How Do Negative Interest Rates Work?
Negative interest rates mean borrowers could be rewarded for taking out loans. Here’s an explanation of other effects negative rates might have.
Read moreNegative interest rates mean borrowers could be rewarded for taking out loans. Here’s an explanation of other effects negative rates might have.
Read moreA debit card combines some of the features of an ATM card and a credit card to give you an easy way to access cash and pay for purchases. For many people, tapping, swiping, or entering their digits online has become a favorite way to conduct everyday financial transactions.
Debit cards resemble credit cards, but they don’t involve a line of credit or accruing interest charges; the money spent is deducted directly from your checking account. This (and other features) can be a benefit or a downside, depending on your particular situation.
Key Points
• A debit card allows spending from a personal bank account, offering convenience and security.
• Opening a checking account is the first step to getting and activating a debit card.
• Activation can be done online, at an ATM, or by phone after receiving the card.
• Drawbacks include daily spending limits and the fact that debit card spending doesn’t build credit.
• There can be higher liability for unauthorized transactions than with credit cards if not reported promptly.
A debit card is a payment card that allows you to spend money without carrying cash.
When you use a debit card, the funds are your own, so there’s nothing to pay back later.
Most debit cards look just like credit cards. They typically feature an account number on the front, along with the cardholder’s name and the expiration date.
There will likely also be a smart chip on the front, along with a logo in the lower right-hand corner that tells you which payment network the card is connected to (such as Visa, Mastercard, or Discover). On the back you’ll likely see a place to sign, as well as a three-digit security code (CCV).
But there are some major differences between debit cards and credit cards.
When someone uses a credit card the money is borrowed. Credit card holders receive a bill every month for what they owe, and the balance must be paid in full or they can be charged interest.
When you use a debit card to get cash or make a purchase, the money comes directly from an account you have with a bank or some other type of financial institution, typically a checking account. The funds are your own, so there’s nothing to pay back later.
Now that you know what a debit card is, here’s how a debit card typically works:
• You tap, swipe, or insert the card at a terminal and enter your PIN (personal identification number) in many cases. The PIN adds a level of security to the transaction.
• The information is communication (the amount of your purchase) and your bank verifies that the funds are available in your checking account. The transaction is approved in that case, or it will be denied if you don’t have enough funds available.
• In a similar way, a debit card can allow you to deduct funds from an ATM.
Worth noting: Debit cards may have spending limits capping the amount you can use in a single day, even if you have more than that amount on deposit. Check with your financial institution to learn what may apply.
Debit cards have many features that make them an asset to managing your financial life:
• Safer than carrying cash
• More convenient that using checks, plus no fee for ordering checks
• Quick and easy way to make purchases or access cash
• Accepted for purchases by many vendors
• Does not charge interest since it draws directly from your bank account
• Typically don’t charge fees
• May offer cash back rewards
• May have daily spending limits
If you don’t already have one, you may wonder how people get debit cards. These are the steps to getting a debit card:
1. Open a checking account: Checking accounts (whether at a bank, credit union, or online financial institution) typically come with a debit card at no cost that can be used to get cash at ATMs or to make purchases.
A brick and mortar bank may be able to issue customers a new debit card right away. With an online institution, it might take a few days for the card to come by mail. Card holders also receive a personal identification number (PIN), which is a security code they’ll use with their account.
2. Activate the card: Typically, you can activate a new debit card at the financial institution’s website, at one of its ATMs, or by calling a designated phone number and answering or keying in some basic identifying information.
3. Start using your card. You should be ready to start tapping, swiping and entering your card’s digits online to make purchases.
No account or overdraft fees. No minimum balance.
Up to 3.80% APY on savings balances.
Up to 2-day-early paycheck.
Up to $3M of additional
FDIC insurance.
A debit card can be used to make withdrawals at an ATM, to make in-person or online purchases, and to make automatic payments for recurring bills.
Each type of transaction works a bit differently. Here are tips for using your debit card.
One of the great conveniences a debit card has to offer is that it can be used to get cash (or make a deposit, transfer funds, or just view your account balance) just about anywhere there’s an ATM.
You just push your debit card into the slot, and enter your PIN to get access to your account. Once you finish and retrieve your receipt and debit card, it’s a good idea to double check that the machine has returned to its welcome screen before turning it over to the next user.
If you use an ATM that’s not in your bank’s network, you could end up paying a non-network fee to your bank and an ATM surcharge to the ATM’s owner. If you’re overseas, you might also be charged a foreign transaction fee.
If you’re a big-time ATM user, you might be able to avoid ATM fees by scouting out in-network ATM locations in your area or where you are going to be traveling ahead of time. Or you might open an account at a financial institution that doesn’t charge fees and/or reimburses certain fees.
The process for using a debit card to purchase goods or services can be a little different from one merchant to the next.
Typically a customer will be asked to swipe, insert, or tap their debit card themselves at a card reader on the counter, then may be prompted to authorize the purchase, either by entering their PIN or by signing as they would with a credit card.
