TessMore Finance Blog

Congratulations on making a job move and looking for something new during what’s being called the “Great Resignation.” But with that new freedom might come a new worry, depending on how long you plan to be without work: how will not working affect your retirement funds? When you quit work, things like no matching contributions, lump sum distribution and tax consequences may be swirling in your head now that you aren’t actively contributing to a company’s plan. Taking a few extra steps to protect your money as you find a job that fits you better or leave the working world entirely can protect your retirement nest egg. What’s Happening in the Job Market? Americans are leaving their jobs in droves. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our lives and forced us to look inward and figure out what we really want as far as our careers are concerned. In 2021, millions of Americans quit their jobs and more are considering a better position in 2022. A 2021 survey from Bankrate says people are loo

In the five years I’ve been self-employed, I’ve worked in multiple home offices, coffee shops, and co-working spaces. I’ve even experimented with different office layouts and strategies. These experiences have taught me what it takes to be the most productive you can be when you work from home. Productivity in the home office is important for all telecommuters — whether you’re a self-employed solo entrepreneur whose annual revenue is determined in part by your effectiveness, or a company employee (temporarily) working remotely who needs to prove they can do the job as efficiently from the couch as they would in a cubicle. If you are one of the 45 percent of Americans that remain partly or entirely remote as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic , or simply someone interested in the proven higher productivity of working from home (according to a survey by Airtasker), here are some of our top recommendations to ensure a pleasant — and productive — experience in the home office. G

Banks and credit unions are businesses, and as businesses, they have to make money to succeed. But getting that money through exorbitant overdraft fees is starting to go away. In the middle of 2021, online banking giant Ally eliminated its overdraft fees completely and then Alliant Credit Union followed Ally’s lead. By the end of the year, Capital One became the first top 10 U.S. banks to dump overdraft fees. Then, barely a week into 2022, Bank of America and Wells Fargo announced changes to their overdraft fee policies. BofA, the nation’s No. 2 bank, is cutting its penalty from $35 to $10 and will no longer charge for bounced checks. That change goes into effect in May. By the third quarter of 2022, Wells Fargo — No. 3 of the nation’s Big Four banks — said it will give customers 24 hours to make good on overdrafts and negative balance accounts before enforcing such fees. It is eliminating its $35 penalty for returned items because of non-sufficient funds but has not budged on the

As if the online dating game doesn’t make you feel bad enough. Imagine being 29+ (gasp!) and have America’s largest dating app treat you like you’re over the hill. So opposite of the “senior” discount, Tinder had been charging users in California who were 29 and older twice as much for certain subscriptions as younger users. An age discrimination suit was filed and Tinder agreed to a settlement in 2019. If you’re one of those Tinder old folks done wrong, you have until Feb. 9 to file your claim and get $50 if you meet the requirements. About 8 million people in the U.S. use the dating app, and in states other than California, those higher subscription rates still stand. Of course, there are fine print details and we’ve got them. Tinder Age Discrimination Lawsuit The lawsuit alleged that Tinder broke several age discrimination laws specific to California when it charged a higher price to consumers over the age of 29 for the subscription services Tinder Plus and Tinder Gold. The pr

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . Most “free” mobile games want to make money off of you through in-app purchases and aggressive ads. But an app called Bingo Clash will actually pay you. Yep, they’ll pay you real cash just for winning games on your phone. The more you win, the bigger the prize pools you’ll get to compete for. And you can cash out your winnings for real money. Before you dive into your first prize pool, here’s what you need to know: What’s Bingo Clash? If it was just your conventional Bingo hall-style game, you might eventually grow tired of it. But Bingo Clash is much more than that — it’s a suite of Bingo game modes to keep the experience fresh. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner. You’re matched with players of your same skill level, so you won’t be playing against Bingo Clash veterans right away. You can go head-to-h

If we asked if you were friends with your bank, what would you say? If your answer is vigorously shaking your head “no,” then you might want to keep the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on speed dial. This government organization started collecting consumer complaints in 2011. Apparently, a lot of people have something not-so-nice to say about financial institutions: More than half a million complaints are housed in its Consumer Complaint Database . Data like this offers a snapshot of  which banks are making their customers happy — and which are not. The Worst-Rated Banks What makes a good or bad bank for any customer depends on your needs. A comparison of features alone would be insufficient for calling out the worst banks in America. For that, we need to hear from customers themselves. Consumer rights service company Fairshake analyzed reviews at Consumer Affairs and spotted the banks with the lowest ratings in the country, mapping the most-hated banks in each stat

Some of the links in this post are from our sponsors. We provide you with accurate, reliable information. Learn more about how we make money and select our advertising partners . We’re living longer than ever before, and doing so in better health. So what can you do when you retire and want to keep your mind sharp or need to gain additional skills to stay competitive at work? For many, the answer is to go back to school. But tuition can be prohibitively expensive. At the same time, schools want their classrooms to be full of engaged students, regardless of age. In the interest of continuing education, many colleges and universities offer reduced or free college for seniors (typically, adults 60 and up, although the rules vary). In fact, we found at least one option in every state. Free (or Cheap) College for Seniors in Every State While some institutions only allow senior students to audit classes, many offer the chance to earn credits toward a degree at a reduced — or completely