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Tarra Jackson

The AI Chip Boom Is Real. Should You Position Your Portfolio for a Tech Rally?

By Money Management No Comments

 Micron Technology just delivered a wake-up call to anyone still sitting on the sidelines of the AI revolution. 

Charles Knowles / Shutterstock.com

The memory chip giant’s shares jumped 2.7% in premarket trading after forecasting quarterly revenue that beat analyst expectations, driven by surging demand for chips used in AI data centers, according to Reuters. It’s not just Micron celebrating. The entire chip sector is riding high, with AI darling Nvidia hitting fresh all-time highs and gaining another 1.2% in early trading…

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30 Best Side Hustles You Can Do From Home

By Money Management No Comments

 Side gigs are all the rage nowadays, and these options can easily be done at home. 

senior woman learning working on laptop
fizkes / Shutterstock.com

Your day job may be your dream job, but it may not be enough. It might not provide the income you want or have enough security to make you feel stable. Or, you might have stopped growing professionally but aren’t ready to leave. A side job may be the answer to whatever you’re experiencing, whether you want to make extra money to supplement your income, improve your marketability by learning new…

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Don’t Wait for the Headlines — Act Like a Recession Is Coming Now

By Uncategorized No Comments
[[{“value”:”Whether or not we go through a recession anytime soon, there are a few simple things you can do now to prepare. And with weakened consumer spending and growing pessimism from CEOs and business leaders, now is as good a time as any to get ready.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. By re-evaluating your mortgage and retirement savings and moving your money into a high-yield savings account (HYSA), you can give yourself a financial cushion to help you stay prepared for whatever comes next.Protect your money with a high-APY savings accountAs of right now, the national average savings rate is just 0.38%, according to the FDIC. That means if you’re keeping your money in a typical savings account, it’s not even keeping up with the rate of inflation.The good news? The best high-yield savings accounts are offering APYs as high as 4.40%, which is more than 11 times the national average.And unlike certificates of deposit (CDs), which lock up your money for months or years, a high-yield savings account gives you access to your cash anytime you need it — making it the perfect place to store your emergency fund.Looking to earn more on your cash? Check out our list of the top high-yield savings accounts available today.Check in on your retirement savingsYou shouldn’t overhaul your retirement plan just because a recession might be coming, but it is a smart time to make sure your investments are still on track.Rebalancing your portfolio helps keep your risk level in check, especially when markets are shaky. It’s also a good time to make sure your portfolio is diversified. You can spread your money across different industries and asset classes; that way, if one of them tanks, your retirement savings won’t go down with it.Finally, prepare yourself mentally. Market drops are stressful, but if you panic and sell during a crash, you may set yourself back years. If you have a diversified portfolio and a solid long-term plan, it’s best to stay the course, even during rough patches.Re-evaluate your mortgageIf you’re a homeowner, it can also be helpful to take a fresh look at your mortgage. If your rate is higher than current market rates, and your credit is solid, refinancing could lower your monthly payments and free up cash for other needs.You can also consider mortgage recasting. This involves making a large lump-sum payment toward your principal in order to lower your monthly payment. Your interest rate and your payoff date remain the same, but your lender recalculates your monthly payment based on the remaining balance. Many lenders allow you to recast your mortgage, but not all, so be sure to check. You’ll likely need to pay a minimum lump-sum payment amount, such as $5,000 or $10,000.Lastly, if you think you may need access to emergency funds, you could consider applying for a home equity line of credit (HELOC) now, before lenders tighten requirements in a downturn.A HELOC comes with its own set of risks, though. Lenders can reduce or freeze it anytime, especially if you lose your income, and failing to make payments on time could put you at risk of foreclosure. It’s best used as a backup, not your primary safety net.Check out this list of our favorite refinancing lenders to find the one that works best for you today.Prepare for the worst and hope for the bestIf you’re worried about what the economy might do next, start by re-evaluating your mortgage, making sure your retirement savings are diversified, and moving your cash to a high-yield savings account.With the right money moves, you’ll have much more stability in uncertain times — and be prepared for the worst while still hoping for the best.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

A black line chart trending steeply downward against a reddish orange background.

Whether or not we go through a recession anytime soon, there are a few simple things you can do now to prepare. And with weakened consumer spending and growing pessimism from CEOs and business leaders, now is as good a time as any to get ready.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

By re-evaluating your mortgage and retirement savings and moving your money into a high-yield savings account (HYSA), you can give yourself a financial cushion to help you stay prepared for whatever comes next.

Protect your money with a high-APY savings account

As of right now, the national average savings rate is just 0.38%, according to the FDIC. That means if you’re keeping your money in a typical savings account, it’s not even keeping up with the rate of inflation.

The good news? The best high-yield savings accounts are offering APYs as high as 4.40%, which is more than 11 times the national average.

And unlike certificates of deposit (CDs), which lock up your money for months or years, a high-yield savings account gives you access to your cash anytime you need it — making it the perfect place to store your emergency fund.

Check in on your retirement savings

You shouldn’t overhaul your retirement plan just because a recession might be coming, but it is a smart time to make sure your investments are still on track.

Rebalancing your portfolio helps keep your risk level in check, especially when markets are shaky. It’s also a good time to make sure your portfolio is diversified. You can spread your money across different industries and asset classes; that way, if one of them tanks, your retirement savings won’t go down with it.

Finally, prepare yourself mentally. Market drops are stressful, but if you panic and sell during a crash, you may set yourself back years. If you have a diversified portfolio and a solid long-term plan, it’s best to stay the course, even during rough patches.

Re-evaluate your mortgage

If you’re a homeowner, it can also be helpful to take a fresh look at your mortgage. If your rate is higher than current market rates, and your credit is solid, refinancing could lower your monthly payments and free up cash for other needs.

You can also consider mortgage recasting. This involves making a large lump-sum payment toward your principal in order to lower your monthly payment. Your interest rate and your payoff date remain the same, but your lender recalculates your monthly payment based on the remaining balance. Many lenders allow you to recast your mortgage, but not all, so be sure to check. You’ll likely need to pay a minimum lump-sum payment amount, such as $5,000 or $10,000.

Lastly, if you think you may need access to emergency funds, you could consider applying for a home equity line of credit (HELOC) now, before lenders tighten requirements in a downturn.

A HELOC comes with its own set of risks, though. Lenders can reduce or freeze it anytime, especially if you lose your income, and failing to make payments on time could put you at risk of foreclosure. It’s best used as a backup, not your primary safety net.

Check out this list of our favorite refinancing lenders to find the one that works best for you today.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best

If you’re worried about what the economy might do next, start by re-evaluating your mortgage, making sure your retirement savings are diversified, and moving your cash to a high-yield savings account.

With the right money moves, you’ll have much more stability in uncertain times — and be prepared for the worst while still hoping for the best.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More 

How Does Your Wedding Budget Compare to Jeff Bezos’?

By Money Management No Comments

 One man’s modest is another man’s extravagant. Bezos may not be the one overspending. 

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos
photosince / Shutterstock.com

Jeff Bezos is getting married today to Lauren Sánchez in Venice, and while the weekend celebration features foam parties, private yachts, and five-star hotels, it may not be as excessive as it seems, at least not for a billionaire. According to MarketWatch, cost estimates for the event range from $10 million to $80 million. Using a midpoint of $50 million, that’s about 0.0227 percent of Bezos’s…

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I’m a ‘Super Saver.’ Here’s How I Saved $10K in 6 Months

By Uncategorized No Comments
[[{“value”:”Back in 2018, I took a sabbatical from full-time work. Dropping down to just my wife’s teacher salary was a big financial change for us. (It’s sad how underpaid public school teachers are.)Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’ve always been big savers, so we weren’t drowning… But we were operating on a tighter budget than usual.So we gave ourselves a fun little challenge: To save $10,000 in six months.There were lots of little things we did to cut back, but these three moves were the biggest needle-movers.1. We implemented “no spend” weekends and saved $3,500Looking back into past expenses, I noticed that most of our discretionary spending happened Friday through Sunday. We easily dropped ~$200 or more each weekend on things like brunches, Target runs, spur-of-the-moment date nights, etc.So we made a conscious effort to fill our weekends with activities that were free (or ridiculously cheap). All the money we saved from these “no spend” weekends went straight into our high-yield savings account.A few ways we cut back:We ate at home before going out. We also packed lunches when headed somewhere for long periods.We found free entertainment, like beach days, hikes, bike rides, museum visits. There are so many community events in our city — we just had to look for them.We engaged in zero impulse shopping or spontaneous buys.This was actually way more fun than we originally thought. We still splurged during the odd weekend here or there. But for the most part, we stuck with it, and ended up saving about $3,500.2. We travel hacked credit cards and earned $2,500+During this savings stretch, I kicked my credit card game up a notch. I searched for the best credit card sign-up bonuses available and learned everything I could about the world of maximizing points.We ended up applying for two travel credit cards that were each offering $1,250 in welcome bonuses at the time. There was a minimum spending requirement to hit, but it was super easy to shift our regular spending (groceries, utilities, insurance, etc.) onto those cards and qualify without spending more than usual.That one move earned us over $2,500 in free travel. Which we later used for an epic road trip up the west coast!If you’re smart about it, the right credit cards can unlock serious rewards. See this week’s top travel cards and find one with a high-value welcome offer!3. We side hustled and earned about $4,000Back when electric scooters first hit LA, they were everywhere in our neighborhood. So my wife and I jumped on the trend and started charging them at night. We’d collect a few after dinner, plug them in in the garage, and easily make $50 to $100 a night. It was easy money for a few months.I also flipped a couple of surfboards and random items on Craigslist. Nothing major, just fun little flips that added a few hundred bucks to our savings account here and there.All together, our mini side hustles brought in around $4,000 over three to four months.BTW — keeping our savings in a separate bank account made it easy to track our progress. We used a high-yield savings account for this kind of challenge because it kept the money out of sight — and it earned way more interest than our regular checking account.If you’re starting your own savings challenge, or just want your money to grow a little faster, check out the top high-yield savings accounts and open one to stash your extra cash.Being a super saver is actually kind of funSometimes being a super saver means making drastic cutbacks to hit a short-term goal — like padding your savings account with an extra $10,000 in six months.Other times, it’s about quietly socking away money into your retirement account and letting it grow steadily over decades.However you go about it, saving doesn’t have to feel like a chore. It’s really just about being intentional, and finding ways to have fun with it.That’s the real secret.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Joel O’Leary has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

