The potential for a U.S. debt default is the big headline this week. But this week's list also includes a wide array of articles that you and your students may find interesting.

Economics

• Listening to this episode of Here and Now will help you understand what a default on the debt might mean for Americans. 
• How is Wall Street preparing for a possible default on the US debt? (Reuters)
• Reuters covers the latest New York Fed Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, highlighting the large slowdown in new mortgages in the first quarter. The New York Fed blog Liberty Street dives into the pandemic boom in mortgage refining.
• Will the Fed pause interest rate hikes at their June meeting? Reuters parses Fed officials’ public statements for clues as we all await the PCE inflation announcement for April next week.

Budgeting and Modern Life

• TikTok is the place to go for advice on how to stop living paycheck-to-paycheck as folks share their methods. (WSJ-subscription may be required)
• Forbes covers research by Deloitte revealing that retail therapy is pervasive in the U.S.
• Forbes provides tips on avoiding scams when planning that summer vacation.
• We know the rule of thumb about keeping living expenses to 1/4 or 1/3 of your income. In which states is that impossible for most people? (CNBC)
• Here is a fun infographic showing the most expensive neighborhood in each state. (Ritholz)

Career

• With unemployment still so low, employees are able to avoid returning to work, upsetting CEOs’ plans. (CNBC)

Higher Ed

• CNBC brings you the current list of the highest-paying college majors.
• The Economist describes attending university as a lottery. Is it worth playing? The Economist

Cyrptocurrency

• Crypto winter blamed for 50% drop in attendance at the Miami Bitcoin conference. (Coindesk)
• Fraud isn’t new, but crypto is a medium ripe for it. (VOX)

Financial Literacy

• Planet Money covers Annamaria Lusardi’s new paper making the case for financial literacy education.

About the Author

Beth Tallman

Beth Tallman entered the working world armed with an MBA in finance and thoroughly enjoyed her first career working in manufacturing and telecommunications, including a stint overseas. She took advantage of an involuntary separation to try teaching high school math, something she had always dreamed of doing. When fate stepped in once again, Beth jumped on the opportunity to combine her passion for numbers, money, and education to develop curriculum and teach personal finance at Oberlin College. Beth now spends her time writing on personal finance and financial education, conducts student workshops, and develops finance curricula and educational content. She is also the Treasurer of Ohio Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy.