As the fall school semester gets into full swing, students across the U.S. are having vastly different educational experiences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Some students are having all schooling in person, others are doing all their learning online, and others are experiencing a hybrid of the two. An extended lack of in-person schooling can lead to issues such as decreases in academic progress (especially in low-income districts), damage to mental health and social development, and less physical activity among students, according to the CDC. However, a state should not resume full-time in-person schooling until the current public health crisis from COVID-19 is sufficiently minimized in that state.
In order to determine which states are the safest for reopening schools, WalletHub compared the 50 states across 15 key metrics. Our data set includes such things as the number of child COVID-19 cases per 100,000 children, the average public-school class size, and the ratio of students to school nurses. Read on for the ranking, additional insight from a panel of experts, and a complete description of our methodology.
About ten million U.S. adults are vegan or vegetarian. Unfortunately, it’s not the easiest lifestyle to adopt, as finding meatless options at restaurants and supermarkets can be a challenge. Plus, even though some experts say forgoing animal products could save you at least $750 per year, certain specialty foods can be expensive. Despite the cost, though, synthetic meat sales have received a bump this year because of meat shortages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some meat eaters who switched to vegetarian or vegan options out of necessity may decide to stay once they’ve had a taste.
Fortunately, many U.S. cities offer plentiful and inexpensive options for budget-conscious herbivores. To determine the best and cheapest places for a plant-based diet, WalletHub compared the 100 largest U.S. cities across 16 key indicators of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness. We examined each city based on such metrics as the cost of groceries for vegetarians, the share of restaurants serving meatless options and salad shops per capita.
Collision coverage is a type of insurance option that covers damage to your car due to a collision with another car or object. Comprehensive coverage is a different type of insurance that covers non-collision-related damage like falling objects, vandalism. Here’s a quick description of each:
Comprehensive Insurance: This coverage applies when your car does not actually collide with another vehicle or object – for example, for damage caused by a fire, natural disaster, animals, falling objects, theft, vandalism, or claims limited to glass damage (such as a cracked windshield).
A conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) — also called driving while intoxicated (DWI) — will make it harder and more expensive to get car insurance. The good news is that a DUI conviction is only one of several factors that insurers use to determine risk. Each insurer also handles these infractions a bit differently. The bad news is that insurance rates can increase 30% or more after a first DUI, according to our findings.
However, we’ll help you get back on the road (should you choose to do so) and provide the tools needed to save money on car insurance both now and in the future.
The cheapest cars to insure in 2019 are the Subaru Forester ($1,774 per year), Dodge Grand Caravan ($1,786), and Honda Odyssey ($1,800), according to WalletHub’s analysis of 26 vehicles that are popular on the road right now. Of the 10 cheapest cars to insure, 3 are minivans, 3 are crossovers, 2 are SUVs, 1 is a pickup and 1 is a sedan. Minivans are the cheapest type of vehicle to insure, with an average annual premium of $1,842. And Nissan is the best car manufacturer when it comes to cheap insurance, as its vehicles cost an average of $2,011 per year to insure.
On the flip side, the Lexus LS is among the most expensive makes and models to insure, with an average annual premium of $3,308, according to WalletHub’s analysis. This is not surprising given that the Lexus also is one of the more expensive car brands to cover overall. And in terms of car types, the coupe is the most expensive variety to insure in a list that includes SUVs, pickups, and sedans, among others.
Collision insurance is a type of coverage that helps pay to repair or replace your car if you’re involved in an accident. State laws do not require collision insurance coverage, though auto loan and leasing companies typically do. Drivers with valuable cars should also consider purchasing collision car insurance even when it’s not required in order to protect their finances in the event of an accident.
A variety of factors influence the cost of collision coverage and whether a driver should purchase it, fromtheir financial situation and the value of their car to their driving record and where they live. Drivers must weigh the cost and benefits to determine whether collision insurance is a good value.
The most important things to do after a car accident are to stay calm, call 911 if anyone is seriously injured and keep everyone away from oncoming traffic. Once everyone is safe, you should gather information for an insurance claim, including the other driver’s insurance information, witness contact details, and photos and notes related to the accident.
Key Thingsto Do After a Car Accident
You’re legally obligated to call the police if there are injuries or property damage beyond a certain value.
Don’t immediately admit fault or agree not to file an insurance claim.
