be charting more divergent tax policy paths. Vice President Harris’s tax proposals generally fit within a well-defined framework. She backs tax cuts for low- and moderate-income households. And she especially favors families with children. Many of her initiatives fit within her “caring economy” model (see here and here). At the same time, she’d raise taxes on high-income households and corporations. With one big exception, she’d stay well within the…

In Part 1 of this series, we talked about various strategies for getting rid of credit card debt and eliminating the sometimes-crushing interest charges that eat into money you could be spending o n things you really want and keep you from saving for retirement or other needs. I’m devoting Part 2 to an in-depth exploration of a strategy known as a balance transfer. If used correctly, a balance transfer credit card can help you pay down those credit card balances and potentially save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in interest payments. But, if you’re not careful, it…

It’s nearly the end of the year and a majority of Americans have regrets about their money moves, or lack thereof, in 2024. Whether they set New Year’s resolutions that didn’t work out, or just thought they’d be further ahead than they are now, a new NerdWallet survey, conducted in Oct. 2024 by The Harris Poll, finds that 69% of Americans have financial regrets for 2024.The youngest adult generation — Gen Z (ages 18-27) — is most likely to be remorseful about money this year. Nearly 9 in 10 Gen Zers (89%) say they have financial regrets for 2024, compared…