Key Takeaways You may face delayed or denied reimbursement for federal work expenses on your personal credit card. High credit card usage can impact your credit score. Maintain documentation if you have to pay out of pocket. Cost-cutting initiatives have placed restrictions on or canceled thousands of federal credit cards, which has left federal employees unsure of how to cover work expenses such as travel, supplies and small-ticket purchases. While agency credit access is limited, some...

If you've received a large tax refund, you might consider putting it toward your mortgage as a lump-sum payment. If your payment is large enough – typically $5,000 or more – you may qualify for a mortgage recast, which can lower your monthly payment. Or, you could just make a large additional payment against your loan principal without recasting, and continue with the same monthly payment. Choosing whether to recast depends on how large of a payment you can make and whether you want a lower...

Key Takeaways Buy now, pay later protections enacted by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau are at risk as the agency loses its regulatory power. BNPL lenders may revert to practices like predatory fees and aggressive lending, which can exacerbate consumer debt. Borrowers should be cautious and carefully read terms, watch for hidden fees and consider alternative financing options. The ability to pay for goods and services over equal installments has made buy now, pay later borrowing a...