In this series, NerdWallet highlights people’s debt payoff journeys. This month, Kenley Young recounts how he combined lots of tools for cutting debt, with knowledge he gained working at NerdWallet, to wipe out his credit card balances. In the first week of 2022, I checked off a long-running New Year’s resolution: I paid off the…
Like nearly every aspect of the economy right now, travel costs are being hit by soaring inflation. And if it feels like airfare and hotels are ridiculously expensive, you’re not wrong: Both categories hit all-time highs in May. That’s according to the latest set of Consumer Price Index data released in June 2022, which measures…
First-time car buyer programs are offered by some lenders to help people with little or no credit history buy their first vehicle. Lenders typically consider your credit history and ability to repay when deciding whether to approve a loan. They rely on your record of successfully repaying previous loans or credit cards. As a first-time…
If you’re looking to add smaller companies to your investment portfolio, small-cap ETFs make it easy to invest in lots of small-cap companies at once. Small-cap ETF definition A small-cap ETF is a type of exchange-traded fund that invests in small companies whose value is less than $2 billion. And while $2 billion may sound…
Home warranty companies offer some protection against the unexpected expense of repairing or replacing your home’s appliances and systems when they break down due to normal wear and tear. You’ll have to regularly maintain these units in order to qualify for coverage, and you are responsible for paying a fee for each service call (usually…
Your death could place a sizable financial burden on anyone who relies on your salary to pay bills. This is where life insurance can help. Using life insurance to replace your income can give your beneficiaries the funds to cover expenses after you die, and give you peace of mind. Nearly one-third of Americans who…
After a red-eye flight or a long car ride, it’s not ideal to be stuck in a long line at customs or the border. A trusted traveler program like Global Entry or Nexus can get you where you’re going faster. Are Global Entry and Nexus the same? No — but they are similar. When comparing…
Losing your job is stressful enough on its own. Meanwhile, you still need to put food on the table, a roof over your head and manage other financial obligations. While it may feel like everything is out of your control, there are steps you can take to manage your finances and resources you can use…
A health savings account, or HSA, is a savings account that lets you set aside pretax money for medical costs. It’s handy to save for health care expenses and reduce your taxable income. But not everyone can — or should — sign up for the kind of health insurance plan required to use an HSA.…
It’s easy to feel overscheduled as a small-business owner. Your inbox is likely overflowing, your to-do list is a mile long and every task seems essential. With so much on your plate, you might put off some things that don’t immediately contribute to your business’s day-to-day success. But some of those things are critical for…