Money Management

Trader Joe’s all is about fall right now. Read on to see which products are worth scooping up. [[{“value”:”

I have a confession to make. Even though Trader Joe’s offers competitive prices on groceries, shopping there isn’t always so good for my budget — especially during the fall. That’s because come September, the shelves at Trader Joe’s are loaded with pumpkin-flavored items that I can’t seem to get enough of.

This week, I made my annual fall pilgrimage to Trader Joe’s and was incredibly impressed with its 2024 fall lineup. Here are a few of the top items I scooped up that you may want to try.

1. Maple Spiced Nut Mix

Surprisingly, the first item I grabbed this week at Trader Joe’s wasn’t pumpkin flavored. It was actually a container of mixed nuts with a maple rosemary glaze.

I like snacking on nuts for energy during the day. And while I usually buy them in bulk at Costco, I was curious to give this mix a try.

I’m glad I did, because while you’d think the maple flavor would be overpoweringly sweet, I didn’t find that to be the case. If you enjoy snacking on nuts and are a fan of maple, you can pick up an 8.5-ounce can for $5.99.

2. Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s Cookies

Sometimes, when you buy pumpkin-flavored goodies, the sweetness factor can be overwhelming. And while I enjoy the taste of pumpkin, I don’t like being smacked in the taste buds by it.

What I love about Pumpkin Joe-Joe’s Cookies is that they fit the bill in this regard. You get a nice dose of pumpkin, but it’s not too much. And at a price of $2.99 for a 10.5-ounce box, you can get your fill of cookies without breaking the bank.

3. Pumpkin Brioche Twist

Most days, my breakfast consists of a boring bowl of cereal. So it’s fun to mix things up and indulge a little with my morning coffee.

This Pumpkin Brioche Twist is perfect fall comfort food. It’s buttery, somewhat cakey, and loaded with fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg.

You can eat it at room temperature, but I enjoy it warmed up with a tiny coating of butter. If you’re a fan of pumpkin French toast, it’s the perfect base. A 16.8-loaf will cost you $4.99.

4. Pumpkin Recipe Dog Treats

Most people who know me would say I’m a bit obsessed with my dogs. So when I saw that Trader Joe’s had pumpkin dog treats on its shelves, I couldn’t resist.

My vet says that pumpkin can be good for a dog’s digestion. And that’s why I didn’t hesitate to grab a 16-ounce box of these treats for $4.29.

I figured if I was going to be bringing home a haul of pumpkin products, it was only fair to include the pups. And while I can’t comment on their taste since, well, I didn’t eat them, suffice it to say that my dogs were very happy customers.

5. Apple Cider Donuts

Fall isn’t only about pumpkin. It’s a great time for all things apple, too. And if you like apple cider donuts, I suggest you pick up a box from Trader Joe’s.

These bad boys are perfect for breakfast, an afternoon pick-me-up, or an evening reading session on the couch with a mug of tea. A 15.9-ounce box will cost you $4.49, which is probably cheaper than buying fresh ones at a local fall festival.

But rest assured that these are baked fresh, too. And if you want that “straight out of the fryer” feeling, here’s a pro tip: Stick them in the microwave for 20 seconds. You won’t be sorry.

These Trader Joe’s products all scream fall. But unfortunately, they won’t be available forever. In fact, I’d be surprised to find these items in stock beyond mid- to late October. And some might sell out for good well ahead of that time frame. So if they sound amazing to you, head on over to Trader Joe’s as soon as you can.

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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.JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of The Ascent, a Motley Fool company. Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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Keeping money in a CD is safe, but your returns are limited. Find out why investing in S&P 500 ETFs using your Roth IRA is a better way to build wealth. [[{“value”:”

High interest rates have been a boon to CD savers, with the best CD rates hovering around 4% to 5% for a while. But the Federal Reserve Board just announced a 0.50 percentage point cut to the federal funds rate, and further cuts are likely ahead.

CD rates are closely tied to the federal funds rate, which means saving money in a certificate of deposit could become less lucrative in the near future. Fortunately, there’s an alternative to CDs that’s better for most savers. Keep reading to learn where to park your money right now.

CDs vs. S&P 500 ETFs: How does each work?

There are a few factors that make CDs a compelling investment:

The APYs are often better than what you get in a high-yield savings account.You lock in your interest rate until the CD matures.Money you put in a CD is FDIC insured.

But you’ll pay an early withdrawal penalty if you cash out before the CD matures. And you’re effectively locked into your interest rate at the beginning of the CD. So if you put money in a 3-year CD yielding 3% but you discover a better alternative for your money — for example, if the stock market skyrockets or interest rates rise — you’re stuck with your 3% APY until the CD’s maturity date.

