The latest on medical bills, financial aid, and your financial resolutions (remember those?)
Here are some favorite personal finance reads from around the web this week.
The 7-day financial tuneup
—New York Times
Remember all those financial resolutions you made on New Year’s Day? Of course you do, even if you don’t want to admit it. Well, it’s still not too late to get started. Check out the supercool New York Times 7-day financial cleanse, targeting a different aspect of your personal finances each day. Get your financial life back in shape!
An ER visit, a $12,000 bill—and a health insurer that wouldn’t pay
—Vox
Some insurers are starting to deny coverage for certain ER visits, leaving people with enormous medical bills. If you find yourself in a similar situation, negotiate. Appeal to your insurer first, even if you have an emergency fund set up.
Use of financial aid continues to grow, though fewer students are borrowing for college
—Washington Post
72% of students received financial aid in 2015–2016. But there’s some good news: More and more of that financial aid is coming in the form of grants and scholarships—which means it doesn’t need to be paid back. Higher education should be affordable for everyone, so this is a fantastic trend. For more on the different types of aid available, check out my Paying for College infographic.
5 Things: What Yellen’s Fed tenure will be remembered for
—Chicago Tribune
Janet Yellen will be stepping down as chair of the Federal Reserve this week. She will be remembered for many things—being the first woman to lead the Fed, overseeing the recovery of our economy, helping to get Americans employed again, curbing inflation, and much more. Best of luck for her next career move—the Brookings Institution.
Craving more financial finds? Here are my latest blog posts!
One Super Bowl bet you won’t regret
What can the Super Bowl teach you and your kids about money? More than you’d think (and not just by guessing how much each ad costs). Here’s how to turn Sunday into a win, no matter which team takes home the trophy.
What science can teach us about our subconscious biases about money
Do you choose more expensive name-brand medicine over cheaper generic versions—even though they’re essentially the same? We all fall victim to subconscious biases about price, and here is the research to prove it.
How can I convince my friend to return to college?
A bachelor’s degree has never been more essential to your future financial well-being. Here’s how to convince a friend who’s dropped out of college that it’s time to go back to school.
