| |  | | February 9, 2026 | | | | | | | | Bad to the Bone: When Vet Bills Wreck Your Wallet | | | By Lora Shinn
We love our pets. And we'd do anything for them. But an unexpected emergency can quickly turn that devotion into a financial setback. When there's a crisis, many pet owners face a lose-lose choice: load on credit card debt or walk away from the treatment their pet needs. | | | | | | | | | | 5 Ways to Afford Grad School — With or Without Federal Loans | | | By Ezra Dreiblatt
Going to graduate school can supercharge your career.
But the cost can be prohibitive without some help, and soon there will be limits on how much can be borrowed through federal loans. New grad borrowers won't typically be able to take out more than $20,500 in federal loans per year ($100,000 in total). If they're pursuing a "professional" degree in a field like law or medicine, the limit will be $50,000 per year ($200,000 in total).
"These new limits really are going to be quite the culture shock for the new students," said personal finance expert Tiffany Aliche.
Of course, the Education Department says the whole point of the new limits is to tamp down the cost of tuition and help students avoid "insurmountable debt." If they're successful, grad school could in theory become more affordable.
But in the meantime, how do you afford a master's or doctoral degree? Here are five workarounds if federal loans aren't enough. | | | | | | | | Your SoFi Toolkit | | If federal loans won't cover your grad school costs, a private student loan is another option. With SoFi, you can choose the timetable and repayment terms too.* | | | | | | | | | | | Tiffany Aliche, aka "The Budgetnista," sat down with SoFi Head of Investment Strategy Liz Thomas to break down how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is changing the federal student loan system, especially for graduate students.
Get up to speed on the elimination of Grad PLUS loans and new federal borrowing limits in just 10 minutes. | | | | | | | WEEK AHEAD ON WALL STREET | | | | A Read on Both Jobs and Inflation | | | By Mario Ismailanji
The market is pretty pessimistic about interest rate relief, with traders pricing in about a 25% chance that the Federal Reserve will cut the benchmark interest rate at its March meeting.
But this week we'll get a double dose of data to help gauge whether that pessimism is justified, with both the January jobs report and consumer inflation report scheduled for release following last week's brief government shutdown.
- If the data runs "hot" (more jobs added, higher inflation than expected), that 25% chance could drop to zero. This means that, all else being equal, mortgage rates, auto loans and credit card APRs could stay elevated or even tick higher as the market adapts to a stronger economy.
- If the data runs "cold" (fewer jobs added, lower inflation than expected), the odds of a March cut could spike. This would likely spark a rally in stocks and send Treasury yields down, eventually offering some relief on borrowing costs.
| Whether you are trading a portfolio or just waiting to refinance a home, these numbers could go a long way in setting the market tone as recent upheaval leaves investors on edge. | | | | | | | | | | | Informed investment decisions start with informed investors. Here's what's making headlines:
| | | | | |  | | The Big Short's Michael Lewis told Sam Altman he'll write a biography of the OpenAI CEO, but not until ChatGPT is smart enough to write its own version — and then they'll compare. (Fortune) | | | | | | | | | | | Intel, insights, and inspo for your money. | | On the Money cuts through the noise of day‑to‑day financial news to bring you a more thoughtful point of view on what's important in this moment — and how it impacts your bottom line. We value your trust above all. | | | | | | | | | | Did you find today's newsletter valuable? | | | | |
| | | | INVESTMENTS AND DIGITAL ASSETS ARE NOT FDIC INSURED ‑ ARE NOT BANK GUARANTEED ‑ MAY LOSE VALUE | | *Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., and must meet SoFi's underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. View payment examples. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 2/5/26 and is subject to change.
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