Author: Smart Wealthhabits

A first-class ticket could soon cost around $1, as the US Postal Service warns it could run out of money by 2027 and is considering raising prices to stay afloat. Appearing before Congress on Tuesday, March 17, Postmaster General David Steiner said the price of a first-class ticket could rise from 78 cents to 90 to 95 cents. Steiner said higher prices are one of the few options available as the agency faces growing losses. Raising stamp prices to 95 cents, he told lawmakers, “will largely resolve our controllable losses.” The warning comes as the USPS says its financial runway…

What does your winning bet mean for your taxes key takeaways Sports betting winnings are taxable income, even if you don’t receive a tax form. Some winnings may trigger Form W-2G, but you must still report all gambling income. Gambling winnings are taxed as ordinary income, which is added to your other earnings for the year. My favorite football team didn’t even make the playoffs, so when I placed a longshot parlay during the Big Game, it was mostly to make things interesting. Things got interesting fast: I won, and it was more than I had ever bet on a…

Divide your retirement budget into two categories. First, your non-negotiable expenses: groceries, utilities, insurance premiums, and basic health care. “This should be 40% to 50% of your monthly needs, funded entirely by safe, fixed income instruments. Your Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and the PPF lump sum amount can be deployed in Senior Citizens Savings Scheme, Post Office Schemes and loan funds,” Jethwani said.

US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a press conference at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington, DC on January 28, 2026. Saul Loeb AFP | getty imagesFederal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell says he will continue to serve as head of the central bank if his nominated successor, Kevin Warsh, is not confirmed by the end of his term in May, as set by law.Separately, Powell said he would not leave his Board of Governors post, which technically extends through early 2028, until the Justice Department investigation “is well and truly completed with transparency and finality.”Choose CNBC as…

insta_photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto 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 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers A CD loan is a secured loan that lets you borrow money using your certificate of deposit as collateral – without breaking the CD or incurring early withdrawal penalties. When you repay the loan…

US Senator Markway Mullin, President Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Homeland Security, testifies before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee’s confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill on March 18, 2026 in Washington, DC, US.Ivan Vucci | reutersThe Senate confirmation hearing of Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to lead the Department of Homeland Security got off to a tense start Wednesday.Senator Rand Paul, Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, began the hearing by calling Mullin out on his recent comments. In February, it was reported that Mullin called the Kentucky Republican a “weird snake” and suggested…

RealPeopleGroup/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 yearsHelping you become richer trusted by millions of readers The best jumbo money market rates today are around 3.9% to 4.05% APY, depending on the bank and balance level. But here’s what’s changed in 2026: Jumbo accounts no longer markedly outperform standard money…

President Donald Trump issued a 60-day waiver of a long-standing U.S. shipping law in an effort to stabilize oil markets amid the Iran war, the White House confirmed to CNBC on Wednesday.”The temporary suspension of the Jones Act will allow critical resources like oil, natural gas, fertilizer and coal to flow freely through U.S. ports for sixty days,” White House press secretary Carolyn Leavitt said in a statement.“The Trump Administration is committed to strengthening our critical supply chains,” Leavitt said.According to the Jones Act, signed by then-President Woodrow Wilson in 1920, goods transported between American ports must be transported by…

As new car prices rise, choosing a reliable car brand has arguably become more important than ever for average American drivers. Reliable new cars can easily last more than 200,000 miles if properly cared for. Regular maintenance takes a lot of time, but there are some vehicles that are more reliable than others. J.D. Power conducted a US vehicle dependability study to identify “problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old vehicles”. The study yielded a list of car brands with the fewest problems per 100 vehicles. According to the vehicle dependability study conducted by J.D. Power, these are the most…

Iran’s then Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib (C) sits with Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian (CR) as he defends his cabinet selection before delivering a speech to parliament members in the capital Tehran on August 17, 2024.flour edge AFP | getty imagesIsrael’s Defense Forces said on Wednesday that Iran’s Intelligence Minister Ismail Khatib was killed in a “targeted attack” in Tehran, the third killing of a high-ranking official in just two days.The IDF said, “Khatib played a key role during the recent protests across Iran, including the arrest and killing of protesters, and led terrorist activities against Israelis and Americans around the…