Libby MacDonald
Libby MacDonald
Sr. Staff ReporterLibby MacDonald is a Senior Staff Reporter at Moneywise. She has extensive experience in business and consumer reporting, having covered topics including insurance, wealth management, housing and equities.
Libby MacDonald is a Senior Staff Repoter at Moneywise. She has extensive experience in business and consumer reporting, having covered topics including insurance, wealth management, housing and equities.
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Insurance • Jan 29
Soaring profits are 'fueling tremendous anger' as insurance rates skyrocket across the US. How to keep a lid on premiums
Premiums rose in 95% of U.S. ZIP codes between 2021 and 2024, with an average 24% increase for homeowners.
Insurance • Jan 29
Soaring profits are 'fueling tremendous anger' as insurance rates skyrocket across the US. How to keep a lid on premiums
Premiums rose in 95% of U.S. ZIP codes between 2021 and 2024, with an average 24% increase for homeowners.
Managing Money • Jan 27
Americans lost an average of almost $1,000 to financial errors in 2025. 3 big money mistakes to leave behind this year
Even as Americans get better with money, the same wrong moves keep costing them.
Managing Money • Jan 27
Americans lost an average of almost $1,000 to financial errors in 2025. 3 big money mistakes to leave behind this year
Even as Americans get better with money, the same wrong moves keep costing them.
News • Jan 24
Montana woman left her policy advisor job to raise $175K guard dogs. How to turn your dream business into a reality
Kim Greene is living her dream, but it wasn't always easy.
News • Jan 24
Montana woman left her policy advisor job to raise $175K guard dogs. How to turn your dream business into a reality
Kim Greene is living her dream, but it wasn't always easy.
News • Jan 23
Trump's new EU tariff threats and your wallet: How higher drug prices could spike health care costs for Americans
The tariffs might be aimed at Europe, but they’re going to hit American pocketbooks.
News • Jan 23
Trump's new EU tariff threats and your wallet: How higher drug prices could spike health care costs for Americans
The tariffs might be aimed at Europe, but they’re going to hit American pocketbooks.
Real Estate • Jan 20
Thousands of Georgians are stuck in extended-stay hotels as rent eats 77% of income for years on end with no exit
What was meant to be temporary has quietly become a quagmire.
Real Estate • Jan 20
Thousands of Georgians are stuck in extended-stay hotels as rent eats 77% of income for years on end with no exit
What was meant to be temporary has quietly become a quagmire.
Real Estate • Jan 18
LA veteran blindsided by ‘zombie mortgage’ after 14 years. Why so many Americans face the same nasty surprise decades on
Some mortgages don’t stay buried. Some old debts are resurfacing — and they can bite when you least expect it.
Real Estate • Jan 18
LA veteran blindsided by ‘zombie mortgage’ after 14 years. Why so many Americans face the same nasty surprise decades on
Some mortgages don’t stay buried. Some old debts are resurfacing — and they can bite when you least expect it.
Real Estate • Jan 17
Homeowners are now slashing prices by an average $25K. What that means for those who hope to make a move in 2026
After years of rising prices, the end of 2025 offered some relief for buyers.
Real Estate • Jan 17
Homeowners are now slashing prices by an average $25K. What that means for those who hope to make a move in 2026
After years of rising prices, the end of 2025 offered some relief for buyers.
Real Estate • Jan 16
These are the US’s 10 hottest housing markets in 2026. How both buyers and sellers can give themselves an upper hand
Americans flocking to hot markets contribute to buyer competition.
Real Estate • Jan 16
These are the US’s 10 hottest housing markets in 2026. How both buyers and sellers can give themselves an upper hand
Americans flocking to hot markets contribute to buyer competition.
News • Jan 15
Restaurants say Trump's move to kill the penny will cost them $168M. Here's why consumers may soon feel the pinch
The president's decision could have a direct impact on your wallet.
News • Jan 15
Restaurants say Trump's move to kill the penny will cost them $168M. Here's why consumers may soon feel the pinch
The president's decision could have a direct impact on your wallet.
Real Estate • Jan 11
What happens when young Americans give up on owning a home? The way they live, work and invest may reshape the economy
Researchers outline potential behavioral changes. But giving up on homeownership doesn’t mean giving up on wealth.
Real Estate • Jan 11
What happens when young Americans give up on owning a home? The way they live, work and invest may reshape the economy
Researchers outline potential behavioral changes. But giving up on homeownership doesn’t mean giving up on wealth.
