Economics

What to know about RV insurance RV insurance is essential for both full-time RV living and occasional trips. Premiums vary based on your driving record, RV model and location, and may change annually. Much like car insurance, it pays to shop around and get new quotes once your policy is up for renewal. Our top picks include Progressive, Auto-Owners Insurance and National General. How we chose our top picks Money’s editorial team has evaluated RV insurance providers since 2016. Our research and analysis consider customer satisfaction, financial stability, coverage options, and availability, among other factors. We reviewed 15+ companies, conducted over 1,000 hours of research on coverage, available discounts and customer satisfaction from third parties and regulatory agencies. Read the full methodology to learn more. Our top picks for the best RV insurance companies Progressive – Best Overall Auto-Owners Insurance – Best for Customer Satisfaction Nationwide – Best for Discounts National General – Best for Specialized Coverages Good Sam – Best for Comparing Multiple Providers Roamly – Best for Renting Out Your RV Pros Disappearing deductibles Accident forgiveness for claims under $500 Add-ons available for pet injury and roof damage Often recommended by users in popular RV insurance forums Cons Rates differ based on whether you buy online or through an agent Discounts aren’t available in all states Middling customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and Crash Network HIGHLIGHTS A.M. Best Rating A+ (Superior) Crash Network Insurer Report Card C J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study Below average (672/1,000) NAIC Complaint Index Better than most (0.61) Discounts Multi-vehicle, original owner, pay-in-full, responsible driver, prompt payment, disappearing deductibles and more Bundles Auto, renters, homeowners, motorcycle or boat insurance bundle Why we chose it: Progressive is our best RV insurer overall for its competitive catalogue of RV insurance products as well as its available discounts, which offer plenty of opportunities to save money, including the rare combination of disappearing deductibles and accident forgiveness. While it costs extra, Progressive’s diminishing deductible benefit allows you to reduce your deductible by 25% every time you renew your policy without filing a claim or getting a traffic violation. After several claims-free periods, RV owners can get their deductibles down to zero. The benefit is automatically included at no cost when you purchase comprehensive and collision coverage for vehicles valued at $25,000 or more. Accident forgiveness for a claim of $500 or less is also included at no cost — this means your premium won’t increase if you file a claim of $500 or less for your first “at fault” accident. Pros Low NAIC complaint index High J.D Power Customer Satisfaction rating in 10 states B grade on Crash Network’s Insurer Report Card Cons You can only get a quote by contacting a local agent Only available in 26 states HIGHLIGHTS A.M. Best rating A++ (Superior) Crash Network Insurer Report Card B J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study Below average (692/1,000) NAIC Complaint Index Better than most (0.46) Discounts Payment history, paid-in-full, paperless billing, advance quote, safety features, driver safety program, mature drivers and favorable loss history Why we chose it: Auto-Owners Insurance has an impressive customer service record. The insurer has fewer complaints with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) than most of its competitors. Auto-Owners Insurance is also one of the few insurers with a B grade in Crash Network’s 2024 Insurer Report Card. For this survey, repair shops nationwide evaluate whether insurers prioritize quality repairs and good customer service for motorists. Most major insurers in the U.S. got a grade of C+ or less. Pros Vast array of discounts for easy bundling and savings Add-ons include coverage for glass windshield replacement Optional towing coverage includes lodging, transportation and meals Cons C grade on Crash Network’s Insurer Report Card No online quotes available Nationwide’s website may not list all the available discounts HIGHLIGHTS A.M. Best rating A (Excellent) Crash Network Insurer Report Card B J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study Above average (728/1,000) NAIC Complaint Index Better than most (0.70) Discounts RV safety course, RV association, paid-in-full, good driver, continuous coverage and more Why we chose it: Most RV insurers offer discounts, but Nationwide’s list is notably extensive. The insurer offers over 10 different discounts including discounts for staying claims-free and installing safety devices, like smoke detectors. Beyond standard home, car and life insurance bundles, Nationwide offers unique opportunities to save money. You can get a premium discount for taking safety courses, joining an RV organization like the National RV Association and paying your annual policy upfront. Nationwide will also reduce your premium if you’ve insured your RV with another provider and maintained continuous coverage. Note that not all discounts are listed on Nationwide’s website, and some only come up during the quoting process. Pros Over 15 coverage options designed for every type of RV owner Option to suspend collision and liability coverage when your RV is in storage Full replacement cost coverage includes expert service to help you find a new RV Quotes available online and by phone Cons Not as many discount options as competitors Limited information about policies on its website D+ rating on Crash Network’s 2024 Insurer Report Card HIGHLIGHTS A.M. Best rating A (Excellent) Crash Network Insurer Report Card D+ J.D. Power U.S. Auto Claims Satisfaction Study Below average (672/1,000) NAIC Complaint Index Worse than most (3.45) Discounts Diminishing deductible, storage savings and low mileage discount Why we chose it: National General offers a generous purchase price guarantee during the vehicle model’s first nine years on the market. Other insurers don’t offer this if the vehicle is more than five years old. This optional benefit reimburses the customer up to the original cost of the vehicle if it’s stolen or totaled. RVs are also eligible for full replacement cost coverage during their first five model years, regardless of ownership (some companies limit this benefit to original owners). Pros Partners with insurers that reduce your premium while the RV is in storage Discounts on campsites, gear

