Maya Dollarhide
As seen in:
MSN,
TIME,
Aol,
Yahoo Finance,
Investopedia,
MarketWatch,
AARP,
AARP en Español,
Parents,
The Charlotte Observer
and
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Maya Dollarhide
How the Fed Rate Hike Affects Your Money
On September 16, 2026, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate for the first time in more than three years, from 3.50%–3.75% to 3.75%–4.00%, a move that will affect both savers and borrowers over time. Some products will feel the change sooner than others. Read on to learn how the Fed's rate hike may affect your everyday finances, from the interest you pay on credit cards to what you can earn in a high-yield savings account.
How much does home staging cost?
Key takeaways Professional home staging costs most sellers $832 to $2,917 (national average is less than $1,849), according to 2025 data from HomeAdvisor. Occupied homes average about $800, while vacant homes average about $2,000 and can run significantly higher depending on home size and market.
How to Start a Senior Care Business in the U.S.
The market and demand for senior care in the U.S. is vast; there are approximately 61.2 million adults aged 65 and older, and this number is projected to grow to 82 million by 2050. Alongside an older demographic, there is a rising demand for in-home and community services that senior care businesses can fill. If you’re an entrepreneur who enjoys working with people, consider launching independently or through established senior care franchise systems.
Veteran Franchise Opportunities in the U.S: The Best Options for Entrepreneurs
If you are a veteran interested in starting your own business, franchising can offer a proven way to earn income as an entrepreneur, while harnessing transferable military skills, enjoying built-in support networks, and accessing veteran-specific funding programs.
Jellystone Park’s Cincinnati Return Highlights Franchise Growth
Rising travel costs—up 26.3% since 2019, according to the U.S. Travel Price Index—are prompting Americans to rethink vacation plans. With current gas prices and other expenses hitting family budgets, more travelers may stay closer to home this summer, creating opportunities for the glamping and campsite franchise market. The return of Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts to Cincinnati, Ohio, illustrates this trend.
Area 2 Farms Launches Nationwide Franchise Expansion
Urban agriculture company Area 2 Farms is rolling out a nationwide franchise expansion to expand its hyper-local indoor farming model. The company was founded in 2020 and its headquarters are in Arlington, Virginia. Its roots may have started further south. Area 2 Farms’ CEO, co-founder, and modern-day Oren Falkowitz grew up beside a citrus grove in Delray Beach, Fla., which was eventually shut down and redeveloped. Witnessing the loss shaped his perspective on the decline of local agriculture.
How to Start a Real Estate Business: Beginner guide
If you want to start a real estate business, you are in good company. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), over 3.5 million small businesses in the U.S. are classified under real estate and related services. There are many ways to enter this robust market, from managing rental properties and flipping houses to joining a real estate franchise and opening a business under its umbrella, to creating a digital or service-based business, or even renting out a room in your house.
Hope Candle Review: An Allergen-Free Fragrance
Candlelight in winter is one way my family likes to transition into a new season because evening darkness comes early where we live. Couple that with living in a Victorian fixer-upper from the 1830s, and adding candles (electric and real) is a great way to add some warmth in the wintertime and enjoy a warm glow out on the deck at night when we hit the spring and summer months. In truth, I am partial to hand-made beeswax candles because I worry about the air quality in my home.
Could an In-Plan Annuity Be Part of Retirement Planning?
Matt Chinworth For most of today’s workers, pensions are a relic of the past. But the appetite for a guaranteed monthly retirement check to supplement Social Security appears to be growing. According to a recent survey by asset management firm Nuveen and the TIAA Institute, both subsidiaries of financial services company TIAA, more than 9 in 10 workers with 401(k) plans would like the option to convert their savings into a fixed annuity that provides guaranteed lifetime payments.
Can a $10 Razor Kit Really Change Your Shave Routine? Testing the Billie Malibu Razor Starter Kit
I was sent the Billie Malibu Starter Kit by an editor to try out this summer. I have sensitive skin and frequently nick myself shaving, so I was excited to try a new razor. As soon as I opened the box, I was pleased by the cheerful visuals of the kit: The set was colorful and well-designed.
