Your Money

July 2008

These Days, Local Banks Look Good

newser | New York Times | Jul 19, 08 10:35 AM CDT

Community banks may seem like quaint relics to those who prefer banking online, but IndyMac's meltdown should have us thinking differently, Ron Lieber writes in the New York Times . Lieber visited a bank in small-town Maryland, and found a friendly, gray-haired manager who gives banking a personal touch. “If you miss a beat, I’ll call your mother,” he jokes—sort of. More »

June 2008

Most Lucrative College Majors

newser | Forbes | Jun 21, 08 4:07 PM CDT

College students looking for fast cash after graduation should study computer engineering, Forbes reports. Here are the most lucrative college majors, with salaries for beginners and veterans alike: Computer engineering ($60,500-$104,000) Economics ($48,000-$96,200) Electrical engineering ($59,900-$96,100) Computer science ($54,200-$94,000) Mechanical engineering ($56,900-$88,100) More »
How to Make Millions Off Misfortune

newser | Los Angeles Times | Jun 20, 08 9:15 AM CDT

From tech stocks to real estate, the succession of bubble markets leads Joel Stein to ask himself: How can I exploit other people's bad investment decisions? The Los Angeles Times columnist teams up with a Princeton economist "to figure out where people will idiotically dump their money next." Right now green technology, currency, wine, and art offer a great chance to capitalize on the financial misjudgments of others. More »
Maxed-Out Debtors Find Credit Crutch

newser | Wall Street Journal | Jun 10, 08 1:48 PM CDT

With the economy sagging and 11.8 million credit-card accounts delinquent, support groups are popping up in churches, colleges, and coffee shops to help people curtail their spending and share red-ink horror stories, the Wall Street Journal reports. "It used to be that you had to live in shame about debt," one organizer said. "Now, there's been an awakening." More »

May 2008

Cheer Up! Recession Has a Bright Side

newser | Los Angeles Times | May 24, 08 7:28 PM CDT

While the specter of recession may leave you cold, consider the bright side: These days contractors, starved for work, actually show up on time, and killer gas prices help you to drive around a city like Los Angeles without facing much traffic, Meghan Daum writes in the Los Angeles Times . More »
US Rations Silver Dollars as Investors Scoop Them Up

newser | Wall Street Journal | May 23, 08 9:31 AM CDT

Investors and coin collectors are hopping mad at the US Mint for placing quotas on purchasing silver dollars, the Wall Street Journal reports. The price of silver has more than doubled in the last three years, and investors looking to cash in on the boom—and avoid the stock and real estate markets—are snapping up this year's "silver eagles" much faster than the mint can make them. More »
US Money Discriminates Against Blind, Court Rules

newser | Washington Post | May 20, 08 1:30 PM CDT

A federal appellate court agreed today with a lower court’s ruling that the US must change its paper money to accommodate the blind, who are unable to tell the current, single-size bills apart, the Washington Post reports. The court ruled that the bills violate the Federal Rehabilitation Act, rejecting Treasury's argument that the blind could get along on assistance from others. More »

April 2008

Under 35's Break Salary Talk Taboo

newser | New York Times | Apr 26, 08 3:23 PM CDT

Unlike mom and dad, young Americans are likely to gab about salary with friends, the New York Times reports. To older generations, "it’s very hush-hush," one 22-year-old said. "You don’t talk about money, politics, or religion with friends. But in this generation, it’s important.” Many young professionals say it helps to navigate the workplace or simply plan a night out. More »
Dollar Rallies at Last

newser | Bloomberg | Apr 25, 08 6:46 AM CDT

The dollar rose to a three-week high against the euro today and looked set to post its biggest weekly advance since March. The dollar advanced to $1.55 per euro this morning in London, after falling below the $1.60 barrier on Tuesday. The dollar also gained against the yen, and investors are betting on another strong showing next week, reports Bloomberg. More »
7 Ways to Raise Your Credit Score

newser | Today Show | Apr 15, 08 12:19 PM CDT

Credit scores are key if you're getting a new cell phone, new home, new car—even a new job. The Today Show offers 7 simple steps to give your score a boost: Fix errors on your reports: A mistake on one report can sink a score. Be timely: Payment history affects about a third of your credit score. More »

March 2008

Dollar-Store Dining Possible in Big Apple

newser | New York Times | Mar 27, 08 5:42 PM CDT

Grocery-shopping in New York City takes a hefty toll on one’s pocketbook, Henry Alford writes in the New York Times , but at 99-cent stores, more diamonds in the rough exist than one might expect. Alford embarked on a challenge: to craft a week's worth of meals made mainly from on-the-cheap ingredients, culminating in a 99-cent dinner party. More »
Money Brings Happiness — if You Give it Away

newser | Globe and Mail | Mar 21, 08 11:41 AM CDT

Money can buy happiness after all, the Globe & Mail reports. A new study shows that people reported being happier if they spent money on others rather than themselves. "This work suggests that even making small alterations in how we spend money on a daily basis can make a difference in happiness," the lead researcher told the AP. More »
New $5 Bill Debuts Today

newser | Associated Press | Mar 13, 08 11:45 AM CDT

Honest Abe may've been a bit pasty and gaunt, but the public can now see him in a more vivid hue: The redesigned $5 bill, complete with splashes of purple designed to thwart pesky counterfeiters, is being released today. Lincoln keeps his place on the front, and his memorial on the back—and the first new fiver will be spent at Lincoln's Cottage in Washington, DC. More »

February 2008

Paulson Wants to Toss Pennies

newser | Associated Press | Feb 29, 08 4:15 PM CST

Henry Paulson sees little point in pennies and would stop their production if he could, the AP reports. “The penny is worth less than any other currency,” the Treasury Secretary said today in a radio interview. But a sea change in change isn't imminent: Paulson says he has bigger challenges to tackle in the last year of the administration. More »

January 2008

American Express Feels Credit Crunch

newser | Wall Street Journal | Jan 10, 08 7:33 PM CST

With consumer spending slowing and credit defaults on the rise, American Express said today it will take a fourth-quarter charge of $275 million to build up its charge-card reserves, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company, which cited housing turmoil as a contributing factor, also predicted earnings to come in lower than analysts' estimates. More »
Bernanke Hints at Hefty Interest Rate Cuts

newser | Wall Street Journal | Jan 10, 08 1:30 PM CST

The Federal Reserve may make "substantive" cuts to interest rates later this month in the face of rising economic difficulties, Ben Bernanke said today. Citing troubled financial markets and rising unemployment, the Fed chairman implied that it might drop its target short-term interest rate by .5% from 4.25%. “We stand ready to take substantive additional action as needed to support growth,” Bernanke said. More »

December 2007

How to Make Kids $$$$ Savvy

newser | Wall Street Journal | Dec 20, 07 5:06 PM CST

It's never too early to get savvy about money. The Journal 's Jonathan Clements explains how he's put his teens on the right track. Delayed gratification: When they spend their own cash, they make better decisions. Pace yourself: The Clements kids had to make a 3-month allowance last. Family values: Stories, not lectures, get the right values going. Pile on the rich: Clements disparages opulence. Long-term compounding: Choose annuities that incentivize waiting. More »
10 Jobs That Just Don't Pay

newser | MarketWatch | Dec 15, 07 3:00 PM CST

If being paid peanuts in a job with no benefits isn't how you picture yourself, avoid these occupations, tracked down by MarketWatch, at all costs: Hosts and hostesses, restaurants, lounges, and coffee shops Counter attendants, cafeterias, food concessions, and coffee shops Ushers, lobby attendants, and ticket takers More »
Credit Card Execs Grilled Over Rate Hikes

newser | Associated Press | Dec 4, 07 6:55 PM CST

Lawmakers grilled credit card execs today over the practice of hiking interest rates on customers who pay on time, the AP reports. Senator Carl Levin called it unfair, but Bank of America and Discovery execs said that factors like credit scores also affect rates. "It's important criteria for how to manage risk and pricing," said Discovery President Roger Hochschild. More »

November 2007

Best States for Small Business

newser | CNN | Nov 25, 07 2:54 PM CST

If you want your seed of genius to grow, plant it in the right soil. CNNMoney finds the most small-business-friendly states: South Dakota: No tax personal income, capital gains, corporate income, or corporate capital gains and low energy costs. Nevada: No income, capital gains, corporate income, or corporate capital gains tax and some of the country's lowest property taxes. More »

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Newser Specials

Stories

These Days, Local Banks Look Good

Most Lucrative College Majors

How to Make Millions Off Misfortune

Maxed-Out Debtors Find Credit Crutch

Cheer Up! Recession Has a Bright Side

US Rations Silver Dollars as Investors Scoop Them Up

US Money Discriminates Against Blind, Court Rules

Under 35's Break Salary Talk Taboo

Dollar Rallies at Last

7 Ways to Raise Your Credit Score

Dollar-Store Dining Possible in Big Apple

Money Brings Happiness — if You Give it Away

New $5 Bill Debuts Today

Paulson Wants to Toss Pennies

American Express Feels Credit Crunch

Bernanke Hints at Hefty Interest Rate Cuts

How to Make Kids $$$$ Savvy

10 Jobs That Just Don't Pay

Credit Card Execs Grilled Over Rate Hikes

Best States for Small Business

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