Latest news with #Nerdwallet
Newsweek
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
3-Year-OId Wants To Go To Disneyland for Birthday, Parents Did One Better
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Washington couple found a way to make all their daughter's birthday dreams come true at a fraction of the price. Kim Egan moved from Los Angeles to Gig Harbor with her husband Brian and their two young children two years ago. She took to Reddit to reveal the big surprise they put together for their daughter Millie's third birthday: a homemade mini Disneyland. It was a shrewd choice, given the costs of a trip to see Mickey Mouse and the gang in person and one Egan was happy to share to Reddit under the handle u/DMMeYourCat. An analysis by the money-saving advice website Nerdwallet found that the cost of an average ticket for a family of four going to Disney World stands at $713. The analysis also puts the cheapest-priced ticket for a single day trip to the park at $160 per person. Many would have balked at the idea of building a mini DisneyLand from scratch, but Egan and her husband had form where this was concerned. "We wanted to do something special because last year we made homemade Sesame Street characters," Egan told Newsweek. The family displays the Disneyland of their own that they made. The family displays the Disneyland of their own that they made. Instagram/dotton_creative That experience proved invaluable this time around. "Last year, it was cardboard, this year, it's SP Styrofoam," Egan said. "We learned and adapted." Together, the couple created cardboard cutouts of all the familiar Disney favorites: Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck and Pluto, as well as characters from movies like Aladdin and The Little Mermaid. Those were only the tip of the iceberg when it came to the Egans' creativity, though. Not only did they put together a mini Disney castle for Millie to enjoy, but there was also a Sebastian's Splash Shack and, best of all, a Mickey Mouse-themed cinema projecting classic clips from the movies. "My husband is an animator who specializes in projection-mapping. He made a custom projection show, based on her favorite songs," Egan said. The Disneyland includes its very own cinema. The Disneyland includes its very own cinema. Instagram/dotton_creative Egan said the couple spent two months working away on the project while the hardest part of the whole thing was "keeping it a secret" from their kids. "Millie had no idea what we were doing up until the day that it happened," Egan added. "She was over the moon." While keeping things a secret may not have been easy, Egan said that she and her husband "had a blast making something special for our daughters" and creating memories for themselves. "When the kids would go to sleep, my husband and I would spend hours laughing, talking and painting," Egan said. "It's a wonderful bonding experience for the whole family to enjoy." This isn't the end of the fun either, with Egan and her husband already plotting to put their family's new mini-Disneyland to good use over the festive break. "We are planning to display it for Christmas, so everyone of all ages can enjoy it, too," Egan said. There will also bound to be plans afoot for something even bigger and better for the next birthday in the family.
Entrepreneur
25-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
College Majors and Careers That Make the Most Money: Report
As the price of an undergraduate degree continues to climb, many college students want to know which paths will bring financial security. A typical student graduating from high school in 2025 could take on an estimated $40,000 in student loan debt before they finish their college education, and interest rates on undergraduate federal student loans are the highest they've been in more than 10 years, Nerdwallet reported. The price tag that comes with a college degree has ballooned steadily over the past several decades — with a staggering rise in the past 15 years. Between 2000 and 2022, average tuition and fees increased by 60%, from $9,204 to $14,688 per year, and those costs spiked 13% in just 12 years between 2010 and 2022 alone, according to BestColleges. Related: These Are the College Majors With the Lowest Unemployment Rates — and Philosophy Ranks Higher Than Computer Science Today's college graduates can expect to spend $153,080 by the end of their undergraduate education, per Student Choice, an organization that partners with more than 300 credit unions to facilitate student lending solutions. But which college majors — and the careers they make possible for new graduates — provide the highest return on students' investment? Student Choice examined data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to pinpoint the median earnings for the top 20 most popular college majors in the U.S. The analysis assumed five years in the