Tori Rubloff

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Lane Gillespie |Tori Rubloff

As Americans reckon with high prices, “no-buy” challenges, which swear off most discretionary spending, have become popular online. No-buy challenges are designed to help people re-examine their spending habits and save more money. To optimize your own no-buy challenge, it’s important to identify why you want to do the challenge, eliminate spending temptations and pick a savings account with a high annual percentage yield (APY).

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Lane Gillespie |Tori Rubloff

Experts say AI can help small businesses grow and operate for a fraction of the cost. Small business owners can use AI to increase productivity in marketing, customer service, human resources and many other areas. But be careful when using AI — it’s a good idea to have someone check the work before implementing it. From creating a business plan to screening job candidates, there are diverse ways to use artificial intelligence tools in your small business.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Lane Gillespie |Tori Rubloff

Paige DeVriendt, a 32-year-old living in Columbus, Ohio, has spent most of her life associating money with shame and anxiety. Today, DeVriendt and her husband both work, bringing in a combined annual salary of around $225,000. With that, they’ve been able to pay their bills, save and invest, all while chipping away at six figures of combined student loan debt. Although she’s been able to comfortably afford her lifestyle, she’s felt shame about money for a long time.

1 month ago | bankrate.com | Lane Gillespie |Tori Rubloff

To avoid taking on more debt than you need to, experts advise taking out low-interest loans and understanding your loan terms. If you have one available to you, open an employer-sponsored 401(k) account as early in your career as you can. Starting early should help your savings grow more over time. Create a debt payoff plan and stick with it. Consider paying off your highest-interest debts first to avoid paying more in interest over the length of your loan.

2 months ago | bankrate.com | Lane Gillespie |Tori Rubloff

AI can make it much easier to start a small business, though it offers its own challenges. Business owners in e-commerce, digital marketing, consulting and analytics could especially benefit from using AI at work. As AI grows more advanced, businesses can take advantage of it to create ultra-personalized services. However, business owners are also at risk of relying too much on it.