Author: Smart Wealthhabits

Winter weather has returned to many parts of the United States, and drivers who are already struggling with rising gas prices may be facing another increase in their costs at the pump. After a brief flirtation with warm weather across much of the East Coast, a pair of snow storms are forecast for the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes, with the potential for heavy snowfall in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. According to the AAA Auto Club, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in the US on Friday, March 13 was $3.63. That’s up from an…

Americans have so far mostly felt the effects of the US-Israel war against Iran in the form of rising prices at the gas pump, but the pain is about to spread as companies add fuel surcharges to their prices. Iran’s effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for a fifth of the world’s oil shipments, sent oil prices above the key $100 a barrel level. The surge in oil prices raised the U.S. average price for a gallon of regular gas by more than 50 cents to $3.45 earlier this week, according to Gas Buddy, which tracks…

As policymakers continue to debate the role of Wall Street investors in the residential real estate market, an analysis confirms what many housing observers have argued for some time: Institutional investors make up a small — even shrinking — share of home purchases. A report released March 13 by Realtor.com economists found that investors who have purchased more than 350 single-family homes since 2015 account for only 1% of total purchases nationwide. Furthermore, their purchasing activity has been on a steady decline since peaking in 2021. “Large corporate investors are often viewed as the primary drivers of today’s housing affordability…

Westpac Banking Corporation (ASX:WBC) has long been a popular choice for dividend investors. And this is easy to understand. big four banks Has historically paid out quite generously. Frank Dividends have been reliable income generators for Australian investors. But at the moment, I’m not convinced Westpac shares look particularly attractive. Its share price has surged strongly and its valuation now reflects considerable optimism. As a result, I think it would be wise for investors to at least consider other opportunities in the market. Personally, if I were looking for dividend income today, I would prefer to buy these ASX dividend…

Fizzcase / iStock.com Commitment to our readers The GOBankingRates editorial team is committed to providing you with unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methods to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our review methodology for products and services. 20 yearshelp you get rich trusted by millions of readers Non-monthly expenses don’t happen every day – but when they do, they can drain your bank account or force you into debt. Irregular expenses – expenses that are outside your regular monthly budget…

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has drawn sharp backlash from Democratic lawmakers and free speech supporters for threatening to revoke broadcasters’ licenses over coverage of the war in Iran. Carr attacked the broadcasters on Saturday, shortly after President Donald Trump called reports of Iran’s attack on five U.S. tanker planes as “fake news.” one in post on xCarr warned that broadcasters would lose their licenses if they “did not act in the public interest.” “Broadcasters who are spreading rumors and distorting the news – also known as fake news – now have a chance to get on the right…

Social Security becomes available at age 62 for most Americans. Not surprisingly, this is the most popular age to claim retirement benefits. Hey: it’s money. But is 62 the best age to claim Social Security? You can find hundreds of articles on that question, and the answer is not clear. If you take Social Security earlier, you get bigger checks. Each year you wait, until age 70, the checks get larger. Do the math, however, and you’ll see solid evidence for waiting until age 70 to take Social Security. The reason for this is simple human longevity: An average American…

Attendees listen to Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) speak at a “Citizens Only Vote” bus tour rally on passing the SAVE Act in Upper Senate Park outside the U.S. Capitol on September 10, 2025 in Washington, DC.Kent Nishimura | Getty Images News | getty imagesAs Senate Republicans prepare to vote on the Save America Act this week, Democrats are opposing voter-ID legislation strongly supported by President Donald Trump.While House Republicans passed a version of the bill in February, mostly along party lines, they still need 60 votes in the Senate to bypass the filibuster. With only a 53-47 majority, Senate Republicans…

Forecasters widely expect the Federal Reserve to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged at the conclusion of its two-day meeting on March 18, as policymakers assess the economic impact of the ongoing war with Iran. Apart from the United States going to war, little has happened since the Federal Open Market Committee held rates steady at its target range of 3.5% to 3.75% at its last meeting in January after three cuts late last year. The January and February jobs reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics sent mixed signals about the labor market, with January showing better-than-expected growth and…

frankreporter/Getty Images Commitment to our readers The GOBankingRates editorial team is committed to providing you with unbiased reviews and information. We use data-driven methods to evaluate financial products and services – our reviews and ratings are not influenced by advertisers. You can read more about our editorial guidelines and our review methodology for products and services. 20 yearshelp you get rich trusted by millions of readers Is 2026 the year you vowed to make your side big? Although you may have the right goals, there are a lot of mistakes and mistakes to avoid when growing your yet-to-be full-time job.…