workforce and four years spent paying the average annual cost of college. Related: Goldman Sachs CIO Says Coders Should Take Philosophy Classes — Here's Why According to the report, engineering emerged as the degree with the highest five-year return on investment at 326.6%, and computer science/technology came in close second at 310.3%. Computer and information systems managers and advertising, promotions and marketing managers snagged the top spots for careers with the highest five-year return on investment, at 553.7% and 511.4%, respectively, per the data. Related: These 3 Professions Are Most Likely to Vanish in the Next 20 Years Due to AI, According to a New Report Take a look at Student Choice's infographic below for the full picture of its report on the majors and careers offering the highest return on investment for the price of a college education:
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
Memorial Day 2025 car deals: From EVs to pickups save big bucks with these incentives
Memorial Day 2025 car deals: From EVs to pickups save big bucks with these incentives These financing and leasing deals are among the most lucrative for car buyers this Memorial Day 2025. Show Caption Hide Caption AAA expecting busy Memorial Day weekend for travel Officials with AAA believe over 45 million people will travel at least 50 miles from their homes for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Fox - 10 Phoenix Car dealers across the country are offering Memorial Day 2025 specials. Some of these financing and leasing deals could save drivers thousands of dollars. Chevy's 0% APR financing and Kia's two-year EV lease under $200/month are among most notable deals. Memorial Day is a time to mourn and honor U.S. military servicemembers who died in service to their country. The American auto industry also uses Memorial Day weekend as an opportunity to offer special financing and leasing incentives to drivers. Some of the wildest offers include a 24-month lease for just $182 a month on an electric SUV and brands like Chevrolet are offering 0% APR financing on select models. Here are some of the most affordable leasing and financing deals car brands are offering for Memorial Day 2025. Financing and leasing deals may vary based on location and credit rating. Kia is leasing this electric SUV for $182 a month You can lease a 2025 Kia Niro EV in Macomb County, Michigan, for just $182 a month for 24 months with $5,114 due at signing. That amounts to around $9,482 for two years with the Niro EV. The lease deal expires on June 2. The Kia Niro EV is a crossover electric SUV with decent range and plenty of standard technology. The electric SUV can travel for 253 miles on a full charge. This Niro lease deal is among the cheapest electric vehicle lease deals of the month. Furthermore, a short-term two-year lease gives drivers the opportunity to temporarily switch to electric. Lease a Nissan Ariya for $289 a month You can lease a 2025 Nissan Ariya small electric SUV for $289 a month for 36 months with an initial payment of $4,909 in some regions. That amounts to a total cost of $15,313 for three years with Nissan's EV. Nissan's electric SUV is "quick, quiet, and roomy, according to a review by Consumer Reports. It has 216 miles of standard driving range, but larger battery models are capable of traveling for up to 289 miles on a full charge. Chevrolet offers 0% APR financing on a best-selling SUV Electric vehicles aren't the only vehicles with great incentives for drivers to take advantage of. Chevrolet is currently offering 0% APR (annual percentage rate) for 60 months on the 2024 Suburban at select Chevrolet dealers. This means Suburban buyers won't pay any interest on their loans for five years. The average car loan is close to six years, according to Nerdwallet. So if you take advantage of this financing incentive and pay off the loan in five years, you could potentially save thousands of dollars in interest payments. Chevrolet says you must finance with GM Financial to utilize this incentive. The 2024 Chevrolet Suburban is a three-row SUV with plenty of cargo capacity (144.7 cubic feet). The Suburban is best-known for its roomy interior and class-leading trunk space. It's "a quintessential full-size SUV", according to CarAndDriver. Honda offers 1.99% APR financing on its pickup truck The Honda Ridgeline is a midsize pickup truck that competes with popular models like the Toyota Tacoma. It's known for its smooth ride quality because of its unique unibody design. Honda is offering 1.99% APR financing for 24-36 months on the 2025 Honda Ridgeline at select Honda dealers. Drivers who take advantage of this incentive could pay as little as $28.64 a month in interest (with a 10% down payment), according to Honda. The average new car APR for drivers with a 'superprime' credit score (781-850) was 4.77% in 2024, said an article by Nerdwallet. If Honda dealers in