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Money Management

3 Smart Ways to Invest Your Money in 2024

By Money Management No Comments

A new year means a whole new opportunity to grow wealth. Read on for some great ways to invest in 2024. 

Image source: Getty Images

It’s hard to believe that 2024 is right around the corner. But before you know it, we’ll be ringing in the new year.

You may be eager to put your money to work by investing it savvily in 2024. Here are three options worth considering.

1. Sign up for your company’s 401(k)

If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, it pays to take advantage of it for a few reasons. First, assuming it’s a traditional 401(k), your money will go in tax-free, thereby shielding some of your income from the IRS.

Many employers that offer 401(k) plans also match worker contributions to some degree. So you may have an opportunity to score some free money for your retirement.

Now, maxing out a 401(k) in 2024 may prove difficult because the contribution limits next year are rising to $23,000 for workers under age 50, and $30,500 for those 50 and over. But remember, you don’t have to max out if that’s not close to being feasible. Rather, you can start with the goal of contributing enough to take advantage of your full employer match.

One thing you should know about 401(k)s is that they generally do not allow you to invest in individual stocks, whereas IRAs do. Because 401(k)s tend to limit savers to different funds, it’s important to find a cost-effective option — meaning, funds that generate strong returns without charging exorbitant fees.

It could pay to invest your 401(k) in low-cost index funds. These funds are passively managed and simply track different market benchmarks, so the fees are generally quite reasonable compared to what you might pay to invest in actively managed mutual funds.

2. Take advantage of a Roth IRA

A Roth IRA won’t give you a tax break on your contributions like a traditional IRA or 401(k). But what you will get is tax-free investment gains in your account, as well as tax-free withdrawals. And that’s huge.

Think about how much you hate paying taxes now. Then, imagine how much of a problem taxes might be if your income drops in retirement. Knowing you won’t have to pay a portion of your income to the IRS could make a big difference at that stage of life.

In 2024, IRAs (both traditional and Roth) max out at $7,000 for savers under 50 and $8,000 for those 50 and over. You don’t have to max out your Roth IRA contributions next year if that’s not doable, but it may be a more attainable goal than maxing out a 401(k).

3. Contribute to an HSA

Healthcare expenses can arise at any time, so it’s important to be prepared for it at all times. And putting money into an HSA is a great way to do that.

HSAs, or health savings accounts, give you the benefit of tax-free contributions. You can also invest the funds you don’t need right away, and gains in your account will be tax-free. Withdrawals are also tax-free when used to cover qualified medical expenses.

You’ll need to make sure your health insurance plan is compatible with an HSA to contribute in 2024, however. If you have self-only coverage, your plan needs a minimum deductible of $1,600 and an out-of-pocket maximum of $8,050. If you have family coverage, your plan needs a minimum deductible of $3,200 and an out-of-pocket maximum of $16,100.

The amount you can contribute to an HSA in 2024 will also hinge on your coverage and age. For self-only coverage, your limit is $4,150 if you’re under 55, or $5,150 if you’re 55 and over. For family coverage, your limit is $8,300 if you’re under 55, or $9,300 if you’re 55 and older.

Investing your money the right away in 2024 could set the stage for many years of financial security. It pays to consider these options in the new year for putting your money to work.

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I’ve Never Gone Black Friday Shopping. Here’s How I Still Find Great Holiday Deals

By Money Management No Comments

Black Friday may have good deals, but I’m still staying home this year. Here are my tips for saving on holiday gifts without hitting the stores. 

Image source: Getty Images

Black Friday is just around the corner and soon retailers will be opening their doors before dawn for the millions of Americans eager to score this year’s top products at bargain prices. But I won’t be one of them.

Yes, I know there are a lot of great deals on Black Friday. But waking up before dawn and dealing with long lines and hectic shopping experiences really isn’t for me. Here’s what I do to save on holiday gifts instead.

I keep an eye out for deals before and after Black Friday

Black Friday might be the best-known holiday shopping day, but it’s not the only time retailers run sales or offer coupons. Rather than wait until Black Friday, I keep an eye out for great prices starting in late October or early November.

If you shop at specific retailers often or you know only one company makes the product you want, it’s a good idea to sign up for their mailing list. Yes, it means you’ll probably get a lot of email spam you may not care about. But you might also get coupons or advance warning of upcoming sales that someone who doesn’t subscribe wouldn’t.

