Banking & Budgeting

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  • Your Real Cost of Living

    Few people strive to be just average. But when it comes to inflation, some folks would jump at the chance. In late 2007, consumer prices were up an average of 2.8% nationwide over the preceding 12 months. That's not much. So why is it so painful every time you go to the grocery store? Probably it's because your personal consumer price index diverges from the national average.


  • Where Did My Money Go? It's Mystery Spending

    Turns out money really does burn a hole in our pockets. In fact, according to a recent study by Visa USA, nearly half of all Americans "lose" $2,340 in cash each year. And 48% of those who use cash said they don't know what happened to more than one-third of it -- or about $45 of every $120 spent in a typical week. The money's not actually misplaced, just inexplicably frittered away. Wayne Best, senior vice president at Visa, calls it "mystery spending."


  • The Couch-Potato Guide to Budgeting

    A survey last year by FindLaw.com found that 61% of Americans surveyed either don't have or don't stick to their budget. Slackers? Hardly. Have you ever tried to stick to a budget? If you have or haven't (hey, no one's judging here), read on for a streamlined cash flow control plan that even couch potatoes like me can follow. Cash flow crash course Our Couch Potato Budget concentrates on everyday spending. We're leaving out housing, insurance, and the all-important savings categories for now.


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  • Laura Rowley Money & Happiness

    Judging by the blast of e-mails that greeted my last column, many people are thinking about the U.S. savings rate. Some agree that Americans are overleveraged and saving too little. Others argue vociferously that the government's calculation is outdated and inadequate, and the savings rate is actually higher than it appears.


  • Budgeting is a Snap, Online

    Q. Where can I find a worksheet to help me with my budgeting? A. There are plenty online. Here are a few sources which offer worksheets: Kiplinger.com budgeting worksheet Houseclicks worksheet (there are four pages -- click over to the other three) State of Vermont Department of Education and Training worksheet The Department of Education -- aimed at students and new ex-students About.com's Budget Zone


  • How to set up finances for the first time

    You've got the sheepskin in hand, a decent job, an apartment, and a "serious" sweetie. Congratulations. That maturity gene is finally kicking in. Now you've got to navigate the road to financial success. Without a good map, you could career along, ignoring costly warning signals while seriously dinging your economic stability.


  • Launch Your Financial Life With Just a Few Bucks

    Maybe you're nervous about the financial markets and looking to start small. Maybe you're aiming to help your children or grandchildren make their first investment. Maybe you're just out of college, with precious little cash to spare. True, many brokerage firms and mutual funds now demand $2,000 or $3,000 to open an account. But you can get started with far less.


  • Why you don't need an extended warranty

    This holiday season, shoppers are expected to spend a whopping $1.6 billion on extended warranties for laptops, flat-screen TVs, other electronics, and appliances. And almost all of it will be money down the drain. Retailers are pushing hard to get you to buy extended warranties, or service plans, because they're cash cows. Stores keep 50 percent or more of what they charge for warranties. That's more than they can make selling actual products.


  • How to Know If Your Bank Deposits Are Insured

    Amid the troubles at banks of all sizes, this is a good time to review how deposit insurance works at banks, savings and loans and credit unions. While depositors tend only to consider the standard FDIC $100,000 limit on deposit insurance, things are not always so tidy.


  • Profit in 2008: Your Savings, Your Credit

    To get the lowest rates on loans, you'll need a higher credit score next year. Put it this way: 750 is the new 720. The quickest way to boost your score? Pay down the balances on your credit cards and home-equity line of credit.


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