Either way, the money to pay for the purchase comes out of the card holder’s account, though the transactions are processed somewhat differently.
The transaction method also may affect any points or other rewards a card holder is hoping to earn on a purchase. Some programs reward PIN purchases only, some reward signature purchases only, and some reward both.
A retailer also may allow customers making a PIN transaction to ask for cash back on top of the total amount of their purchase, so they don’t have to make a separate trip to an ATM. However, you may be charged a small fee for this convenience.
You usually can use a debit card online, even if you do not see “debit card” listed as a payment method when you want to buy something online. But if there’s a credit network logo on the front of your debit card, you should be able to use your card for the transaction.
When a merchant’s website asks for a payment method, debit card users can choose “credit card,” then enter their debit card account number, expiration date, and three-digit security code (CCV) to have the purchase processed as a signature transaction. (A PIN transaction won’t be a payment option online.)
A debit card also can be used to make automatic payments on monthly bills, such as student loans, car loans, subscriptions and memberships, and utility bills.
To set up automatic debit payments, the card holder provides the company with a debit card account number, expiration date, and CCV, and authorizes future electronic withdrawals. The payment can be the same amount every month, or, if the amount is likely to vary a bit from month to month (as utility bills generally do), the card holder can specify a range.
With automatic debit payments, card holders give businesses permission to take payments from their account, which is different from arranging with the bank to make authorized recurring payments. In both cases, however, it can be important to track those payments and be sure the transactions are accurate.
There are differences between a debit card and an ATM card to note:
• A debit card can be used to make withdrawals at an ATM, but it also can be used to make purchases and to pay bills.
• An ATM card can be used only to get funds from a checking or savings account at an ATM machine.
As with most financial tools, it’s up to each individual to decide what works best for them. Here are some ways to evaluate the pros and cons of using a debit card vs. a credit card.
Using a debit card for a majority of transactions may make it easier to stick to your budget, because you can spend only what you have in your account. You aren’t borrowing money as you would with a credit card, so you may find yourself paying more attention to every purchase and whether you can really afford it.
With a credit card, it can be tempting to pay now and worry about the bill later. If you’re super disciplined about paying off your entire credit card balance every month, that might work for you.
But if, like many Americans, you’re likely to carry forward a balance on your credit card (or cards) every month, the debt could eventually grow out of control with interest.
Both debit and credit cards are easy to use, but there are a few ways in which debit cards may have an edge when it comes to convenience.
• It’s easier and cheaper to get quick cash with a debit card. You can get a cash advance with a credit card, but you may have to pay a hefty fee and a higher interest rate on the advance. And with a cash advance you could be charged interest starting on the day you receive the money — there’s no grace period as there is when you make a purchase with a credit card.
• You may be able to get a physical cash advance when making a purchase. That benefit usually isn’t available with a credit card.
• It’s generally easier to get a debit card than a credit card. Most financial institutions will automatically give customers a debit card when they open an account. Getting a credit card can be harder, especially if you’re under 18, don’t have any verifiable income, have a poor (or no) history with credit, or lack the typically required identification documents. The requirements are tougher for credit cards because lenders want to be sure their borrowers are capable of repaying their debts.
No matter what kind of card you use — debit or credit — you could face a penalty fee if you spend more money than you currently have available.
With a debit card, you may incur an overdraft fee if you spend more than you have in your account (when making a signature purchase, for example, or when using autopay).
With a credit card, you could face an over-limit fee (if you push your balance over your credit limit), a late-payment fee if you fail to make your minimum monthly payment, or a returned payment fee if for some reason your payment isn’t accepted.)
Credit cards can be more likely to offer extra perks than debit cards, such as cash back rewards or points that can be used for travel, though some debits do offer points and rewards.
One of the things that can make a debit card really useful is that it’s difficult to spend more than you have. But that also can be a drawback if you need to make an expensive purchase. Even if you have a hefty amount of money in your account, you may encounter a daily spending limit when using a debit card.
Those daily limits are meant to protect account holders by limiting the amount fraudsters could spend with a stolen debit card. But if you aren’t aware you have a limit or don’t know what the limit is, you could get an unpleasant surprise when making a major purchase. Don’t know what a debit card’s limit is? Ask your bank.
If you find out you have a debit limit and feel it’s too low, you may be able to request an increase.
Of course, credit cards have spending limits, too, in the form of available credit. Those who go over their credit limit could have their card declined or they might have to pay a fee. Credit card users can check their monthly statement online or in person, or call customer service to see where they stand.
This may seem like a bit of irony, but even though consumers may be trying to be financially responsible by using a debit card whenever they can, they won’t be directly building their credit score.
Lenders often use credit scores to determine if a person qualifies for a loan or credit card, or a better interest rate when borrowing money. It reflects an individual’s past credit history and shows how well they’ve handled credit in the past.
