finances

Do you take sugar packets from restaurants? Do you steal your neighbor's Sunday paper just for the coupons? Do you separate the two-ply toilet paper to make it last longer? Maybe it’s time to move to one of these cities.

There are still a few weeks left to file your 2012 tax return, but April 15 of this year marks another important deadline for taxpayers: it's your last chance to file for a refund on your 2009 taxes.

We all kind of know what a 401(k) is. It’s retirement money. But beyond that, what actually isa 401(k)? These aren’t the things we discuss with our parents around the dinner table before we’re thrust out into the working world.

I'd love to eat healthier, but I don't want to take out a second mortgage to do it. Alright, taking out a second mortgage might be stretching it a bit, but seeing the price differences between organic and non-organic foods, it doesn't feel that far off from the truth.

Larry Gasper didn't have two pennies to rub together. No, he had a few thousand.

If you occasionally fall victim to the holiday blues, you'd better learn to shake it off. A recent study finds that the sadder a person is, the more likely he is to head down the road to bankruptcy.

The American family is becoming a cash-only business. The latest statistics indicates that while there has been a substantial increase in the amount of available consumer credit, people are simply not utilizing the convenience of credit cards to make their purchases.

The season of giving could lead to a year of financial distress, as a recent survey indicates that holiday generosity is making more Americans bro-ho-ho-ho-ke by the beginning of the new year.

Consumer error appears to be greatly benefiting the financial industry, as a new banking report finds that charges to checking accounts caused by insufficient funds generated $31.5 billion last year. That is up from $30.8 million the year before, marking roughly an overall 2 percent increase.

A solid education is important for kids. But while you’re busy making sure their reading and math skills are up to par, don’t forget to teach them about money, too — it could keep them from falling into bad habits later on.