With CD rates likely to fall, putting money in an S&P 500 ETF, or exchange-traded fund, looks a lot more appealing. An ETF is basically a basket of stocks that trades on a stock exchange as a single investment. An S&P 500 ETF is an ETF that tracks the S&P 500 index, a collection of 500 of the largest, most successful publicly traded companies in the U.S.

If you’re saving for retirement and you’re willing to forgo a tax break for the current year, you could invest in an S&P 500 ETF using a Roth IRA. If you follow certain rules, all your withdrawals from a Roth IRA will be tax free when you retire.

Sure, it’s a riskier choice than a CD, since the stock market can be volatile in the short term and your money won’t be FDIC insured. But investing in S&P 500 ETFs through a Roth IRA has quite a few advantages over CDs.

CDs vs. S&P 500 ETFs: Which has better returns?

Historically, average annual S&P 500 returns are typically around 10%. Returns aren’t guaranteed, of course. Some years, returns will smash the 10% average, while in others, returns will be negative. But over long periods of time, the S&P 500 has provided fairly predictable returns.

If you consistently invested $500 a month in an S&P 500 ETF, you’d have about $1.04 million after 30 years, assuming 10% average annual returns. But if you invested the same amount in CDs yielding 4% annually? You’d only have about $344,000 after 30 years.

CDs vs. S&P 500 ETFs: Which leaves your money more accessible?

An S&P 500 ETF is also more liquid than a CD in that you can cash out at any time without penalty.

Note, though, that you could incur penalties if you withdraw your Roth IRA earnings before age 59 1/2 or if you’ve had the account for less than five years. But you can withdraw your Roth IRA contributions at any time without owing taxes or a penalty.

You can open a Roth IRA through virtually any brokerage. Many of the best Roth IRA accounts offer commission-free trading, low fees, and minimal opening deposits.

Who should avoid putting money in an S&P 500 ETF?

The rule of thumb is generally that you should avoid putting money in the stock market if you could need your funds within a few years. So you don’t want to invest your emergency fund, your home down payment money, or money you need for next year’s college tuition in an S&P 500 ETF.

If you’re planning to retire soon, it’s worth talking with a financial advisor about whether to invest in stocks or put money in safer alternatives, like CDs or bonds.

But if you can part with your money for a while, an S&P 500 ETF is hands-down a better way to grow your money and build a nest egg than CDs.

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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.
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Your net worth should rise over time. Take a closer look at where the typical 30-year-old is at. [[{“value”:”

Your 30s are an interesting point in your financial life. You’re no longer a newcomer to the workforce and you’ve probably seen your income grow over the last decade. But you may also be struggling under the weight of a lot of debt that could limit your ability to grow your wealth.

There are plenty of ways to track your wealth over time, like watching your savings account balance. But one of the most popular ways is to measure your net worth. Here’s how to do that and how your net worth compares to other 30-year-olds.

Here’s how much the average adult in their 30s is worth

Net worth is simply a measure of your assets minus your liabilities. Assets include things you own, like a home, a car, retirement savings, bank accounts, and personal property. Liabilities are debts, like mortgages, auto loans, personal loans, and credit card debt. Net worth changes and typically increases over time, though in some cases, it can be negative.

The average net worth for an adult in their 30s is $302,028, according to a recent Empower survey. But this isn’t the best representation of a typical 30-something’s wealth. Averages are easily skewed by a few high earners, which often results in them being much higher than the median — the middle point in a data set.

The median net worth among adults in their 30s is just $35,448, according to the Empower survey. Keep in mind that this is a generalization across an entire decade. The typical net worth for a 30-year-old is probably lower than this, while a 39-year-old might have quite a bit more.

If you’re wondering where your net worth “should” be in your 30s, there isn’t an easy answer. A higher net worth is more desirable, but net worth isn’t like retirement where you aim for a specific target. There are steps you can take to improve yours, though.

How to increase your net worth

There are two key ways to increase your net worth: You can either increase your assets or reduce your liabilities. Here’s a closer look at each.

5 ways to increase your assets

Increasing your assets could look like any of the following:

Putting more money in savingsIncreasing your retirement account contributionsPurchasing a home or other assets that will appreciate in valueInvesting in certificates of deposit (CDs)Stashing money in a health savings account (HSA)

These actions might not be easy if you don’t have a lot of extra cash each month. So you may first have to take steps like negotiating a raise, finding a better-paying job, or starting a side hustle to gain the cash you need to make the above moves.

3 ways to reduce your liabilities

Reducing your liabilities could involve any of these moves:

Paying down a mortgage or credit card debtLimiting how much you charge to a credit cardTaking out a personal loan to more efficiently pay off a payday loan or high-interest credit card debt

Again, this is easier when you have spare cash. You may need to explore ways to boost your income or reduce your expenses to pull this off.

