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Gold IRA: Should you open one to save for retirement?
Investors are often drawn to gold during times of high inflation or market turmoil. It’s viewed by many as a safe haven asset and a store of value. If you’re looking to invest in physical gold through an individual retirement account (IRA), you’ll need to open a special type of account known as a gold IRA.
But gold IRAs can come with high...Read more
Borrowing money from your home to pay for your child's college
If you’re gearing up to send a child to college, the cost can feel overwhelming. A home equity line of credit (HELOC) or home equity loan could help pay for it — but before leveraging your home ownership stake in this way, you’ll need to balance a number of considerations. Here’s our crash course on the pros and cons of using your home ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Annualizing Your Spending: The Key to Financial Freedom
Most of us prefer to think of spending money in ways that don't make us cringe. I suppose that's only natural. If we could truly see how every little purchase adds up in the grand scheme of things, maybe those "just a little treat" splurges wouldn't feel quite so harmless.
Take a page from Howard Schultz's book -- literally. In "Pour Your Heart...Read more
Newsom vetoes bill that would have offered home mortgage aid to undocumented immigrants
A controversial bill that would have helped undocumented immigrants in California buy homes was vetoed Friday morning by Gov. Gavin Newsom who cited limitations to the program’s existing budget.
Introduced by its lead author, Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, D-Fresno, Assembly Bill 1840 would have allowed undocumented immigrants to apply ...Read more
How do stocks perform after the Fed cuts interest rates? Pretty well, actually
The stock market has had a nice run in 2024, but investors have been nervous lately, because many are concerned that a slowing economy may tip over into an outright recession. To thwart that possibility, the Federal Reserve stands poised to lower interest rates, providing stimulus to consumers and businesses, some of whom have been reeling ...Read more
I've been in financial services for 14 years. Here's why I just opened a CD now
I’ve been in financial services for nearly 14 years and have helped customers with the most common deposit products, but this month was the first time I opened a certificate of deposit (CD) for myself.
A CD is an account that typically has a fixed annual percentage yield (APY) for a specific term. What’s more, there’s typically an early ...Read more
Microsoft pays more than $300 million to buy its Silicon Valley campus
MOUNTAIN VIEW, California — Microsoft has paid well over $300 million to buy a huge Mountain View tech campus the company occupies, a fresh sign of how the software leviathan has established its roots in Silicon Valley.
In a $330 million deal, Microsoft bought an office and research hub at 1045 La Avenida Street in Mountain View where it now ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: What should I do if a hurricane damages my home?
Q: With hurricane season heating up, I am concerned I will not know what to do if a storm damages our house. How can we be prepared and ensure that insurance will pay up? — Maritza
A: From the legal perspective, dealing with hurricanes is similar to other casualty losses, such as fires or floods. To best navigate these tragedies, you must be ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Kitchen Hacks You'll Actually Use
Fast food runs, deli detours and a grocery cart loaded with preprepared food can drain a food budget faster than a houseful of hungry teenagers. The secret to slashing your family's food bill is to cook at home. And the way to become confident in the kitchen is to learn a few strategic "trucs" of the trade.
Truc (rhymes with "fluke") is a ...Read more
'1000-Lb. Sisters' star Amy Slaton left zoo on stretcher before arrest, after alleged camel bite
Amy Slaton Halterman, the "1000-Lb. Sisters" star who was arrested Monday after visiting a Tennessee zoo, was reportedly carried out of the safari park on a stretcher moments before her arrest.
Photos obtained Tuesday by TMZ show EMTs transporting Halterman, 36, into an ambulance while she holds a piece of fabric to one of her arms. The outlet ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Youthful Drivers, Level Pay Plans and Windfalls
Get ready for another round of your burning questions and my hopefully not-too-scorched answers as we tackle the financial dilemmas that can make even the savviest penny-pincher break into a sweat -- from the joys of insuring your teenage driver (and by joys, I mean sticker shock) to the temptation of throwing every windfall at those relentless ...Read more
Homebuyer contract bill heads to governor's desk
A bill limiting homebuyer contracts to three months passed the state Legislature last week and is on its way to the governor’s desk.
If Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signs it, the measure would take effect Jan. 1, making California one of at least 22 states with laws requiring home shoppers to have a buyer-representation agreement with their agents. ...Read more
Demolition of iconic Sears complex starts, opening a new era for high-tech industry
Workers have started tearing down the vacant Sears world headquarters in northwest suburban Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a necessary next step in converting the iconic 2.4 million-square-foot complex into a data center site.
“No one is going to come in and say I want 2 million square feet of office space,” said Village Manager Eric Palm. “...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: How to Beat the Job-Loss Blues: A Guide to Surviving the Unexpected
Job redundancy, downsizing, cutbacks, layoffs -- whatever you call it, when that dreaded pink slip lands on your desk, it's about as welcome as a root canal. But living in constant fear that your job could disappear any day now? That's like waiting for a surprise party you really, really don't want.
Even if you're convinced your job is solid, ...Read more
Everyday Cheapskate: Lions, Tigers and Predatory Lenders: Oh My!
Homeowners, gather 'round and clutch your wallets. These days, home loan scam artists are lurking in the shadows like that weird neighbor who's always "just checking in." They're hungry, they're relentless and they've got their beady little eyes on your home equity.
Meet the loan sharks -- or as I prefer to call them, predatory lenders. They've...Read more
Why Fashion Nova bought a $118-million office space in Beverly Hills
LOS ANGELES — When fast-fashion retailer Fashion Nova was searching for a new headquarters, the pull of Beverly Hills was strong.
The city is one of the world’s luxury capitals, and its palm tree-lined streets are home to billionaires, Hollywood stars and high-end brands including Gucci and Dior. Compared with Fashion Nova’s current base ...Read more
Report: Home Depot spent billions on its own shares instead of raising pay
Home Depot ranks in the bottom 100 companies in the S&P 500 index for median pay. But it ranks near the top of those corporations in buying back its own stock shares, billions that instead could have been spent improving wages, according to a report from a Washington, D.C., think tank.
Lowe’s and Home Depot ranked No. 1 and No. 2, ...Read more
Allstate receives approval for 34% increase in homeowners insurance rates
Allstate has received approval to raise its California homeowners insurance premiums by an average of 34% starting in November — the largest rate increase this year amid the state's insurance crisis.
The rate increase approved earlier this month by state regulators affects more than 350,000 policyholders statewide and exceeds a 30% increase ...Read more
Real estate Q&A: How long should I keep records related to condo sale?
Q: I helped my father sell his condo in 2017 and have been storing the paperwork from when he originally purchased it to when he sold it. I want to shred the papers, but I was wondering if I need to hold on to them for a certain length of time. How long should I keep the paperwork? — Lois
A: Good record-keeping can make a big difference ...Read more
California moves toward helping undocumented immigrants with down payments in home loan program
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom will soon determine if undocumented immigrants in California can qualify for a popular state-backed home loan program.
The Democrat-supermajority Legislature passed the contentious measure, Assembly Bill 1840, on Wednesday afternoon. The bill now heads to the desk of Newsom, who will have to weigh the ...Read more
Inside Consumer
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