Money Management

Walmart is the largest employer in the U.S., but it’s not ranked No. 1 if you’re looking for a job. Find out how rival Target stacks up. 

Walmart and Target are two of the largest corporate teams in the U.S., fielding over 2.5 million people combined. They’re hiring right now, everywhere. (Seriously. Everywhere.) Want to work as a cashier or sales associate? Chances are, there’s an opening in your area.

But which behemoth is better to work for? The answer largely depends upon management, which can be craptastic or fantastic, and depends on location. But you can check out reviews by current and former employees to judge which company is a better match.

Fortunately, we’ve done the work for you, scanning ratings and reviews from job-ranking sites Glassdoor, Indeed, and Comparably.

Employees have opinions. Strong ones. Here’s what they have to say about working at Target and Walmart, including promotions and salaries.

Walmart

Walmart, king of sales, advertises itself as a career-first company. It claims to have an unbeatable promotion record, from entry-level jobs to C-suite executives. According to the Walmart career page, 75% of salaried managers started as hourly associates.

What employees say: According to Glassdoor, 55% of employees would recommend their jobs to a friend, a narrow majority. Right now, there are over 12,000 job listings active. Wink wink, nudge nudge. (Scroll to the last section if you’re interested.)

Pay and benefits: According to Glassdoor, reported salaries for cashiers and sales associates average $14 per hour. Reviews suggest three healthcare plans are available, plus a 401(k) match. There is an employee discount, but it may not work on food or clearance items.

Target

Target, the red giant, advertises itself as inclusive and relationship-focused. The company seems dedicated to being inclusive of racial minorities. It boasts a 62% increase in promotions of people of color since 2019 — so says the Target career page.

What employees say: According to Glassdoor, 62% of employees would recommend their jobs to a friend, a narrow majority (but less narrow than Walmart). Right now, there are over 15,000 job listings active on Glassdoor.

Pay and benefits: Glassdoor says cashiers and sales associates average $14 per hour. Reviews suggest it offers healthcare benefits, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts. Love that.

Which has better reviews overall?

Results are mixed. Employee reviews indicate Target has a better culture and pays a higher salary and offers better benefits, but Walmart offers more opportunities to climb the career ladder. Short-term employees may prefer Target to Walmart, but Walmart offers long-term promotions.

But it’s worth noting that Target scores better in unmentioned categories like diversity. And that reviews are close — the gulf between Target and Walmart is much narrower than that between, say, Walmart and Costco. (All hail the Costco membership!)

Some good news: Employees of both companies claim interviews are easy and friendly. Here are some best practices to employ during an interview:

Practice common interview questions. You’ll come off more competent. Always a plus.Dress sharp. Don’t fail an interview because you’re dressed too casually. (I have. Sigh.)Tell the truth. According to Shark Tank interviewer Kevin O’Leary, honesty really is the best policy. It can be scary but it opens doors to roles you may not have considered.

Salaries seem to be similar across companies. Your job is more important than which company you work for. At both Walmart and Target, managers tend to be paid more than warehouse workers, who tend to be paid more than cashiers. So your role with the company impacts how much will land in your checking account on payday.

Benefits include employee discounts, 401(k) plans, and health insurance. These will vary from role to role. Full-time employees are much more likely to be offered benefits.

How to find Target and Walmart jobs

Interested? Sure thing. Here’s how to find open roles at Target and Walmart:

Search “Google Jobs.” Enter the Google Jobs listings page. Type “Target” or “Walmart into the search box.

You can see estimated benefits, salaries, and job descriptions from there. Adjust the setting to find open roles in stores near you. Use Google Jobs to pull available listings from everywhere, including LinkedIn and Indeed. It’ll save you time, and it’s free.

Remember to check out Target and Walmart job listings for salary ranges, benefits, and expectations. These’ll help you decide whether you’re being paid fairly for your hard work — and you should be! Your emergency fund isn’t going to build itself, and your security is paramount.

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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. Cole Tretheway has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Costco Wholesale, Target, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Buying a home is a serious decision that should involve a lot of thought and consideration. Read on to learn why one writer bought her first home. 

