9 Times in History When Gas Prices Spiked to Crazy High Levels

9 Times in History When Gas Prices Spiked to Crazy High Levels

Gas prices are a foe for many American consumers. Though they occasionally drop to manageable levels, they seem to be heading in the wrong (higher) direction most of the time.  The strife Americans feel every time they pull up to the pump is nothing new. Gas prices have had peaks and valleys since World War…

Solo female traveler in NYC.

10 Richest and Poorest States. Americans Wanting to Move, Take Note

Some states have a reputation for being well-off. Others are known for having lower incomes. But how do Americans’ perceptions of wealthy and poor states measure up to cold hard data? World Population Review took on the task of ranking states according to each state’s gross domestic product (GDP). That means they honed in on…

22 States With the Highest Cost of Living. Americans Looking to Move State Borders, Beware

22 States With the Highest Cost of Living. Americans Looking to Move State Borders, Beware

A high cost of living is quickly becoming an everyday concern for Americans. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the consumer price index rose by about 0.4% in March of this year. The cost of living continues to rise for Americans, but certain states have a higher cost of living than others. To…

Residents in These 15 States Are Drowning in the Most Consumer Debt

Residents in These 15 States Are Drowning in the Most Consumer Debt

Let’s start with the good news: Consumer debt grew at a slower rate in 2023 than in 2022. And now, for the not-so-great news: Personal debt still increased by 4.4% in 2023. Consumer credit reporting company Experian ran a study shedding light on numerous aspects of personal debt among Americans. For the purposes of their…

15 Surprising Ways Personal Loan Debt Varies by Generation

15 Surprising Ways Personal Loan Debt Varies by Generation

Here’s a sobering statistic: Consumer debt in the U.S. increased by 4.4% between 2022 and 2023. The total amount of debt Americans owe? $17.1 trillion. While the majority of that $17.1 trillion is tied to mortgages, $1.07 trillion is in credit card debt, which is traditionally considered among the worst kind of debt. That represents…

24 Things Americans Can Do Right Now To Get Out of Debt Faster

24 Things Americans Can Do Right Now To Get Out of Debt Faster

Americans held $17.1 trillion in debt in 2023, a 4.4% increase from 2022. While over 11 trillion of that amount is in the form of a mortgage, which is largely viewed as a good kind of debt, the average credit card debt Americans hold increased by 17.4%. Experts at Experian believe credit card balances have…

American Tipping Culture Is Changing and People Aren’t Happy About It, Research Shows

American Tipping Culture Is Changing and People Aren’t Happy About It, Research Shows

Not so long ago, tipping used to mean a customer rounding up their check at a restaurant if they were happy with the service they received. Now, it can mean being shown an iPad with extravagantly high tip recommendations for simple purchases. Pew Research Center dove into what’s changed about Americans’ views of tipping and…

14 Myths About Debt Americans Need to Stop Believing

14 Myths About Debt Americans Need to Stop Believing

Americans are no strangers to debt, with the average individual owing $21,800 in non-mortgage debt in 2023. Nevertheless, you can bet your bottom dollar that some debt-carrying Americans believe these myths about debt. Mindfully American dug into research and read people’s opinions on the concepts they hold true about debt. The result is this list…

19 Things the Middle Class Won’t Be Able to Afford in 5 Years

19 Things the Middle Class Won’t Be Able to Afford in 5 Years

If current financial trends continue, middle-class Americans may find things they used to afford unattainable. Over the next five years, housing, healthcare, and transportation could exceed the budget of average earners. Though this trend is troubling, there are things that can help, like solid financial planning and changes to government policies affecting the middle class….