Adam Hardy

Saint Petersburg

Personal Finance and Data Journalist at Money

personal finance & data journo @Money • coffee snob • vegan

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Articles

8 in 10 Americans Underestimate the Staggering Cost of Long-Term Care

2 days ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Katherine Peach

Most Americans seriously underestimate the cost of caregiving for themselves or a loved one when they can no longer cook, clean, bathe or do other basic daily tasks on their own. Of U.S. workers who said they expect to provide long-term care in the future, 8 in 10 estimate the cost at under $100,000 a year, according to a new study from the nonprofit Employee Benefit Research Institute, or EBRI.
Americans Spent $100 Billion on Prescription Drugs in 2024. Why This Year Could Be Worse

6 days ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Katherine Peach

Despite new rules aimed at curbing the cost of medication, Americans are spending more than ever on their prescriptions. Last year, out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs notched a fresh high of $98 billion, according to a recent report from health data analytics firm IQVIA. Over the previous five years, out-of-pocket costs grew 25%. From 2023, expenses jumped by $6 billion, or 6.5%. The firm said that a growing number of prescriptions now cost $0 at checkout.
How Automation Can Boost Your 401(k) Savings Big-Time

1 week ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Katherine Peach

For many workers, saving for retirement is a chore, given how complex managing workplace plans can be. However, new research shows that automating key administrative aspects of the process could have life-changing benefits for millions of Americans. By streamlining 401(k)s, the share of account holders who can afford to retire jumps from 62.8% to 67.6%, a recent analysis from the nonprofit Employee Benefits Research Institute, or EBRI, finds.
How I Bought a Home With Zero Down Payment and Scored a 4.75% Rate

1 week ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Leslie Cook

After moving 26 times in 31 years, I finally found a place to put down roots. In December, I bought my own home in idyllic St. Petersburg, Florida, with no down payment — and got a 4.75% fixed-rate mortgage to boot. The deal gets even better: I negotiated $50,000 off the listing price, and even though I didn’t make a down payment, I don’t have to pay for private mortgage insurance, either. You're probably thinking that sounds too good to be true in today’s housing market.
The Salary Needed to Afford a Home Has Spiked 70% Since 2019

1 week ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Katherine Peach

In pre-pandemic times, a salary of $67,000 could afford a modest home in most areas of the country. Not anymore. Americans now need to earn at least $114,000 to be able to buy the typical house, according to a report from Realtor.com released Thursday, marking an increase of 70% in just six years.
Only 27% Of U.S. Adults Can Pass This Basic Money Quiz. How Do You Score?

2 weeks ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Katherine Peach

America’s financial literacy report card is in, and the results aren’t good. Only 27% of U.S. adults passed a seven-question quiz about basic financial concepts, according to results from the FINRA Foundation’s latest National Financial Capability Study. The multiple-choice quiz tests general knowledge of inflation, interest rates and probabilities without the need for complicated math.
On TikTok, Preparing for a Recession Is a Vibe

2 weeks ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Julia Glum

In March, just days before President Donald Trump declared a national emergency over the U.S. trade deficit that sent markets plummeting, Kim Casamento was browsing the aisles of a tiny thrift shop in Wayne, New Jersey. In passing, another customer told Casamento, 32, that she had recently found an original Martha Stewart cookbook that she'd resold for $500. Casamento didn’t know much about vintage cookbooks, but she decided to scan the shelves anyway.
Have a Student Loan in Default? Your Wages Could Soon Be Garnished Again

3 weeks ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Kaitlin Mulhere

After a five-year hiatus, the Department of Education is gearing up to resume the collections process on millions of borrowers who have defaulted on their federal student loans. Borrowers who are in default are at least 270 days, or about nine months, behind on their federal student loan payments, and the status typically comes with harsh financial consequences. Chief among them is involuntary garnishment of wages and federal benefits.
Student Loan Delinquencies Are So Bad They're Hurting America's Average Credit Score

3 weeks ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Julia Glum

Federal student loan borrowers are struggling so much to pay their loan bills that it’s beginning to have an impact on the average credit score for the entire country. The national average credit score of all U.S. consumers fell to 715 in February, marking a one-point dip from January and a two-point drop from last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the credit scoring firm FICO.
This 401(k) Change Could Help 3 Million More Americans Afford Retirement

1 month ago | money.com | Adam Hardy |Katherine Peach

For many workers, saving for retirement is a chore, given how complex managing workplace plans can be. However, new research shows that automating key administrative aspects of the process could have life-changing benefits for millions of Americans. By streamlining 401(k)s, the share of account holders who can afford to retire jumps from 62.8% to 67.6%, a recent analysis from the nonprofit Employee Benefits Research Institute, or EBRI, finds.