The average college meal plan now costs $5,656 per year — making it one of the most expensive line items on a student’s bill after tuition and housing. That’s according to a new analysis from private student loan company Education Loan Finance, or ELFI, which examined meal plan costs at 150 colleges and universities across the country. The snapshot tracks with the most recently available government statistics, which show the average meal plan for students living on campus at a four-year public college was about $5,400 during the 2022-2023 school year. At private colleges, the typical charge was even higher — topping $6,200. The rising cost of campus dining comes at a time when students and families are growing increasingly frustrated with the overall price of college. Tuition, dorm fees and other mandatory expenses have consistently outpaced inflation, and multiple surveys reveal growing public skepticism about whether a degree is actually worth the cost. On top of that, current and future students will have to navigate a shifting financial aid landscape due to changes introduced in Republicans’ massive new spending plan, which President Donald Trump signed into law last month. Meal plan fees have climbed alongside tuition Meal plan prices have steadily climbed alongside tuition, housing and just about everything else. Since 2017, the average annual meal plan cost at public colleges has jumped from $4,666 to $5,472 — a 17% increase before adjusting for inflation. Over roughly that same period (from the 2016-2017 academic year to 2022-2023), average in-state tuition at public four-year colleges rose by about 20%, from $9,670 to $11,610, according to College Board data. While skipping the meal plan is often floated as a way to save money, that option isn’t actually on the table at many campuses. In fact, the ELFI study found that 98% of schools require incoming students to purchase a meal plan, limiting their control over their college costs — even if they’re not seeing the value. Of the 75 public and 75 private schools evaluated in ELFI’s study, only three did not require first-year students to buy a meal plan — the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. On top of being a required expense at most campuses, meal plans often offer little flexibility. Many schools don’t refund unused dining dollars or meal swipes. Leftover funds from the fall semester typically roll over, but they usually expire by the end of the academic year. Students who don’t use their full plan still pay the full cost up-front, further padding university revenue. The one area where students have some flexibility is when choosing a meal plan. Many colleges offer different tiers, allowing students to opt for fewer meals per week or limiting dining dollars to lower the overall cost. Instead of selecting an unlimited plan — that typically runs on the higher side — students can choose a cheaper option, especially if they plan to eat some meals in their dorm room or grab food off campus occasionally. Still, even the most affordable plans can be pricey. The $5,656 price tag cited in the ELFI study reflects the average cost of the lowest-tier meal plan for first-year students in the 2025-2026 academic year. (Lower-tier plans usually limit students to one or two meals per day, often with a fixed number of swipes per week or semester). For colleges, the guaranteed buy-in ensures a dependable revenue stream, especially when schools typically enroll thousands of new students each year. Some of this revenue may flow back to colleges through contracts with third-party providers like Sodexo or Aramark, which many institutions use to outsource campus dining services to reduce operational costs. But as the Hechinger Report noted in a 2017 story, these contracts often lack transparency — and there’s no requirement that any savings be passed on to students. Are students getting their money’s worth? At roughly $5,600 per year, the average college meal plan breaks down to about $622 per month over a standard nine-month academic year. That’s far more than what many students would likely spend on food outside a campus setting. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommended food plans, for example, a moderate spending plan for a typical male student would cost about $3,424 over nine months, while a female student might spend closer to $2,892. That’s 39% and 49% less, respectively, than the average cost of a college dining plan. Notably, the ELFI study points out that these USDA estimates are based on modest but nutritionally adequate diets — not extreme budgeting. Even if you look at the USDA’s more expensive “liberal” spending category, the monthly total is still lower than what many colleges are charging. On the other hand, the USDA spending guidelines don’t factor in the time spent grocery shopping, cooking or cleaning up — tasks that students don’t have to do if they have a meal plan. But for students and families already stretched thin financially, those conveniences can come at a cost that’s hard to swallow. More from Money: The Best Colleges in America Right Now Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill Changes Student Loans and Monthly Payments. Here’s How Student Loan Interest to Resume Accruing for 8 Million Borrowers. Should You Switch Plans?