Real Estate • Jan 09
Trump says if housing prices come down, homeowners lose wealth. Here’s what that means, and how it could affect you
When affordability collides with home values, homeowners may be caught in the middle.
Real Estate • Jan 09
Trump says if housing prices come down, homeowners lose wealth. Here’s what that means, and how it could affect you
When affordability collides with home values, homeowners may be caught in the middle.
News • Jan 07
IRS retirees left with no income since September as retirement checks remain delayed. And with no set date for payout
Pushed into retirement, these ex-government workers thought their decades of service would at least mean getting the pensions they’d paid into.
News • Jan 07
IRS retirees left with no income since September as retirement checks remain delayed. And with no set date for payout
Pushed into retirement, these ex-government workers thought their decades of service would at least mean getting the pensions they’d paid into.
Loans • Dec 24
This group of student borrowers will be in for a ‘tax bomb’ if they don’t act quickly. Protect your money
Significant changes are on the way for student loan borrowers, and you have days to enroll in a new plan.
Loans • Dec 24
This group of student borrowers will be in for a ‘tax bomb’ if they don’t act quickly. Protect your money
Significant changes are on the way for student loan borrowers, and you have days to enroll in a new plan.
Insurance • Dec 22
Oklahoma homeowners are complaining of repeated delays, denials from State Farm. Now, the state AG is intervening
Oklahoma has the highest home-insurance premiums in the country. Repeated alleged delays and denials spurred the state to intervene.
Insurance • Dec 22
Oklahoma homeowners are complaining of repeated delays, denials from State Farm. Now, the state AG is intervening
Oklahoma has the highest home-insurance premiums in the country. Repeated alleged delays and denials spurred the state to intervene.
News • Dec 18
Trump's 'common sense' overhaul of marijuana rules could boost budding industry. But investors should be on high alert
The president's new executive order has people buzzing.
News • Dec 18
Trump's 'common sense' overhaul of marijuana rules could boost budding industry. But investors should be on high alert
The president's new executive order has people buzzing.
Taxes • Dec 16
91-year-old Pennsylvania grandma's house sold out from under her due to $3.5K tax debt she thought was paid
Apparently unaware her property went up for tax sale, a real estate firm scooped it up for pennies on the dollar.
Taxes • Dec 16
91-year-old Pennsylvania grandma's house sold out from under her due to $3.5K tax debt she thought was paid
Apparently unaware her property went up for tax sale, a real estate firm scooped it up for pennies on the dollar.
Mortgages • Dec 11
Kentucky mom on disability shocked to learn her home in foreclosure, slated to be sold. Could you be next?
Don’t let your lender pull the rug, and your home, out from under you.
Mortgages • Dec 11
Kentucky mom on disability shocked to learn her home in foreclosure, slated to be sold. Could you be next?
Don’t let your lender pull the rug, and your home, out from under you.
News • Dec 10
Small Colorado town issues massive $340 speeding fines in maximum $40-fine zone. Safety plan or shameless cash grab?
Now it’s on the hot seat over the legality of the tickets.
News • Dec 10
Small Colorado town issues massive $340 speeding fines in maximum $40-fine zone. Safety plan or shameless cash grab?
Now it’s on the hot seat over the legality of the tickets.
Real Estate • Dec 08
This San Francisco couple thought they scored a million-dollar home for $25K, but accidentally bought a dirt alley
Bargain hunters can score big at tax-delinquency auctions. Just make sure you read before you sign.
Real Estate • Dec 08
This San Francisco couple thought they scored a million-dollar home for $25K, but accidentally bought a dirt alley
Bargain hunters can score big at tax-delinquency auctions. Just make sure you read before you sign.
News • Dec 04
Chronically ill widow has until Friday to pay back $63K in Social Security payments, or face prison. Is this common?
Here's what to do if this happens to you.
News • Dec 04
Chronically ill widow has until Friday to pay back $63K in Social Security payments, or face prison. Is this common?
Here's what to do if this happens to you.
Real Estate • Nov 21
Phoenix man’s new wall blocks access to a public water line. Now the city is threatening to revoke his permit
The city's now threatening to revoke his permit.
Real Estate • Nov 21
Phoenix man’s new wall blocks access to a public water line. Now the city is threatening to revoke his permit
The city's now threatening to revoke his permit.
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