Is there something personal in your financial past that you'd rather not explain to a stranger -- say bad credit, bankruptcy or a proclivity for spending thousands of dollars on lingerie at Victoria's Secret? Then applying for a new job or going after a promotion could put you in a tricky spot, because an employer can easily find out about all ...

Is there something personal in your financial past that you'd rather not explain to a stranger -- say bad credit, bankruptcy or a proclivity for spending thousands of dollars on lingerie at Victoria's Secret? Then applying for a new job or going after a promotion could put you in a tricky spot, because an employer can easily find out about all ...

It's one of a heap of financial worries that come with a layoff: What happens to your company-sponsored retirement plan? The answer depends on how long you worked for the company, the amount you saved up and whether the money's in a 401(k) or a pension plan. For the most part, federal regulations protect retirement savings, even if a company goes ...

Loans are a time-tested way of raising capital for your business. We would love to tell you that it is as easy as going to the bank and asking for money, but as you probably know by now it is quite the opposite. We wrote the following steps to help you raise the right amount of capital to get your business ...

If you want to spend less time worrying about your money, then it’s time to get your financial act together. These six strategies can help improve your financial situation and simplify your life at the same time. h4. 1. Put Your Savings on Autopilot If you haven’t maxed out your 401k or other retirement plan at work, add an extra $50 ...

The Pension Protection Act, which both strengthens employers' existing pension obligations and discourages them from undertaking new obligations, also makes a broader point to US workers: "The overall message of the bill is, you're on your own," says James Lange, a lawyer, CPA and author of Retire Secure. Even so, the 2006 law has also made it less daunting for workers ...

Everything from the price of gasoline to the midwestern floods will affect your grocery bill in coming months. The cost of celery is up 106%. Not surprisingly: the cost of meat is kept artificially low thanks to massive lobbyist subsidies. Lesson: eat fewer lentils and more tangerines. Do you need solutions to food cost increases? Get a grip on your budget. ...

When we asked Monster readers what they’d be most likely to splurge on if they got a big salary bump -- a new car, wardrobe or home entertainment technology -- the car topped the list with 51 percent of the votes, followed by the wardrobe with 30 percent and the home entertainment center at 18 percent. But quite a few readers ...

One of the great benefits of being a firefighter is the aspect of family that comes along with the job. Firefighters have taken that to a whole new level with fire credit unions - organizations that are just like regular banks but are not-for-profit, have much better rates for loans, and little to no service fees. Also, once you're a member ...

In 2008, legislation was passed to help rescue US markets and the economy. But did you know that these bailout bills also included a bundle of income tax breaks? The biggest ones are known as "extenders" - popular tax breaks that might seem permanent to most taxpayers, but actually must be renewed every year or two. Stuffed inside the *Emergency Economic ...

In 2008, legislation was passed to help rescue US markets and the economy. But did you know that these bailout bills also included a bundle of income tax breaks? The biggest ones are known as "extenders" - popular tax breaks that might seem permanent to most taxpayers, but actually must be renewed every year or two. Stuffed inside the *Emergency Economic ...

Did you spend substantial amounts of money looking for a new position last year? You may be able to succeed where Nelson Rockefeller failed and take a tax deduction for many of your job search-related costs. When New York Governor Rockefeller was appointed vice president in the '70s, he deducted expenses incurred in connection with his congressional confirmation hearings. Years later, ...

During the worst economic crisis in a lifetime, the right financial decisions are crucial. BusinessWeek asked financial planners for some advice on what to do—or not to do—with your money in the New Year. As we bid farewell to a dreadful 2008, these "resolutions" may help keep your finances on the right track in 2009: h4. 1. Don't try to predict ...

Misinformation and myths plague the insurance industry. Many times consumers aren't sure how much insurance to purchase or if they have purchased the right kind to begin with. If you're one of the thousands of Americans that don't understand insurance and what it offers read this list of the top 5 insurance myths and the facts behind them." h4. 1.) Auto ...

The average American home will spend $990 on heating this year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Add that to the rising costs of food, clothing, and travel, and almost every individual and family will feel the pinch. Fortunately, you can make your utility bills more manageable. Many steps to reducing your bills apply to everyone, even those living in ...

h4. 1. Interest Backdating Most card issuers charge interest from the day a charge is posted to your account if you don't pay in full monthly. But, some charge interest from the date of purchase, days before they have even paid the store on your behalf! Remedy: Find another card issuer, or always pay your bill in full by the due ...

1: Medicare doesn't cover nursing home care. Nearly 60% of Americans think Medicare pays for nursing care, and 52% assume that it covers assisted living, according to a 2006 survey by AARP. Not so. Medicare's coverage of long-term care is extremely limited. It'll cover part of the cost of a skilled nursing facility while you recover from an injury or illness. ...

Residents of duplex on Monongahela's Main Street were driven from their home Monday night after lightning struck the roof and started a fire. Firefighters responded 11:52 p.m. to 402 E. Main St. after property owner Dina Annesi, 81, reported a corner of the roof was burning. Annesi, who lives on the bottom floor, made it out safely, fire Chief Frank Hnatik ...

SILVER CITY, N.M. -- Even as the Miller Fire topped 83,000 scorched acres in the Gila Wilderness, the Grant County Commission received an update Tuesday from the U.S. Forest regarding the situation and was urged to strengthen the current fire ban ordinance. The Miller Fire, which is burning about 25 miles north of Silver City, is at about 48 percent containment ...

A wood chipping operation, to grind up trees that had been previously cut to mitigate the potential of a wildland fire triggered last Thursday's Rifle Fire east of Fort Stanton. The wildland fire went on to scorch 600 acres of land. Some sort of "equipment" had initially been listed as the cause of the Rifle Fire by New Mexico's State Forestry ...