Markets Stocks Economy Crypto Earnings Banking Energy
Newsroom · Personal Finance

By Owen Fitzgerald

Translates markets into money decisions: saving, investing, retirement and building wealth over time.

26 published stories
Mortgage applications slide as 30-year rates hit 6.97%, highest since May
Personal Finance

Mortgage applications slide as 30-year rates hit 6.97%, highest since May

US mortgage demand slipped again as the average 30-year fixed rate climbed to 6.97%, the highest since May 2025. Refinancing took the bigges

Why prepaid cards are surging: privacy, flexibility, and control
Personal Finance

Why prepaid cards are surging: privacy, flexibility, and control

Prepaid cards are no longer just a budgeting tool. Their growing popularity reflects a broader cultural shift toward privacy, flexibility, a

US mortgage rates hit 14-month high as Treasury yields climb
Personal Finance

US mortgage rates hit 14-month high as Treasury yields climb

The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.85%, a 14-month high, as Treasury yields climbed. Higher borrowing costs are cooling deman

Mortgage refinancing demand hits slowest pace since May as rates climb
Personal Finance

Mortgage refinancing demand hits slowest pace since May as rates climb

Mortgage applications fell 2.7% last week as 30-year fixed rates climbed to 6.85%, pushing refinancing to its slowest pace since May 2025. P

UK energy bills to rise 4% in October as VAT relief softens the blow
Personal Finance

UK energy bills to rise 4% in October as VAT relief softens the blow

Ofgem has lifted the UK energy price cap by 4% for the December quarter, pushing a typical direct-debit bill to £1,723 from October. A tempo

Mortgage demand slips again as 30-year rate climbs to 6.78%
Personal Finance

Mortgage demand slips again as 30-year rate climbs to 6.78%

US mortgage applications dropped 1% last week as the average 30-year fixed rate ticked up to 6.78%. Refinancing activity fell 2%, and econom

P2P lending in 2026: tighter rules, better savings rates, still a niche
Personal Finance

P2P lending in 2026: tighter rules, better savings rates, still a niche

P2P lending isn't the wild west it was in 2021. Tighter EU rules and higher savings rates have changed the math—but for the right investor,

Why avoiding mistakes beats making brilliant calls in investing
Personal Finance

Why avoiding mistakes beats making brilliant calls in investing

A new book argues that successful investing is less about brilliant predictions and more about avoiding costly mistakes. Barry Ritholtz's 'H

130 investors share the hard-won lessons they wish they'd learned sooner
Personal Finance

130 investors share the hard-won lessons they wish they'd learned sooner

A group of 130 retail investors shared the advice they wish they'd had when starting out. Most of it isn't about picking winners—it's about

Seven quick steps to review your finances this summer
Personal Finance

Seven quick steps to review your finances this summer

A summer afternoon is a perfect time to give your finances a quick review. These seven steps can help you save more, invest better, and avoi

UK house prices edge up in July but annual growth cools to 1.8%
Personal Finance

UK house prices edge up in July but annual growth cools to 1.8%

UK house prices ticked up 0.1% in July, the first monthly rise in three months, but the annual pace slowed to 1.8% from 2.2% in June. The Ba

Car leasing loses its appeal as monthly payments surge and incentives fade
Personal Finance

Car leasing loses its appeal as monthly payments surge and incentives fade

Car leasing is losing ground in the US, with leases making up only 23% of new-car deals in the first half of 2026, down from about 30% befor