A call from a debt collector about a bill from a healthcare provider can be stressful. The debt collection might pile on top of a difficult health situation for you and your family. Medical bills can be confusing and unclear. Some people pay the amount shown in the debt collection... Read more →
Four in 10 Americans who were in the market for a vehicle in the past year were only considering used vehicles, compared to three in 10 who were only considering new and 24 percent who were considering both, according to a survey by Consumer Reports, a consumer testing and advocacy... Read more →
Labor Day these days is mostly about beaches, barbecues, ballgames, and shopping. About 67 percent of Americans plan to celebrate Labor Day, with more than 210 million having a barbecue and thousands going to college football games. In the past, however, workers marched. The holiday’s roots can be traced back... Read more →
Buying a used car instead of a new one will probably save you money. However, finding, researching, and negotiating to buy a used car online can be difficult. Online sellers advertise they can make car purchases cheaper and easier, but some of them use tactics that could end up costing you time and money. Read more →
Millions of workers who are saving for retirement and rely on advice from professionals on how to invest their savings will be better protected under a new rule finalized Monday by the U.S. Department of Labor. The Retirement Security Rule, also called the Fiduciary Rule, updates the definition of an investment advice provider. Read more →
Winter is far from over with heavy rains causing extensive damage in California and Nevada this week. At least three people died from fallen tree incidents in northern California on Sunday and more than 200,000 households remained without power Monday night. Dealing with the aftermath of flooding, wind damage, or other storm destruction isn’t easy. Read more →
The medical community and consumers are excited about the new injectable weight-loss drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. The drugs suppress appetite and slow digestion. Celebrities, including Orpha Winfrey, are taking the drugs. Most doctors and health care providers like to have a pill or shot that will fix patients’ problems. Read more →
About 50 percent or more of price increases driving recent inflation is caused from price gouging. On Thursday, finally, President Biden called out the pharmaceutical industry for raising prices too much. Dozens of pharmaceutical companies will be required to pay rebates to Medicare for outrageous price hikes on prescription drugs. Read more →
Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – the three national credit reporting agencies – are permanently extending a program that lets you check your credit report at the agencies once a week for no cost. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to request free copies of your credit reports, the Federal Trade Commission advises. Other sites may charge you or be fraudulent. Read more →
Today is the last day of Fire Prevention Week. I almost didn’t write anything because it upsets me so much every time I learn about a death in a fire. I’ve been writing about it for years. And, I’m not the only one. Still, deaths keep happening. From 2012 to 2021, the 10-year trend in the fire death rate per million population increased 18 percent in the United States. Read more →