Owning a home isn’t right for everyone at all stages of life, and there’s no shame in renting. I’d argue that if someone insists you simply must buy a home, you have every right to laugh at them and say no way. The argument you’ll hear most often is, “Renting is throwing money away!” It’s not, though. It’s really not. You’re paying for a roof over your head, and keeping your costs lower than they would be if you bought a house.

As you may have guessed, I’m no stranger to being told that I’m less of an adult because I rent my home. I actually did buy a house once, and it was easily one of the worst mistakes I’ve ever made, right from the beginning — because I bought it for a truly terrible reason.

I was tired of my apartment

At the time that I started looking for homes to buy, my now ex-spouse and I were living in an apartment complex that consisted of about a dozen large buildings, each with multiple apartments. We were on the third floor of our building, and our apartment itself was fine. It had enough space and the complex was only a few years old, so it was actually pretty decent (which hasn’t been the case for some of the homes I’ve rented over the years).

But getting in and out required trudging up and down multiple flights of stairs (in any kind of weather), and there wasn’t adequate parking for all tenants to be able to park at their own building. If I got home late, I would have to park many buildings away. And I was sick of listening to the people in the apartments next to mine.

I should have rented a house instead

With well-meaning family encouragement (and financial help), I ended up buying a house. Getting a mortgage was absolutely the wrong thing to do at this time. I was living paycheck to paycheck (despite earning more than I ever had in the preceding years, when I was a college student and then a graduate student), and I had no real savings. I also hadn’t fully grasped the costs of homeownership, and got extremely lucky that nothing major went wrong with the home in the time I owned it. Getting out from under it (after I was laid off and went through a divorce about two years after buying) was a major hassle, and I’m glad I was able to convince my lender to put it up for a short sale, as that damaged my credit less than foreclosure would have.

Ultimately, I should have rented a house instead. My ex and I could have afforded a little more per month in housing costs, and for our budget, we likely could have found a nice home and signed a new lease, rather than buying. Worst-case scenario, we could have chosen a different apartment complex with more ample parking and fewer units per building. The point is, I had options that didn’t involve committing to a mortgage.

I’m getting ready to buy again

It’s been 13 years since I bought that first house, and I’ve spent the last eight months stashing cash in a high-yield savings account so I can try to buy again within the next year. I live in a different part of the country now (but still thankfully one with a low cost of living), and I’ll be buying solo. And I’ll be contending with much higher mortgage rates than when I bought in 2010.

Thankfully, I’m a lot wiser in the matters of homeownership now, and by making the following moves, I’m putting myself in the best possible position to become a successful homeowner (and not regret the purchase):

Saving money: I’m hoping to make at least a 10% down payment on my future home. If I put 20% down, I’d be able to avoid paying for mortgage insurance, but I don’t want to tie all my money up in the mortgage. I want some in my savings account so I can fix problems as they come up without going into debt.Improving my credit: I paid off a lot of debt in 2022, and my credit score is currently 825. That should ensure I get the lowest rate possible for a mortgage loan. I’ll keep it that high by staying out of debt and selectively applying for credit.Using a good real estate agent: I have friends in this area, and I’ve already got the name of a good real estate agent to call when I’ve reached my savings goal. I hope to make that call before the end of 2023, and get the ball rolling.

After my short sale misadventure, I vowed I’d never own a home again. Clearly, I’m eating crow on that now. But I think my next attempt at homeownership will be more successful than the first — especially because this time, I’ll be buying because I truly want to own a house, and can deal with everything that goes with it.

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It makes sense for most people to have multiple savings accounts, including an emergency fund. Read on for three other accounts you should have. 

You should have a savings account. In fact, you should have several. Your savings accounts should be separate from your checking account. They should also be earmarked for particular purposes so you will have the money available to you when you need it.

Not sure what kind of savings accounts you should have? Here are four types of accounts just about everyone should consider opening.

1. An emergency fund

Emergencies happen. In fact, older data from Pew Charitable Trusts found as many as 60% of all households had experienced a financial shock over the prior 12 months. These shocks included things like major home or car repairs, divorce, separation or widowhood, a hospital visit, a pay cut, or another large unplanned expense.

