News

2008

December

03

• UnitedHealth to insure the right to insurance. For these economically uncertain times, the UnitedHealth Group has a “first of its kind” product: the right to buy an individual health policy at some point in the future even if you become sick. Called…

• More people checking out the library to save money. On a recent morning, television journalist Heather Downie was carrying so many books, CDs and DVDs that it looked as if she'd need a shopping bag to get them to her car. But she wasn't…

• FDIC criticizes bank overdraft fees. Overdraft fees are boosting banks' profits at the expense of consumers, especially young and low-income people, finds a new Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. study. The 18-month survey found that most banks automatically enroll consumers in…

01

• Job search sites expand features to meet demand. Unemployment in the U.S. has hit a 14-year high as companies cut back. That has sent masses of laid-off workers flocking to the Web in search of opportunities - and job sites have been stepping…

• Cyber Monday deals could open door to spam, scams. Monday will be one of the biggest online shopping days of the year, and also one of the most treacherous. On Cyber Monday, the first Monday after Thanksgiving, consumers are expected to spend $821 million…

• Economy has more folks stashing their cash. The Great Depression created a generation of Americans that abhorred waste and considered debt the devil's playground. Long after the economy recovered, they hoarded tin foil, saved little pieces of string and insisted on paying…

November

30

• Be wary of rising mutual-fund fees. Brace yourself: Your mutual fund fees will likely rise next year. Management fees are often tied to the amount of assets in a fund. The more money in the fund, the lower the fees. But…

• Bright ideas for more frugal holidays. The Big Three automakers need a bailout because we don't buy enough gas-guzzlers. The Wall Street Journal reports the government has less gas tax revenue to pay for bridges and roads because we've been driving…

• Useful tools for shopping, online or off. Are you ready for some shopping? No, seriously. I'm saying you need to prepare if you're going to brave holiday shopping this week, online or off. Here are three useful tools offered by many retailer…

• Ease the stress of dealing with debt collectors. Marissa Ruiz learned about debt collection the hard way. After struggling with credit card debt for years, the Pasadena social worker answered an advertisement from a debt-settlement firm last December. She followed its instruction to…

• Going evergreen for the holidays. Dreaming of a green Christmas? From biodegradable greeting cards to solar-powered Santa decorations, consumers have countless ways to celebrate an eco-friendly holiday season this year. And in this tight economy, here's some good news: Going…

• Faith based coalitions push to stop foreclosures. A national coalition of faith-based organizations has launched an effort to push the federal government for a more streamlined approach to handling troubled mortgages, with the aim of keeping more owners in their homes. "Families…

• Numerous deals can be found via these sites. Here are selected picks from Kiplinger's 2008 best Web sites. Travel booking: Kayak.com. Kayak scours more than 140 sources for the best airfares, hotel rates and vacation packages. Last-minute travel: US.LastMinute.com. Book your whole trip…

• US not getting health care we 'pay for'. Talk to the chief executives of America's preeminent health-care institutions, and you might be surprised by what you hear: When it comes to medical care, the United States isn't getting its money's worth. Not even…

• Flight change roulette: Shop around. So you booked your flight early to get a good fare. Good for you. But now, a couple of weeks before you are scheduled to fly, some important meetings at work have come up and…

• Mortgage lenders become proactive. A YEAR ago, most home foreclosures were concentrated in depressed manufacturing areas of the Midwest and the speculative real estate zones of Florida, Arizona and California. Most other regions were experiencing only modest increases because…

• Holidays downsized: No job and fewer gifts. SUSAN McCABE liked to go all out for Christmas. Presents for friends and 17 relatives: high-end cameras for adults, Nintendo Wii for the children. On Christmas Eve, she proudly treated the immediate family to dinner…

29

• Lawsuit charges mortgage raters enriched themselves. In what appears to be the first legal action of its kind, an association of community-based organizations has filed a federal civil rights complaint against two of the three largest Wall Street ratings agencies, charging…

28

• Frugal families learn how to cope with soaring food costs. As recession worries deepen, food shoppers are trying to scrimp and save. But eating healthy on a budget is not easy. At a time when wages are declining, the nation is experiencing the biggest rise…

• Black Friday shoppers are hunting for bargains. Nearly 128 million Americans say they will shop Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the start of the holiday shopping season, the National Retail Federation says. That's down slightly from last year. Despite the tough economic times…