When someone uses a debit card to pay for goods and services, the money is coming from their own account, so it doesn’t impact their borrowing record. If you use a debit card to stay out of debt and to make car or student loan payments on time, though, it might indirectly help your credit standing.
A debit card is linked to your bank account, so if a thief gets hold of your physical card or just your card number, any money they take is yours — not the bank’s, as would be the case with a stolen credit card.
And that could cause a lot of problems if you don’t notice and report the problem swiftly, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Debit card use is protected by the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA), which gives consumers the right to challenge fraudulent charges. But card holders have to act with some speed to get full federal protection.
And those protections aren’t quite as substantial as the federal law that covers credit card theft, the Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA).
If your debit card is lost or stolen, you could have zero liability if you report it before any unauthorized charges occurred. If you report a lost or stolen card within two business days, your loss may be limited to $50. But if you wait more than 60 calendar days after you receive your statement to make a report, you could lose all the money a thief drains from any account linked to your debit card.
That may sound scary, but if your debit card is backed by a credit card network (like Visa or Mastercard), you likely have the same “zero liability” protections credit card users have.
Recommended: 50/30/20 Budget Calculator
If you don’t have a debit card or prefer not a use one, here are some options:
• Cash. It’s still a form of payment that’s accepted at many retail locations.
• A check. For paying bills or making purchases (typically from smaller vendors), you may be able to write a check.
• Prepaid cards (also called prepaid debit cards in some cases). Available at various retail stores, these cards hold the amount of cash you put on them. Some are meant for one-time use; others can be reloaded with additional funds through an app, direct deposit, money transfer, or with cash at a store that offers this service.
Prepaid cards usually work at any ATM or retail location that accepts the card’s payment network. However, there are pros and cons of prepaid debit cards. They tend to come with more fees and fewer protections than traditional debit cards.
Debit cards are typically offered along with a checking account. You can use a debit card to quickly get cash, either from an ATM or by using the cash back function offered by many merchants. You can also use your debit card to purchase goods and services and even use it for autopay. Because you are using the cash you have on deposit, you don’t accrue any interest fees, but you are likely not building your credit either. These cards can be a convenient aspect of your daily financial life.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Typically, debit card use does not incur fees. However, if you use it at a non-network ATM to withdraw cash, you could be hit with a fee. Also, if you overdraft your account when swiping, that could incur charges. Lastly, the checking account that it’s connected to may or may not be fee-free.
The numbers on a debit card are similar to the numbers on a credit card: They identify the issuer involved and uniquely capture your account number.
Debit cards are typically safe, but they can be stolen or lost, which could allow someone to make unauthorized transactions. Plus, the hackers of the world are usually trying to steal people’s information. That said, using a PIN helps protect transactions, and if you report the loss or theft of your debit card within two business days, your liability should be capped at $50. Some cards offer zero-liability protection.
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The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.
SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit activity can earn 3.80% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Eligible Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Eligible Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below).
Although we do our best to recognize all Eligible Direct Deposits, a small number of employers, payroll providers, benefits providers, or government agencies do not designate payments as direct deposit. To ensure you're earning 3.80% APY, we encourage you to check your APY Details page the day after your Eligible Direct Deposit arrives. If your APY is not showing as 3.80%, contact us at 855-456-7634 with the details of your Eligible Direct Deposit. As long as SoFi Bank can validate those details, you will start earning 3.80% APY from the date you contact SoFi for the rest of the current 30-day Evaluation Period. You will also be eligible for 3.80% APY on future Eligible Direct Deposits, as long as SoFi Bank can validate them.
Deposits that are not from an employer, payroll, or benefits provider or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Eligible Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Eligible Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with Eligible Direct Deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
As an alternative to Direct Deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving an Eligible Direct Deposit or receipt of $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Eligible Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Eligible Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until SoFi Bank recognizes Eligible Direct Deposit activity or receives $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Eligible Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Eligible Direct Deposit.
Separately, SoFi members who enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days can also earn 3.80% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. For additional details, see the SoFi Plus Terms and Conditions at https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#plus.
Members without either Eligible Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, or who do not enroll in SoFi Plus by paying the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee every 30 days, will earn 1.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
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Read moreGas prices hit new highs in 2022. And while they’ve fallen since that spike, the government expects prices to drop even more in 2025 and 2026. Keep reading to learn more about historical gas prices, get a sense of how things have changed over time, and learn tips for finding cheap gas in your area.
Table of Contents
Key Points
• As of February 2025, Mississippi has the cheapest gas prices in the country.
• Gas prices are expected to drop in 2025 and 2026.
• Lower gas prices are typically found on Mondays and Sundays.
• Apps like GasBuddy and AAA help users find cheaper gas stations.
• Costco and Sam’s Club offer discounts on gas to members.
As anyone who’s gone to the pump in the past couple of years knows, filling up isn’t as cheap as it used to be. Gas prices rose in the second half of 2023, due in large part to a drop in global oil production. And though they fell somewhat in 2024, they remained stubbornly higher than before the pandemic.