Always exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved, even if it’s just a minor fender bender.
The U.S. is still gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic, and different states have begun to reopen at different rates. Some states have paused their reopening plans or have even reversed course and issued new restrictions. The U.S. experienced a slight increase in new unemployment claims week-over-week, which shows that we’re in a saw-toothed shaped recovery.
There are currently 13.6 million Americans unemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in total. Last week, there were 870,000 new unemployment claims nationwide, which is a lot fewer than the 6.9 million during the peak of the pandemic (an 87% reduction).
The biggest factors that affect car insurance rates are state coverage requirements, the age of any driver on the policy, and the car’s make and model. The more coverage you’re required to buy in your state, the more you’ll pay for car insurance, regardless of your age and what car you drive. As for your age, your peers’ driving tendencies can work for or against you, depending on whether they are statistically better or worse than other drivers on the road. And vehicle type matters because insurance companies consider the safety, anti-theft, and repair-cost statistics for all cars they insure.
Those are just a few of the many factors that affect how much each driver pays for car insurance. And their impact is obvious when you look at average car insurance rates.
Please note: Chase Freedom® may no longer be available to new applicants.
The Verdict: The Chase Freedom® brand name connotes fun, excitement and independence – primarily the financial variety. But instead of freeing you from budgetary concerns, this card requires hands-on account maintenance to live up to its potential and, even then, would provide less value than numerous other available credit cards for people with good or excellent credit.
Coffee first became popular in the U.S. after the Boston Tea Party, when the switch was seen as “patriotic,” according to PBS. And since Starbucks debuted in 1971, the drink is now accessible almost anywhere you go. A recent survey by the National Coffee Association found that 62 percent of Americans drink coffee every day, with the average coffee drinker consuming 3 cups daily.
What gave way to java culture? Science, for one, has convinced us that caffeine possesses multiple health benefits besides mental stimulation. At the right dosages, caffeine may contribute to longevity. Perhaps just as important, though, is coffee’s social purpose. Today, coffee stations are a staple of the workplace, and tens of thousands of shops serve as meeting places for friends, dates and coworkers – though in 2020 many have had to provide take-out service only due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Monthly earnings are lost when bill payments are late
Not built for financing
The Verdict: It’s already in the travel rewards hall of fame and continues to be one of the best offers out there. The Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card has long served as the standard-bearer for a more straightforward credit card market, with its double miles, lucrative initial rewards bonus and lack of foreign transaction fees helping to set pro-consumer trends amid a landscape previously characterized by general shadiness.
It’s ultimately no wonder why Venture has been praised by users and emulated by competitors, as WalletHub research reveals that it has the potential to yield the average spender roughly $2,270 in rewards over the first two years of ownership. The key is to redeem Venture Miles to pay for travel-related transactions once they post to your account. Not only does this give you the best redemption rate, but is also eliminates much of the red tape common with travel credit cards – allowing you to focus on finding the best deal, no matter which airline, hotel or travel comparison site offers it.
Happiness comes from a combination of internal and external factors. We can influence it somewhat by approaching situations positively or choosing to spend time with people we love, doing activities we enjoy. Some years, it’s harder to be happy than others, though. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life as we know it, causing sickness, limiting social interactions and leading to widespread job losses. During these trials, which have had a strong negative impact on Americans’ mental health, WalletHub searched for the states where people can stay positive despite the circumstances.
In this study, WalletHub drew upon the findings of “happiness” research to determine which environmental factors are linked to a person’s overall well-being and satisfaction with life. Previous studies have found that good economic, emotional, physical and social health are all key to a well-balanced and fulfilled life.
Teaching can be a profoundly rewarding career, considering the critical role educators play in shaping young minds. But many teachers find themselves overworked and underpaid. Education jobs are among the lowest-paying occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree, and teacher salaries consistently fail to keep up with inflation. Meanwhile, the Every Student Succeeds Act demands growth in student performance. And this year, the COVID-19 pandemic has made teachers’ jobs even harder than usual.
Earlier in 2020, teachers across the U.S. had to make an abrupt switch to online learning, and many may have to continue teaching through the internet this fall. Teachers in districts that do hold in-person learning will still have to do things far differently than normal, implementing social distancing procedures in the classroom. Some teachers may even need to do a combination of online and in-person teaching.
