In September 2026, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) projected that households will spend $1,030 on average to heat their homes this winter, $82 more than last year. How much of that increase reaches you depends on your fuel.... Source

If you owe the IRS more than you can pay, file your return on time anyway. Filing late adds a penalty of 5% of the unpaid tax each month, while paying late adds 0.5%. Then apply online for an IRS payment plan and pay off the balance over time. Source

A traditional IRA can cut your taxes now and taxes withdrawals later. A Roth taxes the money going in, and qualified withdrawals come out tax-free. Choose the Roth if you expect a higher tax rate in retirement than today, and the traditional IRA if you expect a lower one. Source

If you already subscribe, the increase hasn’t reached you yet. Disney+ and Hulu both say current subscribers see the new prices in their first billing cycle on or after Oct. 21, 2026, so a plan change made now comes before... Source

Run your shared bills and goals through one joint account with your partner, and keep a personal account each for spending neither of you has to explain. Fund the joint account with the same percentage of each paycheck, so the split stays fair when one of you earns more. Source

Standard homeowners and renters policies don’t cover flood damage, and a new policy from the federal flood insurance program doesn’t take effect until 30 days after you buy it. Get a flood quote this week, so the policy is already in force when the next big storm arrives. Source

Applying with several lenders for the same mortgage, auto loan, or student loan costs your credit score no more than applying with one. Scoring models count those inquiries as one when they land within a short window. Line up every lender before you apply, then send every application within 14 days of the first. Source

If one of the new federal deductions for tips, overtime, seniors, or car loan interest applies to you and your W-4 hasn’t changed, you’re having too much tax withheld. Run the IRS Tax Withholding Estimator in October and give your employer a new W-4, so the fix reaches your last paychecks of the year. Source

Holiday fares have historically bottomed out about five weeks before Thanksgiving and seven before Christmas, and this year they’re climbing. Set a price alert today, book Thanksgiving by mid-October and Christmas and New Year’s by the end of October, and take the first fare you can live with. Source

Current’s free account lets you earn up to a 4.00% annual Boost Bonus on savings pods – well above most banks. Set up direct deposit, open a savings pod, and get the Build Card on day one; all three run in the background with no monthly fees. Source

If you constantly find yourself overdrawing your checking account and require a temporary loan to bridge the gap until your next payday, cash advance apps may help. Some payday advance apps do only one thing: give you access to your... Source

Right now, the U.S. national average interest rate on savings account balances is nowhere near enough to keep pace with inflation. The good news is you can do better with high-yield savings accounts. We’ve reviewed the best high-yield savings accounts... Source

The best online banks provide a good balance of high APYs, low fees, and reasonable minimum requirements. We have analyzed the offerings from countless online banks available nationwide to identify some of the best choices. Below, you can find detailed... Source

No investment or savings vehicle is entirely without risk, but certificates of deposit (CDs) offer more security and predictability than most. With fixed or upwardly adjustable interest rates, terms ranging from as short as one month to as long as... Source

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find truly free checking accounts. But they’re still out there if you know where to look. Indeed, many online banks and a few choice brick-and-mortar stores still offer legitimately free, FDIC-insured accounts with few restrictions... Source

Business banking is a little different from consumer banking. Our master list of the best online banks around is surprisingly short on business checking accounts with no monthly maintenance fees, minimum balance requirements, or monthly transaction limits. Also, most business... Source

If your checking account isn’t serving your needs anymore, you have plenty of other places to turn. Big banks, small banks, online banks, app-based banks, credit unions of all kinds — each category features standouts that go above and beyond... Source

Historically, one enormous advantage the wealthy had over the rest of us was access to expert investing advice. They didn’t need to be experts on stocks or market movements or investing. They could pay someone to “just take care of... Source

Traditionally, checking accounts haven’t earned high interest rates. However, a handful of banks and credit unions offer ultra-competitive high-yield checking accounts, allowing you to grow your bank account balance faster. We’ve rounded up the best high-yield checking accounts for you,... Source

Individual bank account bonuses and rewards programs come and go. But it’s basically a given that dozens of online banks (and brick-and-mortar banks and credit unions) offer enticements to new and longtime account holders at any given time. The same... Source