Bestmoney Staff

What if there were something you could do to instantly improve your credit score, possibly by more than 20 points? That something, according to a new TransUnion study, is a debt consolidation loan. Read on to find out how.

Founded in 2008, Live Oak Bank is a digitally focused, FDIC-insured bank serving customers nationwide. Its current business checking lineup includes Business Essential, Business Plus, and Business Plus Analysis. The main draw is digital-first business banking with unlimited transactions, mobile deposit, bill pay, QuickBooks integration, waivable monthly fees on two tiers, and access to 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs.

When you search for the best budgeting apps, you are often met with a standard roster of tools designed for the individual optimizer or the debt-focused single payer. Articles like those found on U.S. News & World Report do an excellent job of categorizing apps by financial standing—telling you which app is best if you are in debt, or which is best if you are an investor.

The best budgeting apps for college students in 2026 include YNAB (free for one year with student verification — the highest-value deal in personal finance), Goodbudget (best free

Summer travel used to feel simple — pick a destination, book a flight, and go.

The best time to apply for private student loans is typically 6–8 weeks before your tuition payment deadline.

The best budgeting apps for couples in 2026 include Monarch Money (best overall for joint finances), YNAB (best for zero-based discipline

Grasshopper Savings is offered through AAA Banking’s Triple Advantage Savings account. The account offers a variable APY of up to 3.40% for eligible AAA members and 2.90% for non-members, with a $100 opening deposit, a $0.01 minimum balance to earn interest, and digital account access through web and mobile banking. Deposits are held at Grasshopper Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.

The best gas saving apps in 2026 include GasBuddy (best for finding cheapest prices + pay-at-pump discounts), Upside (best cashback app, average $254/year saved), Checkout 51 (best for stacking with other apps), and Waze (best for route-integrated price comparison).

Founded in 2014, Greenlight is an Atlanta-based family-finance fintech built around a parent-managed debit card and app experience. Its current plans include cards for up to five kids, real-time alerts, store and ATM controls, allowance tools, and mobile-wallet support, while card funds are issued through Community Federal Savings Bank and insured up to FDIC limits.

Money-saving apps can help you automate your finances, track spending, and build savings with minimal effort. In a world where money seems to slip through your fingers, technology offers a helping hand. Saving money requires discipline, but modern apps can make the process almost effortless.

The 50/30/20 rule is a simple budgeting method that divides your after-tax income into three categories: 50% for needs, 30% for wants, and 20% for savings.

Managing money shouldn't feel like solving a complex puzzle. Yet 64% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, often because they lack visibility into where their money actually goes.

Fidelity Investments offers a low-cost, feature-rich investment platform suitable for both beginner and advanced investors. With commission-free trades*, robust research tools, and a variety of investment options**, it serves a wide user base. Its avoidance of payment for order flow and competitive robo-advisor services set it apart.

Fidelity offers a wide variety of IRA options with no account minimums to open, robust tax-advantaged features, and seamless integration with its broader retirement planning tools. Its flexibility, low costs, and in-depth retirement education resources make it a strong choice for savers and investors focused on long-term retirement planning.

Valley Strong offers accessible home equity loans and HELOCs with competitive terms, making them a reliable option for homeowners seeking to leverage equity for major expenses, debt consolidation, or renovations.

Marcus by Goldman Sachs launched in 2016. Its standard High-Yield CD offers fixed terms from 6 months to 6 years, a $500 minimum deposit, daily compounding, monthly interest crediting, and a 10-Day CD Rate Guarantee. For savers who want a predictable APY and strong online account controls, it is one of the clearer CD products to compare and manage online.

OneMain Financial is a subsidiary of OneMain Holdings, Inc., a publicly traded financial services company founded in Baltimore in 1912. It specializes in providing unsecured and secured personal loans to consumers across America. It operates online and in branches around the country. As of the end of 2023, it has more than1,300 branches in 44 states.