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10 of Our Best Personal Finance Hacks of 2021 So Far
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It’s hard to believe we’re already halfway through 2021, since it feels like we just crawled out of the smoking crater that was 2020. In terms of personal finance, the pandemic was worse than the 2008 financial crisis for most Americans, affecting everything including employment, retirement savings, and the cost of living.

In 2021, much of Lifehacker’s personal finance coverage is still related to the economic fallout from the pandemic, offering tips and advice on how to best navigate the tax credits, relief programs, and the economic uncertainty of a still-shaky economic recovery. Here’s a look at our most useful posts that can still save you money.

Is student loan forgiveness dead? 

Is student loan forgiveness dead? 
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Student loan forgiveness has been a front-burner topic since President Biden was elected last November, and the biggest question has been whether blanket debt forgiveness of $50,000 would happen with Democrats controlling Congress. While much can still happen while Biden is in office, the answer seems to be no—it’s much more likely that Biden will continue to beef up debt forgiveness through existing federal student loan programs. This post explains what you need to know.

Why it’s a terrible time to buy a car, and how long you should wait

Why it’s a terrible time to buy a car, and how long you should wait
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The pandemic shut down factories, which caused car shortages, leading to sky-high prices for both new and used cars. It has been and remains a terrible time to buy a car, although the market might soften up later this year. This post walks you through some tips on buying a car when you’re stuck in a seller’s market.

Why NFT collectibles are overhyped

Why NFT collectibles are overhyped
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“What are NFTs?” was the big question in early 2021, as the boom in retail investing made it hard to know whether the latest investment craze was a fad or the future of commerce. NFTs offer a way to collect and own digital media, whether that’s in the form of a sports highlight or an original sketch by a famous artist, and the market has blown up, resulting in billions of dollars in transactions so far in 2021. Whether or not the market is sustainable long-term is another matter, and the subject of this post.

How to retroactively qualify for free healthcare if you were unemployed in 2021

How to retroactively qualify for free healthcare if you were unemployed in 2021
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Earlier this year, Congress established all sorts of COVID-relief benefits as part of the American Rescue Act. Thing is, some benefits kick in later in the year and are therefore easy to overlook. A great example of this is the recently topped-up Obamacare subsidies on bronze and silver health insurance plans, which you can qualify for if you were unemployed at any point in 2021. With the new subsidies, three out of five Americans can qualify for $0 monthly premiums, right now. Check out this post, which will take you through the steps on how to claim the subsidy or switch up your current plan.

Why right now is the best time to ask for a pay raise

Why right now is the best time to ask for a pay raise
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One of the quirks of the post-pandemic economic recovery is that the labor market is tilted in favor of the worker, particularly frontline retail and factory jobs. If you held off asking for a raise during the pandemic, then now is good time to try, especially as rising inflation eats away at your spending power. This post will walk you through some tips on how to ask, and for how much.

The difference between investing and speculating (and why it matters)

The difference between investing and speculating (and why it matters)
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Early in 2021 we saw an explosion of retail investing, as user-friendly trading apps like Robinhood and crowd-sourcing subreddits encouraged trading in “memestocks,” like AMC and Gamestop (cryptocurrencies were also popular). While some people traded in these moribund stocks for a laugh, others actually made money based on short-term momentum swings in the stock. Short term bets like this are commonly described as speculation, but what does that mean exactly? Isn’t speculation just gambling? This explainer looks at the difference between investing and speculation, and how it fits in with your retirement savings plan.

Is it too late to invest in cryptocurrencies?

Is it too late to invest in cryptocurrencies?

There’s nothing wrong with investing in cryptocurrency, but it’s wildly volatile and you could easily lose your entire investment (as if to illustrate the point, Bitcoin has plunged 40% in value since May). Having said that, you might be wondering why anyone would bother putting money on something so risky. Well, you might be surprised to learn that there are good reasons to put some money down on crypto as a speculative investment, and they’re covered in this post.

How to pay your medical bills without crowdfunding

How to pay your medical bills without crowdfunding
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When you don’t have health insurance, the unfortunate reality is that an unexpected medical cost can easily ruin your finances. If you’re dealing with a lot of healthcare debt, there are programs that you check out before you’ll want to consider crowdfunding. This post covers your options.

7 reasons travel is more expensive this summer

7 reasons travel is more expensive this summer
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While demand for post-pandemic travel is high, many travelers are noticing that vacations have become much more expensive. A lot of that is related to inflation, as the price for consumer goods has seen a 9.5% year-over-year increase in prices versus April 2020. This post covers some of unexpected costs for traveling this summer, along with tips on how to save money.

Get flood insurance now before monthly rates change in October

Get flood insurance now before monthly rates change in October

This post isn’t related to the pandemic, but it could save you money. If you’re considering flood insurance, or renewing the policy you have, you’ll want to do so before Oct. 1, as price hikes could increase monthly premiums for up to 77% of policyholders. However, if you re-up your insurance before Oct. 1, your rates will be locked in at the current rate for another year.