Personal Finance

The concept of “buy now, pay later” has exploded in popularity in recent years. Americans have been using this form of lending — in which the cost of a purchase is typically divided into four payments over several weeks or months — to buy everything from clothes to Peloton bikes. But now there is a new trend: People are using the payment method for smaller items, like groceries. From MarketWatch:

Buy now, pay later — referred to in the payments industry as BNPL — is a new spin on the concept of layaway. It allows consumers to get the product up front, divide their payment into installments paid over a longer period with little or no interest — as long as the make the payments on time. Common BNPL options include Afterpay, Klarna, Affirm, PayPal and Zip.

In the first two months of 2023, the share of online grocery orders made using buy now, pay later grew by 40% compared with the same period a year ago, according to new data released by Adobe Analytics this week.

The overall rise in BNPL online orders, meanwhile, grew by 10% over the same period, and overall online BNPL revenue fell by 19%, meaning the average dollar amount for each order fell. This trend may be partly due to the fact that Americans are simply spending more money on groceries online. Online grocery spending grew by nearly 27% year over year to $8.4 billion in February.

You cannot ever expect to get the best value on an insurance policy if you do not put in a little effort and a short amount of time. It is actually a very simple process if you approach it correctly. The thing to remember is that not every insurance carrier is the same. 

They will give you offers for various amounts of money and differing coverage amounts. Luckily for you, there are 5 tips that will help you get the best value on a policy, so let’s jump right in and discuss them so you can get back to your day.

1. Bundle – If you have any other insurance policies, such as health and life, the best thing that you can do is bundle them all together under one large, all-encompassing umbrella policy. The great thing about this is that you will not only save money on your car insurance, but you will also see small savings on every policy you add to the group. It is a benefit that the insurance carrier will give to you for bringing them all the policies that you have. 
2. Discounts – Ask your agent to check for any discounts you may qualify for. Most of the time, they will not offer any of them unless you ask, so if there is something in your life that you feel may be important, such as being a part of a car club, ask to see if it is beneficial with your car insurance policy. The most that they can do is tell you no.
3. Compare – You want to compare insurance policies from many different carriers because they will never offer you the same coverage for the same price. The easiest way to find the best insurance companies is to go online and let a site that has already completed the research help you out. They will give you numerous options. All you will have to do is go through the ones the companies send you and pick the best out of the group.
4. Type – You need to sit down and think about the type of car insurance you need. It may not be necessary to get the best policy that you can unless you drive a high-end sports or luxury car. If you drive around in an older vehicle with a low value, it may not be in your best interests to have coverage other than the bottom levels required by the law. 
5. Deductibles – Check to see what the preset deductible amount is before you actually sign a contract. This number can be adjusted up or down, depending on how you want to approach it. The higher the deductible amount is set, the lower your premiums will be. However, when you adjust this number up, it makes it your responsibility to pay that much before the insurance company will hand over a check for the amount of the claim.

These 5 tips will help you get a great value on your next car insurance policy if you take the time to follow them. Being able to pay the least amount of money for a policy that covers what you need is one of the first steps to take when trying to cut down on costs. 

The insurance companies you find out there may not always have your best interest in mind, so make sure you know what you want and how much you can pay out for the premiums every 6 months. 

By the way, never pay the car insurance premium on a monthly basis because it will cost you more in the end. Always pay by 6 months or a year if it is an option. You can only save money on your insurance if you take the initiative and get the task done.

Unrelenting inflation is driving up costs, leaving more Americans living paycheck to paycheck. Inflation has been causing economic hardship for workers across all income levels. As of June, 61% of Americans — roughly 157 million adults —lived paycheck to paycheck, according to a new LendingClub report. That’s up from 58% who reported living paycheck to paycheck in May. A year ago, the number of adults who felt stretched too thin was 55%. CNBC reports:

Even top earners have been struggling to make ends meet, the report found. Of those earning $200,000 or more, 36% reported living paycheck to paycheck, a jump from the previous month. 

Another recent survey, from consulting firm Willis Towers Watson, estimated 36% of those earning $100,000 or more said they were living paycheck to paycheck.

Taken together, this data shows Americans are shelling out more to cover their monthly expenses, making it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. As a result, they’re dipping into their cash reserves and nearly half are falling deeper in debt.

