Score $500 Off This Inflatable Water Mat Party Pad + Free Shipping

Jimmy3

Grab an Inflatable Water Mat Party Pad for this summer’s adventures!

For a limited time, head over to Scheels.com where you can snag this HO Sports 10 x 10 Inflatable Water Mat Party Pad for just $599 shipped (regularly $1,099)!

HO Sports 10 x 10 Inflatable Water Mat Party Pad
Only $599 shipped (reg. $1,099)!

This inflatable water mat gives you a big, sturdy space to lounge, play, or float with friends. It’s made from durable drop-stitch material, so it stays firm like a paddleboard without feeling wobbly.

The 10×10 size fits a group, and the bright colors make it easy to spot on the water. It inflates quickly, packs down small, and works great on lakes, calm ocean water, or even in a large pool.

Grab an Inflatable Water Mat Party Pad for this summer’s adventures! For a limited time, head over to Scheels.com where you can snag this HO Sports 10 x 10 Inflatable Water Mat Party Pad for just $599 shipped (regularly $1,099)! HO Sports 10 x 10 Inflatable Water Mat Party Pad Only $599 shipped (reg. $1,099)!Read MoreDeals, Gift Ideas, Kids, Sponsored Posts, Teens

The Recipe Critic Delivers Fresh Ideas

The Best BLT Pasta Salad

The best sandwich ever? Hands down, a BLT. Add in my obsession with pasta salads and, chef’s kiss! This BLT…
Elote Pasta Salad

Guys, I’m obsessed with elote, so obviously I had to turn all that smoky, creamy, cheesy, lime magic into a…
Weekly Meal Plan #45

Can you believe we’re at Week 45 of meal planning? This week’s menu is full of easy, family-friendly dinners—and it comes with…

Break into investing and finance with Investopedia

Why Stock Ownership Has Finally Returned to Pre-2008 Crash Levels

Fact checked by Stella Osobadamircudic / Getty Images A woman studying a chart on her laptop while at home.After 18 odd years, stocks are finally back in vogue. According to analytics company Gallup, 62% of Americans reported owning company shares in 2024 and 2025, a level previously not seen since 2007, the year the Great Recession began.No reason for this upturn in stock market participation was given, but popular tech stocks delivering bumper returns, greater accessibility thanks to the rise of online trading platforms, and increased access to employment-based retirement plans are likely factors.Key Takeaways62% of Americans reported owning company shares in 2024 and 2025, the highest level since before the Great Recession.Stock ownership averaged was 62% in 2007, hit a low of 52% in both 2013 and 2016, and has been gradually rising since.Factors could include improved record highs for stocks, stronger household finances, greater access to employment-based retirement plans, and the proliferation of accessible trading platforms.What the Data SaysSince 1998, Gallup has been asking Americans once a year whether they owned stock in publicly traded companies, whether personally or with their spouse. That doesn’t just mean directly owning shares in individual companies—investments in mutual funds or retirement savings accounts like a 401(k) or IRA also count.The readings were consistent during the poll’s first decade, hovering around 60%. Then the Great Recession struck, the stock market crashed, many people lost their jobs and their savings, and trust in the financial sector was severely dented.Over the following decade, stock ownership remained well below the prior established norm of about 60%. It hit a low of 52% in both 2013 and 2016 and didn’t bounce back to 60% until 2023. The number again reached 62% in 2024 and 2025, not far off the 63% record set in 2004.Why Has Stock Ownership Bounced Back?Multiple factors could cause stock ownership to fluctuate, including market booms and busts, household finances, and access to employment-based retirement plans. So it's difficult to assign a rise or fall in stock ownership to any one factor.The shock of the 2007-2008 financial crisis and the market crash were likely factors in the decline in ownership in the following years. Many people also may have had to liquidate their accounts to meet expenses in the prolonged, painful recession that followed.In recent years, though, the percentage of employees with access to retirement plans has been climbing, from 54% in 2010 to 66% in 2024. The rise accelerated once certain part-time employees were granted the right to participate, which certainly helped drive overall stock ownership figures higher.So, too, the rise of more accessible stock trading platforms such as Robinhood, which offer the ability to buy fractional shares, making it easier and cheaper to trade stocks.The Bottom LineMore Americans are investing in stocks than at any point since 2007. A lot has happened since that date, including another market crash and recession, a long bear market, and an unprecedented period of low borrowing costs followed by rampant inflation.But perhaps the market's performance is most responsible for the rise in stock ownership. The S&P 500, which touched a record high in February 2025, is now nearly nine times higher than it was at the depths of the 2008 crash, and 2.5 times higher than it was at the lows reached during the 2020 COVID-19 crash. Those kind of gains tend to attract investors.
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.