Rebecca Payne

Contributor

Rebecca Payne has more than a decade of experience editing and producing both local and national daily newspapers. She's worked on the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, Metro, Canada's National Observer, the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press.

Rebecca Payne's Expertise

Auto • Sep 13

'Hypermilers' say you can save 30% on gas with basic tweaks — or you can go deeper and start driving on painted lines

By Rebecca Payne

Auto • Jul 26

Dave Ramsey says this 'really, extremely' stupid purchase is the No. 1 thing new college graduates get wrong

By Rebecca Payne

Auto • Apr 04

A Florida car dealer tried to ship a stolen $460,000 Rolls-Royce overseas. It did not go well for him

By Rebecca Payne

Credit Cards • Dec 08

A settlement between Visa and Mastercard means businesses could charge different fees for different cards. What to know

By Rebecca Payne

Employment • Jan 25

Former engineer still jobless 2 years after layoff now resells antiques for income. Prepare for a 'prolonged' job loss

By Rebecca Payne

Employment • Feb 11

More bosses want to help staff with their finances, report says, but are they doing enough? How to advocate for yourself

By Rebecca Payne

Employment • Feb 04

Employers set to give 'peanut butter' raises in place of merit-based pay bumps in 2026. What it means for your paycheck

By Rebecca Payne

Loans • Mar 24

Debt-free Missouri woman worth $3M says family keeps asking for handouts — and she wants to set boundaries

By Rebecca Payne

Loans • Jan 30

'That's insanity': Ramsey blows his top over $80K car debt cosigned by grandma, and issues warning about predatory loans

By Rebecca Payne

Loans • Jan 10

Mortgage rates projected to drop, but not enough to justify refinancing. How homeowners can tap equity for added cash

By Rebecca Payne

Real Estate • Mar 22

Massive Massachusetts YMCA complex to be built around residents who refuse to sell. Why they rejected a $2.5M offer

By Rebecca Payne

Real Estate • Mar 09

Colorado man plans to borrow $100K from his dad and buy a $900K rental. Why Ramsey Show hosts are 'not super excited'

By Rebecca Payne

Real Estate • Feb 14

My brother wants to buy my parents $3M home and deduct $150K for renos. Why keeping it in the family isn't always best

By Rebecca Payne

Retirement • Oct 26

$58 billion in SNAP, SSI and Medicare benefits go unclaimed by older adults — how retirees can save thousands

By Rebecca Payne

Retirement • Oct 17

A 3.6% Social Security COLA in 2027 will push some retired couples past $100,000 a year in benefits

By Rebecca Payne

Retirement • Sep 20

CA woman has 1 child, her husband has 7 — Dave Ramsey explains how he'd split their blended estate, and why age matters

By Rebecca Payne

Taxes • Aug 16

50 AI-generated YouTube videos falsely tell seniors they can stop paying property taxes — here's what actually exists

By Rebecca Payne

Taxes • Jul 27

IRS threatens to seize a farmer's land over a $20,000 refund it sent by accident — money he tried to return

By Rebecca Payne

Taxes • Feb 18

Your pets may feel like family, but can you claim them as dependents on your tax return?

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 30

Meta allegedly schemed to discredit outspoken NYU professor, unsealed court documents show

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 30

Michigan man tried to pay for pop with old Powerball tickets. Then discovered he'd had a $1M ticket for months

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 29

Masked thieves steal 30,000 bottles of wine worth $5.6 million from Marchesi Antinori's Tuscany warehouse

By Rebecca Payne

Mortgages • Jun 07

A couple owes $220K at 2.75% — and a TikToker wants them to swap it for an 8% variable HELOC

By Rebecca Payne

Mortgages • Nov 23

President Trump’s portable mortgage push could let you keep your 3% rate, but experts warn it may backfire

By Rebecca Payne

Mortgages • Jan 12

Nearly 70% of US homebuyers don't shop around for the best mortgage rate, and it could be costing them thousands

By Rebecca Payne

Investing • Jul 16

Michael Burry's $39 a month Substack hits 300,000 subscribers, fueling speculation of a $113M-a-year newsletter empire

By Rebecca Payne

Investing • Jul 13

Americans tend to underestimate their true retirement wealth — but that could leave you working longer than needed

By Rebecca Payne

Investing • Jun 15

Landlords swear by the 1% rule for rental properties: How a simple math trick saves bad investments

