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You Have Good Credit When Your Credit Score Surpasses This Number

Insurance

You Have Good Credit When Your Credit Score Surpasses This Number

You’ve heard so much about them, but what is a good credit score, anyway? Here’s what goes into your credit score, and the number to shoot for.

Apr 18, 2026

8 Tips to Build an Emergency Kit on a Budget

Insurance

8 Tips to Build an Emergency Kit on a Budget

No matter where you live, you are not immune from disasters. Floridians and Gulf Coast residents frequently deal with hurricanes, Californians with wildfires, Oklahomans with tornadoes and Minnesotans with blizzards. But one thing remains the same with all natural disasters: You need an emergency kit. And it's possible to build an emergency kit on a budget....

Apr 18, 2026

Who Offers the Best Cheap Cell Phone Plan?

Budget Planner

Who Offers the Best Cheap Cell Phone Plan?

Could switching carriers help you save money on your cell phone bill? Money magazine analyzed a ton of options to name the best cell phone plans of 2016.

Apr 18, 2026

16 Make-Your-Own-Schedule Jobs You Can Do From Home

Retirement

16 Make-Your-Own-Schedule Jobs You Can Do From Home

Want to work from home? These solid companies have awesome BBB grades and let you set your own schedule…

Apr 4, 2026

How to Make Money from Home in 2026: 29 of Our Favorite Ways

Budget Planner

How to Make Money from Home in 2026: 29 of Our Favorite Ways

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent, someone looking for extra income, or simply someone who wants to escape the 9-to-5 grind, this guide empowers you with proven ways to make money from home — no commuting, working in a cubicle or putting up with office annoyances. No matter your background or experience level, you’ll find something...

Apr 18, 2026

Whitney Hansen's profile page

Retirement

Whitney Hansen's profile page

Contributor Whitney Hansen covers banking, credit cards and investing for The Penny Hoarder. She also writes on other personal finance topics.

Apr 18, 2026

Kristin Jenny's profile page

Budget Planner

Kristin Jenny's profile page

Colorado-based writer Kristin Jenny focuses on lifestyle and wellness. She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.

Apr 18, 2026

Social Security Benefits Will Increase by Only 3.2% in 2024

Debt Management

Social Security Benefits Will Increase by Only 3.2% in 2024

If you’re on Social Security, you can expect your check to increase by 3.2% in January. That’s a much smaller cost-of-living adjustment than recipients got in 2023 (8.7%). The Social Security Administration made the announcement Oct. 12, the same day new inflation numbers were released. Here’s what that will look like for the average Social...

Apr 4, 2026

5 Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems and Won’t Hold Your History Against You

Investing

5 Banks That Don’t Use ChexSystems and Won’t Hold Your History Against You

Life ain’t perfect. And given how difficult it can be to reach financial goals (or even just make ends meet), sometimes, our banking and credit histories aren’t perfect, either. Even if you’ve got negative information on your ChexSystems record, which is like a credit report for your banking habits, you likely need a checking account. And while...

Apr 4, 2026

8 Recession Indicators and What They Mean for Your Money

Budget Planner

8 Recession Indicators and What They Mean for Your Money

Are your roots showing because you can’t justify getting your hair highlighted? Do you have a stack of instant Ramen noodles in your pantry for the first time since college? While Bloomberg might not officially label these as recession indicators, some people on the internet have. The social media world has been having fun with...

Apr 18, 2026

Is Pet Insurance Worth It? We’ve Got the Pros and Cons

Insurance

Is Pet Insurance Worth It? We’ve Got the Pros and Cons

It helps you save at the vet, but at the cost of monthly premiums. Is pet insurance worth it? Here’s how pet insurance works, and how to select the right plan.

Apr 18, 2026

April 2026 Class Action Settlements Involve Dollar General, Panda Express and GameSpot

Debt Management

April 2026 Class Action Settlements Involve Dollar General, Panda Express and GameSpot

These class-action lawsuits have ended in big settlements. You have to file soon, though, as the deadlines are fast approaching.

Apr 4, 2026

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