Your first job may not pay much but it gives you an excellent opportunity to learn how to budget your money. And if you are earning well at a young age, keeping close track of how much money you spend and where you spend it will help you keep costs down and leave much more for saving and investing. But how do you create a budget? What are some good tips for making it easy? And what are some modern tools for keeping a close eye on your finances? Radio America’s Claire Alfree helps to get you started on the road to fiscal health and a comfortable retirement.
Budgeting 101
Posted in Banks, Budgeting, Career, Economics, Inflation, Risk Protection, Savings and Investing
Tagged bonds, expenses, income, spreadsheet
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Federal Student Loan Debt
President Biden tried to forgive hundreds of billions of dollars in federal student loan debt. But the U.S. Supreme Court said such a move was unconstitutional and would require an act of Congress. But beyond the legal issues, is student debt forgiveness a good idea so that young people can get started in their professional lives without years of debt payments hanging over them? Or should these students honor the commitments they made when taking out the loans instead of leaving the tab with taxpayers who never took out loans or already paid theirs back? Radio America’s Jackson Weaver takes us into this intense debate.
Posted in Banks, Career, Economics, Savings and Investing, Video
Tagged college, debt, forgiveness, loan
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Electric Vehicles
Electric vehicles are becoming more and more common. In many parts of the country, you’re likely to see a Tesla almost every time you’re out for a drive. Proponents see EV’s as a way to keep people on the move while helping the environment. But critics see vehicles that are too expensive, inconvenient, and relying on materials that are gathered in inhumane ways. Radio America’s Wallace White examines the pros and cons of whether an electric vehicle is right for you.
Posted in Budgeting, Economics, Uncategorized, Video
Tagged cost, electric, electricity, environment, EV
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The Debt Ceiling
In mid-2023, the U.S. government reportedly came close to defaulting on its debt because Congress struggled to raise the debt ceiling. Every year or two it seems we’re running up against some deadline as lawmakers disagree about how to approach our ever-growing debt. So what exactly is the debt ceiling? What happens if it is raised and what happens if it isn’t? Whose research do lawmakers and the president rely on to make these decisions and what is the impact of our debt growing higher and higher? Radio America’s Garrit Blizzard reports.
Posted in Banks, Economics, Inflation, Uncategorized, Video
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Trade Schools
We tell teenagers and even younger children that it’s important to go to college, in part because it’s an important step to starting a career that pays well. But do they have to go to college to make that happen? More and more people are finding stable, lucrative jobs without spending the huge costs associated with college tuition. And they’re doing it through trade schools. Radio America’s Chris Bibona explains how trade schools work, what career skills you can learn there, and how much money you can make in those fields.
Posted in Career, Economics, Video
Tagged career, eligibility, salary, trade schools
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Bankruptcy
When you hear about a business or an individual entering into bankruptcy, your instinct might be that the business will soon close or that the individual may be destitute. But that’s not necessarily the case. In this report, Radio America’s Chris Bibona explains what bankruptcy is, the pros and cons of going down that road, and the different options available under bankruptcy laws.
Cyclical Investing
Many investors choose a plan that works best for them over the long run. They don’t stress over the fluctuations in the market, staying confident that their money will bring them a strong return over time. But should you take a different approach when the economy appears to be headed into a difficult stretch? Is it smarter to take some risk and seize the moment? Radio America’s Chris Bibona explains what cyclical investing is, how it works and what cautions to consider if you try it.
Posted in Budgeting, Economics, Risk Protection, Savings and Investing, Video
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Monetization of Online Videos
Posting content to social media might be a hobby to some, but for millions of people it’s also a way to make money. Some content creators are making a lot of money! But how do they get started? What do you need to know about your audience and the various social media platforms before you try to make this a source of income? And what are some mistakes to avoid? Radio America’s Lucas Collazo reports.