Thankfully for drivers, gas prices are expected to drop even more in 2025 and 2026, as crude oil prices are projected to fall. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), prices at the pump will average around $3.20 per gallon in 2025, a decrease of more than 11 cents per gallon from 2024. The annual average price of gas is expected to drop even more — to $3.00 per gallon — in 2026.
If fill-ups are putting a dent in your wallet, consider using a money tracker to monitor spending and create budgets.
Data is courtesy of AAA .
STATE NAME | Unleaded Price in February 2025 |
---|---|
Alabama | $2.80 |
Alaska | $3.34 |
Arizona | $3.29 |
Arkansas | $2.80 |
California | $4.62 |
Colorado | $3.04 |
Connecticut | $3.08 |
Delaware | $3.07 |
Florida | $3.15 |
Georgia | $2.94 |
Hawaii | $4.54 |
Idaho | $3.18 |
Illinois | $3.25 |
Indiana | $2.94 |
Iowa | $2.96 |
Kansas | $2.82 |
Kentucky | $2.81 |
Louisiana | $2.76 |
Maine | $3.07 |
Maryland | $3.19 |
Massachusetts | $3.03 |
Michigan | $3.09 |
Minnesota | $3.02 |
Mississippi | $2.67 |
Missouri | $2.84 |
Montana | $3.01 |
Nebraska | $2.92 |
Nevada | $3.76 |
New Hampshire | $2.97 |
New Jersey | $3.04 |
New Mexico | $2.93 |
New York | $3.17 |
North Carolina | $2.89 |
North Dakota | $2.97 |
Ohio | $3.03 |
Oklahoma | $2.74 |
Oregon | $3.66 |
Pennsylvania | $3.35 |
Rhode Island | $3.00 |
South Carolina | $2.85 |
South Dakota | $2.95 |
Tennessee | $2.76 |
Texas | $2.70 |
Utah | $3.04 |
Vermont | $3.14 |
Virginia | $3.04 |
Washington | $4.04 |
West Virginia | $2.98 |
Wisconsin | $2.92 |
Wyoming | $2.98 |
Data is courtesy of AAA.
STATE NAME | Premium Price in February 2025 |
---|---|
Alabama | $3.61 |
Alaska | $3.76 |
Arizona | $3.93 |
Arkansas | $3.57 |
California | $5.01 |
Colorado | $3.77 |
Connecticut | $4.04 |
Delaware | $3.90 |
Florida | $3.90 |
Georgia | $3.76 |
Hawaii | $5.01 |
Idaho | $3.67 |
Illinois | $4.25 |
Indiana | $3.95 |
Iowa | $3.72 |
Kansas | $3.45 |
Kentucky | $3.73 |
Louisiana | $3.56 |
Maine | $4.06 |
Maryland | $4.08 |
Massachusetts | $3.99 |
Michigan | $4.17 |
Minnesota | $3.80 |
Mississippi | $3.45 |
Missouri | $3.50 |
Montana | $3.65 |
Nebraska | $3.60 |
Nevada | $4.32 |
New Hampshire | $3.95 |
New Jersey | $3.84 |
New Mexico | $3.63 |
New York | $4.06 |
North Carolina | $3.71 |
North Dakota | $3.61 |
Ohio | $4.06 |
Oklahoma | $3.42 |
Oregon | $4.11 |
Pennsylvania | $4.14 |
Rhode Island | $4.06 |
South Carolina | $3.63 |
South Dakota | $3.59 |
Tennessee | $3.56 |
Texas | $3.49 |
Utah | $3.51 |
Vermont | $4.09 |
Virginia | $3.88 |
Washington | $4.49 |
West Virginia | $3.81 |
Wisconsin | $3.91 |
Wyoming | $3.53 |
Data is courtesy of AAA.