I shop online

Cyber Monday has become a pretty big deal in its own right, and that’s a little more my speed. You still have to act fast to get the best deals. But I can log on and peruse what’s available on my own time from the comfort of my home. And I don’t have to wait in any lines either.

Plus, when you’re shopping online, it’s easier to compare prices between retailers. There are even special price tracking apps, like Google Shopping and Keepa, that can help you monitor price changes over time to make sure you’re getting a good deal.

I use credit card rewards

I don’t spend a lot on non-essentials throughout the year, so I have a tendency to rack up credit card rewards and not have any definite plans for how to use them. But around this time of year, that works in my favor. I can put my rewards toward gift cards, which I could use to buy presents or give as gifts themselves. Or I just put my cash back toward my monthly balance to reduce my out-of-pocket costs.

I know none of these tips are going to dissuade some of you from setting out bright and early on Black Friday, and that’s OK. I wish you a good shopping trip. But if you’re not all that excited about hitting the stores, consider staying home this year. There are still plenty of ways to get the products you want at a price your bank account can accommodate.

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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.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Kailey Hagen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Should You Downsize Your Home in 2024?

By Money Management No Comments

Downsizing could make sense if you’re struggling with housing costs. But it’s also not a great time to be financing a home. Read on to learn more. 

Image source: Getty Images

Although many buyers are struggling to afford homes, a fair number of existing homeowners are in the same boat — they’re having a hard time keeping up with their housing costs. Soaring home values over the past few years have driven up a lot of people’s property taxes. And so if you’re having a hard time keeping up with the expense of homeownership, you may be thinking of downsizing in 2024.

Shrinking your square footage and buying a smaller, less expensive home might provide the financial relief you’re looking for. But because of the way mortgage rates are trending today, you’ll need to be very careful about downsizing your home in the new year.

Will you come out ahead financially?

Let’s say you own a home worth $500,000. Downsizing to a $350,000 home might seem like it will lower your costs. But that logic may not hold if you need to sign a mortgage to downsize.

Although mortgage lenders recently lowered their rates, borrowing for a home is still expensive. As of this writing, the average 30-year mortgage rate is 7.44%, according to Freddie Mac.

Meanwhile, you might have a pretty low mortgage rate on your current home — either because you locked in a low rate to begin with or because you refinanced your mortgage a few years ago when rates fell to competitive levels. So you’ll need to do the math to make sure downsizing will really result in decent savings for you.

Do the numbers work out?

There’s a good chance that mortgage rates will drop a bit in 2024. But it’s hard to predict to what extent.

But let’s be optimistic and say that rates fall to 7%. If you currently have a 3% mortgage, you’re still looking at more than doubling your rate.

Meanwhile, let’s say you currently own a $500,000 home and owe $400,000 on it at 3%. That leaves you with a monthly payment of $1,686 for principal and interest on your loan. If you can sell your home yourself without the help of an agent and get your seller to cover any applicable real estate transfer taxes, you can potentially walk away with a $100,000 profit to put down on your next (smaller) home.

So let’s say you find a $350,000 home and take out a $250,000 mortgage to finance it at 7%. At that point, you’re looking at a monthly mortgage payment of $1,663. So all told, you’re really not saving a notable amount of money — you’re shaving just $23 a month off of your monthly mortgage payments, and that assumes you took your full $100,000 profit from your home sale and didn’t need to use an agent and pay a fee.

Of course, downsizing could mean saving money on property taxes and maintenance, so that’s where you might enjoy some savings. The point, however, is that unless you’re able to buy a smaller home in cash, downsizing may not make sense in 2024 if mortgage rates remain so elevated.

In this example, let’s say you’re saving under $300 a year by virtue of smaller mortgage payments but are also saving another $6,000 a year via lower property taxes and maintenance costs. That may be worth it.

But if you’re only shaving $2,000 a year off of your taxes and maintenance, then going through the hassle of uprooting your family to downsize may not be worth it. You may, at that point, decide you’d rather just take on a second job to help make your current home more affordable.

At some point, mortgage rates are bound to drop more significantly. And downsizing could make sense then. But that may not happen in 2024, so keep that in mind as you work through your options.

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Upcoming Trends in Credit Reporting: Stay Ahead of the Game

By Money Management No Comments

Credit agencies are always looking for new and better ways to predict our behavior. Here are four ways the reporting industry might change in 2024. 

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Your credit score is more than just a number. It’s a tool companies use to make decisions about you. From credit card issuers to other lenders, a higher score can unlock better terms or credit cards with more perks. A lower score might make it hard to access credit at all.