If you can do one or both of the above things, you should see your net worth tick upward over time. Tracking this progress, perhaps on a spreadsheet or in a financial app, can give you an idea of how you’re managing your money. Digging into the tips listed above may also help you identify areas where you’d like to change how you’re approaching your finances.

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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.Kailey Hagen has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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The annual healthcare open enrollment period is almost here. Here are three key things to know. [[{“value”:”

We’re just a few weeks away from the start of the holiday season and you’re probably thinking about whether you’ve got enough in your savings account to cover gifts and everything else you need to buy. But don’t forget to budget a little time to review your health insurance needs, as well.

The annual open enrollment period will begin in November. For most people, this is your only chance to change your health insurance plan for 2025. Here are a few key things you should know.

The open enrollment period runs for two months

The open enrollment period for plans through Healthcare.gov typically runs from Nov. 1, 2024 to Dec. 15, 2024, if you want your coverage to begin on Jan. 1, 2025. You can technically select a new policy for 2025 as late as Jan. 1. However, if you choose your plan after Dec. 15, your coverage won’t begin until Feb. 1, 2025.

If you miss this window, you’ll have to stick with the plan you have unless you qualify for a special enrollment period. These typically relate to major life events, like:

Getting marriedHaving a babyGetting divorcedSomeone on the policy dyingMoving to a new residenceLosing your existing coverage (for example, insurance you had through an employer)

Since most people probably won’t experience one of these events during the year, it’s best to take some time during the open enrollment period to review your existing health insurance policy to decide if it’s right for you.

Focus on what you need in a health insurance plan

To avoid being overwhelmed by all the options, it helps to go into this process with a clear understanding of what matters most to you in a health insurance policy. Most people will probably say cost is at the top of their list, but that might not actually be the case.

If you need to see a certain specialist, you’ll want to make sure the plan you choose covers visits to that specialist. And if you’re on a particular medication, you want a plan that will cover it so you don’t have to pay for the full cost out of pocket. These concerns generally rank above premium cost for most people. So you may want to start by ruling out any plans that don’t offer the particular features you need.

Then, you can focus on cost. Even here, you’ll have to make some choices. Health insurance can have three different costs — premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance. This is different from home and auto insurance, which generally only have the first two.

Premiums are the monthly costs you pay. Deductibles are out-of-pocket amounts you must pay before insurance will pay anything. And coinsurance is how much you pay even after meeting your deductible. It’s often listed as a percentage.

Deductibles and premiums usually move in opposite directions. Choose a high deductible and you’ll get lower premiums, or vice versa. A high deductible option could be a good fit if you think you and anyone else on your policy will be pretty healthy that year. However, if you expect a lot of doctor visits, you may prefer a policy with a lower deductible.

Your plan choice will affect your health savings account (HSA) eligibility

Those who save in a health savings account (HSA) may want to make sure they choose a plan that preserves their HSA eligibility. Generally, this means a high-deductible plan. The definition of a high-deductible plan varies by year, and we don’t have this exact figure for 2025 yet. However, the government should announce it by the start of the open enrollment period.

If it helps, in 2024, a high-deductible health insurance plan is one with a deductible of $1,600 or more for an individual or $3,200 or more for a family. If your plan doesn’t meet the high-deductible criteria, you won’t be able to make new HSA contributions in 2025. However, you can still use existing HSA funds to cover healthcare costs as needed.

Researching health insurance plans may not be the most exciting way to spend an afternoon, but it can have a huge effect on your finances in 2025. Take your time with it and contact the plan providers if you have any questions about what a plan does or doesn’t cover.

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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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Investments that generate passive income tend to carry risk. Read on to learn about one option that may be a solid bet for you. [[{“value”:”

Investing your money is a great way to grow it into a much larger sum over time. You’ll often hear about people who manage to retire as millionaires on a pretty average income. It’s not as though these people are saving $1 million out of their paychecks. Often, they’re able to get to a $1 million IRA or 401(k) because they invest their savings consistently over many years.

If you’re eager to grow a lot of wealth — for retirement or otherwise — then you may be interested in investing your money. But there’s one factor that tends to hold a lot of people back: fear of losses.

It’s impossible to invest in the stock market without taking on some risk. Stock values can fluctuate from one day to the next, and often without warning.

If you put $10,000 into a stock portfolio, it could be worth $11,000 a few weeks later. Or, it could be worth just $9,000. And there’s often no way to know.

But there are a couple of ways to minimize your investment risks. First, you can stay invested for decades, which gives you time to ride out downturns. The stock market’s average annual return over the past 50 years is 10%, which accounts for years when the market was strong and years when it was battered by declines. This shows us that sticking with stocks for the long haul is a smart move.

The other way you can minimize your investment risk is to build a diversified portfolio of quality businesses. And if you’re interested in an easy way to do that, there’s one investment it pays to consider.

Go broad for great results

Choosing a portfolio of individual stocks requires a fair amount of work. And going this route might make you nervous, because if you add a bum investment to your portfolio, it could lead to losses. That’s why you may want to simply invest your money in the broad market by filling your portfolio with shares of an S&P 500 ETF, or exchange-traded fund.

With an S&P 500 ETF, you’re investing in the 500 largest publicly traded companies across the stock market. The nice thing about this option is that you’re not required to research companies individually, and you’re getting an instantly diversified portfolio to boot.

You should also know that the 10% average yearly return mentioned above for the stock market is based on the performance of the S&P 500. The S&P 500 is commonly used as a benchmark for the stock market on a whole. So putting your money into that index not only makes a lot of sense, but it might give you more peace of mind than choosing stocks individually.

There’s still risk, but a reasonable amount

Let’s be absolutely clear. An S&P 500 ETF is not a risk-free investment. As the broad market rises and falls, so too will the value of your portfolio if you choose this particular option.

But an S&P 500 ETF lets you minimize your risk to some degree due to giving you exposure to 500 different businesses across a wide range of market sectors. And falling back on this option might sit better with you from a risk perspective.

It’s important to feel comfortable with the amount of risk you’re taking on as an investor. Not only do you generally deserve peace of mind, but if you’re too worried about your portfolio, it could lead to rash decisions that cause you to lose money (like selling stocks when their share price falls, rather than waiting for a recovery).

An S&P 500 ETF might fit the bill perfectly in terms of your risk profile, allowing you to benefit from stock market gains over the long term without losing sleep along the 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.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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A credit card sign-up bonus could put cash or rewards points in your pocket. But read on to ensure you don’t make a mistake along the way. [[{“value”:”

The nice thing about charging expenses on a credit card is that you can rack up cash back or rewards points that basically put free money in your pocket. But there’s another way you can earn extra points or cash back — snag a welcome offer or sign-up bonus.

Credit card companies offer sign-up bonuses to attract new customers. And usually, all you have to do is spend a certain amount of money within a specific period after opening a new card to get a pile of cash back or extra miles you can redeem for free or discounted travel.

But while credit card welcome offers are great in theory, you need to be careful when chasing them. Here are three mistakes you don’t want to make when going after a credit card bonus.

1. Signing up at the wrong time

The risky thing about credit card welcome offers is that they can lead to extra spending. But you can offset that risk by signing up at a time when you have anticipated expenses that are larger than usual. On the flipside, though, if you sign up at the wrong time, you might lose out on a welcome offer you’re hoping to claim.

Let’s say you’re eligible for a welcome offer that gives you $150 for spending $3,000 on a credit card within three months of opening the account. If you normally only spend $600 a month on a credit card, you’re likely to fall way short of that $3,000 requirement unless you have a big purchase coming up, like new furniture or a vacation.

But if you usually spend $600 a month on a credit card except for the month of December, when you commonly spend $2,000 between holiday gifts and travel, then you’ll want to time your application so December falls within the first three months of opening your new account.

2. Claiming an offer that leads you into debt

If you typically spend $1,000 per month on a credit card, then meeting a $3,000 spending requirement in three months shouldn’t be too difficult. But if you typically spend $600 per month because that’s all you can afford, or $1,800 over three months, then pushing yourself to spend an extra $1,200 in that short a time frame could lead you to debt.

That debt might hurt you in a couple of ways. First, you risk racking up interest on your balance that eats into your sign-up bonus (or, in some cases, it could negate it).

Secondly, carrying a high balance on your credit cards relative to your total spending limit could cause your credit score to drop. Once that happens, it could get harder to get approved to borrow money, or you might end up with a higher interest rate on your next loan.

3. Not shopping around for an even better deal

When a credit card welcome offer lands in your inbox, it’s natural to want to pounce. But sometimes, it pays to hold out for a better deal.

Opening too many credit cards in short order could hurt your credit score. Also, you may get rejected for a card you’d normally qualify for if you’ve recently opened a few other new accounts. So before you jump on a credit card sign-up bonus, shop around and see if there’s a better offer.

You might love the idea of scoring $150 cash back for spending $3,000 within three months of opening a new credit card. But if there’s another card that will give you $250 back for meeting that same spending requirement, then that’s the better deal.

Credit card welcome offers are a great way to pocket extra cash or enjoy bonus rewards points. Just be careful in how you go about capitalizing on them.

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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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