Personal Finance 83

Online shopping means customers all over the world have greater access to everything from rare books to designer fashion — without leaving the comfort of their couches. And while many businesses offer great perks, like free shipping and returns, not all your favorite stores provide these benefits.

Click through to see which retailers offer free shipping so you can save money when shopping online.

If you think you’re the only one hurting for money, think again: Making more money is one of the most top personal goals for people this year.

Whether you need to reel in your spending or you just want to get ahead with your finances, consider picking up a side gig for extra cash flow. Become an Uber driver, work as a human billboard or put your unique skills to work to earn more. Here are 30 ways to make some quick cash.

Click to find out how to use your cash to boost your net worth.

Bad spending habits — most of us have at least a few. In fact, that’s likely why one of the top 2018 New Year’s resolutions is to spend less and save more.

If you’re vowing to rein in your spending this year, you’re probably already aware of some of the common leaks in your budget such as meals out, shopping sprees or — yes — even the daily latte. But you might be doing things you don’t even realize are hurting your finances.

Click through to find out if you have any of these habits — and learn how to finally get rid of them.

Making wise financial plans for retirement is essential if you want to enjoy your golden years without having to worry about making ends meet. Fortunately, if you plan ahead and plan well, you should be able to live richly long after you’ve left the workforce.

To find out how to make the best retirement plan, we asked four financial experts for their best retirement-planning tips — and how they prepared for their own.

Click through to get expert tips on retiring rich.

Fees can mean big profits for many financial institutions, so it’s no surprise that many banks nickel and dime customers with a range of fees, which can eat away at your account balance. When you’re selecting a bank, look for banks that don’t charge fees, or at least be aware of what actions trigger fees so you can avoid them. Learn how to avoid common bank fees.

Even a big bank or credit union with no fees on its checking or savings accounts might have charges on a fee schedule that catch you off guard. Here is a list of bank fees you should never pay!

If you want to guarantee a happy, stable retirement, it’s important to start saving — and investing — now. Unfortunately, hidden fees can wreak havoc on even the smartest investment strategies. Along with consulting fees, you might find yourself dealing with fees to trade, fees to advise and even high tax fees.

Click through to see 15 hidden fees to watch out for so you can avoid wasting your money in retirement!

Living in a city can be expensive, with everything from rent to the average grocery bill eating up your savings and possibly preventing you from saving up for that first down payment. And, if that weren’t enough, those costs are going up faster in some cities.

In its latest study, we examined the cost of living in 50 major U.S. cities and found which ones experienced the biggest jumps in the cost of living from 2017 to 2018.

The study looked at the amount needed to pay for necessities such as food, rent, utilities, transportation and healthcare, as well as the amount one should budget toward savings and discretionary spending. These costs were then consolidated into a “live comfortably” income to determine the places in America that are getting more expensive.

If you’re wondering, “How much do I need to be rich?” the answer depends on where you live. To be rich in America — or in the 80th percentile of household incomes — you need to earn $103,405, which is significantly less than the amount many Americans think they need to be “rich.” However, in some states, you need to earn even less than that to be among the top earners.

For this study, we defined “rich” as an income in the 80th percentile of households, and determined the states where that amount was less than $100,000. The study also took into consideration states where top-tier homes were affordable. In addition, we looked at living costs, including groceries, utilities, transportation and healthcare. Keep reading to see where you can live a rich life while earning less than $100,000.

Making a list and sticking to it when you’re at the grocery store is an easy way to stay within your budget. But there are some things that you shouldn’t put on that list to start with, even if you get big discounts with a grocery store loyalty card.

SKIP THESE BAD BUYS

Every year we spend money on purchases that may be falsely advertised, environmentally harmful, or simply overpriced — but the good news is that we don’t have to keep making the same mistakes. Here are some of the worst offenders you should avoid in 2019.