Best Video Doorbells Main Takeaways Google Nest doorbells work seamlessly with Google Assistant and are our top pick overall. Arlo’s 2K video doorbell offers the best video quality. For those seeking a budget-friendly option, Blink offers an affordable doorbell and subscription. Ring offers many different doorbell models, but the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is our favorite battery-powered option because it’s reasonably priced and has a removable battery for easy charging. A video doorbell is a great way to add a layer of security to your home. Not only can you view the footage live, bu ..read more

Investors, take note: The stock market could be in for a nice short-term bump. Data from Bespoke Investment Group shows that Tax Day historically tends to precede a week of healthy performance for stocks. What the data says New Bespoke Investment research suggests a tendency for stocks to perform weaker during the early weeks of the second quarter, at the tail end of tax season. Just how weak the market performs depends on first quarter performance; if the S&P 500 is down going into the second quarter, it averages a rally of just 1.4% in the first two weeks of April. If the S&P 500 is ..read more

A new report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia provides a glimpse into how Americans are dealing with credit card debt — and the picture is pretty bleak. The phrase “series high” appears again and again throughout the short analysis, underscoring the fact that credit card balances, delinquencies and utilization rates have reached the highest levels since the Philadelphia Fed began tracking this data in 2012. “Credit card performance worsened to historical levels,” the report states, noting that the share of folks who fell behind at least 30 days on their credit card payments reache ..read more

Research conducted by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) reveals that an overwhelming amount of home fires originate in kitchens, the leading cause being cooking. Among kitchen fires, grease and oil fires are among the trickiest types to extinguish because of their properties and the risks they pose. Read our guide to learn how to put out a grease fire, including what you can use, safety measures you should take, and more. How does a grease fire start? When the cause of a fire is burning oil or grease, it’s classified as a Class K fire. Class K fires usually occur when cooking oi ..read more

Having your identity stolen can be bad news for both your finances and your overall well-being. The consequences can include fraudulent credit applications, emptied bank accounts and months spent repairing your reputation — not to mention upsetting your emotional equilibrium. Identity theft involves scammers stealing personal identifiable information and using (or selling) it. The crimes identity thieves typically commit involve using your name and other personal information to open accounts, apply for loans or seek medical services. This report relies on data to paint a picture of ID theft in ..read more

This is an excerpt from Dollar Scholar, the Money newsletter where news editor Julia Glum teaches you the modern money lessons you NEED to know. Don’t miss the next issue! Sign up at money.com/subscribe and join our community of 160,000+ Scholars. Jumbo shrimp. Same difference. Good morning. These are some of my favorite oxymorons, or phrases that combine contradictory words for rhetorical effect. (Another funny one is the Dolly Parton quote “You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap.”) An oxymoron is a figure of speech often intended to add humor to a literary work… …or to confu ..read more

Electric vehicles are selling slowly so far in 2024 in a disappointment for automakers that were betting on a faster pace of adoption. In response, manufacturers like Ford are cutting sticker prices on EVs by thousands of dollars, and the industry is offering large incentive deals to try to tempt more buyers. In the first quarter of the year, electric vehicles made up a 7.3% share of all new U.S. car sales, a decrease from a share of 8.1% in the previous quarter, according to Kelley Blue Book data. It was the first time since 2020 that EV sales declined from one quarter to the next. “Until el ..read more

Remember when the average home price was about $300,000? It was only a decade ago — and in many markets, prices have grown at an even faster clip to reach today’s highs. A recent analysis by real estate marketplace Point2Homes found that in just a few years, prices have doubled in most of the 100 largest cities in the U.S. In fact, home prices have risen more quickly in recent years than ever before thanks to the era’s challenging market conditions. How quickly have home prices risen? It’s no secret that inflation, limited supply and fierce buyer competition have pushed home prices to record ..read more

Some federal borrowers who have been paying down their student loans for at least a decade could be eligible for forgiveness of their remaining balance — but they have to act soon. To correct what it calls “needless hurdles and administrative inaccuracies,” the Department of Education has been conducting a one-time payment count adjustment to give borrowers credit for all the time they’ve spent in repayment, including periods of qualifying deferment or forbearance like the three-and-a-half year pandemic payment pause. Having an accurate payment history is crucial for receiving forgiveness thro ..read more

Money’s Key Takeaways: While replacement windows may reduce your energy bills, their upfront costs may not fit into your budget — and recouping your investment will likely take years. New windows can add value to your home, so make sure you choose them carefully, taking into account your home’s style. Consider whether you might repair your existing windows or just replace certain parts. Look into local building codes and permits to make sure you’re following them. Before you decide to replace the windows in your home, it’s important to consider several key factors. First, think about ..read more