Personal Finance

Unless you have an MBA in finance, trying to decipher how education is funded in the U.S. could leave you reaching for a nice glass of wine. We'll break it down so you can understand it even without the help of a chardonnay.

By Alia Hoyt

When you're doing your taxes, it's nice to see all the deductions you can take to lower your tax bill. But is it worth the work to list everything instead of taking the standard deduction?

By Dave Roos

You've always filed your taxes the old-fashioned way - through the mail - but you're giving serious thought to joining the 21st century and e-filing your tax return. Will this new way of filing prove to be the better way?

By Kate Kershner

Being an independent contractor isn't all about sleeping in and working in your pj's. When you're your own boss, you have to pay your own taxes. It can be a tricky dance, but one worth learning if, like most of us, you enjoy saving money.

By Kate Kershner

Depreciation and amortization: The words don't exactly roll off the tongue, do they? But whatever they might lack in linguistic finesse they make up for in tax savings -- often over the course of several years!

By Kate Kershner

Divorce and co-parenting probably weren't part of the plan, but as they say, your child's well-being doesn't have a price tag - though all of that food and clothing does. If you're making child support payments, it's good to know your tax rights.

By Kate Kershner

You're a teacher. You're used to going above and beyond for your students - often without reward or recognition. But a little tax relief might be nice, especially if you've been paying for classroom supplies out of your own pocket.

By Kate Kershner

Come tax time, we're all looking to write off or deduct whatever we can to save money. Many of us would write off our own mothers if we had to - and with the dependency exemption, perhaps you can.

By Kate Kershner

Maybe you sell repurposed lawn ornaments. Maybe you play in a video game theme music cover band. Whatever your hobby might be, if you make money from it, you've probably wondered whether the IRS expects a cut of your earnings.

By Kate Kershner

Moving can be an exhilarating experience, especially if your new digs come with a fancy job and a big bump in pay. Why not keep the good vibes flowing by mastering a few tax-deductible tricks before the big move-out day?

By Kate Kershner

If you're lucky, you'll never have to know about bankruptcy. But sometimes, even lucky people get dealt bad hands. If you're wondering whether to declare bankruptcy, here are 10 things you should know before doing the deed.

By Dave Roos

Even though you're declaring bankruptcy, you sure hate to part with your family jewelry or that expensive, new telescope. Could you hide your assets, or is that considered fraud?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Given the short careers of most pro athletes and their sometimes extravagant lifestyles, it is not shocking that many run out of cash. But some who live relatively modestly still end up with money troubles. Why's that?

By Dave Roos

After many Target customers had their credit card information stolen in fall 2013, the store chain offered them free credit card monitoring for a year. But does this service really help protect against identity theft?

By Dave Roos

Long popular in Europe, Latin America and other parts of the world, chip and PIN credit cards are now becoming the norm in the U. S. What took them so long to catch on in America and do they really lessen credit card fraud?

By Dave Roos

As you get ready for the fun task of paying your taxes, questions might form a cloud over your head: "Am I getting the biggest refund I can?" "Why do we have to pay taxes anyway?" We'll make that little cloud disappear with our answers.

By Dave Roos

Ever wish you could inherit a chunk of change from a long-lost relative? The next best thing might be money you've forgotten about but are still entitled to claim. We'll tell you where to look.

By Dave Roos

According to one study, the cost of a college education rose more than 1,000 percent between 1978 and 2012. We examine reasons for the jump, and look at why some say it's not that bad.

By Dave Roos

Is this the payment method of the future? No cash, no credit card, just your smartphone and your finger to pay for whatever you want? Welcome to the world of Square.

By Dave Roos

The American Dream has usually meant that U.S. children will do better financially than their parents. But is this being upended by all the economic downturns of the 2000s? Can millennials overcome their poor economic start?

By Dave Roos

Land trusts have been used for both good and bad. They can be created for environmental conservation or to keep housing affordable. Or they can be a way to disguise the true owner of a property. Let's look at the pros and cons of land trusts.

By Dave Roos

Every now and then you'd like (or really need) a little extra cash. So how can you scare it up with not too much effort? We've got some smart ways.

By Dave Roos

Having no job doesn't have to equal having no money. There are many ways to make a little cash without having to put in a day's work.

By Dave Roos

The average American changes jobs every four years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. If you're average, that means you'll have a lot of 401(k)s before you retire. Should you consolidate them into one retirement account?

By Dave Roos

Lemonade stands and paper routes might have worked for your parents, but they're so yesterday. What projects can a kid do now that will earn a nice amount of spending money?

By Dave Roos