Saving money on gifts this holiday season is all about creativity and imagination. Just follow these Money Talks tips to save money on your holiday shopping.

The new breed of phones, like Apple’s iPhone or T-Mobile’s Google Phone, may be both expensive and complicated, but they can also save you money by making you a better comparison shopper.

Depending on your purchase, extended warranties may or may not be worth the extra money.

According to the Giving USA Foundation, the amount Americans will donate to charity this year will approach 206 billion dollars. Impressive numbers, but that money could help even more people if all of us followed this advice…

With rising gas prices and requests for Americans to use less energy, more companies, governments and schools are switching to (or at least testing) a four-day work week. Experts say it can help businesses cut their budget, increase energy efficiency, and even help reduce overtime, sick time and turnover.

From Egyptian astrology to Nostradamus, people have always been fascinated with catching a glimpse into the future. And now, perhaps for the first time, science is finally weighing in. Not with a crystal ball, but a genetic map that can predict the future of your health… and even look far into your past.

You know some doctors specialize in seniors. But did you know some Realtors do too? Are SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialists) worth it?

Maybe you’ve heard about how the $700 billion bailout bill only helped those folks on Wall Street and not the folks on Main Street. Well, that’s not true. One thing the bailout has already done is to lower you taxes.

It would be great to get all your home’s power from the sun. But that’s an expensive proposition… up to $40,000. If you’re short on cash, though, there are cheaper ways to go solar.

Organic food shopping isn’t what it used to be, because now more stores offer more selections.

“It varies by store, but in our larger stores, you can find up to a thousand organic and natural products.”

Maintaining a car isn’t cheap, but the price of repairs for some of today’s accessories could blow you (and your budget) away.

The holiday season is one of the most expensive of the year… but it’s also a time when it’s most possible to pick up extra work. The classic example, of course, is stores that add workers for holiday shopping crowds. But there are also less traditional places that you might consider for temporary work.

When it comes to saving a buck, your first instinct may be to shop at the closest dollar store. Might be a good idea, but just because something’s a buck doesn’t mean it’s always a the better buy.

With prices rising on just about everything these days, finding bargains is more important than ever. Maybe that explains the popularity of dollar stores: store where everything costs a buck or less. But not every dollar item is a deal. Here are the five best…

College takes some getting used to. There’s a lot to know and a lot to learn, but one thing often left unstudied is how to insure your student while they’re away. But insuring your college student properly doesn’t have to be hard and could even save you some money.

Lowing your property taxes is as simple as understanding how they work. Since property values are estimated by a computer, your assessed value could be wrong, and you could be entitled to a smaller tax bill. How do you go about getting it?

You’ve just come home from the grocery store where you carefully handpicked the freshest fruits and veggies you could find. Now that you’ve got the good-for-you green goods you want… how do you keep them fresh for as long as possible?

Thanks to the faltering economy and high gas prices, banks and auto makers have lost billions because gas-guzzling SUVs, trucks and luxury cars aren’t selling for even close to their residual values. But their problem is your opportunity.

When it comes to home improvement, some people are so handy, they’d never think of hiring of a pro. Others are all thumbs, so they always call for help. The rest of us fall somewhere in between. But how do you decide when a contractor is the way to go?

With all the turmoil in the market, how about a fun blast from the past?   “What Makes Us Tick” is a cartoon produced in 1952 by Sutherland Productions and sponsored by the New York Stock Exchange.   Following the story of John Q. Public, a “Joe The Plumber” from the 50’s, it gives an [...]

Everywhere you look these days, there’s a “green” message from someone about something.  It’s good stuff, but it also means there’s a lot of misinformation circulating out there.  So let’s separate the fact from fiction…
Myth number one is that small changes don’t really add up, but nothing could be further from the truth.  A simple [...]

It’s hard to live without a checking account. But it’s also hard to live with the fees you can rack up if you overdraw it, and banks are only too happy to help you do it. For example, many clear checks by size rather than sequence.
Say you have $1000 in your account. You write 4 checks throughout one day: three [...]

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you might’ve seen something about the economy… but in case you’ve been living in a cave, things are bad.  Are we on the verge of another depression?  Should you be scared by what you see happening in the stock market?
Let’s take a stroll through history… all the way [...]

With billions of credit card come-ons bombarding Americans every year, it’s practically impossible to know that you’re getting the best deal possible on your credit card. But whether you’re looking for the lowest rate, most cash back or other perks, there’s something for everyone.
We asked Amal Rhoe of CardOffers.com which credit cards win out… here’s what [...]