During his run for office last year, one of President Donald Trump’s key proposals to improve housing affordability was to give home builders access to federally owned land. While the GOP is still looking for ways to put that proposal into action, its ability to solve the housing market’s inventory problem may be limited. On one hand, most estimates find that the U.S. has a housing shortage of roughly 4 million units, so anything that encourages new construction and adds to the supply of homes should help bring down prices. That includes ideas to build on government-owned national parks, conservation areas, wildlife refuges and the like. Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS, says that land typically accounts for a significant portion of overall construction costs — which includes everything from materials and labor to permits and project management fees. Making public lands available for development at a reasonable cost “is one strategy that could get some new housing built,” she says. The idea is popular with the housing industry because one of the biggest roadblocks to new construction in many parts of the country is a lack of available land. Advocates say building on federal lands could increase housing affordability and stimulate local economic development by creating new jobs. Another perk is that it would generate revenue the government could use to fund other initiatives (or cover the fiscal gap created by tax cuts). However, a recent study by Realtor.com suggests that while Trump’s proposal could alleviate the inventory issue in some areas, it wouldn’t be a one-size-fits-all fix. One reason: The markets that are most in need of more housing would be the least likely to benefit. “The most severe shortages exist in places like the Northeast, where developable federal land is virtually non-existent,” Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, wrote in the report. The lands being eyed for sale are those owned and primarily managed by four federal agencies: the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Parks Service. As it turns out, most of this land — about 640 million acres — is located in Alaska and Western states like Arizona, Montana and Nevada. These areas either already have an adequate housing supply or lack the necessary infrastructure, such as power and water supply, roads, schools, jobs and so on, to support new housing. So allowing new construction on these lands may not be worthwhile for builders. That’s not to say that using some federal land wouldn’t be a step forward. Hale suggested that making federal land available to home builders could be part of the solution to the inventory shortage, provided it is located in areas with a higher demand for homes than supply. An example of the successful sale of public lands near an in-demand market occurred earlier this year in Las Vegas, when the BLM sold more than 40 acres of land for development at auction. But to solve the nationwide problem, experts say policymakers need to take a more holistic approach. The long-term solution likely includes zoning and land-use changes, as well as infrastructure improvements in areas that are already close to jobs, schools and other amenities. How regulatory changes impact housing inventory Making the most of existing land requires changing local use and zoning regulations to allow for increased housing density in existing markets — in other words, moving away from single-family plots and building multifamily housing instead. According to the Realtor.com report, 90 acres of land could support up to 5,000 new housing units if the development density of Manhattan is used, where high-rises and multifamily buildings are the rule. Those same 90 acres would yield 20 homes at the development density of Clark County, Nevada, where single-family homes predominate. However, increasing housing density and building new homes by itself aren’t enough to ease the housing supply issue. Building new housing can take anywhere from six months to over a year, so the federal-lands pitch is not a quick fix, either. “It would likely still be insufficient to address affordability issues for homebuyers, and it certainly would not help in the near term,” says Sturtevant. In addition to increasing housing density and encouraging new construction, Sturtevant says other incentives could grow the supply of existing homes for sale. One such solution is the increase in the state and local tax deduction, also known as SALT, that was recently enacted as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The legislation raised the SALT deduction from $10,000 to $40,000. The increased cap means that home sellers can keep a larger portion of their home sale profits, which Sturtevant says could nudge some homeowners to put their homes on the market and move to a lower-cost area. Another possible solution, and one that hasn’t been addressed in any proposed legislation, is to provide a tax incentive for homeowners who sell their properties to first-time homebuyers. The added tax break could help bring more supply of existing homes to the market. The current lack of inventory in the housing market has been a long time in the making. As such, there is no single solution that will solve the problem overnight. Instead, it will take a combination of incentives from the federal and state governments — and years of effort — to find an answer that works for every market in the country. “Opening up federal land for housing development may generate incremental supply… but it’s not a silver bullet,” Hale said. “[We’ve] got to make better use of the land we already have.” More from Money: Best Mortgage Lenders of 2025 What’s Next for the Housing Market? 4 Key Trends to Watch Home Sales Haven’t Been This Slow Since the Great Recession

