Kohl’s Memorial Day Sale | $10 off $25 + Stack 15% Off Home Items

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Head over to the Kohl’s Memorial Day Sale where you can stack offers to score great home deals! Get $10 off $25 plus an extra 15% off select home purchases!

Even better, you will earn $5 Kohl’s Cash for every $25 spent.

Here are the coupon codes:

TAKE10 – $10 off $25
HOME15 – 15% off select home purchases

Text SHOP15 to 56457 to receive a unique code to get a possible extra 15% off all items!

Deal Ideas

Hikolayae Value Pack 2-Piece Hardside Spinner Luggage Set – $44.61 (reg. $75)
-with code HOME15
+Get back $5 Kohl’s Cash

Disney’s Sheet Set or Pillowcases by The Big One – $16.99 (reg. $25)
-with code HOME15

Farberware Cookstart 15-pc. DiamondMax Nonstick Cookware Set – $50.99 (reg. $120)
-with code HOME15
+Get back $10 Kohl’s Cash

The Big One® Bed in a Bag Comforter Set with Sheets, Queen – $57.36 (reg. $90)
-with code HOME15
+Get back $10 Kohl’s Cash

NutriBullet PRO 900W Matte Nutrient Extractor Blender – $67.99 (reg. $120)
-with code HOME15
+Get back $10 Kohl’s Cash

Sale ends 5/26. Shipping is free on orders of $49+.

See more deals at Kohl’s

Head over to the Kohl’s Memorial Day Sale where you can stack offers to score great home deals! Get $10 off $25 plus an extra 15% off select home purchases! Even better, you will earn $5 Kohl’s Cash for every $25 spent. Here are the coupon codes: TAKE10 – $10 off $25 HOME15 – 15% off select home purchases Text SHOP15 toRead More

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Why Your Marital Status Could Influence Whether You Own Stocks

miljko / Getty ImagesPeople who are married are far more likely to own stocks, whether personally or jointly with their spouse, than single adults.The higher household income achieved with two paychecks is a big factor but it isn't the only one. Research finds that economic risk-sharing nudges married couples into the market while many singles remain on the sidelines.We explain below why being married means you're more likely to be in the market.Key TakeawaysMarried adults are far more likely to report owning stocks than single adults.Combined incomes, pooled emergency funds, and the option to lean on a partner if one job disappears let married investors accept market risk more readily.When one partner has stock market experience, the other is far more likely to start investing after they get together.Household Income and Risk PoolingAccording to Gallup’s latest survey data, 77% of married Americans say they own stocks, individually or jointly with their spouse, whether directly or via mutual funds or retirement accounts. That compares with just 49% of single adults. Married couples are also far more likely to have tax-advantaged retirement accounts.What explains this gap? First, a married couple with two salaries likely enjoys higher household earnings than a single individual, and therefore, more money left over to invest.Crucially, having two salaries also reduces risk in one area of a married couple's economic life, enabling them to take on more risk via the stock market. Consider that if one partner loses their job, the other's salary will help carry them, making an unexpected layoff or medical bill less likely to burn through savings or force a fire sale of existing investments. That cushion encourages couples to open brokerage accounts earlier and keep contributing through downturns.Marriage as a 'Safe Asset'In fact, some economists see marriage as a sort of “safe asset” that lowers overall household risk, especially for women. Households became nearly ten percentage points more likely to own equities within two years of marrying. Data also show that separated individuals pair that back again after divorce, suggesting the “spousal safety net” effect fades once the partnership ends.Gender Differences and Shared Decision‑MakingEven if one spouse isn't an investor, social learning is often at work: if the other is, it can bring them into the fold. Recent studies find that when one partner already has stock market experience, the other is far likelier to start investing after moving in together (and single men are more likely to be shareholders than single women). Research from Denmark also finds women’s stock ownership climbs markedly after marriage, with men showing smaller but still positive shifts.But there are some caveats. Behavioral research indicates that single men tend to trade more aggressively—sometimes to their detriment—while married investors, particularly women, may under‑diversify by overweighting employer stock or keeping excess cash.Still, the overall direction of the evidence is clear: marriage raises stock market participation, and the couple’s internal dynamics shape how much risk they ultimately take.The Bottom LineWith higher household incomes and psychological safety nets, marriage stacks the odds in favor of owning stocks. Singles can narrow the gap by automating contributions, building an emergency fund, and seeking outside accountability—from a friend, financial planner, or even a roboadvisor app—to help replicate the risk‑sharing and information benefits couples naturally enjoy. In the end, relationship status should inform, but not dictate, your investing choices.
What's the Best Way to Pay For a Tiny House? A Tiny Mortgage or a Personal Loan?