There’s a whole industry devoted to your credit score and credit history. The three main players, Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, are always trying to improve their ability to predict how you might handle credit. Which is why you’ll have several credit scores, depending on which bureau calculates it and which model it uses.

Here are four of the upcoming trends in credit reporting to watch.

1. Further changes to medical debt reporting

Groups such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) argue that medical debt is not a good indicator of how people handle credit. As a result, there have already been significant upheavals in the way credit agencies treat medical debt. But the CFPB wants more. It is pushing for agencies to completely remove medical debt from our credit reports.

In recent years, the main credit agencies have:

Removed all paid medical debts from people’s credit reportsIncreased the grace period on unpaid medical collections from six months to a yearRemoved medical collections for debts of less than $500

Urban Institute research shows the moves have had a dramatic effect. The number of Americans with medical debt in collections on their credit report has fallen from 16% in August 2018 to just 5% in August 2023.

How you can act on this trend:

If you find yourself facing a medical issue, hopefully the new rules will make it easier to focus on your recovery and not your finances. Medical bills could still be a concern, but if the proposed changes go through, medical debt won’t drag your credit down. Let’s say you’re applying for a mortgage. The lender would not be able to factor any money you owe for medical bills into your application.

Even if the new rules don’t come into play, if you have medical debt in collections, you may be able to get it removed from your credit report. Check your credit report. If the debt is under $500 or less than a year old, you may be able to improve your credit score by disputing it. You can also get any paid medical debts removed.

2. Weekly credit reports will continue to be free

It used to be that people could request a free credit report from each reporting agency once a year. That changed during the pandemic when the credit bureaus introduced free weekly credit reports. And now that change is permanent.

This reflects a trend toward making it easier for consumers to access and check the information credit bureaus hold on them, which is a good thing given that reports are not always accurate. Indeed, a Consumer Reports study showed over a third of people found mistakes on their credit reports.

How you can act on this trend:

Checking your credit report regularly is a great way to catch any mistakes that could be dragging down your score. It can also mean you spot fraud or identity theft early, so you can act quickly to reduce any damage.

Go to www.annualcreditreport.com to request your free credit reports from each agency. Check for any incorrect information such as accounts you didn’t open or a bill you paid that’s listed as overdue. Also, check your personal information such as your name, address, and phone number.

3. Increased adoption of AI

One of the many strengths of artificial intelligence and machine learning is the ability to process large quantities of data to find patterns and make predictions. It’s not surprising, then, that the tentacles of AI have reached well into the world of credit reporting. For example, FICO has been using AI for several years. It champions explainable, ethical AI and says its Responsible AI model combines machine learning with traditional methods.

How you can act on this trend:

Personally, I find the idea of a robot making decisions about my credit score a little unnerving. It is also unavoidable, so it’s good to know you have rights. According to CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “Creditors must be able to specifically explain their reasons for denial. There is no special exemption for artificial intelligence.”

If you get denied credit, the lender needs to tell you why. In detail. It isn’t allowed to give you a broad reason such as your “purchasing history.” Don’t be afraid to push back, especially if you feel the reasoning isn’t clear.

4. Increased use of alternative data sources

The catch-22 of credit is that you often need to have some form of credit to be able to access credit. A 2015 CFPB report categorized 26 million Americans as “credit invisible.” This means they don’t have a credit history with one of the three credit bureaus.

The various credit-building products on the market, such as credit builder loans or secured credit cards, can help. But incorporating other data could be a game changer as it gives consumers other ways to show they can handle credit responsibly. Alternative data might include things like rent payments or your bank account balance.

How you can act on this trend:

If you have trouble accessing credit, see whether services like Experian Boost, which factor in things like utility bills and rent payments, could help. Check out UltraFICO® which factors your banking activity into your score. These services could show lenders you can be trusted to repay credit.

Staying ahead of the game

There are some big changes afoot in the credit reporting industry, many of which will be good for consumers. One thing that’s unlikely to change is that paying bills on time and keeping on top of your debt are smart ways to maintain good credit. Hopefully the technological and regulatory changes will give consumers more ways to show lenders they can handle any debt they take on.

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Smart Tips for Deciphering Black Friday Bargains

By Money Management No Comments

Not all Black Friday bargains are as good as they seem. Use our step-by-step price comparison guide to make sure you never get fooled again. 

