Gina Ragusa

Sure, you’re careful to always tip the staff at a nice restaurant — but there are plenty of tipping gray areas. What do you do when you swipe your credit card and you’re prompted to tip after buying a bottle of juice at the store? How much should…

Nearly 45% of teens said they are stressed all the time, in a poll by social network After School. Respondents cited relationships, teachers, college and parents as being the top reasons for angst. In fact, researchers at the University of Virginia…

When you’re already juggling many competing financial priorities — from paying bills to saving enough emergency cash — being generous with your money can seem impossible. But evidence suggests that giving can pay dividends, whether that means…

Shopping for a car? Whether you are looking to buy new wheels at a dealership or want to find the very best used car on sale online, you’re not alone. Cars are a critical part of many people’s daily life, helping us commute to work or school, or…

Whether you’re adopting a child or welcoming a baby into the world, having kids can be one of the most meaningful experiences of your life. But, from first steps to college graduation, the milestones of parenthood often come with both joy and…

If you’re constantly checking your phone at work and dreading the thought of going into the office — not just on Monday mornings, but on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, too — you might already know you’ve got a motivation problem. But before you…

If you’re ready to buy a home to call your own, you’re not alone: The United States housing market is red hot right now, with prices rising fast and demand outstripping supply. Stiff competition makes it tough to find a spot you both love and can…

The first few months of 2018 are all about fulfilling New Year’s resolutions, getting ready for the year ahead... and wedding planning. That’s right! If yours is among those one in three engagements occurring between Thanksgiving and the New Year,…

In 2018, your avocado toast could get even more expensive, while the price of a new Tesla could fall. That may seem counterintuitive — avocados literally grow on trees, while Tesla customers often wait months to take ownership of a new model — but…

If you are one of those savvy savers who squirreled away extra cash to go shopping after Christmas, you’re in luck. Right now is a great time to snag some of the best deals of the year — on specific items, anyway. It helps if those purchases are…

As the sun sets on 2017, it’s time to look back at a year when the stock market — and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin — roared, Donald Trump spent his first year as president, the United States tax code got its biggest overhaul since the 1980s,…

When you’re busy wrapping up year-end projects and trying to stay on top of gift shopping, it’s tricky to fight off the stress-induced brain fog — and protect yourself against predators who want to steal your money. But alas, with travel to plan and…

Bust out your party shoes and brush up on your office banter, because it’s holiday office party season. From indulging in the giant seafood tower to trying to get a little more face time with the boss, everyone has their own idea about how to make…

Whether you’re just getting started in your career or are pondering a pivot to a more exciting or lucrative line of work, it pays to find out what new fields will likely show promise 10 or 20 years from now. While it is obvious technology has made…

Everyone’s been there: You step up to the cash register with a cool pair of jeans or kicks, and the clerk greets you with that familiar pitch: “Want to save 15% on your purchase today by opening a store credit card? It’s easy!” And it’s tempting,…

Anxiety and stress can come from many sources, but one of the most troublesome causes is work: At least 4 out of 10 working Americans report job-related stress, according to a 2016 poll of working Americans by Harvard, NPR and the Robert Wood…

If you spy a weird expense on your credit card statement, you can typically call your issuer and quickly resolve it, especially if you find an unauthorized charge or bogus fees on your account. But what happens if your credit card company digs in…

The future of health insurance in the United States may be up in the air for now, but one thing is sure: Working in the medical profession is still one of the best career choices you can make in terms of income growth. At least that is the finding…

Job seekers who think December is worst time of the year to hunt for work may need to rethink their strategy, as some recruiters say the holidays are the best time to find new hires. Rather than taking a break from the search because you think…