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Motley Fool Money Articles

Learn more about applying the principles of money management to help stay in control of your finances.
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Recent Articles

A mom giving her young son a piggyback ride in front of their house.
May 23, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

Here's Why 'Credit Piggybacking' Can Sometimes Backfire -- and When It's Worth It

Adding someone as an authorized user can boost their credit score, but only in the right situations. Here's when credit piggybacking works and when it backfires.
Woman looking in empty wash with credit cards, calculator, and alarm clock on desk in front of her.
May 23, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

56% of Gen Z and 50% of Millennials Don't Have a 1-Month Emergency Fund. Here's Where to Start.

A new Motley Fool Money survey reveals most younger Americans lack emergency savings. Here's how to build a starter cushion without overhauling your life.
Young couple appear to be pleased about something they're viewing on a laptop while woman holds a credit card.
May 23, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

The 3 Best Chase Cards of May 2026, Ranked

Chase is one of the most popular card issuers out there, and that's no accident. Here are three top options worth looking into this month.
A man sitting at his kitchen table with a calculator and bills.
May 23, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

I Compared Paying Off $6,700 in Credit Card Debt vs. Investing in the S&P 500. Here's What the Math Says

Investing for the future is smart, but if you've got lingering credit card debt it's holding you back more than you realize. Here's why paying off debt first almost always wins.
Rolled-up wad of cash placed in small beach chair on a sandy beach.
May 23, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

Top High-Yield Savings Accounts Offering Up to 5.00% APY Today, May 23, 2026

High-yield savings accounts are still paying up to 5.00% APY following a total of three Fed rate cuts in 2025 and a trio of hold decisions so far in 2026.
man in business suit looking through telescope toward horizon.
May 23, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

Earn $750 With a Top Business Card: The Best Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses This Week, May 23, 2026

Want to earn a large sign-up bonus, plus 5% back on all kinds of business expenses? Here's the credit card to get, plus four other favorites available now.
Man holding a fan of cash appears to be in thought.
May 22, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

We Compared Opening a CD vs. an HYSA for a $20,000 Emergency Fund. Here's the Right Answer

A locked-in rate might look better on paper, but flexibility usually wins when comparing a 6-month CD against a high-yield savings account for a $20,000 emergency fund.
family at restaurant paying with mobile payment app on phone
May 22, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

Forget the Apple Card: Here Are 3 Better Options

The Apple Card 2% earning rate sounds great -- until you realize not every merchant accepts Apple Pay. Here are three better options.
A man sits in a cafe and uses his phone to deposit his check.
May 22, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

The Best Checking Account of 2026: Capital One 360 Just Won Our Top Pick

Capital One 360 Checking won Motley Fool Money's Best Checking Account of 2026. Here's why it stood out -- and how to pair it with a high-yield savings account.
Smiling woman with suitcase typing on phone in airport
May 22, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

The 3 Little-Known Perks of the Chase Sapphire Preferred Most Cardholders Never Use

The Chase Sapphire Preferred packs more than great rewards. Here are three underused benefits that can easily cover the $95 annual fee on their own.
A group of friends eating pizza while sitting on the couch in an apartment.
May 22, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

The 3 Best Cards for Streaming, Dining, and Delivery in 2026

Most basic credit cards have low rewards for streaming, dining, and delivery. These three are built differently to match how you actually spend money.
Man looking at laptop screen and raising his fist in celebration.
May 22, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

The Citi Diamond Preferred Won Best Balance Transfer Card of 2026 -- Here's Why

A long 0% intro APR, low balance transfer fee, and no annual fee make this card our top pick for paying off high-interest credit card debt.
Pile of dollar bills
May 22, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

Best High-Yield Savings Rates Today, May 22, 2026: Up to 5.00% APY Still on Offer

Today's best high-yield savings accounts offer up to 5.00% APY -- see top rates and choose the perfect place to help your money grow faster this year.
Two people sitting on their kitchen counter and talking.
May 21, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

The Bank Account I've Been Begging My Friends to Open for Years

It's 2026, and I still have friends keeping their money in a traditional savings account. Here's the account I tell them to get instead, plus a couple alternatives.
A mom holding up her baby for her husband to kiss while he works on a laptop at home.
May 21, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

Trump Accounts Are Coming July 4. Here's How They Work, and Who Gets $1,000

Trump accounts launch July 4, 2026. Here's what they are, who qualifies for the $1,000 federal seed money, and how families can use them to save for kids.
A man sitting at a sunny desk and looking up something on a laptop.
May 21, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

Is 'Buy Now, Pay Later' Worth It? A Brutally Honest Breakdown

Buy now, pay later services like Afterpay and Klarna are more popular than ever -- but the math rarely works in your favor. Here's what to know.
Man in suit using ladder to climb a tall stack of coins with a percentage sign at the top.
May 21, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

My Friend Built a $60,000 CD Ladder. Here's How Much It Earns Monthly in 2026

A simple CD ladder strategy that pays monthly interest, keeps cash accessible, and locks in rates before they drop further.
A woman making a budget in a notebook with her laptop open at the kitchen table.
May 21, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

Here's Why the Best Balance Transfer Cards Have No Rewards Programs

No-rewards balance transfer cards beat the ones offering both 0% intro APR and cash back for most people in heavy debt – here's the math that proves it.
An older couple, out on a credit card spending spree, are shown walking down a street, holding shopping bags and smiling.
May 21, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

Already Have the Sapphire Preferred? Here's the Card to Get Next

If you already carry the Chase Sapphire Preferred, adding this no-annual-fee Chase card can supercharge your savings. Here's what to know.
Gold percentage signs all clustered together.
May 21, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

Best Savings Account Rates Today, May 21, 2026: Up to 5.00% Still Available

Top high-yield savings accounts are still paying up to 5.00% APY, but those yields could decrease as we head further into 2026.
Couple looks at and points to something on laptop screen together while smiling.
May 20, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

The Best High-Yield Savings Account of May 2026, Hands Down

I'm telling friends and family to open this savings account in May 2026, with no fees, no minimums, and an APY over 8X the national average.
A woman using an ATM on a sunny street.
May 20, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

Here's How Much Using a Debit Card Everywhere Actually Costs You: $708 a Year

The average American household leaves more than $700 a year on the table by swiping debit instead of a flat-rate cash back card. Here's the math.
A man holding several credit cards.
May 20, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

The 3 Best Credit Cards to Pair With the Amex Platinum

The Amex Platinum is a premium travel card with thousands of dollars in perks -- but its earning rates leave a lot of gaps. These three cards help you fill them.
Stacks of coins in varying heights with a ladder leaning against the tallest one.
May 20, 2026 | By Ryan Wilcox

Here's How Much $50,000 Would Earn in a CD Ladder Right Now

If you want a way to earn easy money on your savings, now might be the time to lock your money in a CD. Here's what to know before you do.
Tourist taking selfie with the leaning tower in Italy.
May 20, 2026 | By Joel O'Leary

The Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Card of May 2026, Hands Down

The Wells Fargo Autograph is a no-annual-fee travel card with 3X points on dining, gas, travel, streaming, and transit. Here's why it's an award winner for 2026.