STATE NAME | Diesel Price in February 2025 |
---|---|
Alabama | $3.47 |
Alaska | $3.52 |
Arizona | $3.62 |
Arkansas | $3.30 |
California | $5.00 |
Colorado | $3.35 |
Connecticut | $3.86 |
Delaware | $3.72 |
Florida | $3.60 |
Georgia | $3.63 |
Hawaii | $5.30 |
Idaho | $3.54 |
Illinois | $3.62 |
Indiana | $3.64 |
Iowa | $3.49 |
Kansas | $3.32 |
Kentucky | $3.31 |
Louisiana | $3.36 |
Maine | $3.96 |
Maryland | $3.80 |
Massachusetts | $3.82 |
Michigan | $3.52 |
Minnesota | $3.52 |
Mississippi | $3.30 |
Missouri | $3.31 |
Montana | $3.39 |
Nebraska | $3.34 |
Nevada | $3.78 |
New Hampshire | $3.81 |
New Jersey | $3.75 |
New Mexico | $3.52 |
New York | $3.96 |
North Carolina | $3.55 |
North Dakota | $3.54 |
Ohio | $3.54 |
Oklahoma | $3.19 |
Oregon | $3.86 |
Pennsylvania | $4.09 |
Rhode Island | $3.81 |
South Carolina | $3.48 |
South Dakota | $3.42 |
Tennessee | $3.39 |
Texas | $3.28 |
Utah | $3.51 |
Vermont | $3.79 |
Virginia | $3.70 |
Washington | $4.37 |
West Virginia | $3.58 |
Wisconsin | $3.39 |
Wyoming | $3.41 |
Historical data is courtesy of the EIA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Year | Average Gas Price |
---|---|
2024 | $3.57 |
2023 | $3.71 |
2022 | $4.19 |
2021 | $3.13 |
2020 | $3.99 |
2021 | $3.13 |
2020 | $2.24 |
2019 | $2.69 |
2018 | $2.79 |
2017 | $2.46 |
2016 | $2.20 |
2015 | $2.51 |
2014 | $3.42 |
2013 | $3.58 |
2012 | $3.69 |
2011 | $3.57 |
2010 | $2.83 |
2009 | $2.40 |
2008 | $3.31 |
2007 | $2.84 |
2006 | $2.63 |
2005 | $2.33 |
2004 | $1.92 |
2003 | $1.63 |
2002 | $1.44 |
2001 | $1.53 |
2000 | $1.56 |
1999 | $1.22 |
1998 | $1.11 |
1997 | $1.29 |
1996 | $1.28 |
1995 | $1.25 |
1994 | $1.17 |
1993 | $1.17 |
1992 | $1.19 |
1991 | $1.19 |
1990 | $1.21 |
1989 | $1.06 |
1988 | $0.96 |
1987 | $0.95 |
1986 | $0.93 |
1985 | $1.19 |
1984 | $1.19 |
1983 | $1.22 |
1982 | $1.28 |
1981 | $1.35 |
1980 | $1.22 |
1979 | $0.88 |
1978 | $0.65 |
There are a few ways to find the cheapest gas in the nearby area and save money on your gas bill:
• Use an app like GasBuddy to locate the lowest nearby price. The app lets drivers search by gas type, payment type, the brand of gas station, and other factors. The app also offers cashback deals, paid subscriptions, and more.
• AAA has a gas price monitoring website that gets updated every day. Drivers can search by state and country to find the best prices.
• Both Google Maps and Waze keep track of gas prices. When you search for gas stations within their maps, the price of gas at local stations will pop up. Although one can’t filter by price or automatically see the lowest price, it’s fairly easy to look around and find the cheapest option.
• Another useful app is Upside. The app lets users compare gas prices near them, and also earn cash back every time they fill up their tank.
• Besides the ability to buy in bulk, one of the perks of getting a Costco or Sam’s membership is getting discounts on gas. It’s often the cheapest option for club members.
• Certain days of the week tend to have lower prices. Generally, Mondays are the cheapest, followed by Sunday, while Wednesday and Thursday are the most expensive days.
Recommended: What Credit Score Is Needed to Buy a Car
Gas prices go up and down in response to a variety of global and domestic factors. But there are a few ways to source the best deals on gas and stay within your budget, including apps and membership-only retailers.
Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.
In 1980, the average price of gas was $1.22. That is equivalent to $4.56 in 2025 dollars.
In June 2022, gas prices in the U.S. hit an all-time high of $5.00.
In the 1990s, gas cost between $1.11 and $1.15 per gallon.
Photo credit: iStock/skodonnell
SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.
Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
External Websites: The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third-party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. Links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
SORL-Q125-067
Read moreYouTube is a lucrative platform for both marketers and content creators. YouTube had 2.5 billion unique monthly visitors and 30 billion visits per month in 2024 — more than Amazon, Facebook, Instagram, or Wikipedia — making it an advertiser’s nirvana. Talented influencers flock to YouTube to create video channels, and many earn around $60,000 per year on the platform from advertisers. However, they generally need at least 4,000 hours of unique content and at least 1,000 subscribers to do so.
Here’s a closer look at the average payouts for YouTubers and the heftier payouts for celebrity influencers with outstanding content.
Key Points
• The average YouTuber earns approximately $62,052 annually, with income varying by subscribers and ad views.
• Top 10 most-subscribed YouTubers in 2025 include MrBeast, PewDiePie, and Taylor Swift.
• Ad revenue for YouTubers typically ranges from $1.61 to $29.30 per 1,000 views for long-form videos.
• Earnings for YouTubers are influenced by subscriber count and ad views, with 1 million subscribers potentially earning $14,600 to $54,600 monthly.
• To monetize, creators typically need at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 hours of watch time.
The salary and career website ZipRecruiter reports that the average YouTuber made around $62,052 per year as of January 2025. That’s competitive pay for an entry-level salary. The highest salaries for YouTubers are around $89,000, while the lowest are around $48,500. Interestingly, the range between higher- and lower-paid YouTubers is only around $8,000, implying that experience does not lead to significant advancement.