Finding an unrecognized tradeline on your credit report or receiving a bill in the mail for an account you don’t remember opening is enough to make anyone’s heart pound. But it’s not a problem that lacks a solution, and there may even be a plausible explanation.
There are a number of reasons why you might not recognize a new account, from it being issued by a partner of the company you applied to for credit, to the possibility of identity theft and fraud. In any case, following the steps laid out below will help you identify the origins of the mystery tradeline, get it removed from your credit report if indeed fraudulent, and ensure that your finances are as protected as possible moving forward.
August’s jobs report showed improvement for the employment market, as the economy added 1.4 million nonfarm payroll jobs. That’s less than the amount added in July (1.8 million), but it makes sense given the number of states that have paused reopening or added new restrictions due to upticks in COVID-19. Now, the U.S. unemployment rate sits at 8.4%, which is still high but is a decline from the nearly historic high of 14.7% in April. This drop can be attributed in part to the fact that a lot more businesses are open now than were a few months ago. In addition, most people who became unemployed during this crisis have only been temporarily laid off, and expect to be rehired by their former employers once companies reopen and start to make money again. However, it will take far more time for us to reduce the unemployment rate to pre-pandemic levels than it did for the virus to reverse over a decade of job growth.
In order to identify the states whose unemployment rates are bouncing back most, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on four key metrics. We looked at the change in each state’s unemployment during the latest month for which we have data (August 2020) compared to August 2019 and January 2020. We also compared not seasonally adjusted continued claims in August 2020 to August 2019. Finally, we considered each state’s overall unemployment rate. This monthly report is a companion to our report on the States Whose Weekly Unemployment Claims Are Recovering the Quickest, which examines unemployment claims on a weekly basis. Read on for the results, additional commentary from a panel of experts and a full description of our methodology.
If you are active duty or a reserve in the U.S. military, it’s not just Uncle Sam who wants you – insurance companies do, too. Many insurers offer discounts and special services to military personnel, such as prorating premiums while your car is stored for deployment or discounting premiums when you are residing on base. Similar discounts exist for veterans and for drivers who belong to certain military associations.
To help you take advantage of these well-earned perks, we’ve compiled information about the military-specific deals offered by 11 of the most popular insurance companies, in addition to researching other specials available through private military associations. You can also check out savings opportunities available to any driver in our car insurance discounts guide.
3% back on purchases with Apple and partner brands
2% back when using Apple Pay
No fees
CONS
Bad for carrying a balance
Limited rewards appeal
Apple Card Review Verdict: The Apple Card is a rewarding option for people with good credit or better who regularly buy Apple products and services, as well as for iPhone, Mac and iWatch users who are comfortable making purchases using Apple Pay. Having the new Apple Credit Card from Goldman Sachs in your wallet doesn’t have to cost you a thing, considering the card’s $0 annual fee (and lack of other major fees). But it can help you save money with elite rewards rates of up to 2% - 3% on select purchases, as long as you pay the bill in full every month.
The Apple Credit Card has some financial appeal for new Apple purchases. Apart from that, the card is not a good choice for people who plan to carry a balance from month to month, thanks to an APR that could be anywhere from 10.99% to 21.99% (V), depending on an applicant’s creditworthiness. There are much better credit card rates available to people with the good-to-excellent credit needed to be eligible for Apple Card approval.
How much car insurance coverage you really need depends on multiple factors, like your financial situation, the value of your vehicle, your driving habits, and where you live. Drivers in nearly every state need at least a minimum amount of car insurance in order to drive legally, however, and a similar financial investment is needed in the two states where liability insurance is not required: New Hampshire and Virginia.
Liability insurance covers the other driver’s property damage or injuries if you cause an accident. It is the only coverage required in 31 states. Another 17 states expect drivers to carry other types of car insurance in addition to liability coverage, such as uninsured motorist coverage or personal injury protection. In the remaining two states, you are required to either carry liability coverage or keep a certain amount of money in reserve with the state to drive legally. If you lease or finance your car, your lender can require that you carry collision and comprehensive insurance, too.
A serious accident or the theft of your car is very bad news. But it can be worse when your auto insurance plan doesn’t cover what you owe on the car.
If you owe more than your car is worth, then you are “upside down” in your auto loan. In the event of a catastrophic loss, a standard car insurance policy will cover up to the replacement cost of your vehicle, but they don’t cover any “negative equity” you owe your lender beyond that.
