By Caitlin Dewey Choosing a hometown for your family is a high-stakes game: Not only do the kids need good schools, safe neighborhoods and parks to play in, but parents also must know they'll be able to make a good enough...
From the rocky shoals of Maine to the beaches of California, residential home prices have fallen hard during the great recession. Commercial property values have followed. New home construction has all but collapsed.As goes...
Renting may beat buying. Buying wins hands down when home prices are rising. But when they're flat or falling, it makes sense only if you get a great deal, your monthly payment won't exceed rent on a comparable home by much,...
Hundreds of thousands of Americans with preexisting medical conditions -- many of whom have been unable to obtain health insurance at any price -- are now eligible for affordable coverage. The federal government has begun...
Question: If a college student spends $100 per book per course and takes five courses per semester, how much will the student spend over four years? Answer: Way too much. Soon, your student may get a break on those...
Some people have been stashing money in 529 college-savings plans since their kids were in diapers. But even if you procrastinated and your child is already enrolled in school, contributing to a 529 account could save you...
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia offer a state income-tax deduction for contributions to 529 plans that they sponsor (see our map for all the states that offer tax breaks).Below is a list of our favorite 529...
Someone recently suggested that we purchase a personal-liability umbrella policy to supplement our homeowners and auto insurance. How does an umbrella policy work, and do we really need it? -- Kim Beitel, Hinckley, Ill. An...
Another round of rules meant to benefit credit-card holders went into effect in August. The final chapter of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 gives consumers a break on fees and...
With interest rates near zero, banks are using debit-card rewards programs to entice new customers and retain current ones. Twelve of 14 large banks followed by Corporate Insight, a financial-services research firm, offer at...
Next Page >Applying for financial aid can be intimidating and confusing. That's why so many scams offer to do the work for you...
Editor's note: This story has been updated since it originally was published. Since Kiplinger's first wrote about...
You want a home of your own, an education for your kids, a comfortable retirement someday and a little fun along...