ZipRecruiter also finds 10 cities where the typical salary for a YouTube Channel job is above the national average. The leading city is Nome, Alaska (average salary $76,975), followed by Berkeley, California ($75,979), Sitka, Alaska ($74,753), and San Francisco ($73,108). Although YouTube salaries are higher in Alaska and California, the cost of living in both states is also high, which might cancel out any salary gains.
The following is a list of the 10 most-subscribed YouTubers along with a brief overview of the reasons for their online appeal. The data were sourced from Search Engine Journal, an online news source for the SEO and marketing community.
Subscribers: 351 million
MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, is a young YouTuber and philanthropist originally from Greenville, North Carolina. He began posting videos in 2013, when he was just 13 years old. He went viral in 2017 with his “counting to 100,000” video. His videos include survival challenges, vlogs, and philanthropic content. Other than the MrBeast channel, Donaldson also runs Beast Reacts, MrBeast Gaming, MrBeast 2, and a philanthropy channel called Beast Philanthropy.
Subscribers: 125 million
PewDiePie, or Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, is a Swedish gaming YouTuber. He registered his channel “PewDiePie” in 2010 and primarily posted videos of himself playing horror and action video games. His channel was one of the fastest-growing channels in 2012 and 2013, and it soon diversified to include vlogs, comedy, shows, music videos, and fundraising. Some of Kiellberg’s content became controversial, and after 2019, Kjellberg semi-retired and uploaded less consistently. In 2016, he was named one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine.
Subscribers: 110 million
PewDiePie, or Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg, is a Swedish gaming YouTuber. He registered his channel “PewDiePie” in 2010 and primarily posted videos of himself playing horror and action video games. His channel was one of the fastest-growing channels in 2012 and 2013, and it soon diversified to include vlogs, comedy, shows, music videos, and fundraising. Some of Kiellberg’s content became controversial, and after 2019, Kjellberg semi-retired and uploaded less consistently. In 2016, he was named one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine.
Subscribers: 76.2 million
Alan Chikin Chow is an actor, influencer, and the most-watched YouTube Shorts creator. According to Variety, his content gets 1 billion views in any given month. Chow is also the creator of “Alan’s Universe,” a popular drama about love and friendship that routinely gets more than 500 million views. In 2024, his YouTube channel ranked among the platform’s 50 most-subscribed channels globally.
Subscribers: 74.7 million
Justin Bieber is known, first and foremost, as a Canadian musician. His original YouTube channel was called Kidrauhl — so named because his father called himself “Lordrauhl.” Bieber posted videos of his songs on Kidrauhl and became famous through the platform. Bieber’s channel Kidrauhl was renamed “Justin Bieber” in 2017.
Subscribers: 64 million
Marshall Bruce Mathers III, known as Eminem, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and record producer. His debut album, “Infinite,” was released in 1996. Rolling Stone has included him in its lists of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time and the 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. In November 2022, Eminem was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. His YouTube channel features his music videos and is called EminemMusic.
Subscribers: 63.5 million
No stranger to stunts, Mark Rober has amassed a following on YouTube thanks in large part to a slew of attention-grabbing projects. Examples include building the world’s largest Nerf gun and Super Soaker, glitter bombing porch pirates, and creating an obstacle course for squirrels. That he’s able to pull off such impressive feats should come as no surprise to his millions of subscribers, who are likely already familiar with Rober’s background as a NASA engineer.
Subscribers: 63.1 million
Fede Vigevani, also known as Fede, is a Uruguayan musician and YouTuber who’s now based in Medico City. He was part of the YouTube group Dosogas before going solo in 2018. In addition to music, his popular YouTube channel is filled with lighthearted content known for its humor, pranks, and challenges.
Subscribers: 60.6 million
Taylor Alison Swift is an American singer-songwriter. She was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, but moved to Nashville at age 14. Her 2006 debut album “Taylor Swift” made her the first female country artist to write a U.S. platinum-certified debut album. Swift is one of the best-selling musicians in history and the only person to have seven albums open with over one million copies sold in the United States. Swift has been named in Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time. She has also been named Artist of the Decade and Woman of the Decade and is an advocate for artists’ rights and women’s empowerment.
Subscribers: 58.7 million
Alejo Igoa is an Argentinian actor, model, and YouTuber whose channel features a heavy rotation of challenges, comedy skits, and vlogs that occasionally include his family and friends. He’s also popular on TikTok, where he often posts dance and lip-sync videos, and on Instagram, where he shares his modeling photos and updates on his life.
YouTubers make money from advertisers who place ads with their videos. YouTubers are paid based on how many of their viewers watch the ads that accompany their content. Even if a video gets thousands of views, if no one watches or clicks on the ads, the YouTuber won’t make any money. For a YouTuber to be compensated, a viewer must either click an ad or watch the video ad in full. According to data from Influencer Marketing Hub, the average YouTube channel receives around $0.018 per view.