By Rebecca Payne

Banking • Aug 06

SunTrust's $240 million overdraft fee settlement could pay you up to $1,000

By Rebecca Payne

Banking • Jul 12

Banks collected $12 billion in overdraft fees in 2025 after Congress reversed the $5 cap — here's how to avoid them

By Rebecca Payne

Insurance • Aug 23

Wall Street firms are waiting for people to die so they can get their life insurance money. And yes, it’s legal

By Rebecca Payne

Insurance • Jul 11

Florida man paid off his house 2 months before Hurricane Milton tore off his roof — and he had no home insurance

By Rebecca Payne

Insurance • Mar 03

I was billed for dental work I never got and my insurance says it’s fraud. But the dentist is threatening collections

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Oct 29

Ohio woman won $40K/year for 25 years — but took a lump sum of just $366,625 after taxes. Smart move or costly mistake?

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Oct 04

Dave Ramsey tells a New York husband who secretly built wealth that he 'robbed' his wife of her role in their marriage

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Sep 27

Four words we often say to ourselves can destroy your savings — how to stop them from convincing you to overspend

By Rebecca Payne

Life • Oct 21

'Avengers: Doomsday' has already generated $50 million in ticket presales — could fans pay a premium to see it?

By Rebecca Payne

Life • Sep 25

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says Blue Jays' $500M deal was 'for what I already accomplished' — fans erupt

By Rebecca Payne

Life • Sep 11

Florida couple got scammed trying to buy a second puppy online. The red flag that saved them from losing hundreds more

By Rebecca Payne

LATEST

News • Oct 30

Meta allegedly schemed to discredit outspoken NYU professor, unsealed court documents show

Court documents appear to show Meta employees discussing how to undermine an outspoken critic of the social media giant.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 30

Meta allegedly schemed to discredit outspoken NYU professor, unsealed court documents show

Court documents appear to show Meta employees discussing how to undermine an outspoken critic of the social media giant.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 30

Michigan man tried to pay for pop with old Powerball tickets. Then discovered he'd had a $1M ticket for months

A man from Wyoming, Michigan, went from not having enough cash on him to pay for a drink to having $1 million.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 30

Michigan man tried to pay for pop with old Powerball tickets. Then discovered he'd had a $1M ticket for months

A man from Wyoming, Michigan, went from not having enough cash on him to pay for a drink to having $1 million.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 29

Masked thieves steal 30,000 bottles of wine worth $5.6 million from Marchesi Antinori's Tuscany warehouse

Thieves reportedly used forklifts inside a warehouse to move wine into two waiting trucks.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 29

Masked thieves steal 30,000 bottles of wine worth $5.6 million from Marchesi Antinori's Tuscany warehouse

Thieves reportedly used forklifts inside a warehouse to move wine into two waiting trucks.

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Oct 29

Ohio woman won $40K/year for 25 years — but took a lump sum of just $366,625 after taxes. Smart move or costly mistake?

Experts say choosing between taking a lump-sum payout or an annuity depends on your personal situation.

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Oct 29

Ohio woman won $40K/year for 25 years — but took a lump sum of just $366,625 after taxes. Smart move or costly mistake?

Experts say choosing between taking a lump-sum payout or an annuity depends on your personal situation.

By Rebecca Payne

Retirement • Oct 26

$58 billion in SNAP, SSI and Medicare benefits go unclaimed by older adults — how retirees can save thousands

Navigating different government programs can be overwhelming, but there are agencies that can help older adults access the benefits they need.

By Rebecca Payne

Retirement • Oct 26

$58 billion in SNAP, SSI and Medicare benefits go unclaimed by older adults — how retirees can save thousands

Navigating different government programs can be overwhelming, but there are agencies that can help older adults access the benefits they need.

By Rebecca Payne

Two panel image of California governor Gavin Newsom (left) and actor Mark Ruffalo (right).

News • 154332 views

Mark Ruffalo rips Gavin Newsom over billionaire tax: 'We aren’t looking for the Democratic version of Trump'

in an X post, Ruffalo said Newsom’s position on Proposition 40 was at odds with his presidential aspirations in 2028.

By Rebecca Payne

News • 154332 views

Mark Ruffalo rips Gavin Newsom over billionaire tax: 'We aren’t looking for the Democratic version of Trump'

in an X post, Ruffalo said Newsom’s position on Proposition 40 was at odds with his presidential aspirations in 2028.

By Rebecca Payne

A hood man sits at a computer terminal with a mobile phone in his hand.

