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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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3 Ways To Spot A Counterfeit Bill

3 Ways To Spot A Counterfeit Bill

If you suspect you’ve been stuck with counterfeit money, you should be able to verify your suspicions with a quick check. Knowing what telltale signs to look for can keep you from being ripped off in a cash transaction. [More]

Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Change the Way You Think [Free Money Finance] “There are six key traits of wealth builders.”

Your Facebook Profile Can Predict Your Job Performance [Moneyland] “It can take as little as 10 minutes for someone to go through your Facebook profile and predict how you’ll perform in the workplace.”

The Dumbest Investment Move [Smart Money] “Why owning your company’s stock in your 401(k) can be a big mistake.”

The Tax Break That Millions Miss Out On [Daily Finance] “As many as 1 in 4 of those who qualify for this tax credit failed to claim it, missing out on hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars.”

5 Killer Free Investment Tools [Wise Bread] “Here are five of the best free sources on the web for researching investments.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Tax Prep Nightmare: Don’t Get Ripped Off by Your Tax Pro [Daily Finance] “Be smart about selecting who helps with your return and your experience will be better for it.”

Buying a New Car? Let a Website Handle the Haggling [Moneyland] “What if you could eliminate much of the distasteful back-and-forth and just get the car you want, at a price you know is fair?”

Why It’s Important To Do Estate and Inheritance Planning [The Digerati Life] “It’s sad enough when someone goes, but when the deceased’s family and friends end up with difficult issues to work through, then it’s even sadder.”

How to Travel Full-Time for $17,000 a Year (or Less!) [Wise Bread] “Here are a few of my secrets.”

How to Solve 4 Sticky Work Dilemmas [US News] “Some ideas for handling delicate job situations.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Frequent-Flier Tax Traps [Wall Street Journal] “Put simply, most miles earned by most taxpayers most of the time are probably tax-free.”

8 Questions to Help You Save More [Get Rich Slowly] “The system I’ve been using for the last 15 years to reduce my spending and make sure I don’t get tricked out of my hard-earned cash.”

Car Policy for Less, but Only if You Call [NY Times] “After you hear the tale of Thomas Mitchell you may suddenly have the urge to run to the phone and call your auto insurer. “

Going to the 2012 London Olympics? Better Be Preparing [Moneyland] “Here are some tips to getting to the Olympics and back with your credit rating intact.”

How to Find the Right Accountant for You [Wise Bread] “Finding the right accountant can make a world of difference when it comes to managing your money.”

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Free Games That Teach Kids Stuff About Money

A significant amount of parenting is about coercing your kids into doing things that are good for them, such as eating vegetables and learning life skills. Playing computer games with your kids is a way to do just that. Under the guise of sitting at the computer to have fun, games can make it easy to teach them financial lessons, such as simple math, fractions and more abstract concepts. [More]

Personal Finance Roundup

Study: The Best Time to Buy Cheap Airline Tickets is 6 Weeks Before a Flight [Moneyland] “The cheapest tickets [can be purchased] six weeks before your trip – not more, not less.”

How to Find the Best Values on 2012’s New Cars [Kiplinger] “You can get fuel economy without sacrificing style.”

Which pays better: Government or private sector? [CNN Money] “Federal workers with a master’s degree or less are better compensated on average than their similarly educated private sector peers.”

How to haggle over medical bills [MSN Money] “If you know how to cut down the original billed amount, you can save a great deal.”

Great Ways to Invest in Yourself [Wise Bread] “Here are some ways you can invest in yourself to boost your skills.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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How To Create A Budget That You'll Stick To

How To Create A Budget That You'll Stick To

A budget is the basis of any financial plan, but if you’ve never made an efficient one before, it’s tough to determine where to start and how to come up with something workable. Slap some arbitrary numbers down on a paper and you’re sure to end in failure. The key is to adapt the budget to your needs and resources. [More]

Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Personal Finance Roundup

Personal Finance Roundup

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.”

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Places At Home To Stash Your Cash

Places At Home To Stash Your Cash

Most financial experts don’t recommend keeping large amounts of cash stashed at home, but that doesn’t stop people from socking their savings in corners they believe to be safe. Those who do so leave themselves vulnerable to losing huge amounts of money due to burglaries or forgetfulness. [More]