Financial advice is not one-size-fits-all, sometimes we need a little extra help and real-world examples. Finance experts recommend these books as the best finance and personal finance books to build wealth.

Americans routinely pile up credit card reward points, but for some reason, they’re not electing to redeem those rewards lately. That’s a big missed opportunity, credit card experts say.

“Beyond the allure of the bonus or zero interest or no fee at sign-up, people don’t think about their strategy behind the credit card and how they will use it after signing up,” said Money Habitudes chief executive officer Cara Macksoud. “People end up in situations where they sign up for the airline and get 60,000 miles, but they don’t stop and think how often they’ll use the same airline again.”

Money is undoubtedly a taboo topic. We’re often taught from a young age that talking about finances is impolite, uncomfortable, or even shameful. As a result, we grow up and keep our money difficulties and anxieties hush-hush, leading to even more stress. Thinking that you’re the only one who’s dealing with money stress can actually compound the fear of talking about it, creating a particularly vicious cycle.

Talking about money can be difficult — especially when stress and fear abound. But breaking the taboo can also be one of the most empowering things we can do for ourselves and for those around us who might be encouraged to follow our lead.

So, after a lot of focus, dedication, and productive work, you’ve finished and delivered another project. You did your part of the deal, so now you expect the same kind of accuracy from your client — paying for a job done. But what if your client forgets to pay? Or even worse, what if you don’t hear from them once you deliver the project?

In situations like these, it’s essential that you take things into your own hands and ask for payment directly.

From recent high-profile bank failures to sky-high inflation and worries of a recession, many consumers are coping with financial stress as they try and keep their money safe, plan for the future and simply try to make ends meet. In fact, more than half (52 percent) of adults say money has a negative impact on their mental health at least occasionally, according to Bankrate’s 2023 Money and Mental Health Survey. Among those impacted by money worries, almost one-third (29 percent) worry every single day.

While financial stress can often be attributed to external factors, there are ways you can mitigate it and take steps to improve your financial security. Here are seven steps to help you manage financial stress during trying times.

Problems such as lingering high inflation, increased borrowing rates and the threat of a recession have many Americans worried about their finances. In fact, more than half (52 percent) say money has a negative impact on their mental health, according to Bankrate’s financial wellness survey.

Here we’ll go over why financial wellness is so important and then share some simple ways you can become more financially healthy.

Our relationships with money go back a long way. As kids, we learn money lessons from the grown-ups in our lives. Decades later, those lessons remain lodged in our psyche. We may not realize how those early money memories influence our everyday spending and saving habits, but they do. For retirees, the challenge is adopting a healthy attitude about money.