401(k) hardship withdrawals hit a record high last year. Six percent of workers in Vanguard-managed retirement plans pulled money out early. That’s up from five percent the year before, marking the sixth straight annual increase. Most of these withdrawals cover real problems: a looming eviction, a medical bill, a repair that can’t wait. Here’s what’s […] The post 401(k) Hardship Withdrawals Hit a

You walk into a dealership ready to finance a reliable commute. The finance manager stretches your loan to 84 months to hit a payment you can stomach. That trade is becoming the norm. The average car payment for new vehicles hit $787 a month in the third quarter of 2026. More buyers are agreeing to […] The post The Average Car Payment Hit $787 a Month in 2026: What Longer Loan Terms Are Costing Yo

Car insurance rates under 25 are still the highest in the country. You turn 25, nothing else changes, and your bill still drops. That drop is not a coincidence. National premiums are climbing again in 2026, which makes that age gap even more expensive. Here is what the newest data shows about why younger drivers […] The post Car Insurance Rates Under 25 Are Still the Highest in 2026 appeared first

You notice 6.2 percent missing from every paycheck for Social Security. You assume it won’t matter until retirement, decades away. On October 14, 2026, the Social Security Administration announces the 2027 Social Security COLA. This yearly increase adjusts benefits for inflation. Early estimates put it at 3.5 to 3.6 percent, the largest bump in years. […] The post The 2027 Social Security COLA Cou

You graduated, polished your resume, and started applying. Three months later, the recent grad unemployment rate sits at 5.6 percent. This month’s national jobs report showed the economy added only 29,000 jobs. If your job search feels unusually slow, the numbers back you up. Entry-level hiring has tightened. This slowdown isn’t just in your head. […] The post Recent Grad Unemployment Rate Hits 5.

You skip the ER bill because you assume medical debt no longer touches your credit score. That assumption worked for a while. A federal court vacated the rule meant to ban medical debt from credit reports nationwide in July 2025. The protection disappeared almost as fast as it arrived. Medical debt credit reporting rules now […] The post Medical Debt Can Still Show Up on Your Credit Report in 2026

In cryptocurrency, the amount being transferred and the network fee paid to process that transaction are separate. Knowing the difference before authorizing a payment helps avoid costly surprises. Cryptocurrency presents a complex and fast-paced environment, with distinct measurements being taken constantly. Someone checking the BTC price might be looking at Bitcoin’s exchange rate, but a […] The

You renew your health insurance plan every fall without much thought. This year’s bill makes you do a double take. The 2027 ACA open enrollment period opens November 1, 2026. It follows a year when average marketplace premium payments jumped 58 percent. Congress let enhanced subsidies expire, and millions of buyers, especially people under 35, […] The post 2027 ACA Open Enrollment Is Coming: Why Y

Gen Z wealth building now starts at age 19, 13 years earlier than Boomers did. That is the headline from a new U.S. Bank survey of 5,000 adults. Yet 56 percent of Gen Z respondents say they are doing everything right and still feel behind. That early start should have closed the gap by now. […] The post Gen Z Wealth Building Now Starts at Age 19: Why 62% Still Feel Behind appeared first on Money U

You keep a job board open in one browser tab and your actual work in another. You switch tabs fast whenever your manager walks by. That habit now has real numbers behind it. Gen Z job hopping plans jumped to 55 percent this year. That’s up from 32 percent a year ago, according to a […] The post Gen Z Job Hopping Jumped to 55% in 2026: What’s Really Behind It appeared first on Money Under 30 .