Americans are piling on credit card debt at an alarming pace, and the unprecedented interest rates on these unpaid balances can be as much as 30% to 35%. No wonder it seems impossible to get out from under it. But with hard work and proper guidance, you can do it. In this episode: Meet two people who
Clothing rental has always been a way to dress for less when attending weddings, proms, or other formal events. But the rental market has zoomed beyond tuxes and gowns and turned into an easy way to keep your wardrobe fresh without spending much money. In this episode, we’ll share tips on navigating the clothing rental world, including
Amazon is convenient, but America’s second-largest retailer —and most dominant online merchant—too often steers customers toward items it gets paid extra to promote. Our researchers looked for 50 products on Amazon; half of what the retailer showed them were paid promos. In this episode: What’s the deal with all these ads? Can you trust Amazon to show
The hectic holiday shopping season is underway, and for many, that will put a strain on the family budget. Checkbook wants to make this stressful time a little easier. Our annual holiday helper is packed with timely advice: Super shoppers share tips about how they find the best prices and avoid fake sales. Plus, how to avoid
The process has changed for anyone looking to hire a real estate agent; new rules took effect in August that are designed to bring transparency and competition to the marketplace. Consumer advocates hope agents will be more willing to negotiate their commissions, but the new process and unfamiliar paperwork could create confusion for a while. In this
Kitchen and bathroom renos are the most common home improvement projects—and they can be mighty expensive. If the layout of your kitchen or bath already works for you, and its cabinets and other features are in decent shape, you might be able to save a bunch of cash by doing what’s called a “light remodel.” In this
Prescription drug costs in the U.S. are “significantly higher” than in most other countries, according to a report earlier this year from the Rand Corporation. The average American spends more than $1,400 a year on prescription medications, research shows. For many, that expense is a budget buster. Because of the high cost, more than 9 million Americans
Whether it’s points, miles, or cash back, it’s nice to be rewarded for shopping. The lure of “getting something extra” can encourage you to apply for new credit cards and spend more to score those rewards. In recent years, many credit card reward programs have become more complex and confusing, and frustrated cardholders are complaining to federal
Feeding the family has never been more expensive. Supermarket prices have been going up for four years now, running well ahead of the overall inflation rate. And while increases are slowing, no one expects the cost of food to drop back to where it was before the pandemic. In this episode, why everything is so pricey, the
You can save a ton of money by comparison shopping. Checkbook’s surveys consistently find huge price differences—sometimes more than twice as much—from company to company for the exact same product or service. And businesses can get away with this because they know most customers won’t bother to shop around. Sometimes consumers don’t compare prices because they’re in