Your financial fitness plan: 9 expert-backed moves before the holidays
November is a season of shift. Halloween decorations are packed away, days grow shorter and chilly mornings call for a real coat. As the year winds down, it’s also an ideal time to get financially fit. “Fall is a good time to get your finances in order,” says Julie Beckham, assistant VP and financial education development and strategy officer at Rockland Trust.
This Hidden Mortgage Trap in Mobile Home Financing Catches Many Buyers by Surprise Original
Key Takeaways Mobile, manufactured, and modular homes are popular choices for buyers interested in the tiny house movement and those struggling to afford to buy a traditional home. If these unconventional homes appeal to you, it is possible to obtain a mortgage loan to purchase one. However, the catch is that many lenders may require you to own or purchase the land and permanently affix your home to it to qualify for a conventional mortgage.
GreenPan Valencia Pro Ceramic Nonstick Pan Review
My friend bought a set of these pans when she upgraded to an induction oven. I had admired them — the heft and pretty sage color — but I didn’t need any new cookware. But I kept thinking about this pan. Finally, I convinced my friend to loan me her smaller one for a month so I could decide for myself if I needed to buy one. Read on to find out if I decided to purchase a pan or set of pans or not. Here’s why I love it.
8 ways to refinance a mortgage with bad credit
Key takeaways To refinance your mortgage with a bad credit score, check with your current lender to start since you already have an established relationship with it. You can also explore government-backed loan options to refinance with bad credit, such as an FHA loan or VA loan, as long as you qualify. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both have programs that permit mortgage refinancing with a low credit score.
How Big Should Your Emergency Fund Be When You're Retired?
You’ve spent decades working and saving for retirement and are finally ready to leave your 9-to-5 job. But are you prepared for a financial emergency? “An emergency fund is your retirement superpower,” says Patti Black, a certified financial adviser who specializes in retirement planning at Savant Wealth Management in Birmingham, Alabama.
¿Qué tan grande debería ser tu fondo de emergencia cuando estás jubilado?
Has pasado décadas trabajando y ahorrando para la jubilación y finalmente estás listo para dejar tu trabajo a tiempo completo. ¿Pero estás preparado para una emergencia financiera? "Un fondo de emergencia es tu superpoder jubilatorio", dice Patti Black, una asesora financiera certificada que se especializa en planificación jubilatoria en Savant Wealth Management en Birmingham, Alabama.
Judge Rules Medical Bills Will Stay on Credit Reports
Unpaid medical bills will continue to hurt Americans’ credit scores after a federal judge in Texas struck down a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rule on July 11, 2025, designed to remove medical debt from credit reports. The CFPB rule would have aided an estimated 15 million Americans currently carrying upward of $49 billion in medical debt on their credit reports.
7 Products You Should (Almost) Always Buy Generic
Many brand-name products are beloved by Americans, especially among older adults who’ve developed an affinity for certain brands over the years. But there are a number of items that shopping experts recommend consumers buy generic to save money. Let’s start with your pantry. Generic foods cost as much as 40 percent less, a recent CNET study of groceries sold at Wegman's and Stop & Shop found.
13 Products You Should (Almost) Always Buy Generic
Maple syrup Producing maple syrup isn’t simple, and its high price reflects the labor-intensive process of turning tree sap into something to put on your pancakes. So even generic maple syrups don’t come cheap, but many cost substantially less than well-known brands. “If you are a connoisseur of maple syrup, there are definite nuanced differences between brands, but for the average person, this may not be an issue,” Keating says.
4 maneras en que el "Big Beautiful Bill" puede afectar tus impuestos
¿Quién reúne los requisitos? Las personas con ingresos de hasta $75,000 ($150,000 para cónyuges que presentan una declaración conjunta) pueden restar los $6,000 completos de sus ingresos tributables. La deducción se reduce en los niveles de ingresos más altos, y no puedes reclamarla si ganas más de $175,000 ($250,000 para una pareja).
How ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ Could Change Your Tax Bill
The reconciliation bill passed by Congress on July 3 and awaiting President Donald Trump’s signature extends the tax cuts enacted during Trump’s first term and implements dozens more changes to the tax code. Here are some of the elements most likely to affect older adults. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) lowered five of the seven personal income tax brackets, including the top rate, which dropped from 39.6 percent to 37 percent.
A Money Diet Could Help Reduce Your Spending
6 Money Diet Do’s and Don’ts A money diet can help you dial down your spending and add to your savings. Follow these tips while cutting the fat from your finances. Do take a hard look at your expenses. Gather your recent credit card and bank statements. Highlight all nonessential purchases to identify expenses you can nix. Do have fun. Love eating out? Try cooking a few new recipes at home. Love to read? Load up on free library books.
7 Money Mistakes Empty Nesters Make
Jon Krause Elizabeth and Michael Kanna, both in their 60s, became empty nesters in 2024. When their last of three daughters moved out, the Sacramento, California, couple faced an emotional and financial adjustment. All three girls had lived at home while attending college and into their early 20s. With a newly empty nest, the Kannas are spending money in new ways. “We’re doing a lot of DoorDashing because dealing with dinner is a lot different than when the kids [were] here,” Elizabeth says.
8 ways to refinance a mortgage with bad credit
Key takeaways To refinance your mortgage with a bad credit score, check with your current lender to start since you already have an established relationship with it. You can also explore government-backed loan options to refinance with bad credit, such as an FHA loan or VA loan, as long as you qualify. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both have programs that permit mortgage refinancing with a low credit score.
Will the Forme Power Bra Help Back Pain Or Is It Hype?
When I was writing product reviews last year, I tried on many undergarments in the name of journalism. One day, during a deep dive into supportive sports bras, I read about the Forme Power Bra that made headlines when Taylor Swift was photographed wearing one.
What is the first-time homebuyer tax credit?
Key takeaways The first-time homebuyer tax credit no longer exists; the U.S. government offered this program for first-time homebuyers from 2008-2010. A first-time homebuyer tax credit offers a direct reduction of the amount of income tax you owe. President Trump has not specifically discussed reintroducing a first-time homebuyer credit. The first-time homebuyer tax credit was an Obama-era program that directly reduced the amount of tax owed by qualifying homebuyers by up to $8,000.
What is the first-time homebuyer tax credit?
Personalised advertising and content, advertising and content measurement, audience research and services development Store and/or access information on a device You can choose how your personal data is used.
What is the first-time homebuyer tax credit?
Key takeaways The first-time homebuyer tax credit no longer exists; the U.S. government offered this program for first-time homebuyers from 2008-2010. A first-time homebuyer tax credit offers a direct reduction in the amount of income tax you owe. President Trump has not specifically discussed reintroducing a first-time homebuyer credit. The first-time homebuyer tax credit was an Obama-era program that directly reduced the amount of tax owed by qualifying homebuyers by up to $8,000.
Intex Rectangular Ultra XTR Frame Swimming Pool Review: A Cool Investment?
During the summer of 2020, when our local pool shuttered in the wake of the pandemic, my husband and I found a mini miracle in our basement: A 16-foot “pop-up” swimming pool that we never had the need (or energy) to set up. At a time when above-ground swimming pools were completely sold out, we were very lucky and enjoyed it all summer long. At first, I imagined this would be a one-off opportunity for our kids to cool off and have fun at a time when everything familiar was on hold.
VA loan spouse requirements
Key takeaways VA loans are designed for military members, veterans and their spouses. Spouses can qualify for a VA mortgage by being an active service member, a veteran or by being a civilian co-borrower on a VA mortgage. Spouses of deceased service members can also qualify for a VA mortgage. A VA loan is a mortgage for members of the military, veterans and their spouses that allows the borrower to buy a home without a down payment, and often at a favorable interest rate.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Maya
Contact Maya, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack