WSJ Your Money Matters

Leisure airfares were up more than 40% in September from a year ago, and fares on budget carriers are rising as well. WSJ “Carry On” travel columnist Dawn Gilbertson joins host J.R. Whalen with ways travelers can save on airfares and those annoying fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mortgage rates topped 7% for the first time in 20 years this week, and home prices remain near the high levels they hit last year. But some people see the current market as providing the perfect opportunity to buy a house. WSJ reporter Ben Eisen joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss the new math for prospective home buyers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A recent survey of hundreds of employers shows that many plan to hire more college graduates next spring than they did this year. WSJ reporter Lindsay Ellis joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss what kinds of companies are planning to ramp up hiring and how college grads can prepare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many banks offer interest rates around 2% for standard certificates of deposit, or CDs, they offer substantially higher rates on “brokered CDs.” Wall Street Journal reporter Rachel Louise Ensign joins WSJ Your Money Briefing host J.R. Whalen to discuss how consumers can buy them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While many banks offer interest rates around 2% for standard certificates of deposit, or CDs, they offer substantially higher rates on “brokered CDs.” WSJ reporter Rachel Louise Ensign joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss how consumers can buy them.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About 22 million people have signed up for President Biden’s student-loan forgiveness program. But several lawsuits filed against the government have raised questions about when or whether borrowers will be relieved of their debt. WSJ reporter Gabriel T. Rubin joins host J.R. Whalen with some answers.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More states are requiring companies to post salary information as part of job listings. Host J.R. Whalen is joined by reporter Ray A. Smith to discuss the questions that job candidates should still be asking about pay, and by California resident and current job seeker Paris Clarke to discuss how the additional information is helping her search for a job. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite a push to have consumers’ info from “buy now, pay later” purchases included in their credit reports, companies like Klarna, Affirm and Afterpay have been reluctant to supply the data over fears it could hurt consumers’ credit scores. WSJ banking reporter AnnaMaria Andriotis joins host J.R. Whalen with more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Health Savings Accounts, or HSAs, can ease the financial burden of medical costs but also feature little-known tax benefits. WSJ tax reporter Laura Saunders joins host J.R. Whalen to discuss.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many Americans who spent years socking away enough for a down payment to buy a house are now waiting on the sidelines until mortgage rates or home prices drop. In the meantime, there may be better ways to preserve the value of those savings besides leaving them in a low-yield account. WSJ personal finance reporter Veronica Dagher joins host Daniella Cheslow to talk through the best options. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices