Suze Orman: 3 Things You Should Never Do When Buying Gifts This Holiday Season

Gabrielle Olya   Sat, December 7, 2024  GOBankingRates

The holiday shopping season tends to be an expensive one. This year, the average American plans to spend around $528 on holiday gifts — an amount that could be budget-blowing for some.  As many Americans are prepared to spend hundreds of dollars on gifts, money expert Suze Orman is cautioning against going financially overboard.

“Are you going to give yourself the best possible holiday gift this year? … I am talking about not overspending on gifts — when you spend more than you can afford out of a sense of love or obligation,” Orman wrote in a recent blog post

6 Signs You’re More Financially Savvy Than the Average American

Vance Cariaga Fri, December 6, 2024 GOBankingRates

There’s no magic formula to being financially savvy, but there is nuance to being good with money. It’s mostly a mix of planning, common sense, your credit score, commitment and a little cost-of-living calculus. People who actively build a financial blueprint they can follow — budget included — are prepared for the future and manage their money in a way that builds wealth.

So how do you stack up? Are you savvier than the average American? Here’s a look at several signs you’re on the right path.

Warren Buffett: 6 Tips on How To Get Rich

Cindy Lamothe  Thu, December 5, 2024   GOBankingRates

There is some advice that stands the test of time, and that is certainly what we can glean from one of the most successful investors in history — Warren Buffett.

He’s imparted a lot of wisdom over the years when it comes to both money and life in general. Below is a deep dive into some of his best advice when it comes to building wealth and achieving financial success.

Half of Americans Feel Safer Holding Cash Over Other Investments. Are They Right?

Laura Bogart   Wed, December 4, 2024  GOBankingRates

These days, you can get the lowdown on virtually any kind of investment delivered right to your fingertips. You can Google information about stocks and instantly find articles, YouTube tutorials and explainers galore. Then there are the TikTokers sharing their stock picks. Or, if you really needed to, you could always ask Alexa — not the device, but your cousin, the financial advisor.

Yet, despite the abundance of investment information, a survey conducted by Empower suggests that cash still reigns supreme. Roughly 52% of people surveyed preferred to keep cash instead of exploring other investments.

7 Key Signs You’ve Reached Financial Freedom

Caitlyn Moorhead  Tue, December 3, 2024  GOBankingRates

Achieving financial freedom is a goal many aspire to, but how do you know when you’ve truly passed that financial finish line?

This concept goes beyond just having a hefty bank balance in your savings account; it’s about living life on your own terms. Whether you have just started investing or have been consistently adding to your retirement accounts, how you reach your short-term or long-term financial goals has many paths.

Financial advisors have an array of methods you should try such as developing passive income streams, diversifying your investment portfolio or even moving your savings to where you can earn the highest interest rates. No matter what financial advice you take, determining when you reach financial freedom will feel differently depending on your ultimate goals.

How Much Money Can I Give Without Worrying About Taxes?

Eric Reed   SmartAsset  Sun, December 1, 2024

How Much Money Can I Give My Daughter and Her Husband Without Worrying About Taxes?

Perhaps your daughter recently got married and you want to help her and her husband start their new life. Or maybe they suddenly find themselves in need of financial assistance and turn to you for help.

Fortunately, the IRS allows you to give away a certain amount of assets – from real estate and stocks to cold hard cash – free of taxes every year. In 2024, you can give away up to $18,000 per individual and not have to pay taxes on the transfer. In fact, you’ll only trigger taxes in 2024 if you’ve given away more than $13.61 million throughout your life beyond that annual exclusion. In 2025, those limits are set to change.

Robert Kiyosaki: 6 Ways To Survive a Market Crash

G. Brian Davis November 29, 2024  GOBankingRates

In 2024, “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” author Robert Kiyosaki posted on X that he sees a market crash looming on the horizon. “Good news: Crashes are the best time to get rich. Bargains will float to the surface.”

He went on to outline six tips for not just surviving a market crash, but coming out ahead when the dust settles.

Don’t Buy on the Downward Crash

Kiyosaki reiterated a common expression in the investment industry: Don’t try to catch a falling knife. “Just because prices are falling, do not get greedy. Wait until prices have bottomed and no one wants the asset you want.”

How To Create a ‘Splurge’ Fund To Avoid Debt and Regret

Brooke Barley   Thu, November 28, 2024  GOBankingRates

Many people think a budget means there is no room for fun purchases, but that’s not the case. There are ways to spend money on enjoyable experiences without going overboard.

Here’s how to budget the smart way while still making sure to leave room for splurges, according to financial experts.

Track Spending

The first step to creating a “splurge” fund is to know exactly where your money is going.

Over Half Of US States Are Bleeding Cash And Going Broke, Researchers Say — Here's Why And What It Means For You

Christy Bieber  Thu, November 28, 2024  Moneywise

Across the country, states aren't doing very well with their budgets. In fact, 27 U.S. states didn't have the money to pay their bills as of the end of fiscal year 2023, according to nonpartisan think tank Truth in Accounting. Connecticut, New Jersey, Illinois and Massachusetts faced the biggest shortfalls per taxpayer.

"There are certainly tremendous challenges going forward," Oliver Giesecke, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, told CNBC in a report published Nov. 4.

The 10 Golden Rules Of Investing Everyone Should Follow

James Royal, Ph.D.  Tue, November 26, 2024 Bankrate

Investing can often be broken down into a few simple rules that investors can follow to be successful. But success can be as much about what to do as it is what not to do. On top of that, our emotions throw a wrench into the whole process. While everyone knows you need to “buy low and sell high,” our temperament often leads us to selling low and buying high.

So it’s key to develop a set of “golden rules” to help guide you through the tough times. Anyone can make money when the market is rising. But when the market gets choppy, investors who succeed and thrive are those who have a long-term plan that works.