Fact checked by Betsy PetrickGetty Images/Halfpoint ImagesA tiny home can help you achieve your dream of home ownership without the hefty price tag. The smaller size and simple design translate to a smaller footprint and lower costs. If you're worried about how to afford one, there are personal loans and, in some cases, mortgages to help you achieve your dream of tiny homeownership.Key TakeawaysYou can use a personal loan to finance the purchase of a tiny home.A personal loan has higher interest rates and shorter repayment terms than a traditional mortgage, which doesn't apply to a tiny home.You can use your tiny home to secure a chattel mortgage, but you won't own your home until you pay the loan off.Ready to Join the Tiny Home Movement? Tiny homes can be anything: an RV, a cabin, a converted bus, a trailer home, a container home, or even a shipping container. You can choose to build one yourself or have one built for you. And it isn't uncommon to have a prefab or kit delivered to you.You can find and order prefab and tiny home kits online through Amazon and from big-box retailers like Walmart and Home Depot, some of which can even cost under $10,000. Also, tiny home builders can design and construct one to your specifications.The average tiny home kit is 100 to 400 square feet and costs between $30,000 and $60,000. The complexity of the kit determines the time it takes to build; simpler kits can take days, while more complicated ones can take longer.Make sure you're ready for the challenges of tiny home living, including changes to your lifestyle and limited storage space.Financing Options for a Tiny HomePersonal LoansOne of the best ways to finance the purchase of your tiny home is to use a personal loan. It allows you to borrow money to buy your tiny home and repay the lender over time with interest. Applying is easy, and most lenders can fund your loan in one business day after approval.Repayment terms are flexible and can be shorter than a traditional mortgage. Keep in mind that many loans are unsecured, which means your interest rates will be higher. (The average rate for a 24-month personal loan in the first quarter of 2025 was 11.66%). You can get a lower interest rate if you:Have a great credit scoreHave a low debt-to-income (DTI) ratioSecure your loan with a tiny home like an RVYou have various personal loan options that you can get through a bank, credit union, online lender, or peer-to-peer (P2P) platform.Chattel LoansDon't count on a traditional mortgage to finance your tiny home. Lenders may have a minimum lending threshold that tiny home values don't meet, and they generally require properties to be on permanent foundations.However, you may get a chattel mortgage instead. Also called a chattel or manufactured loan, it is secured by movable personal property like an RV or other tiny home. There are a few key differences that set chattel mortgages apart from traditional mortgages, including:Ownership: A traditional mortgage lender only holds a lien on the property while the borrower retains ownership. Conversely, a chattel lender owns the property until you pay off the loan.Interest rates: Interest rates are usually higher for chattel loans versus traditional mortgages, meaning you'll have higher monthly payments.Loan terms: Chattel loans usually have shorter repayment terms.Requirements: Traditional mortgages require appraisals and home inspections, whereas chattel mortgage lenders may not.Keep in mind that the higher interest rates, coupled with fewer refinancing options, the lack of consumer protections, and the potential of repossession, make chattel mortgages very risky.The Bottom LineA tiny house can offer homebuyers an affordable path to home ownership, with financing through a personal loan or chattel mortgage. However, before buying a tiny home kit, be sure to do your research. Zoning laws and building codes can vary in different jurisdictions and impact the type of tiny home you purchase and where you place it.
If the Economy Struggles, Will People Turn to Payday Lenders? The Answer Is Surprising

Fact checked by Ward Williamssinology / Getty Images Payday loans can be relatively expensive, with APRs often in the triple digits.Since the early 1990s, modern payday lending has been a source of short-term financing for individuals who need funds fast. However, it’s also a controversial practice that’s undergone many state and federal reforms to protect consumers against predatory lenders. With a potential recession looming, will an economic downturn—and the resulting financial strain on consumers—lead to an increased reliance on payday lending? While it’s certainly possible, there isn’t sufficient historical data to definitively answer this question.Key TakeawaysPayday loans are small, high-interest loans that typically must be repaid by the borrower’s next payday.Historical data shows some evidence of a rise in payday lending during the Great Recession, but a drop during the pandemic due to government financial assistance.Increased payday lending can lead to significant financial consequences for borrowers.Understanding Payday LendingAccording to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a payday loan is a small, short-term, unsecured loan with a high annual percentage rate (APR). It gets its name from the fact that borrowers essentially trade a portion of their next paycheck for early access to the same amount of money (minus the cost of any fees).While loan terms can vary between lenders, a typical payday loan has:A maximum loan amount of $500A repayment term of two to four weeks (i.e., a standard pay period)A lump-sum repayment structureAuthorization for automatic repayment, usually through either a postdated check or an electronic bank account withdrawalA high APR relative to the size of the loan, potentially in the triple digitsNo credit check requirementImportantPayday loans are only available in 32 states; they are effectively outlawed in others. Of those states that permit payday loans, some impose strict safeguards limiting their costs and usage, but most states have few safeguards in place.The Relationship Between Economic Downturns and Payday LendingIn theory, if an economic downturn puts a financial strain on consumers, they’re more likely to resort to payday lending in order to get by. However, the available data paints a more nuanced picture.Does Payday Lending Increase During Economic Downturns?According to a 2016 study published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, payday lending did increase during the Great Recession. However, because the researchers lacked payday lending data from years prior to 2007, it’s uncertain whether the increase was a continuation of an ongoing trend or directly related to the recession. That said, the researchers also found that more middle-income borrowers have been taking out payday loans since 2007. Meanwhile, a 2020 report from the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation found that Californians’ reliance on payday loans actually dropped during the 2020 recession, likely as a result of pandemic-related government assistance. In other words, other forms of financial relief can help stave off and even lower the use of payday loans during recessions.Consequences for BorrowersIf borrowers do have to rely on payday lending during a recession, they should proceed with caution. Payday loans are notoriously expensive and often predatory. If you’re not careful, you could end up stuck in a cycle of debt.For instance, unpaid payday loans can be rolled over into a new payday loan to defer full repayment, at the cost of an additional fee. In 2022, the CFPB estimated that approximately 80% of payday loans were rolled over; as a result, borrowers ended up paying more in fees than the original principal. In the worst-case scenarios, you could ruin your credit and be forced to declare bankruptcy.The Bottom LinePayday lending regulations have come a long way since the industry’s inception. In 2020, federal regulators steered conventional banks away from bankrolling payday lenders and toward offering more sustainable “small-dollar loans.” Unlike their payday lending counterparts, these loans can be repaid over longer terms through installments and have much lower initial fees. Currently, there isn’t conclusive evidence to say for certain whether payday lending increases during a recession. However, for a middle- or low-income individual, taking out one of these loans would most likely exacerbate the financial strain they’d already be feeling amid an economic downturn. Regardless of the state of the economy, small-dollar loans and other alternative sources of funding can help minimize consumers’ reliance on risky payday loans.We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.