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In light of the ongoing trade war with China, some Americans are pausing and adding more thought to their holiday shopping plans this year. Some 93% of Americans said they plan to make purchases this holiday season, according to a new NerdWallet survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, of over 2,000 U.S. adults. Of those, 44% said they will compare prices of products more closely because of the trade war. American attention is divided Tariffs

In this series, NerdWallet interviews people who have triumphed over debt using a combination of commitment, budgeting and smart financial choices. Responses have been edited for length and clarity. Allison Baggerly How much: $111,108.29 in 4.5 years Budgeting was the last thing Allison Baggerly and her husband, Matt, thought about. Instead, they focused on eating out, shopping and enjoying life as young professionals. That was until they discovered that their first baby was on the way.

One million dollars might sound like enough to retire with today, but by the time you reach your last day of work, it’ll be worth less than you might think. The reason is inflation, and it impacts how you plan for the future. Here’s a look at what inflation is and how to keep it from draining your short- and long-term savings. Here’s what inflation is… Broadly speaking, inflation is the increase in overall prices

In the event of a fire or other disaster, would you be able to remember all your possessions? We know how important your personal belongings are to you.  That’s why it’s important to create and maintain an accurate household inventory.    A few things to get you started are listed below: Keep a detailed list of all items – don’t forget the smaller items like towels, shoes, and number of pairs of jeans. Check coverage on

With a swipe here and a swipe there, it can be easy to live your life on plastic and pile up debt. You’re not alone: U.S. households carried credit card balances that totaled $815 billion in debt in the first quarter of 2018, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Sticking to a budget, spending wisely and focusing on your financial goals can help you use your money for the things that are most

Back-to-school shopping is an expensive chore. And if you shop local sales, it’s a chore you’ll share with thousands of other parents in the vicinity. If it’s big savings you’re after when you brave the crowds, sales flyers won’t cut it. You’ve got to get creative. “Back-to-school shopping can put a big strain on family budgets, but planning ahead to take advantage of discounts, setting a budget, and only buying what your child actually needs

If a bank account is a house for your money, then mobile alerts are your alarm system. These email or text alerts can help you keep track of when your money enters and exits your accounts — and make sure there’s no breaking-and-entering either. “As fraudulent behavior has become more public with major retailers being breached, consumers have realized the importance of being involved in identifying fraud and not solely relying on their banks and

Amy Hauser Bank Card Services Manager Platte Valley Companies Traveling can be fun, but it can also open you up to fraud risk. Here are some tips for you to keep in mind as you travel: Before you leave, notify your bank of your travel dates and places you will be visiting. Protect your card!  Take only the credit and/or debit cards you expect to use, plus a backup, and keep them safe and close

“Ask Brianna” is a column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college. Send your questions about postgrad life to askbrianna@nerdwallet.com. College is over, but you still have to do the kind of math that matters. Like: How am I supposed to save $50,000

When you bank online, you trust that your account is safe from hackers. Even so, online accounts can seem to consumers like easy targets: Instead of robbing a bank, a criminal could simply whisk away your money with a few keystrokes. To combat these concerns — and protect your cash — banks and credit unions have a number of policies to keep online customer accounts secure. Standard measures include using firewalls, anti-virus protection on bank