your area are offering this incentive, you could finance a 2025 Honda Ridgeline with relatively small interest payments compared to the average new car APR. It's cabin is comfy and its two-way tailgate is versatile, said Edmunds' team of expert vehicle reviewers. Toyota 2025 Camry for $299 a month lease The 2025 Toyota Camry is completely redesigned and features a standard hybrid powertrain. Toyota's midsize sedan is a best-selling model in its segment that competes with popular rivals like the Honda Accord. You can lease a 2025 Toyota Camry LE (at select Toyota dealers) for just $299 a month for 36 months with $3,999 due at signing. Additional fees may apply, but this incentive works out to around $14,763 for three years with the new Camry. The 2025 Toyota Camry LE front-wheel drive achieves a whopping 53 miles per gallon in the city and 50 miles per gallon on the highway. It's easily one of the most efficient new midsize cars on the market thanks to its hybrid powertrain.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The GOP is proposing $1,000 ‘MAGA' savings accounts for kids. Here's how they would stack up next to existing investment options
Republicans are proposing the creation of a new tax-preferred savings account for children dubbed the 'money account for growth and advancement,' or MAGA account, in their 'one big beautiful' tax bill. The proposal calls for giving $1,000 to children born between 2025 and 2028 to kickstart savings, and supplies other incentives for parents to save for their kids' future. As currently written in the draft legislation, the MAGA account would allow parents to contribute up to $5,000 per year that would be invested in U.S. equities. Money contributed to the account could be put toward qualifying expenses like school or job training expenses, to buy a home, or to start a small business. Republicans are still working out what they mean by tax advantaged. One plan says it would be 'exempt for taxation,' while another bill summary says the withdrawals would be taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, akin to a brokerage account. The government could also contribute, and those would not be subject to a cap. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tx., previously told Semafor that the accounts would help children in the U.S. 'begin the journey of savings and benefit from the wonders of compound interest.' The U.S. Treasury would automatically set up accounts for those who do not have them, and fund them with a one-time $1,000 payment for the next four years. The proposal also calls for letting parents with kids under the age of 8 establish an account, though only newborns receive $1,000. Half of the funds could be withdrawn between the ages of 18 and 25, while any remaining funds would have to be disbursed by 31. The proposed MAGA savings accounts would represent a new vehicle for parents to save for their children, but states have long offered variations of such plans—meaning parents would want to evaluate the various merits of each. Parents already have some tax-preferred savings options for their kids, albeit with slightly different parameters. A 529 savings plans is most commonly structured as a tax-advantaged investment account that can be used to pay for qualified education expenses like tuition. The plans and their exact tax structure vary by state, but so long as the funds go toward qualified educational expenses, earnings and withdrawals are tax free. Until the MAGA bill writers define the final tax incentives, it's unclear if a given state plan would be more or less advantageous. Many states also offer other tax deductions and credits related to education. A custodial Roth IRA, meanwhile, is a Roth retirement account managed by a parent or guardian for the benefit of their under-18 (or 21, depending on the state) child. When they reach adulthood, the accounts are rolled over to a standard retirement vehicle. And depending on how withdrawals are taxed, they may not be that advantageous to many savers, says Sam Taube, lead investing writer at personal finance site Nerdwallet. If withdrawals are taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, 'this would effectively be the same tax treatment as a passively-invested brokerage account, except that in a normal brokerage account, all sales of investments that have been held for more than one year are taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, regardless of what you're using the money for,' says Taube. In that way, the MAGA account would actually be less advantageous, because it limits when beneficiaries can use the funds and what they can be used for. Aside from what funds invested in the accounts can be used for, one of the main differences between the proposed MAGA accounts and existing accounts for kids is the $1,000 the federal government is proposing to give children born from 2025 through 2028 says Taube. But similar funding options exist at the state level in some places. Taube points to Colorado's First Step Program, which gives a $100 contribution to a 529 plan at birth, and matches $1,000 contributions during an eligible account's first five years of funding. Parents can check out the National Conference of State Legislatures for more information on what their states offer. Something to watch out for, says Taube, is that some state 529 programs have income limits, and the funds can only be spent on educational expenses, limiting their usefulness. 