Latest:

SavvyShoppers

Shop Smart, Shop Savvy

Easy Grilled Pizza

I’m all about pizza and grilling, so when I can combine the two, it’s a win. The grill gives pizza…
Mango Salsa Salmon

I’m obsessed with salmon, and this Mango Salsa Salmon might be my new favorite! It’s quick, flavorful, and my kids…
Weekly Meal Plan #44

This week’s meal plan is all about keeping things simple and delicious! I’ve rounded up a fresh batch of easy-to-make dinners that’ll…
Dr. Pepper Sheet Cake

Dr. Pepper Sheet Cake is what happens when your favorite fizzy drink meets rich, fudgy chocolate cake, and it’s magic! The…
Frito Chili Pie

Not to be dramatic, but Frito Chili Pie might have saved my sanity. Zero whining, zero leftovers, it was a…
Mother’s Day Breakfast Menu

What mom doesn’t love it when a meal is planned for her? This mother’s day menu plan has recipes that…
One-Pan Creamy Lemon Orzo

Fresh lemons make me so happy! They’re bright, cheerful, and lift me out of the winter rut. Add that citrusy…
Homemade BBQ Seasoning

My homemade BBQ seasoning brings bold, smoky flavor to just about anything! It’s the perfect blend of sweet, savory, and…
Weekly Meal Plan #43

If dinner planned itself, life would be easy. Until then—this week’s meal plan has your back with simple, tasty meals…
Lemon Chicken Casserole

You guys love lemon chicken anything—and honestly, I’m the same. So I had to give you this lemon chicken casserole.…

Get $5.97 Squishmallows and Bum Bumz at Woot’s Garage Sale!

Jimmy3

Hop on over to Woot’s Garage Sale where you can find Squishmallows and Bum Bumz for just $5.97 (reg. $30)! Plus, find more fun deals!

These are selling out quickly!

Here are some of the characters you can find for $5.97:

Sale ends 5/21. Shipping is free for Prime members.

Hop on over to Woot’s Garage Sale where you can find Squishmallows and Bum Bumz for just $5.97 (reg. $30)! Plus, find more fun deals! These are selling out quickly! Here are some of the characters you can find for $5.97: Sale ends 5/21. Shipping is free for Prime members.Read More

The Recipe Critic Delivers Fresh Ideas

Mango Salsa Salmon

I’m obsessed with salmon, and this Mango Salsa Salmon might be my new favorite! It’s quick, flavorful, and my kids…
Weekly Meal Plan #44

This week’s meal plan is all about keeping things simple and delicious! I’ve rounded up a fresh batch of easy-to-make dinners that’ll…
Dr. Pepper Sheet Cake

Dr. Pepper Sheet Cake is what happens when your favorite fizzy drink meets rich, fudgy chocolate cake, and it’s magic! The…

Break into investing and finance with Investopedia

Staging Your House for Sale: How Much Does It Really Cost?

You'll save hundreds if you do it yourself
Student Loan Payments Have Resumed—Here's Why Women May Get the Worst of It

LumiNola / Getty Images On average, women take out more student loan debt than men.After a five-year pause, the government is restarting involuntary collections on defaulted federal student loans. The resumption of student loan payments marks a major shift for millions of borrowers, especially women. They carry most of the country's student debt and typically earn less than men, both of which can make repaying loans harder.Key TakeawaysInvoluntary collections on defaulted student loans are resuming after a five-year pause.Women, who held almost two-thirds of all student loan debt in 2021, could be hit harder.Lower earnings, caregiving responsibilities, and racial wage gaps make repayment tougher for many women.Background on Student Loan PaymentsStudent loans were first paused in early 2020 to provide relief during the pandemic. The pause stopped payments and interest on most federal student loans, and it was extended several times under both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration.After over three years, the pause officially ended on Sept. 1, 2023. Borrowers were given a 12-month "on-ramp" period during which missed payments weren't considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or sent to collection agencies. As of May 5, 2025, that grace period has passed.WarningIf you're in student loan default, the government can now garnish your wages or seize your tax refund and Social Security payments.Social and Demographic FactorsWomen held nearly two-thirds of the nation's $1.6 trillion student debt in 2021, according to the American Association of University Women. With collections restarting, many women who relied on the payment pause now risk losing a portion of their paychecks or certain federal benefits if their loans aren't in good standing.Additionally, women often earn less than men, leaving them with fewer resources to repay their debts. Faced with suspended careers and caregiving demands, women take about two years longer to pay off their loans, which are approximately $2,000 higher on average compared to those of their male counterparts. Longer repayment terms and bigger balances also typically lead to paying more in interest.Race adds another dimension to this issue. Black women, for example, borrow more for school than anyone and face a steeper wage gap. A 2022 study from the Education Trust found that 12 years after college, White men had paid off nearly half of their loan balances, while Black women owed 13% more than they’d originally borrowed.The Bottom LineAs collections restart, now is the time for borrowers in default to explore their repayment options. Income-driven repayment (IDR) plans and loan forgiveness programs may be able to offer some relief.At the same time, there's still work to be done. Policymakers must take steps to close the gender wage gap and address other systemic issues that cause student debt inequality.
Your Money, Their Votes: What You Should Know About How Funds Should Vote Your Shares

