THE MONEY BIZ

The ‘Obama debt relief’ scam

Liz Pulliam Weston — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:04:31 +0000

New regulations will soon crack down on shady debt settlement companies. Until then, don’t let desperation guide your decisions. Plus: What to ask before signing on.

Is that rental car really insured?

Jennifer Openshaw, MarketWatch — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:50:53 +0000

The last thing you want on vacation is a costly surprise. Here are 3 ways to ensure you’ve got coverage.

Renting gets a new lease on life

Marilyn Lewis — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 18:49:11 +0000

Millions of Americans going through foreclosure will become renters by necessity. Many others will rent by choice. Should the government keep subsidizing owners?

Credit cards with the best rewards

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 14:59:41 +0000

Whether you want travel perks, cash back or a discount on gasoline, there’s a card that caters to you.

Will housing or your credit heal first?

Liz Pulliam Weston — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:30:29 +0000

If you give up your ‘underwater’ house, your credit might recover faster than your home value ever would have. But here’s why it could be worth sticking it out.

Banks haven’t given up on overdraft fees

TheStreet — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:36:49 +0000

The rules on imposing overdraft fees have tightened, and the deadline for customers to opt in has passed, but don’t expect banks to let go of this revenue source.

The bereaved go bargain hunting

Christopher Solomon — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 20:10:48 +0000

The business of death is struggling. Not only will we settle for cheaper caskets and fewer flowers for our loved ones, but we may move services to, say, a park.

15 things to do before you retire

U.S. News & World Report — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:20:13 +0000

Are you ready for your golden years? Make sure you’ve got enough money to last the rest of your life. But addressing financial concerns is just half the battle.

Unclaimed property: Can you cash in?

Robert D. Flach, MainStreet — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:57:38 +0000

One man’s odyssey through New Jersey’s unclaimed property bureaucracy unearthed more than $5,000 his family was owed. Can you duplicate his success?

You can’t be denied health coverage

Insure.com — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 16:53:01 +0000

States and the federal government now offer temporary insurance to buyers who have been denied insurance because of pre-existing conditions.