Banking, saving & everyday costs
Stephen Kleege writes about banking, saving, and the everyday costs of running a household for The Money Front. He digs through rate sheets, account fine print, and cost-of-living data to turn dense financial paperwork into steps readers can act on the same day.
Latest from this writer
Old Debts Have a Clock: The Statute of Limitations
Debt collectors cannot sue forever. How the statute of limitations works, what can restart the clock, and the mistakes that revive an…
May Inflation: What Happened to Electricity and Gas Bills
May CPI data shows electricity up 0.6 percent for the month and 5.9 percent over the year, while natural gas fell. Gasoline…
An EIN Is Free: How to Get One Straight From the IRS
The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers for free, usually in minutes online. Here is how to apply directly and skip the third-party…
Tip Pooling Rules: What Managers Can Never Keep
Federal law says tips belong to workers. Who counts as a manager, when tip pools are legal, and what to do if…
Grace Periods: The Way to Never Pay Card Interest
Most credit cards lend you money interest-free for weeks at a time. How the grace period works, the mistakes that end it,…
Umbrella Insurance: Big Liability Coverage for Less
An umbrella policy adds a million dollars or more of liability protection on top of your auto and home coverage. Here is…
Series I Bonds: How the Two-Part Rate Actually Works
I bonds bought now pay 4.26 percent, built from a 0.90 percent fixed rate plus inflation. How the two parts combine, and…
May Jobs Report: What Happened to Paychecks and Hours
Employers added 172,000 jobs in May and average hourly pay hit $37.53, up 3.4 percent in a year. Why paychecks still trail…
Selling Used Stuff for Profit: When the IRS Cares
Sell old furniture at a loss and the IRS does not care. Sell a collectible for more than you paid and it…
When Refinancing Pays Off and When It Does Not
Refinancing only wins if you stay past the breakeven point. The simple math on closing costs versus monthly savings, and the traps…
Job Openings in April: What the Latest JOLTS Shows
Job openings jumped to 7.6 million in April while hiring slowed, per the new BLS JOLTS report. What the openings, quits and…
How FDIC Coverage Adds Up Across Account Types
FDIC insurance is $250,000 per depositor, per bank, per ownership category. Here is how the categories stack, and how to check your…