Personal Finance
Some toys found with high levels of lead
WASHINGTON — Children’s toys carrying the Barbie and Disney logos have turned up with high levels of lead in them, according to a California- based advocacy group—a finding that may give consumers pause as they shop for the holiday season. (Updated: 11/18/09 7:39 AM )
Do the math before cashing in miles, points for trips
When you decide to redeem miles or points for your next vacation, do some checking before you cash them in. When prices are high for your trip, it can be well worth using miles or points, but if you can get a cheap trip, save your miles and points for another time. (Updated: 11/16/09 7:08 AM )
The language of money is bilingual
WASHINGTON— No es facil hablar de dinero. In English this means, it’s not easy to talk about money. For many people, the language of money is like trying to learn a foreign language. It can be frustrating. (Updated: 11/16/09 7:08 AM )
Purchases hint at low holiday sales
NEW YORK — Shoppers’ focus on staples such as socks and underwear is driving murky holiday outlooks at Walmart and Kohl’s, even as both posted higher third-quarter earnings Thursday. (Updated: 11/13/09 6:46 AM )
Customer consent for overdraft fees OK’d
WASHINGTON — Banks will have to secure their customers’ consent before charging large overdraft fees on ATM and debit card transactions, according to a new rule announced Thursday by the Federal Reserve. (Updated: 11/13/09 6:58 AM )
U. S. risks repeating Japanese stagnation
WASHINGTON — Heavy government stimulus spending and near-zero interest rates did little to end a “lost decade” of stagnation and mushrooming debt in Japan. Some economists and lawmakers say the United States may wind up following the same trajectory. (Updated: 11/12/09 7:08 AM )
Jobs still are scarce, surveys reveal
WASHINGTON—Job openings are at rock-bottom levels, according to government and private surveys released Tuesday, a trend that could keep the unemployment rate high even as layoffs slow. (Updated: 11/11/09 7:09 AM )
Ways to keep budget in the black for holidays
For consumers grappling with job insecurity and limited credit, it will be especially important to keep holiday spending in hand this year. To avoid making bad choices or buying in a panic two days before Christmas, the key is to start planning now. (Updated: 11/09/09 7:09 AM )
This retirement-plan building block is cracked
BOSTON—The rule of thumb is that you’ll need to replace 70 percent of your preretirement income on average once you retire, but evidence continues to mount that this assumption by many professionals and retirement savers is way off base. (Updated: 11/09/09 7:09 AM )
Federal loans for students are good idea
Ican’t stand debt. One of my missions in life is to help keep people out of debt. So I take it as good news that private student loans are declining fast. According to a new report from the College Board, the amount of non-federal education loans in 2008-09 dropped by almost 50 percent from the previous year, and fell to 13 percent of the market from 25 percent a year earlier. (Updated: 11/09/09 7:09 AM )
ATM fees climbing for non-customers
NEW YORK—Can’t find an ATM from your bank nearby? Keep walking, or pay higher fees. (Updated: 11/09/09 7:09 AM )
Discount Diva: Navigating VA pension paperwork
This one is for all my peeps at the VFW and the American Legion— with a special shout-out to Stephen Sikora Post No. 1322. (Updated: 11/09/09 7:52 AM )
Health careers hold hope for job seekers eager to learn
Many people who have lost jobs to the recession may find a cure for unemployment in the health care field. (Updated: 11/08/09 8:24 AM )
College grads must work even harder to find jobs
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — College students graduating in December and May are likely to be the first in a generation to enter a job market featuring double-digit unemployment. That has colleges and universities across America scrambling this fall to revamp their career-placement offerings to help new grads land jobs. (Updated: 11/08/09 8:24 AM )
Some ways 401(k) plans can be better
Data from Fidelity Investments show that more participants increased the amount they were saving in the second quarter of the year than decreased it. And account balances at the end of the second quarter are up 13.5 percent from the first quarter. The market’s bullish rise definitely had something to do with that increase; but account values are also up because more people kept contributing than did not, even in the darkest days. (Updated: 11/08/09 8:24 AM )