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By this point, the economic effects of the coronavirus aren’t news. If anything, there’s been so much coverage surrounding the topic that it’s hard to ascertain the right thing to do. From job loss to quarantine retail therapy, you may feel like your financial life has been in a tailspin since March. So we put together this post offering several simple steps to help you navigate the coronavirus outbreak and the havoc it may have wreaked on your personal finances. 1. Cut spending When lockdown first went into effect, many of us thought we’d be spending dramatically less — after all, quarantine means we can’t blow our paychecks (or blow off steam) at the local bar or take a luxurious vacation. And while certain types of spending are down, others have risen — including money spent on video streaming, food delivery, gaming, and alcohol, according to a New York Times analysis of data from Earnest Research . If you find yourself with less disposable income these days, it’s important to...

Whether you’re trying to make a little extra cash to help you get by until payday or you want to boost your savings to get one step closer to a major purchase, there are a host of opportunities in the gig economy to find a side hustle that fits your talents and schedule. Yet it’s important to remember that side hustles typically involve some expenses. For example, if you’re charging Bird scooters, that’s your electricity that you’re using to do so. Before getting started, it’s smart to tally up your total expenses and look for ways to maximize your time and funds. Not sure how to determine the costs of a side hustle like charging Bird scooters? Here’s everything you need to know. How to make money charging Bird scooters Charging Bird scooters is a gig that appeals to a lot of people because you can mostly be in charge of your own schedule — you pick the scooters up, charge them and drop them back in high-traffic areas between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. per Bird’s app. Bird refers to...

If you’ve been walloped by the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, taking advantage of the federal student loan repayment suspension and interest freeze is a no-brainer. You can now stop making your payments and enjoy the six-month, interest-free period handed down by the U.S. government. But what if you can afford to keep putting money toward your education debt? For you, taking advantage of the federal student loan interest freeze might mean something else entirely. Here’s how to know… … when it makes sense to keep making federal loan payments … when it makes sense to sit back during the federal student loan interest freeze When it makes sense to keep making federal loan payments As you’ve likely heard, the government has enacted a six-month suspension of student loan payments — technically, an “administrative forbearance” — that allows most federal loan borrowers to take a penalty-free break from payment through Sept. 30, 2020. And yet, continuing to make payments...

Unfortunately, Social Security payments can be garnished if you default on federal student loans , as many retired borrowers find out the hard way. Called an offset, more people than ever are losing out on Social Security benefits due to federal student loan debt. However, there are limits to how much can be garnished for student loans, though these limits don’t go far enough. If you’ve defaulted on your student loan debt, here’s what you need to know about student loans and Social Security benefits, as well as your options for student loan forgiveness at age 65 and above. Can student loan debt threaten your Social Security payments? What’s the Social Security garnishment limit? How many Americans had their Social Security payments garnished? What can people do to save their Social Security payments? What can you do to avoid student loan default? Student loans and Social Security payments: The bottom line Can student loan debt threaten your Social Security payments? Yes — and the...

People enroll in college anticipating that a degree will lead to better job prospects, higher salaries and more opportunities in the future. But for a range of reasons, including college costs and life circumstances, some students have to drop out. After leaving school, you’re still required to make payments on your student loan debt. Refinancing can help many people manage their student debt, but refinancing student loans without a degree can be difficult. Here are your options for refinancing student loan and coming up with a repayment strategy if you didn’t complete your degree. Can you refinance student loans without a degree? For many people, refinancing and consolidating student loans makes their debt more manageable. They may qualify for a lower interest rate, different repayment terms or even a lower monthly payment. That can free up money in their budgets for other financial priorities. If you didn’t complete your degree, finding a lender who will refinance your loans with...

Whether you recently took out a mortgage, you’re saddled with student loan debt, or you’ve overextended your credit cards, you may be one of the millions of Americans working to pay off their debt obligations. However, just because you’re paying off debt doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be thinking about your future. Saving for retirement now (even if it’s just a little) means you can reap the benefits of compound interest , allowing your investments to grow exponentially over time. It’s a strategy that pays off — a 25-year-old who contributes just $250 per month toward his or her retirement ($3,000 per year) with a return of nine percent would have more than $1 million by retirement age. Below, you’ll find a handful of strategies for saving for retirement, even if you’re in debt. 1. Consider Refinancing Your Student Loans Whether on your own or with a qualified cosigner, refinancing your student loans can free up some extra cash. The annual federal student rate interest amount is...

When you’re getting ready to launch your business, there’s a lot at stake. You want to make sure that everything is exactly right so you can set yourself up for success. Though it’s important to be prepared, it’s common to feel like there’s just never really a right time to take that leap. While it may not be your forever plan, it’s not the worst idea to launch your business part-time, allowing you to tackle it on the side while you’re still getting a steady paycheck and health benefits from your current employer. Launching your business now may make you a part of a growing trend: diversity in business ownership is increasing across the board. According to the most recent U.S. Small Business Administration data, there are around 8 million minority-owned businesses (accounting for around 29 percent of all U.S. businesses). In particular, there’s been an increase in both Black and Hispanic business ownership, (9.5 percent and 12.2 percent of all U.S.-based businesses, respectively),...