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Personal finance classes are becoming the norm in high schools

Feb 27, 2024
thirty five states now require these courses — 12 more than two years ago, according to a new survey.
Young people who've taken these courses tend to have higher credit scores, research shows.
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Is there room in an aspirational budget to spend on fun and save for a house?

Jan 17, 2024
Consumers' plans for spending on fun edge out everyday essentials and big-ticket items, according to a survey from the New York Fed.
Consumers are spending more on things like skin care, make-up and candles, says Natalie Kotlyar of BDO.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Fenty Beauty by Rihanna

When panic could be good for your career and finances

Dec 14, 2023
A new book defends panic and shares how it can be useful at work, budgeting, dating and more.
What if you didn't actually need to "keep calm and carry on" in order to have a healthy relationship with your finances?
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Education in personal finance is on a tear — and there’s a payoff

Oct 26, 2023
There’s research that shows students who take financial education courses make smarter decisions about money.
Econ and personal finance teacher Sharon Paul stands next to a poster in her classroom showing different notes of currency.
Stephanie Hughes/Marketplace

How a college credit card signup led to $20,000 in debt

Apr 24, 2023
Yanely Espinal, host of Marketplace's podcast "Financially Inclined," tells the story of taking on a financial responsibility she wasn't prepared for.
"I sat down, added up all the credit card debt that I had," Yanely Espinal said. "And it was just over $20,000. That scared me half to death."
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Should you trust chatbots to give you financial advice?

Apr 14, 2023
They may sound good. But the advice isn’t always sound.
People are using AI chatbots like ChatGPT to look up financial advice. But the quality of the recommendations isn't always up to snuff.
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How to get more than $250,000 covered by federal deposit insurance

From creating joint accounts to patronizing multiple banks, there are ways to maximize FDIC coverage, says economics contributor Chris Farrell.
Having too much money to be insured in one account is a good problem to have. Marketplace economics contributor Chris Farrell explains how to solve it.
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For public good, not for profit.

Could companies be persuaded to bring back pensions?

Why defined pension plans could make a comeback in a tight labor market.
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Inflation, high spending propels consumer debt up

Mar 9, 2023
Different types of consumer debt saw a substantial rise in January, according to the Federal Reserve.
Consumer debt, led by credit card spending, has been on the rise in the U.S. in the past few years.
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Making a major life change? These financial steps can help

Whether you've decided it's time to change jobs or you're dealing with an unforeseen circumstance.
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