Confused how you ended up with a low rating on Uber? A new feature will offer a bit more insight. CNN Business reports:

Uber on Wednesday announced an option that lets you see a breakdown of how many drivers left you a one-star rating, a five-star rating and other ratings in between. Previously users of the ride share app were only able to see their average rating.

Finding the rating breakdown requires several steps. First, open the Settings menu of the app, tap Privacy and then Privacy Center. Once there, swipe to the right and click on the option: “would you like to see a summary of how you use Uber.” Next, scroll to the “browse your data” section and tap on “view my ratings.” (You can also access the information on Uber’s website.)

The goal of the new feature, according to Uber, is to offer customers a better understanding of their current rating, which is based on their most recent 500 trips on the platform, and to incentivize good behavior during rides.

In these tough financial times, a new study finds it’s getting harder and harder for people to save any of their money. In fact, seven in 10 Americans say they’re living paycheck to paycheck. Study Finds reports:

A recent survey of 2,007 adults found that 63 percent don’t see themselves reaching a level of financial security that will allow them to live the lifestyle they want.

Lack of financial education and resources may be to blame, particularly for women, who were less likely to say they had access to these tools in comparison to men (65% vs. 84%)…

Respondents also differed in what they consider to be essential for financial wellness. Seventy-nine percent of Americans earning over $150,000 found a savings account to be “very” important, compared to just 54 percent of those with an income of $60,000 to $89,999.

On average, respondents feel they’d need $686 of disposable income per month to feel financially comfortable.

The Federal Reserve is taking the next step in weighing whether to launch a U.S. digital currency, issuing a report Thursday that explores the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a move without indicating where it will land. Microsoft News reports:

The central bank is asking the public to provide feedback on the question over the next 120 days. And it said that in any event, it would only seek to create a digital currency with “clear support” from both the executive branch and Congress. 

“We look forward to engaging with the public, elected representatives, and a broad range of stakeholders as we examine the positives and negatives of a central bank digital currency in the United States,” Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell said in a statement accompanying the report. Biden administration calls on Congress to take the lead in regulating stablecoins

Top Fed officials themselves so far have appeared divided on the matter. Powell last year said the project would need to demonstrate “clear and tangible benefits that outweigh any costs and risks.”

Millions of small business owners who rely on payment apps like Venmo, PayPal and Cash App could be subject to a new tax law that just took effect in January. Fox Business reports:

Beginning this year, third-party payment processors will be required to report a user’s business transactions to the IRS if they exceed $600 for the year. The payment apps were previously required to send users Form 1099-K if their gross income exceeded $20,000 or they had 200 separate transactions within a calendar year.

Democrats made the change in March 2021, when they passed the American Rescue Plan without any Republican votes.

The new rule only applies to payments received for goods and services transactions, meaning that using Venmo or PayPal to send a loved one a gift, pay your roommate rent, or reimburse a friend for dinner will be excluded. Also excluded is anyone who receives money from selling a personal item at a loss; for example, if you purchased a couch for $300 and sold it for $250, the amount is not taxable.

Budgets are tighter for millions of people with 2022 in full swing. Being money-conscious is nothing new for many of us, but new research shows the average American worries about their finances six times a day. Studyfinds reports:

The poll of 2,000 adults to uncover how people feel about their finances also finds millennials are more focused on their finances than any other generation. They also worry about money the most – up to seven times a day.

Overall, respondents agreed millennials (30%) and Gen Z (22%) are better at managing their finances than their Gen X (14%) and baby boomer (18%) counterparts. Additionally, millennials are the most optimistic (78%) about where their finances will be in 10 years, while boomers are the least optimistic (57%)…

When looking for a romantic partner, all respondents agree that a partner’s ability to manage their finances (45%) and their financial stability (45%) are more important than their physical appearance (39%). Furthermore, of those actively in the market for a partner, 68 percent would break up with someone if they managed their finances poorly.

Overspending is also a top concern across generations. More than half the poll (56%) often overextend their spending and are left in difficult financial positions. The number one habit that harms respondents’ budgets is making impulse purchases (41%), with ordering takeout (38%), going out with friends (34%), and getting hit with late fees (34%) following closely behind.

