Ready or not, the holidays are coming. With American pocketbooks and investment accounts under pressure, the approaching holidays — particularly how to pay for them — are quickly becoming yet another thing to worry about. Don’t push this looming dilemma to the back of your minds. You...
The five rules of money for childrenTeaching young people these essential concepts now can help them make smarter financial choices as they grow up. It’s never too early to start teaching your kids about money. Toddlers can be introduced to the value of money using toy piggy banks and cash registers, while older kids can learn to...
The top five financial mistakes parents makeSaving for college is often a priority for parents — as it should be. But saving for school doesn’t give moms and dads license to neglect the rest of their financial goals, advisers say. According to AllianceBernstein Investment’s “College Savings Crunch,” a recent report...
10 Things gas stations won’t tell you1. “Good luck finding the best deal.” When it comes to gas prices, most stations are branded—meaning the name of a major oil company hangs out front—and must buy gas from their proprietary company. They can’t shop around. With a lock on sales, the oil companies charge each station a different...
13 simple ways to lower your electric billForgoing the family road trip for a homebound vacation may not save you the money you’d hoped if it means running the AC full blast all summer. Even with oil and other commodity prices dropping because of the recession, average residential electricity prices are expected to rise 4.7% this year...