If you think you know how to save money, think again… When the Rachel Ray show was looking for the thriftiest mom in America, they found Margie Read.
Margie reuses paper towels, and long before it was “in”.  She only runs some of her appliances at night, after 9 when your electricity prices fall.  She’ll reuse dryer sheets [...]

The average college student now graduates with more than $2,000 in debt.  Obviously, keeping a clean credit history and a high credit score isn’t part of the regular curriculum.
First, establish credit by piggybacking on parents.  As an “authorized user” on a parent’s credit card, you’ll share their credit history (hopefully, it’s good).
Then, get a cell [...]

The bailout of our banking system, considered a short-term solution by many experts, could end up costing you big in the long-term.  Of course, there’s the $700 billion required to buy up bad mortgages, but there are also a host of potential costs that you may not be aware of.
First, you should probably expect some [...]

With all the talk of banks going under, what about your stock brokerage?  If it fails, is your money insured?
As it turns out, brokerages are required to be members of the SIPC, or Security Investor Protection Corporation.  It’s like the FDIC in a lot of ways, but unlike the FDIC, the SIPC is not backed [...]

I wanted to take this opportunity to say a few words about the situation we’re in, how we got here, what’s likely to happen in the days ahead and what you should be doing to protect your family’s finances. These are my thoughts alone…not any station’s, network, or website. And while I have more than [...]

The FDIC just released a list of more than a hundred troubled banks.  Is yours one of them?  More importantly… should you care?
The FDIC’s “Troubled Bank” List currently contains more than 100 banks which were recently revealed as having capital issues.  But, let’s just keep things in perspective.  According to the FDIC, during the banking [...]

Americans now carry more than 2-trillion dollars in debt, and as that figure grows, so does the debt collection industry’s revenues… to the tune of more that 16-billion dollars a year.  But just because you owe money, doesn’t mean debt collectors can treat you like a doormat.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act requires collection agencies [...]

We all have to do things we don’t like… they’re called chores.  But what if you could take those errands and send them off to India?  It may sound far-fetched, but it’s actually happening.
Companies like GetFriday and AskSunday allow you to hire an overseas personal assistant, typically for around $12 an hour, who will be happy [...]

You’ll find all matter of gadgets floating around that promise to improve your mileage and save you money on gas.  But, can a magnet really save fuel?  Could you run your car on water instead of gas?  Will a “tornado” boost your mpg?
James Randi, scientific skeptic, is offering $1 million to anyone who can prove [...]

You know gas prices are soaring at the pump, but what you may not know is how much it now costs to trade in your gas guzzler for anything getting better mileage.
Say you’ve got a 2006 Chevy Trailblazer.  If you bought it new, you might’ve paid around $25,000.  But, according to Edmunds.com, sell it today [...]

Used car pricing websites like Edmunds and Kelly Blue Book are supposed to take the same factors into account when determining the value of your used car.  So why don’t they arrive at the same number for identical cars?
When we compared prices for a 2004 Land Rover at five different websites (Edmunds, Kelly Blue Book, Cars [...]

There are a few situations where using your credit card has some distinct advantages over paying with cash. For example, there’s protection in plastic when you make big purchases, like a TV. If your purchase was damaged or defective, you can always withhold payment while you and your credit card company work with [...]

With the housing market still in decline, many sellers are wondering when the turnaround will finally come. Fortunately, there are a few signs you can look for that will tell you when things are starting to look up.
While all markets are different, it all boils down to supply and demand.  So first, check on [...]

There are few things in life more expensive than selling your home, because that agent’s cut will run into the thousands of dollars. Is there a way to make it less? Sure. Just ask.

GasBank.com, a new start up expected to launch within the next few months, is promising to let customers buy as many gallons of gas as they want, at today’s price, and pump it into their car whenever they like.
How does it work? The idea is to pool the money of multiple members and hedge [...]

Southwest is the only airline turning a profit and by digging a littler deeper into their financial methodology, you’ll find that adopting a few of their practices can save you money at home.

Think being the highest bidder at a real estate auction means you’ve won? Think again… Most property sold at heavily advertised public auctions is subject to lender approval, so if your winning bid isn’t high enough, the lender can try to get you to pay more, or simply refuse to sell.

Looking for simple ways to save money? Cut out these six unnecessary necessities from your life and save hundreds each year.
Consider bottled water: At 30 cents per bottle (about as cheap as you can find it) you’re paying about $110 a year for less than $1 worth of water.
$5 coffee can be made [...]

