money

College degree = $650,000 more in earnings [CNN Money] “Typical college grads earn about $650,000 more than their peers who just have a high school diploma.”

7 Deadly Energy Sinners: The Energy Hogs Hiding in Your Home [Wise Bread] “Here’s a look at some of those power-hungry appliances, and what you can do to be more efficient and economical without backbreaking hassle.”

Weddings on a Budget [Wall Street Journal] “Here are some ways to make the most of your time and money.”

3 money tips for every income [MSN Money] “These tips offer a good place to start for any household.”

Five Ways to Think About Diversification of Your Investments [Bucks Blog] “A few thoughts on diversification that might spark a conversation about money in your home or office.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

Ambition = success = happiness? Not quite. [CNN Money] “Graduating from a top school and scaling the corporate heights won’t necessarily lead to a long, happy life, says a new study.”

The Ins and Outs of Roth 401(k) Plans [Wall Street Journal] “Workers haven’t embraced this choice. But maybe they should.”

Repent of these 7 insurance sins [MSN Money] “Are you making a deal with the devil when it comes to your homeowners and car insurance policies and premiums?”

The Money-Saving Refinancing Move You’ve Never Considered [Daily Finance] “The refinancing craze has spread to an unexpected industry: car loans.”

5 Easy Ways to Add $50 to Your Pocket [Wise Bread] “Here are five ways you can gain $50.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

5 Kitchen Luxuries That Are Worth It (and 5 That Aren’t) [Wise Bread] “While I try to keep a pretty minimal and inexpensive kitchen, over the years, I have realized that there are certain luxuries that are well worth the cost.”

Identity thefts tops list of consumer complaints [CNN Money] “Here are the the top 10 consumer complaints, according to the FTC.”

9 Key Ages for Retirement Money Decisions [US News] “Here are different age milestones that might affect your retirement decisions.”

How a Digital Picture of Your Future Self Can Change Your Saving Habits [Moneyland] “Here’s why company HR departments will soon have employees coming face to face with their future self.”

6 ways to get your tax refund [MSN Money] “Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each option so you can find the right one for you.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

7 smart moves while rates are low [MSN Money] “There’s not much room for interest rates to go lower, and making the right moves now could potentially save you big money.”

15 Frugal Ways to Battle Boredom [Wise Bread] “There are a lot of great ways to battle boredom and keep your spending under wraps.”

Invest in a Deep Freezer [The Simple Dollar] “One of the most critical appliances in our home when I was growing up was our chest deep freezer.”

You Don’t Have to Start Off Rich to Build Wealth [Wall Street Journal] “Here are three ways to start small. Really small.”

Shopping for a Car? Bring Your Wife [Smart Money] “Men looking for a new car would be well advised to bring their wives, a new study suggests.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

Everyone Should Use the Overnight Test [Bucks Blog] “Ask yourself what you would do if someone came in and sold all of your investments overnight.”

10 Monthly Bills You Can Slash [Wise Bread] “You can work the system and save some money on these so-called necessary expenses.”

Calculate How Much You Really Make [The Simple Dollar] “On a per-hour basis, my part-time job in college was more lucrative than my first ‘good’ job after college.”

How to Marry a Millionaire [Smart Money] “It makes you more interesting if you have an obscure hobby like tornado-chasing and boomerang-throwing.”

The Best and Worst Sources of Financial Advice [US News] “Here are my choices for sources of good advice, based on solid data.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

What If I Lost My Career? Envision, then Act [Free Money Finance] “The bottom line is that whatever your job situation, you can’t bury your head in the sand and think that your employer will always take care of you.”

10 Things You Do to Save Money That End Up Costing You More [Wise Bread] “Here are 10 things that you may be doing to save money that could actually cost you a lot more in the weeks, months, or years to come.”

Career resolutions: How to negotiate a raise [CNN Money] “Before you go into your boss’s office demanding more money, take the time to lay the groundwork for a successful conversation.”

4 Mobile Apps for Job Seekers [US News] “77 percent of job seekers use mobile apps during their job hunt.”

Financial Scams 2012: The Latest Twists in the Ever-Evolving Art of the Con [Daily Finance] “Here are some highlights from scams that made the rounds in 2011 — and will likely be back in some form or another this year.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

Retiring in 2012? Read This Today. [Wall Street Journal] “Here are five things to do now.”

12 Steps to Financial Freedom in 2012 [Get Rich Slowly] “If you’ve resolved to take control of your finances in 2012, this article is the place to start.”

12 retirement resolutions for ’12 [MSN Money] “The new year is a good time to review and adjust your retirement plan, and some changes this year can help you boost your savings.”

Guide to Buying a Used Car Without Going Crazy [Wise Bread] “Here’s some information I wish I had known up front that will hopefully make your car-buying process easier.”

6 Reasons to Reject a Counteroffer [US News] “Before you say yes, consider these reasons why you should decline.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

Hidden costs of dental neglect [MSN Money] “Few people know that good dental care can be the key to good overall health.”

How to Play Your Gift Cards Right [Wall Street Journal] “Here are some tips on how to get the most value from all of your gift cards–even the ones you don’t want.”

25 Small New Year’s Resolutions You Can Start Today [Wise Bread] “This year, make resolutions you can reasonably keep — short-term goals that give you the satisfaction you want right away.”

A Plan for 2012 That You’ll Actually Follow [NY Times] “During the next year, see what happens when you do these three things.”

Tips for Unloading Unwanted Gifts [Daily Finance] “‘Tis the season for unloading those albeit well meaning — but unwanted — holiday presents.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

The stupidest fees of 2011 [MSN Money] “When it comes to outrageous fees imposed on consumers, these are some of the worst — whether it’s a charge for ending pay-TV service or a fee to deposit a lot of cash.”

11 Things That Are Worth the Money [Wise Bread] “When it comes to spending with discretion, it’s important to have priorities about things you think are worth the money, and those items or services that are not.”

16 Money Moves For Your Year End Financial Checklist [The Digerati Life] “Consider it an annual financial checkup.”

Flexibility or Salary: What Do You Value Most at Work? [Kiplinger] “Members of Generation Y are likely to choose flexibility over higher pay.”

5 Signs That You’re Borrowing Too Much [Moneyland] “Here are five guidelines to keep you from borrowing too much.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE

Put your iPad to work [CNN Money] “Can’t justify buying a $500 tablet simply for entertainment? Then take it seriously: Make an investment in these add-ons and get down to business.”

The Hard Question [Wall Street Journal] “Who will take care of your child if you die?”

How to Give Thoughtful Gifts on a Scrooge-Like Budget [Wise Bread] “A few strategic conversations and a dash of creative thinking can help transform the holiday season from financially stretched and stressful to modest and merry.”

Questions to Ask When Drafting an Estate Plan [US News] “You can bring this four-part checklist to your initial meeting to discuss how to make your plan comprehensive and up-to-date.”

Getting a Grip on Taxes Before the Storm Hits [NY Times] “Taxpayers should run a checklist for everything from selling securities that have lost money to taking advantage of annual gift allowances.”

—FREE MONEY FINANCE