Recommended: 25 Easy Jobs That Make a Lot of Money With Little Work Without College
A YouTuber earns roughly $18 per 1,000 ad views. YouTuber earnings vary depending on whether a video is short- or long-form. YouTubers’ reported income per 1,000 views range between $1.61 and $29.30 for long-form videos. For short-form videos, the payouts were between $0.01 to $0.06 per 1,000 views.
The money made on YouTube may not be consistent, particularly for creators who don’t upload new content regularly to ensure a growing following. One YouTuber with 1 million subscribers made between $14,600 and $54,600 per month.
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According to Influencer Marketing Hub, creators earn about 55% of the revenue on their channels — for every $100 an advertiser pays, Google pays $55 to the creator. It’s unlikely that a creator will make much money until there is significant traffic to the site and viewers click on ads.
There are some ads that pay per thousand views, but for the view to be counted for payment, a viewer must watch an ad for at least 30 seconds (or half the ad for a very short video). If viewers do click on or view ads for long enough to earn income, the creator shares any advertising revenue with YouTube. Creators only get paid once their AdSense account reaches $100.
Whether you’re raking in millions of subscribers or just starting out, a spending app can help you create a budget, organize spending, and manage bill paying.
With 2.5 billion unique monthly visitors and 30 billion visits per month, YouTube is a go-to platform for entertainment, education, and marketing. Many YouTubers and celebrities reap millions from ad revenue by posting music videos, gaming videos, entertainment, and educational content. However, for the less famous, it is possible to earn $60,000 to $80,000 a year, which is a competitive salary. YouTubers need traction and a significant following. Pay-outs are typically based on ad views and are made through Google AdSense.
Take control of your finances with SoFi. With our financial insights and credit score monitoring tools, you can view all of your accounts in one convenient dashboard. From there, you can see your various balances, spending breakdowns, and credit score. Plus you can easily set up budgets and discover valuable financial insights — all at no cost.
ZipRecruiter reports that the average YouTuber makes around $62,052 per year as of January 2025. The highest salaries are around $89,000, while the lowest are around $48,500.
One YouTuber with about 1 million subscribers made between $14,600 and $54,600 per month. However, the money made on YouTube may not be consistent, particularly for creators who don’t upload new content regularly to ensure a growing following.
YouTube uses an algorithm created in AdSense to decide when and how much to pay content creators. AdSense is owned by Google. Vloggers that gain enough traction to warrant earnings are paid monthly via direct deposit.
Photo credit: iStock/Youngoldman
SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.
Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
SORL-Q125-066
Read moreOn the popular credit score spectrum of 300 to 850, a credit score of 579 or lower is usually classified as poor, and a score between 580 and 669 is considered fair. Only when a score is 670 or higher does it typically count as good. That said, each lender makes its own determination of which credit scores are considered risky.
Here, you’ll learn more about the different credit score requirements and the factors that can build your score so you can work toward better financial habits.
Key Points
• A bad credit score is defined as being between 300 and 579 on the popular FICO Score scale; a fair score is between 580 and 669.
• A poor or fair credit score can limit financial opportunities and increase costs.
• Paying bills on time is the single biggest contributing factor to building and maintaining credit scores.
• High credit utilization will typically have a negative impact on scores.
• It can be wise to check credit reports regularly to identify any errors.
The definition of a bad credit score is having a history of late or nonpayment of bills or borrowing too much money. This past behavior can indicate that you are a poor credit risk.
To be more specific, a bad or poor credit score, as noted above, is one that is between 300 (the lowest possible score) and 579 on the popular FICO® Score system. The next highest category, fair, ranges from 580 to 669.
Scores are categorized somewhat differently depending on the credit-scoring model being used. Here’s a closer look at two popular systems, FICO and VantageScore®, so you can see how lower scores are ranked in terms of credit score ranges.
FICO | VantageScore | ||
---|---|---|---|
Fair | 580-669 | Poor | 500-600 |
Poor | 300-579 | Very Poor | 300-499 |
To complicate matters, lenders may choose from multiple scoring models and industry-specific scoring models. This can make it tricky to know which one you’re being evaluated on. And your credit scores vary — so, yes, you have multiple scores.
What’s the nationwide average? As of this writing, Americans had an average FICO Score of 715 and a VantageScore of 705. Both of these scores are in the good range of their respective scales.
It’s also worth noting that you might have a low credit score if you are new to credit. When you first start accessing credit, however, you don’t start at zero (or 300). Rather, once you have several months of credit usage in your history and have managed it fairly well, you are likely to have a score between 500 and 700.
Having a bad credit score can impact you in several ways:
• Difficulty in obtaining loans and credit: With a score in a lower range, you will likely look like a poor credit risk to lenders. You will therefore probably not have access to a full array of products, such as conventional mortgages and rewards credit cards, which are usually available to those with higher scores.