News • Oct 23

Hackers can target your iPhone through websites and ads — here's how to protect your money

New spyware campaigns can steal login credentials and target crypto wallets. Here's how to protect yourself.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 23

Hackers can target your iPhone through websites and ads — here's how to protect your money

New spyware campaigns can steal login credentials and target crypto wallets. Here's how to protect yourself.

By Rebecca Payne

Elon Musk reacts after being awarded the National Medal of Science during the "Golden Age of American Innovation Summit" at the Institute of Peace

News • Oct 22

US debt interest hits record $1.05 trillion in 2026, surpassing the $956-billion military budget

The rising national debt and the climbing cost of its interest have some sounding alarms, including the world’s richest man.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 22

US debt interest hits record $1.05 trillion in 2026, surpassing the $956-billion military budget

The rising national debt and the climbing cost of its interest have some sounding alarms, including the world’s richest man.

By Rebecca Payne

82-year-old Larnese Davis and her non-complaint water meter.

News • Oct 22

Detroit woman's $250 water bill ballooned to $32,000 — and the city says more faulty meters are still in the field

A series of astronomical bills with no explanation left an 82-year-old fearful that her water would be shut off.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 22

Detroit woman's $250 water bill ballooned to $32,000 — and the city says more faulty meters are still in the field

A series of astronomical bills with no explanation left an 82-year-old fearful that her water would be shut off.

By Rebecca Payne

Life • Oct 21

'Avengers: Doomsday' has already generated $50 million in ticket presales — could fans pay a premium to see it?

Marvel's blockbuster demand could fuel a ticket-buying frenzy, with premium screenings and resale prices testing moviegoers' budgets.

By Rebecca Payne

Life • Oct 21

'Avengers: Doomsday' has already generated $50 million in ticket presales — could fans pay a premium to see it?

Marvel's blockbuster demand could fuel a ticket-buying frenzy, with premium screenings and resale prices testing moviegoers' budgets.

By Rebecca Payne

Mary Carole McDonnell, pictured here, is on the FBI's Most Wanted Fraudsters list

News • Oct 20

Mary McDonnell, 75, allegedly posed as an heiress to dupe a California bank out of $14.7M — now the FBI is hunting her

Alleged fraudster owned a Hollywood production company that churned out true crime shows, but now authorities say she’s on the run after millions in fraud.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 20

Mary McDonnell, 75, allegedly posed as an heiress to dupe a California bank out of $14.7M — now the FBI is hunting her

Alleged fraudster owned a Hollywood production company that churned out true crime shows, but now authorities say she’s on the run after millions in fraud.

By Rebecca Payne

Joyce Howell and her husband received a surprise $9,200 water bill.

News • Oct 19

Utility charges LA couple in their 80s $9,200 after a broken water meter went unchecked for 3 years

State laws around ‘back billing’ could leave you on the hook for years of charges

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 19

Utility charges LA couple in their 80s $9,200 after a broken water meter went unchecked for 3 years

State laws around ‘back billing’ could leave you on the hook for years of charges

By Rebecca Payne

Retirement • Oct 17

A 3.6% Social Security COLA in 2027 will push some retired couples past $100,000 a year in benefits

For the highest-earning couples who retired this year, the bump will mean more than $100,000 a year in benefits, according to one nonprofit.

By Rebecca Payne

Retirement • Oct 17

A 3.6% Social Security COLA in 2027 will push some retired couples past $100,000 a year in benefits

For the highest-earning couples who retired this year, the bump will mean more than $100,000 a year in benefits, according to one nonprofit.

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Oct 04

Dave Ramsey tells a New York husband who secretly built wealth that he 'robbed' his wife of her role in their marriage

He’s been saving for their retirement, and almost has their house paid off, but his wife is in the dark — he thinks it will be a great surprise, but Ramsey says he’s “robbed her” of being an adult.

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Oct 04

Dave Ramsey tells a New York husband who secretly built wealth that he 'robbed' his wife of her role in their marriage

By Rebecca Payne

Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of the hedge fund Citadel LLC, speaks at the Milken Institute's Global Conference in 2024.

News • Oct 03

Ken Griffin donates record $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon to build a brand-new Miami campus

New Miami campus of Carnegie Mellon University will be launched with the largest-ever individual donation for higher education.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 03

Ken Griffin donates record $3 billion to Carnegie Mellon to build a brand-new Miami campus

New Miami campus of Carnegie Mellon University will be launched with the largest-ever individual donation for higher education.

By Rebecca Payne

A delivery is staged for the media during trials of the Amazon drone delivery service.