A piggy bank with handwritten sicky note saying $10k goal on a baby blue background.

Back in 2018, I took a sabbatical from full-time work. Dropping down to just my wife’s teacher salary was a big financial change for us. (It’s sad how underpaid public school teachers are.)

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’ve always been big savers, so we weren’t drowning… But we were operating on a tighter budget than usual.

So we gave ourselves a fun little challenge: To save $10,000 in six months.

There were lots of little things we did to cut back, but these three moves were the biggest needle-movers.

1. We implemented “no spend” weekends and saved $3,500

Looking back into past expenses, I noticed that most of our discretionary spending happened Friday through Sunday. We easily dropped ~$200 or more each weekend on things like brunches, Target runs, spur-of-the-moment date nights, etc.

So we made a conscious effort to fill our weekends with activities that were free (or ridiculously cheap). All the money we saved from these “no spend” weekends went straight into our high-yield savings account.

A few ways we cut back:

  • We ate at home before going out. We also packed lunches when headed somewhere for long periods.
  • We found free entertainment, like beach days, hikes, bike rides, museum visits. There are so many community events in our city — we just had to look for them.
  • We engaged in zero impulse shopping or spontaneous buys.

This was actually way more fun than we originally thought. We still splurged during the odd weekend here or there. But for the most part, we stuck with it, and ended up saving about $3,500.

2. We travel hacked credit cards and earned $2,500+

During this savings stretch, I kicked my credit card game up a notch. I searched for the best credit card sign-up bonuses available and learned everything I could about the world of maximizing points.

We ended up applying for two travel credit cards that were each offering $1,250 in welcome bonuses at the time. There was a minimum spending requirement to hit, but it was super easy to shift our regular spending (groceries, utilities, insurance, etc.) onto those cards and qualify without spending more than usual.

That one move earned us over $2,500 in free travel. Which we later used for an epic road trip up the west coast!

If you’re smart about it, the right credit cards can unlock serious rewards. See this week’s top travel cards and find one with a high-value welcome offer!

3. We side hustled and earned about $4,000

Back when electric scooters first hit LA, they were everywhere in our neighborhood. So my wife and I jumped on the trend and started charging them at night. We’d collect a few after dinner, plug them in in the garage, and easily make $50 to $100 a night. It was easy money for a few months.

I also flipped a couple of surfboards and random items on Craigslist. Nothing major, just fun little flips that added a few hundred bucks to our savings account here and there.

All together, our mini side hustles brought in around $4,000 over three to four months.

BTW — keeping our savings in a separate bank account made it easy to track our progress. We used a high-yield savings account for this kind of challenge because it kept the money out of sight — and it earned way more interest than our regular checking account.

If you’re starting your own savings challenge, or just want your money to grow a little faster, check out the top high-yield savings accounts and open one to stash your extra cash.

Being a super saver is actually kind of fun

Sometimes being a super saver means making drastic cutbacks to hit a short-term goal — like padding your savings account with an extra $10,000 in six months.

Other times, it’s about quietly socking away money into your retirement account and letting it grow steadily over decades.

However you go about it, saving doesn’t have to feel like a chore. It’s really just about being intentional, and finding ways to have fun with it.

That’s the real secret.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Joel O’Leary has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Barclays Plc. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More 

This Feature Is Boosting Home Prices by up to $12,500

By Money Management No Comments

 Learn more about the 20 features that drive sales prices higher. 

Modern farmhouse style home
Breadmaker / Shutterstock.com

Going organic may boost the sales price of your home, according to a recent analysis by Zillow. Homes with “nature-inspired” design choices associated with organic modernism can sell for as much as 3.5% more than anticipated, Zillow found. That could put an extra $12,500 in the pocket of someone selling the typical home in the U.S. Zillow based its conclusion on an analysis of more than 350…

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