A Practical 2026 Guide to Managing Money Without Tracking Every Dollar By Sahil Mehta | Senior Personal Finance ContributorUpdated: February 4, 2026 On most Sunday nights, Emily tells herself she’ll “finally get serious” about her finances. She opens her laptop. Pulls up the budgeting file she created in January. Scrolls through rows of color-coded numbers. … Read more
(And How Americans Can Finally Make One Work in 2026) By Sahil Mehta | Senior Personal Finance ContributorUpdated: February 4, 2026 On a quiet weeknight, long after dinner dishes are stacked in the sink, you open your laptop “just to check” your finances. Five minutes later, you’re staring at numbers that don’t make sense. The … Read more
Managing money in America has become more complicated than ever. Between rising housing costs, higher grocery bills, and subscription overload, many households feel like their paycheck disappears before the month ends. That’s where zero-based budgeting comes in. This method gives every dollar a clear purpose so nothing slips through the cracks. In this guide, you’ll … Read more
By Sahil Mehta | Senior Financial CorrespondentFebruary 2, 2026 | Updated 4:05 PM ET Washington, D.C. For much of last week, anxiety hung in the air. In suburbs outside Cleveland, families watched gas prices nervously. On Wall Street trading floors, screens flickered red and green as investors tried to price in the unthinkable: a direct … Read more
By Sahil Mehta, Senior Financial Editor | DailyDollarNews.com A few months ago, a reader emailed me something that stuck with me. He wrote: “I’ve been trying to follow the 50/30/20 rule for two years. I still feel broke. Am I doing something wrong?” Honestly? He wasn’t. In my 10years of covering personal finance, I’ve seen … Read more
By Sahil Mehta, Senior Financial Editor | DailyDollarNews.com I still remember the exact moment I opened my first “real” paycheck. I was 22, fresh out of college, and had just landed a junior accounting role. My offer letter said $45,000 a year. In my head, I had already spent that money. I did the quick … Read more
If saving money feels harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it. Over the last few years, Americans have faced rising housing costs, stubborn inflation, expensive healthcare, and growing retirement pressure. The old advice “save 10% and you’ll be fine” simply doesn’t work anymore for most households. So let’s be honest. How much should … Read more
By Sahil Mehta | Senior Financial CorrespondentUpdated February 2026 A decade ago, earning $100,000 meant you had “made it.” Today, in many parts of the United States, it simply means you’re surviving comfortably. Rising housing costs, higher insurance premiums, expensive healthcare, and growing debt have quietly redefined what it means to live well in America. … Read more
By Sahil Mehta, Global Markets CorrespondentNew York January 31, 2026 The U.S. dollar is ending January 2026 not as a safe harbor, but as the eye of a financial storm. For decades, the greenback followed a simple rule: when the world felt uncertain, investors rushed into dollars. Wars, recessions, pandemics capital always flowed back to … Read more
By Sahil Mehta, Senior Finance ContributorUpdated February 1, 2026 Money is one of the last great American taboos. People will openly share their political opinions, their medical diagnoses, and their location in real time. But ask a friend how much they make and suddenly the conversation gets awkward. “How much is on your W-2?” Silence. … Read more