Without an emergency fund, coming up with the money for these costs could mean borrowing by way of credit cards or personal loans. And once you borrow, you’ll be stuck with monthly payments that will make living within your means harder. To make sure this doesn’t happen to you, aim to save three to six months of living expenses in a savings account.

2. A car and/or home maintenance fund

AAA recommends budgeting about $600 annually or $50 monthly for car maintenance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reports mean annual costs of home maintenance, repairs and insurance totals $2,335 annually among all consumers.

You may not spend this much every single year. But you could face a really big expense one year, such as a new transmission or new roof. If you set money aside regularly in savings, you’ll be ready when this big expense comes your way.

Without a dedicated account for home or car maintenance, you could be forced to drain your emergency fund (leaving you vulnerable if another disaster strikes) or could end up in debt. The reality is, car and home maintenance aren’t really “unexpected” expenses you should be relying on your emergency fund for because you can predict these costs will happen even if you can’t predict exactly when. So plan ahead and start saving for those items specifically before you need the funds.

3. A vacation fund

Most people enjoy taking vacations, but they can be expensive. If you want to travel, you should be saving for it. Otherwise, you will have to borrow in order to be able to go on a trip since you probably can’t fund it out of a single paycheck. Borrowing only adds to the cost of your vacation, and who wants to make monthly payments for a trip well after it’s over?

By saving for vacations, you can enjoy them guilt-free without interfering with other financial goals.

4. A big-purchases fund

Finally, you’re likely to need to make some kind of big purchase at some point in your life. This might be a car, a home, some furniture, a new phone or computer, or a host of other things you can’t afford to just pay for out of your bank account.

Having savings accounts dedicated to the purchases you want to make will enable you to buy what you want and need without incurring interest costs or committing to monthly expenses for financing.

If you don’t have any of these funds, it’s worth opening them ASAP. If you start saving for these things, you’ll make managing your finances a lot easier.

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With rising property prices, building a real estate portfolio without a significant down payment may seem impossible. Here’s how to make it happen. 

Imagine having the ability to build a successful real estate portfolio without having to put any money down, or even just a small amount of money. It might seem impossible, but with the right strategy and approach, it is entirely possible.

If you are creative and resourceful, you can build your real estate portfolio with little to no money using a variety of different strategies. Here are a few of them to consider.

Use a hard-money lender

A hard-money lender is an individual or a group of individuals who provide loans to investors. These types of loans are typically short-term (one to two years) and come with higher interest rates than a traditional bank loan (typically above 10%).

However, they offer a faster and more straightforward process for obtaining financing. This is especially beneficial for those who might not qualify for a traditional bank loan due to strict credit requirements or time restrictions.

If you don’t have the down payment to buy a property, you can use hard-money lending as a stepping stone to acquiring multiple properties. While the interest rates might be high, the ease of obtaining the loan can be worth it in the long run.

Find an investment partner

If you want to scale up to larger multi-family units, a hard lender may not be enough to get you the financing you need for a down payment. Partnering with experienced real estate investors can be a win-win situation for both parties.

As a newbie investor, you can benefit from their expertise, resources, and capital, allowing you to build a real estate portfolio without putting too much of your own money down. Your sweat equity is what you bring to the table.

This concept involves providing value through hard work and labor in exchange for a percentage of the profits or purchase of a property at a lower cost. This strategy can help you build equity and gain experience, and it’s perfect for investors who are just getting started.

Seller financing

Seller financing is a financing arrangement in which the seller of a property is willing to extend credit to the buyer, effectively owning the property until they’re paid in full.

By taking advantage of seller financing, both parties can benefit immensely. The buyer can secure a home without having to get a loan or put money down, while the seller is able to receive regular payments from the buyer over an extended period of time.

Additionally, because the seller is acting as the lender, they may be able to offer more flexible terms than a bank, such as lower interest rates or a longer repayment period.

Lease option

A lease option, also known as a rent-to-own agreement, is a contractual agreement in which a tenant rents a property with the option to purchase it at a later date. This type of agreement grants the tenant the right to buy the property at a predetermined price, within a specified timeframe.