• Higher interest rates and fees: For the forms of credit that you do qualify for, you will likely pay a higher interest rate and more in fees. For instance, as of this writing, those with excellent credit scores would pay an average of 17.71% in credit card interest, while those with fair credit would pay an average of 26.76%.
• Impact on renting and employment: Some employers and landlords may check credit scores to see how responsible a candidate for a job or rental unit has been with their finances in the past. A poor score could indicate that an individual does not manage their money and deadlines well, which could be a negative mark on an application.
To look at it from a different angle, here are some of the things that take your credit history into consideration and can be negatively impacted by a bad score:
• Credit cards
• Car loans
• Home loans
• Private student loans
• Federal PLUS loans
• Car insurance premiums (in some states)
• Homeowners insurance
• Job or rental applications
If you currently have a credit score that is lower than you’d like, there are steps you can take to help build it and enjoy greater access to credit products with more favorable terms. Here are factors that affect your credit score and how to manage them better:
Paying your bills on time and in full is the single biggest contributing factor to your credit card, so take it seriously. If you have been late with any payments, consider getting caught up.
If you tend to forget bills, consider brushing up on how autopay works and set up payments through an app, an online bank account, or the entity billing you. Putting reminders on a paper or electronic calendar can help as well.
Another important factor when it comes to building your credit is to be aware of your credit utilization ratio. Credit utilization involves credit card and other revolving debts, not installment loans like mortgages or student loans. The ratio expresses how your current balances relate to your overall credit limit. Most financial experts recommend that this should be no more than 30%, but under 10% is better still.
Here’s an example: If you have two credit cards, each with a credit limit of $5,000, you have a total credit limit of $10,000. You would want your combined balances to be no more than $3,000, or ideally no more than $1,000.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), says that paying off credit card balances in full each month helps to keep the ratio low and positively impact a credit score.
The average age of your accounts plays a role in your credit score, so you may want to keep some of your oldest cards open, even if you don’t use them often. Remember that closing cards also reduces your available credit, affecting your credit utilization ratio.
Opening credit cards affects your credit score as well. Every time you apply, the credit card company runs a hard inquiry on your credit, and your score takes a slight hit. Applying for a bunch of cards in quick succession can lower your score in this way and make it look like your financial situation has taken a turn for the worse.
You’ve just learned about some key factors that can help you build your credit quickly. Here’s a little intel about how changes to your score happen: Three major credit reporting agencies — Equifax®, Experian®, and TransUnion® — compile the information on your history of borrowing, and then a company like FICO or VantageScore translates that data into a number.
It’s important to keep in mind that the data contributing to your credit score updates regularly, but you likely won’t see tremendous movement in just one month. You might start to see an uptick in 30 to 45 days, but it can take several months or even years for your good credit habits to pay off. For instance, if you have a credit score of 560, it’s unlikely to surge to a 760 in just a month or two.
There are some other strategies you might consider if you are eager to build your score:
• Millions of Americans have no credit score because they don’t have enough of a history to calculate one. If this is your situation, you have a couple of options. You may want to consider taking out a secured credit card that will allow you to access a modest line of credit by putting down a deposit.
• You can also ask a friend or family member to add you as an authorized user to their credit card account. An authorized user can use the account but does not have any liability for the debt. A positive payment history on the card you are added to can help build your score.
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As you build your score into a range you’re happy with, you’ll want to maintain it to stay in good standing. Some tips:
• Regularly check your credit report to look for errors. Report any that you find.
• Avoid excessive credit applications. Each hard inquiry typically lowers your score by several points for a few months. Think twice before biting when various credit card offers come your way.
• Use credit responsibly. Keep an eye on your credit utilization ratio and bill payment due dates. If your credit card balances are rising, prioritize paying them down with, say, the debt snowball or avalanche method. Or you might consider a personal loan known as a debt consolidation loan, that may offer a lower interest rate (and therefore more affordable payments) and the convenience of just paying one bill per month.
Recommended: What Credit Score Is Needed for a Personal Loan?
A bad credit score is defined differently by individual lenders and credit bureaus. But a score below 580 on the FICO scale can be deemed bad and make it difficult to qualify for a conventional mortgage and other important financial products. Those forms of credit that you do qualify for will likely cost you money through higher interest rates. But with time and dedication, you can build your bad credit score and maintain a higher number.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. See your rate in minutes.
A credit score of 600 falls into the category that’s considered fair credit, which is less than good. As such, it could be considered bad by some lenders, though it is above the poor classification (300 to 579). A 600 credit score can make it harder to get approved for loans and credit cards, and, if you are approved, you will probably have to pay higher interest rates.
A 700 credit score usually falls in the good category, which typically runs from 670 to 739. A fair score is typically from 580 to 669, and a poor score ranges from 300 to 579.
Depending on what you are applying for, it is possible to get approved with a 500 credit score. For instance, you might qualify for certain government-backed mortgages, and you might get approved for, say, a personal loan, but likely at a higher interest rate than if you had a score in a higher range.
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SOPL-Q125-024
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