The University of Iowa sponsors a low-stakes trading market where participants can put wagers on “political futures”. The surprise? Betters are more accurate than polls at predicting election outcomes.
If you look at polls run during the election and we’ve looked at about 600 polls, what we found is 75% of the cases, the [...]

The nation’s ongoing housing crisis has many would-be homeowners looking for the bargain of a lifetime. One way of buying cheap is foreclosures… another is with a short sale. But what is a short-sale and how does it work?
A short sale is potential solution for a homeowner that is in financial distress, that would [...]

If you own a small business, you know that the internet can mean the difference between profit and loss. So it pays to make sure that the online part of your business is as good as possible. We found one Internet marketing guru with some simple tips to effectively market your web site [...]

The cellular phone, now used as the one and only phone by 14% of American adults, and Voice Over Internet (VoIP) phones, used by 1 in 7 American adults, are making the landline telephone a thing of the past.
Voice Over Internet, more commonly known by its acronym VoIP, has one major benefit over tradational phone [...]

When you shop for groceries, do you look for labels that say “Organic” or “Natural”? Believe it or not, there’s a huge difference between these two seemingly synonymous terms.
Organic foods are produced without pesticides, chemical fertilizers, or antibiotics and grown using renewable resources while conserving soil and water. A label that says “Certified [...]

If your grocery bill is rising faster than you can handle, it may be time to think green… as in a green thumb. Growing some of your own food saves money, it’s easier than you think… and you don’t need a big plot of land.
But don’t just plant any old food, look for produce that [...]

Saving an extra couple of hundred dollars each month is easier than you might think. It starts by taking a hard look at all the little expenses you rack up, and cutting the “money pits” from your daily spending.
The first thing you need to do is track where every dollar goes for one month. [...]

Wouldn’t you like to have your savings in a place that would return double digits even when the stock market is lousy? There might be a way, providing you’re willing to “hedge” your bets.

It used to be that when you wrote a check, you had time to make a deposit to cover it, because the money wouldn’t leave your account for days. But now, thanks to modern technology and new banking regulations, that float’s gone from days to hours… but that doesn’t mean you can’t buy some [...]

Credit Unions traditionally offer higher interest rates and lower fees than banks. The only problem: if you want to make a deposit or use an ATM, visiting a branch of your union might not be convenient or even possible. But, thanks to “Credit Union Sharing”, that’s all about to change.
Credit unions are joining [...]

If you own a small business, you’ve probably considered becoming a corporation. It can be a big expense, especially if you go to a lawyer. But, by doing it yourself, you can save the legal bills.
Companies like Legal Zoom and We The People offer (relatively) cheap incorporating alternatives. You pay around $300, fill out [...]

Most small business owners will face this question at sometime in their careers: Should I incorporate? If so, do I use a lawyer or a web site? INC or LLC? What, exactly, are the benefits to incorporating?
If you think that, by incorporating your small business, you’ll enjoy some form of tax benefit, [...]

If you’re keeping money in the bank, you know how low rates are. And if you’ve done any food shopping lately, you know how high prices are. But what you may not have considered is what low savings rates and high inflation can do to your savings.
Think about this… the inflation rate this year [...]

Do you know the difference between a CPA and a CFU? How about a CFP and a CFA? If you’re going to get financial advice, descrambling this alphabet soup of designations is a must… otherwise, you could end up with a Farm Manager (AFM) instead of a Financial Manager (CFM).
You’ll recognize a few of the [...]

When your in your 50’s, retirement planning is more important than ever, especially considering many retirees can expect to live well into their 90’s (some, into their 100’s). So, if you retire at age 65, you’re potentially looking at 30 or more years of retirement to pay for. That means you’d better have [...]

When you reach your 40s, retirement’s no longer a vague concept… it’s a reality looming in your future, and one you’d better be investing for properly. Are you?
A good rule of thumb for a 40-something is to allocate about 10% of your after-tax income to your retirement. Pay special attention to contributions to [...]

When you hit your 30’s, the focus for many is marriage, kids, and buying a home. All big life events that can cost big bucks. But no matter how much you’re shelling out in your 30’s… you can still find some money to save for retirement.
Step one is maximizing any existing retirement plans you may [...]

Investing for retirement in your 20’s isn’t exactly child’s play. But it’s still one thing most 20-somethings don’t think about at all, and maybe they should… By starting a retirement fund early, a 20 something wont have to contribute as much as if they started that fund in their 30s or 40s, translating into [...]

The nation’s housing crisis is crippling our economy. So, what’s the government going to do about it? One idea is to reform the mortgage process, eliminating the ‘bad brokers’ more interested in making a commission than a responsible loan.
The Federal Reserve has proposed new rules that would require all states license mortgage brokers, [...]

Even while our nation’s real estate downturn is still unfolding, there’s been lots of talk about how to prevent a repeat in the future. But, proposals like the billion dollar bailout of brokers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac aren’t enough… a drastic overhaul of the mortgage system is needed. Step one, remove the [...]

When you decorate your home, you may not think about “going green” in the process… but maybe you should. These days more Interior Designers say green designs not only look great, but just might make you FEEL great, too. And the best news? Its easier (and less expensive) than you might think.

Take a second to think about how much water you use in the bathroom everyday. Odds are, you are a big “water waster” and you just don’t know it. That’s bad for the environment and your water bills. Fortunately, by avoiding a few common bathroom blunders, you can stop flushing money down the drain.

Think SIMPLE [...]

If you’ve got a retirement plan at work, stocks, mutual funds or other types of investments, you’re already well on your way to savings-land. But, there are 5 common mistakes that will quickly steer you off track, definitely cost you money and potentially screw up your savings for good.

Mismatching your investment with your goal [...]

If you watch a lot of late night television, you’ve seen the commercials for companies like Cash4Gold, GoldPaq, or GoldKit. The pitch? Mail in your gold jewelry and receive a substantial portion of the market value for that gold. But, is selling your gold by mail a good idea? Short answer: [...]

Housing Futures allow you to trade the real estate market as if it were stock. Think prices will go down in one area? Short some housing futures. Think they’ll go up? Buy some futures. So, the concept should be familiar, but with the housing market in the tank, the potential [...]

July 4th is right around the corner, but if you’ve been thinking of purchasing a new grill for that holiday barbecue, you’re going to want to make sure your grill gives you everything you paid for. Just follow these simple grill buying tips, and you can’t go wrong.

Look for a grill made from solid [...]

Fact: Generic drugs can be identical to their more expensive, brand name alternatives… so why waste the extra cash? For many, a belief that “brand name” means “better” persists. But is that true? What, exactly, are we paying for?
According to the FDA’s Frequently Asked Questions About Generic Drugs, a generic drug is [...]

If you’ve ever been nailed by a credit card late-payment fee, had your interest rate raised unfairly, or otherwise suffered at the hand of your credit card company, relief may be in store… provided new rules proposed by the Federal Trade Commission are enacted.
Five major protections offered by the FTC Act

Banks would be prohibited from [...]

Americans are living longer, healthier lives… and retirement ain’t what it used to be! In fact, many so-called seniors consider retirement an exciting opportunity to launch a new career. Simply put, successfully making money in retirement is about finding a labor of love.
Doing something that makes you happy is the most important thing, [...]

Roses are the traditional Valentines Day gift: and one of the costliest. Money reporter Stacy Johnson found out why the price of a floral gift is so high…and ways to get the most bloom for your buck.

Paying your bills online not only saves money, but trees, water and all kinds of other resources as well. But making electronic payments… especially automatically… carries some unique problems as well. Should you or shouldn’t you?

There are few people who haven’t considered a loan from a family member. But before you tread this potentially perilous path, consider getting some outside help.

Junk mail… it’s not only a pain, it can also be a source of temptation for those on a budget. If you’d like to start the year with a cleaner mailbox, here’s a special delivery from money reporter Stacy Johnson…

Even if you don’t have money or you’re really young, you should still have a will. Can you get one without shelling out big bucks, or even going to a lawyer? Lets find out.

You know you made yourself a promise to to do better both physically and financially this year. Well, we’ve got some tips to beef up that bank account.

Among the most common New Years resolutions is to sticking to a budget. If that sounds familiar, you’ll appreciate the next story: money reporter Stacy Johnson provides some expert guidance when it comes to tracking the family finances.

Was one of your resolutions to pay off some debt this year? Secrets to pay off that debt from some of the pros…

If you’ve ever been tempted to attend a free seminar on real estate investing, or felt attracted to a money-making course you see on some late night infomercial, this next story is for you.

Ceremonies like weddings and funerals are often expensive affairs. But with funerals, most of the planning is done last minute, and saving money is the last thing on anybody’s mind. But there are solutions..money reporter Stacy Johnson has some tips on planning for the inevitable.

Most cell phone contracts keep you with a carrier for at least a year. And if you leave early? You lose $200, maybe more. But money reporter Stacy Johnson has the story of a service that will promises to let you get in or out of a contract without the hefty fees.

