All Posts By

Tarra Jackson

Are You Saving Enough? See How Your 401(K) Stack up Against National Averages

By Money Management No Comments

 Retirement savings are hitting record highs — but averages alone won’t tell you if you’re on track. 

Piggy bank with 401k on the side, next to stacks of coins
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Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links within this article, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend. Today’s workers are contributing more to their 401(k) accounts than ever before, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all on track for a secure retirement. According to data from Vanguard cited by CNBC…

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12 Proven Ways to Cut Your Cooling Costs — Even During a Summer Like This One

By Money Management No Comments

 Beat the heat this summer without burning a hole in your pocket. 

Woman programming thermostat
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Advertising Disclosure: When you buy something by clicking links within this article, we may earn a small commission, but it never affects the products or services we recommend. Using an air conditioner to stay cool can take a big bite out of household budgets. Fortunately, there are other ways to help cool your home that also will cut your costs. Additionally, there are steps you can take to…

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Starbucks Just Changed Add-on Pricing: Here’s What It’ll Cost You Now

By Money Management No Comments

 Some customers will save. Others might rethink their morning ritual. Here’s why. 

Starbucks sign
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Your daily Starbucks run might start looking a little different at the register. The coffee giant is rolling out a new system for drink add-ins like syrups, sauces, matcha, and more, according to CBS News. The goal is to streamline charges and make pricing more consistent across stores. If you’re among the many who personalize your coffee, here’s how the changes could affect your order total.

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$2 Water, $1,100 Gone: How Street Vendors Are Scamming Drivers

By Money Management No Comments

 This scam started in Atlanta, but it could hit your city next. Learn how it works — and how to protect yourself. 

Woman with empty wallet
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A growing scam in Atlanta is targeting generous drivers through mobile payment apps. What is intended to be a small purchase can quickly escalate into hundreds stolen in seconds, according to Moneywise. Typically involving teens selling bottled water at intersections, these encounters are drawing increased scrutiny from Fox 5 Atlanta as more victims come forward. The setup seems innocent.

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Buy Now, Pay Later? FICO’s Watching

By Money Management No Comments

 Those split payments for shoes or furniture might soon shape your credit future — for better or worse. 

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That $200 chair split into four easy payments may soon carry more weight than you expected. FICO, the company behind the most commonly used credit scores, is rolling out two new models that include buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) loans, according to Axios. More than 90 million Americans are projected to use BNPL services in 2024, Axios reports. According to the Consumer Financial Protection…

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Rate Cuts? Not So Fast. Powell Says Tariffs May Keep Prices Rising

By Money Management No Comments

 Learn what Powell’s remarks mean for your credit cards, next mortgage, and savings strategy. 

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.
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Anyone hoping to refinance their mortgage or land a cheaper car loan this summer may be disappointed. During recent testimony before Congress, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell downplayed the likelihood of rate cuts, citing tariff-driven inflation concerns, according to Reuters. While some Fed officials had floated a July cut, Powell told lawmakers there’s no urgency to ease borrowing costs.

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