Image source: Getty Images

Sale events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday can offer great money-saving opportunities. With potential discounts of 50% or more on big ticket items like TVs, laptops, kitchen appliances and more, it can all add up to more money in your bank account. That said, I’ve learned the hard way that some of the deals you’ll see are not quite as good as they seem.

When it comes to deciphering Black Friday bargains, we’ve got you covered with these top tips and a step-by-step guide on how to put them into practice.

Smart tips for savvy Black Friday shopping

Sometimes even savvy shoppers get pulled in by the promise of a 70% discount, only to find there’ve been some vendor shenanigans with the prices. Or the product isn’t exactly the model you were after.

1. Know the pre-sale price

The only way to know if something is a bargain is to have an idea of what it should normally cost. This means looking beyond the original price listed on the website. It is illegal for stores to artificially bump up the pre-sale price and give the impression of a bigger discount. But that doesn’t stop retailers from trying to present things in the best possible light.

Reading the small print on Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy shows that they all have fairly similar policies. The original pre-sale price you’ll see will often be the manufacturer’s suggested retail price for the product as long as it’s been sold on that site or offered on another site at or above that price within a set time frame.

Putting that in plain English: If a product was originally priced at $500 and is still on sale (or has recently been on sale) somewhere at the same price, that will often be the pre-sale price you’ll see. And it doesn’t matter if it’s more commonly sold at $100 or frequently discounted.

2. Check the model

You sometimes have to look carefully at the product description to see what you’re buying because there are often several different models of the same product. For example, there’s a big difference between the OL701 and the OL501 models of the Ninja® Foodi® 14-in-1. You see something that’s listed as a Ninja 14-in-1 and think you’re snagging a bargain when you’re actually just buying an older model that doesn’t have as many bells and whistles.

Sometimes getting an older model is a great way to save money, particularly if you’re unlikely to use the newer features. Just make sure you know what you’re buying and check comparisons online to find out the pros and cons of each one.

3. Factor in all the costs

Hidden extras can take the form of subscription charges, shipping fees, or insurance. For example, if you need to sign up to Walmart+ or Amazon Prime to access a particular offer, don’t forget to consider that cost. On the other side, if you get extra credit card rewards points for using a particular site, that’s also worth including in your price comparison.

Deciphering deals: A step-by-step guide

If you keep these tips in mind, you can quickly detect offers that aren’t so special. Here’s how I price-checked Walmart’s Black Friday featured deal on a set of noise canceling headphones.

Product: Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones with Apple W1 Headphone ChipOriginal price: $349.95Sale price: Currently $169. On Nov. 22, Walmart will discount the headphones even further to $99Potential saving: Over $250

One important note: Walmart is not alone in presenting deals like this, many online retailers use similar tactics. I picked this deal because it illustrates how to spot a deal that’s been polished a little too much.

Step 1: Go to the manufacturer’s site

The manufacturer’s site will tell you if the pre-sale price is reasonable. You’ll also be able to see what models are available and what you’re actually buying. In this case, the Beats website says the Beats Studio3 costs $199.95. It’s the latest Studio Pro headphones that cost $349.95. Studio3 is an older model and online reviews say there are quite a few differences between the two.

Step 2: See what other stores are offering

We already know that the deal isn’t anywhere near as good as it first seemed. But there’s still money to be saved — especially if you’re able to get one for $99 on Nov. 22. The next step is to see what prices we can get on other sites.

Here’s what I found:

Amazon: List price for the Beats Studio3 is $199.95, currently reduced to $129. It also lists the Studio Pro at $349.99, currently reduced to $169.99.Target: List price for Beats Studio3 is $218.99, though it is out of stock. It also lists the Studio Pro at $349.99, currently reduced to $169.99.Costco: List price for Beats Studio3 is $99.99. It also lists the Studio Pro at $349.99, currently reduced to $169.99.

The Walmart deal now looks even less appealing. Costco members don’t have to wait until next week — they can buy the Studio3 at $99 today.

Step 3: Use price comparison tools

There are many apps and tools available online to help you check prices. Not only can you view historical price data, you can also set up alerts for deals on products you’re interested in. I’m a fan of camelcamelcamel, which specifically tracks Amazon products and shows you how prices have changed over time. Keepa, Honey, and Slickdeals are also worth checking out.

Camelcamelcamel shows us that those same headphones were available at $79 on Amazon around a year ago. There have also been several points in the last year where the price has dipped to $99. So the $99 deal on Walmart isn’t necessarily bad, but it also isn’t saving you anywhere close to $250.

