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4/16/10: Four Financial Fridays, Texas A&M University: Credit and Debt

Four Financial Fridays, Texas A&M University

3/26/10: Four Financial Fridays, Texas A&M University: Financial Planning Tools

Four Financial Fridays, Texas A&M University

3/14/10: National Financial Capability Challenge

The National Financial Capability Challenge is an awards program designed to increase the financial knowledge and capability of high school aged youth across the United States so they can take control over their financial futures. It challenges high school teachers and other educators to teach the basics of personal finance to their students, and rewards students, educators, schools, and states for their participation and their success. The goal is for 1 million students to take the Challenge. To make that happen, we'll need educators from all across the country to sign up and prepare their students. MORE »

3/1/10: Think a Tax Refund Loan Sounds Good? Think Again

You’ve probably heard the pitches for “refund anticipation checks” or “quick tax loans.” The official name is refund anticipation loans, or RALs. They’re marketed primarily to cash-poor taxpayers who use their annual federal and state tax refunds as a piggy bank for discretionary items or thanks to a struggling economy, essentials like food and housing.

In tough times, these high-cost loans are a particularly dangerous temptation. Most of the major tax preparation services in the country offer them, making them easy to apply for and they even offer to place the refund amount in a special prepaid credit card instead of your own bank account.

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3/1/10: Last-Minute Tax Savings You Shouldn’t Forget

Whether you prepare your taxes yourself or work with a CPA or professional preparer, it’s possible to miss key deductions that will save you money for the 2009 tax year. Here are some of the major ones to check if they fit your situation. MORE »

3/1/10: Going Green Can Save Big Green, Thanks to the Blue Economy

"Going green" gets plenty of attention for what it does for the environment. But people often forget that environmentally smart behavior can save money as well.

Earth Day is right around the corner – April 22. One of the best ways to celebrate is to do a “green check” of how you spend your money and make both energy- and money-smart plans for your home and lifestyle going forward.

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2/28/10: Affording Graduate School While You’re Still Working

According to U.S. News & World Report, today’s average master’s degree holder earns an average annual salary of $52,000 compared to $42,000 for someone with an undergraduate degree. Those who’ve earned professional degrees such as law or medicine earn an average of about $82,000.

Yet costs can vary widely among U.S. graduate schools. Some average a few thousand dollars a semester in tuition – not cheap, but doable for many working people. However, Business Week estimated in December that the average tuition for a two-year MBA program now tops $60,000 – that doesn’t include room, board or other fees. So for top graduate schools in many fields – not just business – the whole graduate school bill can easily top $100,000.

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2/28/10: Planning Tax-Smart Home Improvements for the Summer

Even as winter weather still lingers in some parts of the country, it’s not a bad time to start budgeting for home improvements during the warmer months. Federal, and in some cases, state economic stimulus dollars are still available on a host of projects and appliances that might add value to a home and over the course of time may save money. MORE »

2/28/10: 10 Things New Couples Should Do About Money

Valentine’s Day is a time when couples usually spend money on each other, but not discuss how that money should be spent.

But a survey on couples and money released last November by Capital One pointed out that younger people (18-34) are more prone to conflicts with their partner about money: 36 percent disagree monthly (or more frequently) with their partner. Sixty-five percent of those between ages 18-24 and 41 percent of those between ages 25-34 report that they have argued about money during the last 12 months.

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