What to know about background checks Nearly one in every three adults have some form of a criminal record according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. This highlights why employers and landlords are increasingly relying on background checks to screen candidates. Only some types of background check are regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which places limits on the kind of information that you can obtain on others. People search sites can be a useful tool for finding relatives or doing reverse phone searches. For background checks on potential employees, domestic workers, or tenants, you’ll need to work with an FCRA-compliant company. Social media background checks have become a more common part of the recruitment process for many employers despite the ethical and privacy concerns surrounding them. How we chose our top picks Our editorial team draws on its extensive knowledge and experience in the background check industry to independently assess screening companies. We evaluated over 40 data points across 20 vetted background check companies to ensure readers have accurate and helpful information about this type of service. Read the full methodology below to learn more. Our top picks for the best background check sites People search background check sites Unlike FCRA-compliant companies, these background search sites cannot be used for employment or tenancy purposes. You can, however, use them to conduct personal searches. TruthFinder – Best Background Check Site Overall Instant Checkmate – Best for Unlimited Reports BeenVerified – Best for Vehicle Searches Spokeo – Best for Budget Searches FCRA-compliant background screening sites The following background screening sites all comply with FCRA regulation on consumer reporting agencies, namely the information they can provide and what it can be used for. This means you may use them for employment and tenancy purposes. Backgrounds Online – Best Background Screening Site Overall Checkr – Best for Pre-employment Screenings TransUnion SmartMove – Best for Tenant Screenings GoodHire – Best for Small Businesses Pros Comprehensive reports with detailed personal data User-friendly interface with mobile app support Add-on for report downloads and monitoring Sample report available Cons Flagged for FCRA violations and deceptive marketing practices Subscription required to access reports No free trial or single-report option Why we chose it: TruthFinder offers highly detailed reports that cover a wide range of information, from personal assets to criminal records and employment history. Its intuitive app with a straightforward interface makes starting new searches and viewing existing reports easy. Although the service only offers monthly plans — you won’t be able to pay for one-off reports — the price of TruthFinder’s services is slightly below that of other background check memberships. And for an additional $3.99/mo, it also lets you download reports as PDFs and monitor reports online for updates to their information. It bears mentioning that TruthFinder was one of two background check sites which were penalized by the Federal Trade Commission in 2023 for deceiving users about the accuracy of their reports and violating FCRA guidelines. Although it has been some time since, this is something to keep in mind as you consider the companies on our list. TruthFinder Pricing Membership Price Benefits People Search $28.33/mo or $47.03 bimonthly Unlimited person reports, unlimited location reports Reverse Phone Lookup $4.99/mo Unlimited phone reports Reverse Email Lookup $29.73/mo Unlimited person reports, unlimited email reports Reports may include: first and last name, known aliases, physical address, photos, social media profiles, location history, associated persons, related persons, birth information, phone numbers, email addresses, employment history, educational history, possible associates, business ownership, assets, criminal records, traffic records, court records. *See disclaimer below for more information. Pros Unlimited person or phone reports Transparent pricing structure Sample report available Quick turnaround times Cons Flagged for FCRA violations and deceptive marketing practices Expensive people search membership No options for single reports Why we chose it: Instant Checkmate offers unlimited searches, making it ideal for anyone who needs to conduct background checks regularly. It’s especially thorough when it comes to criminal information, featuring search functions for inmates and traffic, criminal and arrest records. Another highlight of the platform is its streamlined interface that makes navigation easy — both on browsers and on the handy mobile app. On the other hand, Instant Checkmate’s lack of single-report purchase option means it isn’t as cost-effective for those who only need occasional searches. Like TruthFinder, Instant Checkmate was penalized by the Federal Trade Commission in 2023 for deceptive business practices and breaking FCRA guidelines. This isn’t necessarily a deal breaker — both companies were placed under monitoring by the FTC — but it’s worth considering while choosing a background check site. Instant Checkmate Pricing Membership Price Benefits Person Reports $35.47/mo or $85.13 every three months Unlimited person reports, unlimited location reports, report monitoring Phone Reports $5.99/mo Unlimited phone reports Reports may include: birth information, photos, phone numbers, social media profiles, email addresses, address history, employment history, educational history, business ownership, assets, criminal records, traffic records, court records. *See disclaimer below for more information. Pros VIN, license plate and owner detail lookup Mobile app designed for vehicle searches Well-organized reports with multiple data sources Niche services like unclaimed money search Cons Less comprehensive people searches Limited to 100 reports per month Lack of transparency in pricing Why we chose it: BeenVerified does VIN and license plate lookups, which provide valuable insight into a car’s past, including accidents, market value, recalls, warranty and ownership history. This makes it a go-to option for used car buyers, automotive professionals and others who may need to run a vehicle history check. Like other popular background check sites, BeenVerified also features a mobile app to search people, phone numbers, emails and physical addresses. However, it also offers an app specifically for carrying out vehicle checks, making it even easier to keep track of several car records at once. While the platform is excellent for vehicle searches, it offers less detailed reports in other fields. It’s also easy to miss that BeenVerified’s membership costs $32.89/mo, not $1 or $5 (which are

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For successful long-term investing in a politically charged environment, investors should focus on economic data, have a diversified portfolio and resist reacting to daily headlines.