Could a Gap Year After High School Make Financial Sense?
Considering taking a gap year before going to college? They’re increasingly popular in the U.S., and may offer long-term benefits to students.
Considering taking a gap year before going to college? They’re increasingly popular in the U.S., and may offer long-term benefits to students.
Have you ever wasted precious weekend hours searching for tax-related documents? If the television died, could you locate the warranty to see if it's still covered? Ever forgotten an online account password? These are all good arguments for setting up a...
Each year, roughly 70 percent of Americans get an income tax refund. Thanks to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, beginning in early May most also will receive an additional tax rebate check of up to $600 (up to $1,200 for...
Children growing up during the Great Depression watched their parents struggle against extreme hardships. But the "scrimp and save" mentality they learned slowly waned as Baby Boomers and Generation Xers found it easier than their parents to purchase homes, buy cars...
Start checking your mailbox in early May. That's when more than 130 million Americans should begin receiving big checks from Uncle Sam, thanks to the $168 billion Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 passed by Congress and signed by the president. These...
If you're a parent looking forward to having an empty nest, you may need to adjust your expectations. Faced with burgeoning student loan balances, high rents and a stagnant job market, increasing numbers of adult children are opting to move back...
Paying bills used to be pretty cut-and-dried: Each month, you'd sit down with your checkbook, write a bunch of checks and drop them in the mail. Once in awhile you might accidentally bounce a check because of a math error -...
Between skyrocketing prescription drug prices, rising insurance copayments and an aging population, it's not surprising more and more people are having difficulty paying for their If that sounds like you or someone you know, here are a few money-saving tips:Go Unlike...
Aside from getting a root canal or visiting the DMV, few activities are more unpleasant than filing income taxes. It gets more complicated every year and what's worse, if you've put off organizing your paperwork until the last minute, you risk...
More and more seniors unable to keep up with escalating living expenses have begun exploring reverse mortgages, where they draw equity from their paid-off homes and continue living there with no monthly payments. Although reverse mortgages make sense for some people...
More and more seniors unable to keep up with escalating living expenses have begun exploring reverse mortgages, where they draw equity from their paid-off homes and continue living there with no monthly payments. Although reverse mortgages make sense for some people...
The days when most folks joined a company right out of school and remained until retirement are long gone. Today, people intentionally change jobs numerous times during their lifetimes. Unfortunately, such changes aren't always voluntary, as anyone who's been laid off...
If you're a renter and there's an accident or burglary, the landlord's insurance will pick up the tab, right? Not true. Landlords usually only insure the building structure itself, so you're responsible for any lost or damaged possessions. And, if someone...
Anyone who’s retired or living on a fixed income knows how difficult it is to keep up with skyrocketing health care, fuel and food costs. And, with today’s longer lifespans, many of us will need to keep our eye on the...
We’ve all felt first-hand the painful impact that record oil prices have had on home heating and driving expenses this winter. You’ve also likely seen price hikes on just about everything else as fuel-related shipping and manufacturing cost increases get passed...
If you've procrastinated about signing up for your company's 401(k) retirement savings plan, you're not alone: About one-third of eligible employees haven't enrolled, even when their employer offers matching contributions and a variety of investment options. Given the importance of personal...
It's no secret that the bubble has fully burst in the real estate market and that millions of homeowners are facing severe financial hardships as home values drop and adjustable mortgage rates shoot upward. On the flip side, those same rising...
You'd never want to compound your loved ones' misery should you become seriously ill or die, but that's exactly what might happen if you haven't adequately planned for your future care and the distribution of your Fewer than half of Americans...
In this era of big-box discount stores, it's practically a badge of honor not to pay full price for anything. A similar philosophy reigns when it comes to paying taxes: Yes, we should all shoulder our fair share, but overpay? No...
People choose self employment for a variety of reasons: To escape corporate bureaucracy, flex their entrepreneurial spirit or simply put food on the table after being laid off. Nearly 11 million Americans work for themselves, which means they and their families...
Few things bug me more than unsolicited telemarketing calls - especially on the weekend. That's why my family registered our home and cell phone numbers with the national Do Not Call list administered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) when it...
