How much did Americans spend on groceries during COVID-19? The average weekly grocery bill increased by nearly 20 percent in 2020. In the early days of COVID-19, grocery store aisles were emptied of pasta, canned vegetables and toilet paper as Americans hunkered down for quarantine. In fact, our publisher, Ilyce Glink, just dug into a [...]
What do you do if you can’t afford a new septic system? These homeowners want to know their options if the town requires a replacement they can’t afford. Q: We found out a couple of months ago that the leach field of our septic system has failed. The field is on our neighbors’ property. It [...]
COVID-19: unemployment and the mounting financial crisis. Understanding how people live paycheck-to-paycheck and the implications of extended unemployment. Q: In your recent column in the Washington Post, it was stated that “nearly 80 percent of Americans were living paycheck to paycheck before the pandemic…” I want to know how do you define living paycheck-to-paycheck when [...]
COVID-19 scams: what to look for. How scammers are targeting Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and what to do if you’re a victim of a COVID-19 scam. Update: The types of COVID-19 scams were updated to include a new national unemployment mailing scam on July 30th, 2020. Scammers have been working overtime this year, preying [...]
Coronavirus stimulus checks 2020: will it be enough? How to check your eligibility and how Americans plan to spend their stimulus checks from the CARES Act. The first round of Economic Impact Payments, the coronavirus relief stimulus checks included in the CARES Act, were deposited last week. That’s good news if you got yours and [...]
Coronavirus relief: CARES Act 2020. How the $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill will help both families and businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of Coronavirus/COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continues to spike as more tests become available and states improve reporting procedures. In our coverage of the Coronavirus, we’ve watched the cases skyrocket from [...]
Which debt to pay first when improving personal finances. Which debts to pay down first to improve your credit score and start building your savings. Q: I am "getting back on my feet" financially and would like to know how I should continue to improve my personal finances. Is it better to prepay my mortgage, [...]
3 tips for financial success in 2020. Make improving your financial wellness and preparing for an economic downturn a top priority this year, here's why. How Are Your Personal Finances Doing? How Much Have They Changed Over the Past 10 Years? Overall, average income hasn’t increased much over the past ten years, while home values [...]
How do you deal with money in a relationship? Money causes stress in most romantic relationships, but to build a future couples need to talk about finances. When should you tell a romantic partner how much money you make or how much debt you have? More than 30 percent of Americans said money causes them [...]
How much should I spend on a Valentine’s Day gift? Here are the best DIY Valentine’s Day gift ideas that show you care but won’t break the bank. Love is in the air and so are the sweet scents of chocolates and roses! And, who wouldn’t like either as a Valentine’s Day gift? Valentine’s Day [...]
