HowStuffWorks Newsletter
This channel is where we explore the holistic health of your financial house. Helpful, accurate articles include topics on credit, debt management, financial planning, real estate and taxes.
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Many parents feel torn between funding their own retirement and paying for their kids' college education. But financial experts are united on which one should take priority.
By Dave Roos
Credit monitoring bureau Equifax was hacked and is offering fraud monitoring services for free. But experts say they're pretty useless.
By Dave Roos
A new meta-analysis of 150 studies finds that only one in three U.S. adults has a written living will or healthcare power of attorney documents.
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Pago en Especie allows artists to meet tax obligations with a piece of art, and the government builds an impressive collection. Win-win!
By Chris Opfer
This place has been in the top spot for years.
By Alia Hoyt
If you're all about taking money from rich people who don't want to cough up their dough, the Wealth Squad is where it's at.
By John Donovan
We all want to get the best price for that sweater, that car, that house. Making a very precise offer of, say, $12.90 as opposed to $10, can help you do that. Sometimes.
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Millions of people have figured out how to get by without a bank account, whether by choice or force of circumstance.
By Oisin Curran
So-called sin taxes, excise taxes on things the government deems dangerous, can discourage bad behavior, but can they be too effective?
By Oisin Curran
Starbucks holds as much cash for its customers as a midsize bank does, says the Wall Street Journal. Gift cards have helped the company to build a prepaid empire.
By Julia Layton
But just how many are we talking, really?
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Whether you pay taxes on eBay sales depends on whether this is a casual hobby or a serious money-maker for you.
You have a shop on Etsy, while your partner owns an online travel agency. Should you both have tax ID numbers?
Student loans aren't free money. If you're tempted to buy a car with your financial aid check, you might want to do the math first.
All of your debts are classified as secured or unsecured during a bankruptcy, which affects how they're discharged or repaid.
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Filing for bankruptcy can provide you with relief, but it also has some lasting repercussions that can affect your financial future.
The amount of available income you have after taxes, or disposable income, makes all the difference in whether you can file for bankruptcy.
Some people end up filing for bankruptcy due to credit card debt, but that doesn't necessarily mean that you can't get a credit card again.
Filing bankruptcy doesn't mean losing every single asset that you own; some of your assets may be considered exempt by the court.
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People aren't the only ones who file for bankruptcy. Businesses, cities, and even countries sometimes get into insurmountable debt. But who takes the "prize" for largest filing?
If you get behind on your bills due to a specific life event, a hardship letter can help convince your creditors to help you get back on track.
Deciding to file for bankruptcy is difficult enough. Now you have to figure out the terminology used to describe your debts.
After a bankruptcy, you're ready to move on financially — and that can include buying a house. But how long will your bankruptcy keep you from reaching your goal?
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U.S. citizens aren't the only ones who can file for bankruptcy in the U.S., but it sure can complicate things if you file and you're living in the country illegally or applying to become a citizen.
Getting a flu shot while you have the flu makes no sense, and so does planning to protect your assets after you've already entered into bankruptcy. Here's what to do beforehand.