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René Bennett | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Saving isn’t always easy, but it pays off over time. It’s especially useful to have a solid savings foundation in place to protect yourself against economic uncertainty. And with the unemployment rate surging to 4.3 percent in August, the road ahead looks potentially rocky.

But how do you save more when money is tight? More than a third (34 percent) of working Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, according to Bankrate’s Living Paycheck to Paycheck Survey. Furthermore, 59 percent of people are uncomfortable with their amount of emergency savings, according to Bankrate’s Emergency Savings Report.

If you’re concerned about how much money is in your account, there’s no need to panic. There are simple ways to change your routine to boost your bank balance.

Key money saving tips

1. Automate your savings

To better organize your savings goals, start by getting a clear picture of your financial situation. Automating your savings is also a smart way to increase your savings. read more

By Kimberly Palmer | NerdWallet

Kids, it turns out, need their parents even after they’re all grown up.

About 6 in 10 parents say they’ve helped their young adult children financially within the past year, according to a report released earlier this year from the Pew Research Center. The most common forms of assistance? Household expenses, cell phone bills and subscriptions to streaming services.

“Parents have always helped their children, but one of the real questions is, ‘How much is too much?’” says Anne Lester, author of “Your Best Financial Life.” The answer, she explains, depends on how much parents can afford to help, as well as each family’s parenting values.

To navigate the challenge of helping young adults achieve financial independence, money experts suggest these strategies:

Talk about money early

Setting up young adults for self-sufficiency starts when they’re younger and still living at home, says Mindy Oglesby, certified financial planner and founder of Oglesby Wealth Strategies in Watkinsville, Georgia. read more

Logan Moore | (TNS) Bankrate.com

Although annuities are not for everyone, the assurance of guaranteed income in retirement and tax-deferred growth can be very attractive for certain people looking to invest their money. Meanwhile, the high fees and mind-numbingly detailed contracts are a big drawback.

Here’s a look at whether an annuity might be a good investment for you.

What is an annuity?

An annuity is a financial contract, typically with an insurance company, that pays guaranteed income over time in exchange for what you originally paid either through a series of payments or a lump sum.

There are a few different types of annuities to choose from.

—Fixed annuities offer a fixed payout over a fixed term and may guarantee a minimum rate of return, which can be appealing to those looking for a lower risk option with lower fees.

—Variable annuities offer a payout linked to the performance of the underlying investments, such as stocks and bonds or both. Variable annuities have higher fees and offer no guarantees on returns. read more