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July 3, 2009
Protecting your money
"If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." How many times have you heard that expression? Even in favorable economic times, otherwise cautious people can be duped by get-rich-quick schemes or investments that promise unrealistic returns. But when times get hard, folks increasingly fall for these scams in their quest to make ends meet.
June 26, 2009
Boomerang kids? Get ready for boomerang parents
Boomerang kids. You've probably read articles about them or may even have one yourself. That's where parents reopen their formerly empty nests to adult children who are trying to pay off student loans or bills, save for a down payment or regroup after losing their job.
June 19, 2009
Read contracts carefully before signing
When people hear the word "contract," some start daydreaming about signing a multimillion dollar deal with the NFL while others recall how their knees shook the day they signed that first car loan. If you think about it, though, many of our day-to-day decisions involve contracts.
June 12, 2009
50 ways to love your money
There's no getting around it: Baby boomers are officially middle-aged. Millions of Americans born in 1959 will turn 50 this year; and many boomers born right after World War II have already begun receiving Social Security benefits.
June 5, 2009
Stimulus plan provides energy efficiency tax credits
One way the government hopes its 2009 economic stimulus plan will help jumpstart the economy is by investing billions of dollars in industries that support energy efficiency – everything from electric car battery technology to wind turbines to modernizing the country's power grid.
May 29, 2009
Financial advice for new fathers
People often say mothers have the hardest job in the world – and I wouldn't dispute that. But being a father might be the second hardest job in the world. And becoming a dad for the first time is a challenge for all men.
May 22, 2009
Hard times embolden identity thieves
Unfortunately, as people become increasingly desperate during tough economic times, crime rates rise. What's worse - those being targeted are often in dire financial straits themselves.
May 15, 2009
Don't skip vacation; just watch the costs
One of the first things many people trim from their budget during economic downturns is vacation. That's unfortunate because stressful times are when we most need to recharge our batteries. Taking on additional debt to finance a vacation is itself stressful, however.
May 8, 2009
New credit scoring formula rolls out
In the old days, if you paid cash for everything and carried no debt, you were considered a great prospect for a mortgage or car loan. Fast forward a few decades and the rules have changed considerably.
May 1, 2009
Stimulus bill helps pay for college
Financing college is becoming a little easier, thanks to the 2009 economic stimulus bill. For 2009 and 2010 – perhaps longer, pending Congressional approval – several education assistance programs are being expanded by hundreds of millions of dollars.
April 24, 2009
Senior prom sticker shock
Forget college – just paying for your kid's senior year in high school can break the bank if you haven't planned carefully. While it's always a challenge to deny your kids enjoyable experiences, today's tough economy is forcing many families to make difficult decisions regarding these once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
April 17, 2009
Consider hidden costs before buying a new car
These are interesting times for potential car buyers. Because so many people have become wary of the faltering economy and are avoiding auto showrooms, nervous car manufacturers have been slashing prices, issuing rebates and offering extremely competitive financing terms – at least to people with sound credit – to lure in business.
April 10, 2009
For Mother's Day, help mom get organized
With Mother's Day just around the corner, wouldn't you like to show your appreciation in a way that's more meaningful than buying your mom a box of chocolates or a bunch of flowers?
April 3, 2009
Global economy gets personal
By simply flapping its wings, a butterfly in the Amazon rainforest can set off an atmospheric chain reaction that will eventually trigger a tornado in Texas – or so says a popular, if highly implausible, explanation for how small actions can cause ripple effects far outside their domain.
March 27, 2009
New tax breaks for retirees in 2009
It's no news flash that people who invest in the stock market saw their account values drop significantly in the last six months. For those already retired or fast approaching, the impact was especially painful, since it will be much more difficult for their investments to recover value in time to fund their retirement.
March 20, 2009
What the government's stimulus bill means to you
The 2009 economic stimulus bill President Barak Obama signed into law on February 17, 2009, is a whopper, not only in cost ($787 billion) and length (1,070 pages), but also in terms of the vast number of spending and tax-relief programs it touches – everything from multi-billion dollar infrastructure investments to business tax cuts to small increases in unemployment benefits.
March 13, 2009
Insurance coverage you shouldn't do without
Some people looking to reduce expenses drop or trim their insurance coverage, gambling that they won't become sick, have a car accident or suffer a fire or other catastrophe. Unless you've got unlimited savings, however, forgoing adequate insurance could place you just one unexpected event away from financial disaster.
March 6, 2009
Financial survival strategies during a layoff
If you've ever been laid off from a job, you know how paralyzing it can be to worry about what to do next. Because you may not find a new position right away – especially in this economy – here are several steps you should take immediately to protect yourself financially:
February 27, 2009
Use your tax refund wisely
More and more Americans are filing, and paying, their taxes electronically. The IRS projects the number of individual tax returns filed electronically in 2009 to exceed last year's record of nearly 90 million taxpayers.
February 20, 2009
Money-saving tips for seniors
Thanks to the rocky economy, most people's retirement savings have taken a beating in the past year. In fact, many folks have been forced to postpone retirement because of their shrinking nest eggs. And, those who've already retired no doubt have noticed that their money doesn't go as far because of increases in housing, food, utilities, prescription drugs and virtually everything else.
February 13, 2009
Avoid costly penalties for late tax filing
Be forewarned: Income tax season is upon us. Procrastination is probably never a good thing, but when it comes to the IRS, it can be downright expensive. To help keep you on track, I've compiled a few suggestions that can save you last-minute grief – and money.
February 6, 2009
Military families targets of predatory lending
You've got to hand it to our military personnel: Not only are they often put in harm's way, but they must contend with a host of issues that would be tough under the best of circumstances, including low pay scales and frequent moves to new assignments that trigger relocation costs.
January 30, 2009
Use children's allowance to teach valuable money skills
When it comes to children's allowances, many parents struggle with which approach to take. Some link allowances to completion of chores; others feel they shouldn't be tied to completing tasks, but rather, be an opportunity for kids to begin to learn money-management skills that will serve them later in life.
January 23, 2009
Save money using energy-efficiency tax credits
One of the few bright spots in the current financial crisis is that the government has reinstated federal tax credits for a variety of energy-efficient home improvements you make in 2009. They also extended deadlines for solar energy systems and fuel cell tax credits until 2016 and established new credits for small wind-energy systems and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
January 16, 2009
Help your parents stay on track financially
In many families, personal financial details aren't always shared freely, especially between generations. But if you're not familiar with your parents' financial situation, you may be doing them – and yourself – a disservice.
January 9, 2009
Tight credit environment calls for careful oversight
As anyone who's applied for a new loan lately knows, if you don't have a gold-plated credit history, you may have a tough time borrowing. And even many 24-karat consumers are being turned down. Lenders have responded to their own difficulty accessing credit – as well as increasing customer defaults – by tightening lending standards.
January 2, 2009
A financial Super Bowl
As it does every year, Super Bowl mania is sweeping the nation. In a recent survey of Visa Inc. cardholders, more than 60 percent said they would be inviting family and friends over to watch the game, spending an average of about $170 on refreshments. How do your plans and budget stack up?
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