Typically, there is a premium on the rent that the buyer pays. Some will credit that toward the purchase price of the house. Lease options can be advantageous for those who need more time to build up their savings.

House hacking

House hacking is a popular real estate investment strategy that involves purchasing a multi-unit property and living in one unit while renting out the others. You can rent out rooms in the property to tenants or generate income from short-term rentals, such as through Airbnb.

This strategy helps you generate passive income through rent and can help you pay off your mortgage quickly. You could also consider renting out extra rooms in a single-family home you’ve purchased and living in the house yourself.

The BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) method

The BRRRR method is a popular real estate investment strategy that has helped many investors gain financial freedom and build wealth. The process involves buying a distressed property, renovating it, renting it out, refinancing to recover the invested capital, and repeating the cycle with another property.

Once you find the right property, you can borrow money to purchase the house and complete a remodel. Once you fix it up and find a tenant, pull out the money generated through forced appreciation in a cash-out refinance.

With the right property, the remodel will help increase the appraisal value of the property. Then the refi will help pay off the hard-money lenders. Even if you don’t have anything left, your goal is to generate positive cash flow from the tenant.

This approach allows investors to generate passive income from rental properties while also increasing their equity through value appreciation and mortgage paydown. The goal is to then continue to find other properties to repeat the process and grow your real estate portfolio.

Like any investment strategy, these methods require careful planning, due diligence, and a solid understanding of the real estate market. If the housing market is trending downward, you may not get a higher appraisal than what you bought it for, so it’s important to do your research. You must also be prepared to take on the risks and challenges of property ownership, but in return, you may reap the rewards of long-term financial stability and success.

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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.The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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While overall annual inflation has dropped to 4%, grocery prices have risen by 5.8% in May alone. Some items have gone up even more. Read on to learn more. 

Amidst the economic difficulties brought about by the pandemic, inflation and food prices continue to be a major concern for most people. Inflation hit 9.1% a year ago, the highest in 40 years. In response, the Federal Reserve has aggressively raised interest rates by 5% since last March, making the rate hikes the fastest cycle in history.

Although annual inflation rates have fallen to 4%, food prices have remained stubbornly high. In May, grocery prices were 5.8% higher than a year ago and the cost of eating out was up by 8.3%. Overall, the price of food has increased by 6.7%, surpassing the general inflation rate of 4.0%. The change in grocery prices vary widely by product.

Grocery items that have become the most expensive

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, cereal and bakery products have gone up by 10.7%, nonalcoholic beverages and beverage materials by 8.7%, and dairy and related products by 4.6%, between May 2022 and May 2023.

Some of the specific items that have seen the highest price increases include margarine (up 22.5%), flour (up 17.1%), and bread (up 12.5%). Here are the other items that have increased dramatically from a year ago:

Frozen vegetables: +18.7%Salad dressing: +14.3%Candy and chewing gum: +11.6%Sugar: +11.1%Cookies: +10.9%Juice and other nonalcoholic drinks: +9.9%Spices, seasonings, condiments, sauces: +9.5%Lettuce: +9.4%Soups: +8.7%Ham: +8.2%Ice cream: +8%Snacks: +7.9%Lunch meats: +6.2%Coffee: +4.8%

Not all grocery prices are up

Despite an overall increase in grocery prices the past year, some individual items experienced a decrease in cost. Most notably, last month eggs experienced a significant price drop of 13.8%, the biggest decline in a single month since January 1951.

Here are the other items that have decreased in price or have not risen as much as inflation.

Bacon: -9.8%Other pork products: -7.3%Oranges, including tangerines: -4.7%Tomatoes: -3.5%Fish and seafood: -1.1%Milk: -0.8%Fresh fruit: -0.5%Chicken: +0.9%

Prices expected to remain high

Since the pandemic, food prices have been on the rise, and this trend seems unlikely to end anytime soon. Major triggers of the spike in food prices include extreme weather conditions, the ongoing war in Ukraine, avian flu, and higher costs that have trickled down along the supply chain.

Ingredient prices have started to go down, but food suppliers have continued to keep their prices high. Despite people buying fewer items, the cost of groceries are expected to stay high.

Cut your grocery bill with these tips

So, what can you do to navigate these rising prices and keep your grocery budget under control? One strategy is to plan your meals carefully and make a shopping list before you go to the store.

By sticking to a list and avoiding impulse buys, you can ensure that you don’t overspend on groceries. Another tip is to look for sales and coupons on the items you need. Check the price per unit to determine which size of a product will give you the most for your money. Many stores offer weekly specials and digital coupons that can help you save money.

And don’t forget to shop around — different stores may have different prices on the items you need, so it’s worth checking out a few different options. Opt for generic or store-brand products rather than name-brand items, as they are often just as good, but cheaper. If you use a credit card, get one with grocery rewards.

Also consider shopping at discount supermarkets, which tend to have lower prices than larger chains. With a little effort and strategy, you can cut your grocery expenses down and stretch your grocery budget further.

Inflation may be down, but grocery prices are up in certain categories. By keeping an eye on any sales, comparing prices, and finding affordable alternatives, we can still enjoy the food we want without breaking the bank. Stick to a grocery list and plan your meals accordingly. This will help you avoid impulse buys and going over budget. With these approaches, you can keep your daily expenses in check and stay on track towards your financial goals.

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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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Keeping investing fees to a minimum helps you maximize returns. Save money on fees with three simple tips that will help you find low-cost index funds. 

Some people think that investing is all about making savvy stock picks. In reality, many successful investors aren’t picking stocks at all. They’re just buying all the stocks — or, if not all of them, at least a large basket of them. They do that by investing in index funds, which are funds that invest in an entire market index.

Case in point, financial influencer Vivian Tu used to be a trader for JPMorgan. Even with her professional investing experience, she says that she doesn’t invest in individual stocks. She puts her money in index funds.

The only small disadvantage of index funds is that they charge a fee, whereas you can trade stocks for free. However, index fund fees tend to be very cheap, especially if you pick the right ones. Tu recently shared a short on her channel, YourRichBFF, with advice on finding index funds with low fees. Here’s how to do it.

1. Decide where you want to invest

As mentioned earlier, an index fund invests your money in a specific market index. So, it makes sense to start by deciding which index, or indexes, you want for your portfolio.

For example, many people like to keep it simple by investing in the U.S. stock market as a whole. In that case, you could invest in what’s called a total stock market index fund.

Another similar option is an S&P 500 index fund. The S&P 500 is an index with 500 of the largest publicly traded companies in the United States. A total stock market fund is a bit more diversified, but the 500 largest companies make up a sizable portion of the stock market. That means total stock market funds and S&P 500 funds perform very similarly.

Those are just a few examples, and there are plenty of quality index funds available. Other options include real estate index funds, growth index funds more heavily weighted toward tech stocks, and dividend index funds with stocks that pay high dividends.

2. Pick out index funds from different investment companies

Once you know which index you want to invest in, start searching for index funds. In most cases, there will be several index funds available from various investment companies. For example, Fidelity might have one. Merrill Lynch may have another, and so on.

Make a list of the index funds that are of interest. If you already have a brokerage account, you may want to put any index funds it offers at the top of your list. Be open to others, though, in case the broker you use doesn’t have the best option.

3. Compare their expense ratios

To see how much each index fund charges, look for the expense ratio. That’s the percentage of your investment that the fund charges per year. Let’s say you have $10,000 invested in an index fund with a 0.1% expense ratio. That would cost you $10 per year.

Expense ratios vary depending on the index. For example, S&P 500 index funds usually have the lowest fees. That’s why it’s best to decide on an index first, and then pick out index funds and compare fees. It wouldn’t make sense to compare expense ratios on, say, S&P 500 index funds and NASDAQ-100 index funds. They cover different indexes and have different costs.

A lower expense ratio is generally better for the investor, so all things being equal, choose whichever will cost you the least. That being said, it really only matters if it’s a sizable difference. A 0.02% difference will amount to very little — $20 for every $100,000 invested, to put it in perspective. What’s most important is making sure that the index fund you choose is reasonably priced compared to the competition.

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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.Lyle Daly 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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