If your list of New Year’s resolutions includes “Paying Down Debt”, or “Saving More Money”, then you’re in the right place. Today money reporter Stacy Johnson begins his series on Fiscal Fitness ‘08 with some advice on finding help.

You don’t really have to worry about inflation this year…. unless you drive a car, go to college or pay for health insurance. Where price increases will be great in 2008…

Do you think you know what’s going to happen to interest rates, the economy and the stock market this year? Compare your guesses to those of the experts.

This is the time of year you look at your waistline…then start looking for a gym. Well, before you sign on that dotted line, Stacy Johnson suggests exercising a little caution.

We’ve all got it…stuff that we don’t want, charity won’t take…but too valuable to throw away. What do you do when you want to recycle? Easy…Freecycle.

If you plan on flying this holiday season, you’re probably ready for steep ticket prices, delays and long lines. But something else you better be prepared for is a high price if you change your travel dates. Money reporter Stacy Johnson has the story.

With holiday preparation in full swing, income taxes are probably the last thing on your mind. But a few minutes now could be worth hundreds of dollars in tax savings next April.

When you hear the words, ‘non-profit’ you often think of low-paid workers or even volunteers: people in it for the love, not for the money. But there are charities that contribute big to their bosses.

You want to donate food to help starving people: how big a bite is that charity taking? How to give charities a check before you write them a check.

Looking for that special gift? Well, even if you don’t have an extra million dollars in the bank, maybe you can still give that special someone something special. Exotic cars on a budget… well, kind of.

Ready for the holidays? While this time of year is hectic enough, money reporter Stacy Johnson has something to add to your list: make sure you do the right things before year-end to make your life less taxing next April.

Finding the best place to retire doesn’t have to be difficult, just break it down into small parts. Are you retiring, or are you looking for assisted living or a nursing home for an elderly parent? If so, you may want to start your search here.

Step One: Asses your needs - Finding a [...]

If you’re getting married, you might want to check out wedding insurance. It’s not insurance for your entire marriage, but it could make for a less stressful ceremony. Is it for you? Is it even a good idea?
The most common reasons for wedding cancellations usually involve the bride and/or groom failing to [...]

Foreclosure tours are new way to shop for real estate bargains. The premise, you tour homes that are in foreclosure, pick out one you like, then negotiate with the lender and buy the house for less than market value. There are those who say this form of real estate amounts to a clever [...]

We’ve all been there… Consumer Complaint Land; a product or service we paid for wasn’t delivered or didn’t perform as promised. And while it may be tempting to use that opportunity to contact a customer service rep to blow off a little steam, it probably wont help you get what you want. Successful [...]

If you pay more, you expect to get more… but that’s not true when it comes to food. Frequently, you’re paying for the convenience of having your food prepared for you. With simple replacements, like grating cheese yourself or slicing tomatoes by hand, you can save money on food without complicated cooking or [...]

Corn is used in literally hundreds of food products. And oil is used not just in the production of food, but in getting it to market as well. So when you’ve got both corn and oil hitting all-time highs, you’re in for a painful experience when food shopping time rolls around. But there’s good news: [...]

Save some money and the environment with tips to “green up” your laundry.

Save some money and the environment with tips to “green out” your kitchen.

Free energy audits from your utility company are a popular way to save up to 30% on your energy bill… but you can always do it yourself!

One of the most expensive parts of travel is a hotel. But what if you could stay in a full-sized home for no money at all? Thousands of people do it every year. It’s called house-swapping.

From Amway to Avon, millions of Americans have made it with multi-level marketing. Should you be one of them?

Identity Theft is a crime so common that if it hasn’t happened to you personally, you probably know a victim. So why are so many identities still being stolen?

When it comes to food and fuel, prices, they’re going through the roof. But what about the roof itself? There the news might be a little better.

Are you expecting a tax refund this year? While it’s always great to get checks in the mail, this is one you might want to avoid. I’ll explain why, coming up on Money Talks.

Tax time isn’t the best time of the year, but if you’re just starting those taxes, there’s news both good and bad that you need to know. Money reporter Stacy Johnson has some recent changes that lower your tax bill for 07…but raise it in 08.

If you borrow money, you probably know that your credit score is important. The company behind credit scoring, Fair Issac, recently announced changes in the way they’ll soon be doing it.

Are you filing your taxes electronically this year? If you are, and you happen to owe the IRS money… chances are you’ll be among the those who’ll pay with their credit cards…

Taxes can be complicated, which means it’s easy to make mistakes…mistakes that could have gotten you a bigger refund…or could get you in hot water with the IRS. But just because a mistake is made doesn’t mean it can’t get corrected.