Set aside enough for your holiday budget: Here's how

Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, New Year’s and other holidays that close out the calendar are fast approaching. That means you’ll probably need to accumulate more loot than you may think for customary things like gifts, decorations, travel, hosting guests, and charitable donations this time of year. And therein lies the problem: Making sure you’ve salted away enough scratch to afford these to-dos.

Consumers are expected to spend an average of $1,638 this holiday season on gifts, travel, and entertainment, PwC reports, reflecting a 7% increase compared to 2023 and a 15% rise from 2022. Gift budgets are expected to rise 9.9% from 2023, per JLL, and Mastercard anticipates spending during the 2024 holiday season to increase by 3.2% yearly.

Learn more by reading my CTW Features article on this topic, available here.

Speech tech poised to take a quantum leap

Artificial intelligence (AI) and its capabilities have significantly transformed speech technology in a short amount of time. But an equally exciting innovation is anticipated to be an even bigger game changer in the industry: quantum computing, which represents a groundbreaking approach to computation, using quantum mechanics to perform certain tasks much faster than traditional computers. It relies on quantum particles like atoms, ions, or photons to harness the principles of superposition, entanglement, and interference in quantum bits, or qubits. Unlike classical bits used by traditional computers, which are limited to a state of 0 or 1, qubits can exist in multiple states at once due to superposition.

Learn why experts are predicting that quantum computing will allow us to solve problems that are currently intractable with classical devices across chemistry, machine learning, finance, and so many other problems we’ve yet to even conceive by reading my latest article for Speech Technology, available here.

Cineversary podcast celebrates 50th birthday of Godfather Part II

Harlan Lebo and Glenn Kenny

In Cineversary podcast episode #76, host ⁠Erik Martin⁠ honors the 50th anniversary of the greatest sequel ever made, The Godfather Part II, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. This time around he’s joined by Harlan Lebo, author of The Godfather Legacy, and Glenn Kenny, film critic and author of Made Men: The Story of Goodfellas. Together, they explore what makes Part II an exemplary follow-up to the original, how the movie remains evergreen, key themes that resonate today, and much more.

To listen to this episode, click here or click the "play" button on the embedded streaming player below. Or, you can stream, download, or subscribe to Cineversary wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Learn more about the Cineversary podcast at www.cineversary.com and email show comments or suggestions to cineversarypodcast@gmail.com.

How to use a 0% intro APR credit card as an interest-free loan

Preparing for a major purchase? You could pursue short-term financing in the form of a personal loan, home equity loan or home equity line of credit. But if you can afford to pay off what you borrow in full within a year or so, a 0 percent intro APR credit card could be a better option. This type of card can save a lot of money you would otherwise spend on interest charges.

Learn more about how this type of credit card works — and how you might be able to use one as an interest-free loan on large purchases — by checking out my newest writeup for Bankrate, available here.

Why collision insurance coverage is a smart idea

What happens if you’re in a car accident that results in significant repairs to your vehicle, or if you hit a patch of ice and skid into a bridge embankment and your car is totaled? If you have collision coverage in place, you’ll be financially protected from calamities like these. Collision insurance covers damage to your vehicle, up to its pre-crash fair market value, caused by events such as striking another car or hitting a stationary object like a lamp post.

Read my newest story for Fox Money (available here) to better understand how collision coverage works, what it covers and doesn’t, and how much it costs.

How much does homeownership cost?

Whether you want the idyllic white picket fence or you’re eager to put the brakes on renting, homeownership may be looking like an increasingly attractive option. But don’t get ahead of yourself and start choosing paint colors just yet.

Before entering the market for a new home, be sure you’re ready to make such a big financial commitment. The first step is understanding all the costs of owning a home. While some costs, like a down payment and closing fees, may seem more obvious, you’ll still need room in your budget for the less straightforward expenses. These include HOA fees, taxes, insurance and more. 

Discover more about the hidden costs of owning a home by reading my latest article for Quicken Loans, available here.