News • Oct 01

Texas town finds lightning-fast, convenient Amazon deliveries by drone to be scary and upsetting in reality

Amazon announced in August that it was expanding its drone delivery service, dubbed Prime Air, to nearly 500 cities and towns across the U.S. by the end of this year

By Rebecca Payne

News • Oct 01

Texas town finds lightning-fast, convenient Amazon deliveries by drone to be scary and upsetting in reality

Amazon announced in August that it was expanding its drone delivery service, dubbed Prime Air, to nearly 500 cities and towns across the U.S. by the end of this year

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 30

Illinois woman waited 4 hours in the ER before leaving — they wouldn’t give her an ice pack. Then, she got a $410 bill

Emergency rooms may charge you as soon as you register, even if you never see a doctor.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 30

Illinois woman waited 4 hours in the ER before leaving — they wouldn’t give her an ice pack. Then, she got a $410 bill

Emergency rooms may charge you as soon as you register, even if you never see a doctor.

By Rebecca Payne

OpenAI founder Sam Altman speaks during the G20 Innovation Ministerial on September 2, 2026.

News • Sep 29

OpenAI’s head of comms stepped down 9 months ago and the company still can't fill the role. Why their top choice said no

One of the leading AI companies is having trouble filling a key role during a year filled with crises and controversy.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 29

OpenAI’s head of comms stepped down 9 months ago and the company still can't fill the role. Why their top choice said no

One of the leading AI companies is having trouble filling a key role during a year filled with crises and controversy.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 28

Arizona man who flaunted $5.5 million home and Rolls-Royce online charged with health care fraud and money laundering

The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges the man specifically targeted those who were covered under the American Indian Health Care Program.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 28

Arizona man who flaunted $5.5 million home and Rolls-Royce online charged with health care fraud and money laundering

The U.S. Attorney’s Office alleges the man specifically targeted those who were covered under the American Indian Health Care Program.

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Sep 27

Four words we often say to ourselves can destroy your savings — how to stop them from convincing you to overspend

Sticking to a budget can be tough when this four-word slogan starts running through your mind.

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Sep 27

Four words we often say to ourselves can destroy your savings — how to stop them from convincing you to overspend

Sticking to a budget can be tough when this four-word slogan starts running through your mind.

By Rebecca Payne

Life • Sep 25

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says Blue Jays' $500M deal was 'for what I already accomplished' — fans erupt

To make matters more heated, Guerrero didn’t back down from what he said after the interview clip went viral.

By Rebecca Payne

Life • Sep 25

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. says Blue Jays' $500M deal was 'for what I already accomplished' — fans erupt

To make matters more heated, Guerrero didn’t back down from what he said after the interview clip went viral.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 24

PepsiCo shutters 60-year-old Maryland plant, laying off 143 workers as weakening soda demand drives nationwide closures

Layoffs in Cheverly are the latest in a string of closures and workforce reductions at PepsiCo facilities across the country.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 24

PepsiCo shutters 60-year-old Maryland plant, laying off 143 workers as weakening soda demand drives nationwide closures

Layoffs in Cheverly are the latest in a string of closures and workforce reductions at PepsiCo facilities across the country.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 23

It’s harder to get into a hospitality program than it is to get into Harvard — why grads are flocking to the hotel trade

Hotel empire Hilton has seen its early-career program receive thousands of applications for only a handful of spots.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 23

It’s harder to get into a hospitality program than it is to get into Harvard — why grads are flocking to the hotel trade

Hotel empire Hilton has seen its early-career program receive thousands of applications for only a handful of spots.

By Rebecca Payne

Discussion about finances should start at a young age.

Managing Money • Sep 23

Wealth advisor Ken Polk's 3-step plan prepares kids for an inheritance 'reveal' — starting at age 6

Teaching children how to manage money is something you can start early so that habits, skills and values become second nature.

By Rebecca Payne

Managing Money • Sep 23

Wealth advisor Ken Polk's 3-step plan prepares kids for an inheritance 'reveal' — starting at age 6

Teaching children how to manage money is something you can start early so that habits, skills and values become second nature.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 21

'Bogus' daycare providers in California stole $10 million meant for low-income families, police say: ‘The game is over’

Each of the 12 individuals charged is alleged to have received amounts between $538,000 and $1.2 million.

By Rebecca Payne

News • Sep 21

'Bogus' daycare providers in California stole $10 million meant for low-income families, police say: ‘The game is over’

Each of the 12 individuals charged is alleged to have received amounts between $538,000 and $1.2 million.

By Rebecca Payne

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