Personal Finance
27 articles
The 2027-28 FAFSA Opens October 1 — File Early, Because Some Aid Is First-Come, First-Served
The 2027-28 FAFSA is on track to open by October 1, using your already-filed 2025 tax return. Here's why filing early matters even though the federal deadline is much later — and how to think about the aid timeline.
Medicare's 2027 Part B Premium Is Projected Around $209.50 — What to Do Before Open Enrollment
The 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects a 2027 Part B premium near $209.50, up from $202.90 today. Here's how that interacts with your Social Security COLA, and what to check before open enrollment opens October 15.
The NFL Kicks Off Soon — Here's What Sports Betting Actually Costs You
Americans legally bet $166.94 billion on sports in 2025, and sportsbooks kept $16.96 billion of it. Here's the math on the house edge, the taxes on winnings, and what a season of betting really costs — with a calculator.
The 'No-Buy Year' Trend Has Real Numbers Behind It — Here's the Actual Math
A Credit Karma survey found 1 in 5 Gen Z and millennials tried a 'no-buy year.' With the US personal saving rate at just 2.7% in June 2026, here's what no-buy, low-buy, and soft-saving actually save you — and how honest the trend really is.
Gas Just Hit $4.10 a Gallon — What Is Your Commute Actually Costing You?
The national average for regular gasoline hit $4.096/gallon the week of July 27, 2026. Here's the real cost per mile once you add maintenance and insurance, gas vs. EV, and a calculator that uses your own numbers.
Why Are Flights So Expensive in 2026? The Real Numbers Behind the Sticker Shock
BLS data shows airfares up 26.5% year-over-year as of June 2026, while the Travel Price Index shows +8.1%. Both are real — here's what each number actually measures and what to do about it.
Why Your Electric Bill Keeps Climbing in 2026 — and How Much of It Is AI
Residential electricity prices are set to average 18.2 cents per kWh in 2026, and data centers are part of the story. Here's what's really driving your bill, what's AI, what isn't, and how to estimate your own increase.
The 2027 Social Security COLA, Computed From the Actual CPI-W Data — Not Forecast
July's real CPI-W print is in, and it puts the 2027 COLA near 3.1%, below the 3.6%–3.8% summer forecasts. Here's the SSA's own formula run on published data, back-tested against the 2026 COLA it already announced.
Credit Card Debt Hit a Record $1.277 Trillion — Here's the Math on Actually Getting Out
American credit card debt just set a record, the average balance is $6,519 at 21% APR, and nearly half of BNPL users paid late this year. Here's the real payoff math, avalanche vs. snowball, and a calculator that uses your own numbers.
Home Insurance Is 'Up 46%' — CPI Says 16%. Auto Is the One That Actually Outran Inflation.
The 46% figure every insurance article repeats comes from a comparison marketplace's quote data. The government's own price index says household insurance rose 16% since 2021 — below headline inflation. Motor vehicle insurance rose 51.4%.
The July 2026 Student Loan Payment Shock: What RAP Actually Means for You
SAVE is dead and RAP is live as of July 1, 2026. It's real relief for low earners — and often a longer, costlier road for everyone else. Here's how to actually pick a plan before one gets picked for you.
Trump Account vs 529 Plan: Grab the Free $1,000, But Don't Fall for the Tax Trap
Trump Accounts launched July 4, 2026 with a free $1,000 for eligible kids. Here's how they really work, the tax trap most people miss, and why a 529 still usually wins for college — with an interactive calculator.