Fact checked by Stella OsobaYinYang/Getty ImagesInvestment funds cast nearly 9 million proxy votes annually on behalf of American investors, effectively serving as corporate America's hidden hand. Once a tedious formality at annual meetings, corporate governance has become contentious.Fund managers traditionally vote on many issues on behalf of investors, but that's changing.Key TakeawaysWhen investing in index funds, you delegate your shareholder voting rights to fund managers who vote on critical corporate issues.The biggest fund managers now offer ways for many investors to direct how they would vote on major corporate governance issues.The Rise of the Big 3's Proxy Voting PowerPassive index mutual and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) now hold over half of U.S. fund assets and about one-third of all U.S. equities. The "Big Three" asset managers—BlackRock Inc. (BLK), Vanguard, and State Street Corp. (STT)—control the most shares in nearly 90% of S&P 500 companies, wielding enormous proxy voting influence.Once reliable supporters of management, the Big Three have been the focus of grassroots campaigns like those of GLAAD and other progressive groups. "Just as GLAAD works to get out the LGBTQ vote in political elections, we are activating the LGBTQ community to get educated and vote during proxy season," Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, the media advocacy organization for accelerating LGBTQ acceptance, told Investopedia.Conservatives targeted these funds after environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-friendly votes in the early 2020s. Their critics, like James Copland of the Manhattan Institute, call their power "peculiar" and hope that Congress or the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will curtail the Big Three's ability to flex their "voting muscle over all of corporate America." They argue that since funds are mere conduits for investors avoiding investing decisions (they automatically get whatever is in specific indexes), they shouldn't get to impose their values through proxy votes.However, many trading strategies—from technical trading to quant models—would seem at least as disconnected from governance concerns—so where to draw the line? The fund giants argue, too, that index investors often have the most at stake, saying that as permanent shareholders unable to sell specific index holdings (as others who disagree with a company's policies can), they must exercise their governance rights. BlackRock CEO Larry Fink calls index investors "the ultimate long-term investors," while Vanguard argues their position requires "the highest standards of stewardship."NoteIn 2025, Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST), Apple, Walt Disney Co. (DIS), and Goldman Sachs (GS), among others, fought off anti-DEI proposals with shareholder support over 95%.New Ways To Make Your Voice HeardFacing political pressure, fund giants now offer investors more control over proxy votes:BlackRockAccording to a company spokesperson, BlackRock's Voting Choice program enables over 3 million eligible shareholders in the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), representing about $275 billion of the fund's total assets of $585 billion, to participate. Investors can choose among seven third-party voting policies or continue letting BlackRock's team vote on their behalf. As of December 2024, $3.1 trillion of BlackRock's $6.3 trillion in index equity assets are eligible, with clients representing $679 billion exercising this choice. Fink has said these programs "can enhance corporate governance by injecting important new voices into shareholder democracy.”State StreetState Street offers 10 proxy voting choices across $1.7 trillion in assets, including all U.S.-based index funds investing in American equities—covering 81% of eligible index equity assets.VanguardVanguard's program covers eight funds (excluding those tracking the (S&P 500 Index), representing 4 million investors and $250 billion in shares. It offers five options: Vanguard-managed voting, management alignment, ESG priorities, profit focus, or abstention.What This Means For Your InvestmentsFund investors wondering how their money influences corporate America can do the following:Review voting records via SEC's Form N-PX filings on the SEC's EDGAR database.Explore the Big Three's voting choice programs.Compare fund families' voting patterns on ESG proposals.The Bottom LineProxy voting has become a major battleground in American capitalism. By investing in funds, you delegate your corporate voting rights to managers with potentially different priorities. Regardless of your stance on ESG initiatives, your investment dollars are helping shape corporate America's future.