As shoppers spread out their holiday purchases amid ongoing concerns about Covid, more consumers are tapping so-called buy now, pay later services. As many as 56% of shoppers have made a purchase with “buy now, pay later” services they couldn’t pay off, according to one recent survey. CNBC reports:

Americans are spending a little less this holiday season — but still more than they can afford.

Total spending on Black Friday, both in stores and online, fell slightly from a year ago — the first decline on record — in part because holiday shoppers started their shopping earlier in face of supply chain setbacks and shipping delays.

All in, consumers plan to spend $997.73 on average for themselves and their families this year, according to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey, down from the pre-pandemic high of $1,047.83 hit in 2019.

And for the first time, about 45%, of shoppers plan to use “buy now, pay later,” or BNPL, services for their holiday shopping to spread out their expenses, according to a recent report by Cardify, which polled more than 2,000 adults.

Millions of Americans are leaving their jobs these days — and they don’t always have another one lined up. Whether it’s due to burnout, a desire for more flexibility or better pay, or the pursuit of an entirely different career, saying “I quit” can have long-term financial implications. CNN Business writes:

Here’s what you need to know if you are considering quitting without another job offer: 

Do a quick gut check 

It’s a good time to be a job seeker, but make sure you are leaving for the right reasons. “The grass is very often not necessarily greener,” said Tami Simon, a corporate consulting leader at employee benefits firm Segal. “Take the time to really think about what your own motivations are, and the real reason why you are thinking about leaving your job as opposed to just following a trend.” If you are looking to leave because you’re seeking more flexibility, money, responsibility or you want to learn new skills, now’s the time to ask your current employer.

Timing is everything

Remember all that paperwork that you got when you started the job? It likely includes information about any potential financial impacts of quitting. Simon suggests reviewing your original offer letter, compensation arrangements and the employee manual before you announce your departure. “What are you contractually bound to?” Sometimes benefits are awarded based on how long you’ve been with the employer, and offers could also include non-compete clauses or clawbacks of signing bonuses or other incentives if you resign before a certain period of time.

American households are carrying record amounts of debt as home and auto prices surge, Covid infections continue to fall and people get out their credit cards again. CNN Business reports:

Between July and September, US household debt climbed to a new record of $15.24 trillion, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York said Tuesday.It was an increase of 1.9%, or $286 billion, from the second quarter of the year.

“As pandemic relief efforts wind down, we are beginning to see the reversal of some of the credit card balance trends seen during the pandemic,” such as lower spending in favor of paying down debt balances, said Donghoon Lee, research officer at the New York Fed.

Now that the stimulus sugar rush has worn off, consumers are going back to their old ways of spending with their credit cards. Credit card balances rose by $17 billion, just as they had during the second quarter. But they’re still $123 bullion lower than at the end of 2019 before the pandemic hit.

Mortgages, which are the largest component of household debt, rose by $230 billion last quarter and totaled $10.67 trillion.Auto loans and student loan balances also increased, rising by $28 billion and $14 billion, respectively.Even though credit card debt has yet to get back to its pre-pandemic level, total debt is already $1.1 trillion higher than at the end of 2019.

Record growth in home prices has made owning a home less affordable than at any point since the financial crisis. The median American household would need 32.1% of its income to cover mortgage payments on a median-priced home, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. That is the most since November 2008, when the same outlays would eat up 34.2% of income. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Supercharged home prices in markets across the country are canceling out the impact of modestly higher incomes and historically low interest rates, two factors that typically make owning a home more affordable. Prices rose at a record pace for the fourth consecutive month in July, driven by a shortage of houses for sale. Higher prices require buyers to take out larger loans, essentially signing them up to make larger mortgage payments each month for years.

The Atlanta Fed calculates affordability using a three-month average of median home prices from CoreLogic Inc. and median household incomes based on census data. In July, the latest month in the Atlanta Fed’s calculations, median home prices were $342,350, up 23% from the year before. Median incomes were $67,031, up 3%.

Declining affordability will have the biggest impact on buyers shopping for their first homes, who will have to sign up for larger monthly payments, buy less desirable homes or step back from the market altogether, economists said.