'The proposed MAGA accounts, in their current form, may offer a little more flexibility, both in terms of income-based eligibility and in terms of what the money can be spent on,' says Taube. 'But it's not one-or-the-other. Given that the proposed MAGA accounts are not 529 plans, parents could take advantage of both.' Overall, it's 'hard to say' what the effect of the GOP's broader proposed $5 trillion tax bill will be on Americans' personal finances, says Taube. The current proposal calls for eliminating certain tax cuts, while expanding others. It also taxes private university endowments, which could lead to additional costs passed onto students. The bill also calls for cutting Medicaid benefits, which would likely financially harm low-income Americans. The GOP tax bill is still being debated, and needs to pass both the House and Senate before President Donald Trump can sign off on it, something that could take months. Republicans are under something of a ticking time bomb to pass their bill. The last time Trump was in office, the sweeping tax legislation he signed into law came with an end date: Most of the provisions, especially those related to individual tax cuts, would expire at the end of 2025. That includes lower tax rates for many Americans, as well as a more substantial estate and gift tax exemption and other tax breaks. As it stands, Republicans are torn on a few of the provisions, including deep cuts to Medicaid and the state and local tax deduction known as SALT. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Las Vegas tourism sees 7.8% decline in visitors — Trump's gamble with policies may be why
Las Vegas is a popular destination for tourists, but visitors aren't flocking to the city in the numbers they once were. In March 2025, visitor volume was down by 7.8% from the same period last year, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). Beyond falling visitor numbers, gaming revenue on the Strip, where many of the iconic hotels and Vegas experiences exist, was down 4.8%. Gaming revenue was up on the Boulder Strip and Downtown, but they rake in a fraction of the revenue that the Strip sees. Hotel occupancy in the city reached 82.9%, down from 85.3% last year, and the total room nights occupied was down by 6.1% year over year. On the face of it, a drop of 7.8% in the overall number of visitors to Vegas is a startling reality. The city's tourism-based economy relies heavily on the dollars that out-of-towners spend in their hotels, restaurants, bars, casinos, and more. Although the city is experiencing a drop in overall visitors, not all forms of foot traffic are down. Surprisingly, convention attendance is up by 10%. The spike in convention attendance is due in large part to a recent health care conference, which brought a massive number of attendees to the city. But since this conference rotates locations each year, Vegas likely won't enjoy this conference-related bump to the economy next year. It's clear that visitor traffic is down in Las Vegas, and there appear to be multiple contributing factors. The LVCVA report cited 'a slightly less‐packed event calendar and as‐yet unclear impacts of evolving federal policies rippling through international and domestic markets.' The Trump administration's tariff and immigration policies are unpopular around the world. International visits to the U.S. fell approximately 14% in March from the same period last year, according to government data cited by the U.S. Travel Association in April. It added that 'domestic travel has held relatively steady so far in 2025 — but early signs suggest this momentum may not last.' Many visitors may be choosing to skip a Vegas vacation due to cooling feelings toward the U.S. Last year, the city drew five million international visitors, and more than half were from Canada and Mexico, according to the LVCVA. U.S. relations with both countries have been tense lately. Americans may also be nervous about the economy and spending. A recent Bankrate survey found that only 46% of U.S. adults plan to travel domestically or internationally this summer, down from 53% last year. Sixty-five percent of the non-traveler group said it's because they can't afford it, even though travel costs are actually down compared to this time last year, per Nerdwallet. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
