personal finance

Business Oct 17

Great Recession Homeowner Now Renting in Her 50s Says Financial Ruin Is Not Moral Failure

A woman who lost her home in the 2008 crash argues that renting in middle age reflects a broken housing system, not personal failure, as millions of Americans over 50 remain renters.

2 min read MarketWatch

Politics Oct 16

Man With $4 Million Retirement Fund Vetoes Wife's $8,000 Italy Trip, Cites Fear of Living to 95

A man in his 60s with $4 million in savings says he can't afford to retire and blocked his wife's $8,000 Italy trip, raising questions about how much is enough.

2 min read MarketWatch

Business Oct 11

Retirees With Cash Win as Fed Rate Hikes Deliver 5% Yields, Punish Borrowers

The Federal Reserve's campaign to tame inflation has created sharply different outcomes for retirees depending on whether they hold cash or carry debt.

2 min read MarketWatch

World Oct 2

Retirement Savings Divorce Rule Turns on State Law, Not Who Earned the Money

A husband who worked 14 years while his wife stayed home asked whether he owes her half his 401(k). In most states, the answer is yes — retirement savings built during marriage are marital property.

3 min read MarketWatch

Business Oct 2

Annuity Payouts Climb as High Interest Rates Deliver Safer Retirement Income

Annuity payout rates have risen sharply alongside interest rates, giving retirees a rare chance to lock in guaranteed income that pays far more than it did three years ago.

2 min read MarketWatch

Technology Oct 1

47-Year-Old Investor Sends Entire Paycheck Into Bitcoin, Vows Never to Sell

A 47-year-old investor says he converts every dollar he earns into bitcoin, telling MarketWatch his paycheck "takes a detour" through the cryptocurrency before it reaches his bank account.

2 min read MarketWatch

Business Oct 1

Credit Card Balances Jump $21 Billion as US Households Pile on Debt

Credit card balances grew by $21 billion in the second quarter of 2026, pushing more Americans to seek debt relief as average card rates hover above 20%.

2 min read CBS News

Lifestyle Sep 30

The Points Guy Warns Beginners: Don't Chase Travel Card Bonuses You Can't Use

Brian Kelly says the biggest rookie mistake with travel cards is signing up for a bonus you can't realistically redeem, not paying an annual fee.

2 min read MarketWatch

Business Sep 30

How to Build an Emergency Fund When You Live Paycheck to Paycheck

Nearly six in ten Americans can't cover a $1,000 emergency with savings. Here's a realistic, step-by-step plan to build an emergency fund on a tight income.

6 min read Headings Feature

Business Sep 30

The Social Security Decision That Costs Retirees $180,000

Claiming Social Security at 62 instead of 70 can cost you six figures over retirement. Here's how the math works, and the mistakes that drain benefits.

4 min read Headings Feature

Business Sep 30

The $400 Problem: How to Build an Emergency Fund When There's Nothing Left Over

Nearly half of Americans couldn't cover a $400 surprise expense with cash. Here's how people who live paycheck to paycheck actually build a cushion, one small deposit at a time.

5 min read Headings Feature

Business Sep 30

The 2026 Homebuyer's Reality Check: Down Payments, Rates, and the Bills That Show Up After Closing

Mortgage rates have cooled from their 2023 peak, but buying a home still demands more cash up front than most guides admit. Here is what the numbers actually look like in 2026, and where the hidden money goes.

5 min read Headings Feature

World Sep 30

71-Year-Old Still Working on $108,000 Salary Asks If He Should Retire

A 71-year-old earning $108,000 a year with $152,000 saved for retirement asks whether he should keep working or call it quits.

2 min read MarketWatch

World Sep 30

Pastor Who Retired on $30,000 Salary Says Americans Have Grown 'Dangerously Comfortable

A retired pastor who earned $30,000 a year says disciplined budgeting, not a high salary, made his comfortable retirement possible — and he wants others to know it.

2 min read MarketWatch

Business Sep 29

Pricing Expert Warns Shoppers Against Four Common Rip-Off Traps

A pricing researcher says hidden fees, drip pricing, and confusing subscriptions cost Americans billions each year. Here is how to spot and avoid them.

2 min read NPR News