Step 4: Check the fine print

Finally, look to see what shipping, insurance, and other fees you might have to pay. For example, there’s a $9.99 shipping fee for Costco’s Studio3 headphones. And if you want AppleCare+, that will cost another $29. Walmart is pushing customers to subscribe to its Walmart+ service ($12.95 a month or $98 a year) to get early access to the extra savings on Nov. 22.

Fine print isn’t always about extra charges; it can sometimes save you money, too. For example, a lot of retailers offer price matches. This means they’ll refund you the difference if the item’s price falls within a certain time period. So Target says if the cost of a product you bought drops before Dec. 24, it will match the lower price.

Key takeaway

Don’t take Black Friday bargains at face value. If you’re trying to tell the difference between a great deal and something that’s been dressed up as a great deal, a little online digging can go a long way.

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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.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Emma Newbery has positions in Amazon and Apple. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Here’s How I Saved $1,800 on a Roundtrip Business Class Flight to London

By Money Management No Comments

The standard price of a roundtrip business class flight to London costs over $3,000. Find out how one writer landed a roundtrip ticket for under $1,400. 

Image source: Getty Images

While I take every opportunity I can to travel as much as possible, I don’t have unlimited funds for my adventures. I contribute money to my high-yield savings account throughout the year and use the funds to book flight deals that interest me. Usually, I book economy tickets so I have more money to spend enjoying the destination.

But three months ago, I saw a business class flight deal that was too good to ignore. It was an error fare, which means the airline made a pricing mistake, and I scooped it up quickly. I spent less than $1,400 round-trip on a business class ticket to London. Find out what I did to save big.

Flight deal subscriptions can offer substantial savings

If you love to travel but don’t have a CEO-level salary or travel budget, you may want to consider investing in a flight deal subscription. Services like this alert you to can’t-miss flight deals that can make travel more accessible and more affordable.

If you typically fly in economy class but want to experience a more comfortable journey, you may want to subscribe to a service that sends premium class flight deals alerts. With tools like this, you can fly in style without breaking your budget or racking up credit card debt.

One such service is Thrifty Traveler Premium. With this subscription, you’ll get access to domestic and international deal alerts for economy, first, and business class flights. You’ll also be alerted about points and miles flash sales and error fare opportunities.

While this service comes with an $89.99 annual subscription fee, you could save hundreds or thousands of dollars by booking even just one deal found through this service. I recently saved at least $1,800 on my roundtrip business class fare, making the subscription well worth it.

Here’s the scoop on the great flight deal I booked

In early August, I got an alert about a wild error fare. The fare was for direct roundtrip United Polaris flights flying to London, and prices were as low as $899 depending on your dates and departure city. Yes, $899 — you read that right. I’ve recently paid well over $899 for international economy tickets, so I was immediately sold on this deal.

United’s international business class product, Polaris, offers travelers a more private and roomy seat that can be converted to a lie-flat configuration for a more restful long-haul experience. Additionally, fliers can access priority check-in and boarding perks, an upgraded in-flight dining experience, and business class airport lounges. Essentially, it’s nothing like flying in economy.

I decided to look for flight options for November to celebrate my birthday. The final price shown at checkout was $1,384.55. Paying less than $1,400 for a direct, roundtrip journey to London is a steal, so this deal made me and my bank account very happy. Since it was an error fare, I quickly purchased my tickets before the airline could fix its mistake by raising the price.

I was curious how good of a deal I got, so I priced the same flight a few days after booking my tickets. The price for the same flights, times, and dates was over $3,000 — more than $1,800 over what I paid. I chatted with some of my nearby seatmates on the outgoing journey to London. The man in front of me had purchased his ticket a couple of weeks prior and told me he paid over $6,000 for his roundtrip ticket. Wow! I was thankful I used a service like this to save big.

A note about error fare deals

The deal I booked turned out not to be too good to be true. But it’s worth noting that error fare tickets can be canceled by an airline. If that happens, you get a refund for what you paid.

Experts suggest that if the airline doesn’t cancel within two weeks of you making the booking, you’re likely good, and the chances of cancellation after that point are low. You can make refundable reservations when booking accommodations and activities to protect yourself in the event of a cancellation before departure.

You can honor your budget while flying in style

Believe it or not, you don’t have to go broke to afford a business class flight. Using flight deal services and other travel hacks can allow you to score cheap flights. When paying for airfare, consider using a travel credit card so you get rewarded for your spending. Take a look at our list of the best travel rewards credit cards to learn more.

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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.
The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Natasha Gabrielle has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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