Social Security's finances have improved slightly in the last year. But the popular retirement program still faces big challenges including the threat of automatic benefit cuts in less than a decade.
What do you do if a loved one asks to borrow a big sum of money from you? Experts weigh in on when it's OK to fork over the cash — and when you should probably say no.
American drivers want cheap EVs. Chinese automakers are building them. But you can't buy them in the U.S., thanks to tariffs in the name of U.S. jobs and national security. Two car shoppers weigh in.
Four states so far have passed laws prohibiting the use of public money for no-strings cash aid. Advocates for basic income say the backlash is being fueled by a conservative think tank.
People who've lived in co-ops, communes, group houses and 'intentional communities' share four questions you should ask yourself before taking the leap.
Under a related deal, users who return devices by Aug. 9 can get an extra $100. As part of the recall, the company is offering repairs, replacements or refunds of the machines' cost.
In an effort to crack down on airlines that charge passengers steep fees to check bags and change flights, the Biden administration announced new regulations aimed at expanding consumer protections.
Lots of older Americans say they'd love to downsize, but it doesn't make financial sense. The housing roadblock has left some would-be buyers stuck. We asked experts what policies could change that.
Livestreamers who bait scammers find creative ways to waste their time. This makes for entertaining viewing. But as scams spike, one streamer, Kitboga, wants to protect as many victims as possible.
U.S. stamps are heading for their sixth price hike since 2021. In raw numbers, only four countries in a recent study of 31 developed nations had cheaper stamps than the U.S.
TikTok, and other apps like it, are filled with financial advice. Some of it is reliable, some... less so.
There are videos about running a business, having a side hustle, generating passive income. And also, there are a lot of tips and tricks, many of them questionable, about saving on your taxes.
On this show, we run some of the greatest hits of TikTok tax advice by some bonafide tax experts. We'll talk about whether you can use gambling losses to reduce your tax bill, whether your pets qualify you for tax deductions – and we'll fact check the claim that all rich people own expensive Mercedes G-Wagons... for tax purposes.
Along the way, we'll drill down on the concepts like taxable income and the standard deduction. And we'll ask why so many videos on TikTok suggest that you (fraudulently) categorize personal expenses as business expenses. Sometimes with a literal wink and a nod.
This episode was hosted by Nick Fountain. It was produced by Emma Peaslee with help from Willa Rubin, who also fact-checked this episode. It was edited by Molly Messick and engineered by Cena Loffredo. Alex Goldmark is Planet Money's Executive Producer.
April 15th, the deadline to file your income taxes, is just around the corner. Filings so far this year are on track with last year's, while the average refund is slightly larger.
Consumers tend to spend about 10% more when they adopt mobile contactless payment methods, according to research from Assistant Professor Yuqian Xu at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Colleges don't yet trust the FAFSA data the U.S. Education Department is sending them, but there's pressure to get aid offers out to students as soon as possible.
