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The Color of Money
By Michelle Singletary
Seeking Protection on Payday Loans
Over the years, I've met too many people who were stuck in a hellish payday loan cycle, rolling one loan into another until the fees and outstanding balance crushed them.Look For Signs of Fraud Against the Elderly
One out of every five Americans over the age of 65 -- that's 7.3 million seniors -- has been victimized by a financial swindle, according to a newly released survey by the Investor Protection Trust, a nonprofit education organizationTime for a Talk With Elderly Parents
To help with having the all-important conversation about my father-in-law's care and finances, I turned to a professional to get some tips on effectively having the talkEarning a Clean Sweep On Life
Two parolees, as part of my annual Color of Money Challenge, have agreed to allow me to follow them through this year as they try to turn their lives around. I met them while volunteering to teach personal finance classes to soon-to-be released inmates, and they were among my best students.Priceless Wisdom For Graduates
With thousands of college graduates moving this month into financial adulthood, I asked subscribers to my weekly e-letter to share the one piece of financial advice they received that made a difference.On Money Issue, Education Is a Two-Way Street
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison surveyed K-12 educators and not surprisingly most instructors don't think they are suitably trained to teach their students the basics of personal finance.Dealing With Family Financial Issues
Money matters in a family aren't just complicated, they can be painfully expensiveRead, Then Show Up
When looking for work, it's downright shocking the blunders many applicants make. A new book called "Can I Wear My Nose Ring to the Interview?: A Crash Course in Finding, Landing, and Keeping Your First Real Job" may help avoid these blunders.Burdened By Debt -- To a Degree
Valisha Cooks assumed the college education she financed with debt -- about half of it in expensive private student loans -- would pay off handsomely. Cooks, like so many others, assumed wrong.Looking For a Watchdog -- With Teeth
Burglars hate alarm systems and they hate big, barking dogs. This is what we need in the financial industry -- a better alarm system in the form of a big, bad, barking dog solely dedicated to protecting consumers.E-Payment of Benefits Raises Some Flags
The Treasury Department is making a hard push to go green -- and save a lot of green -- by switching millions of people who receive Social Security and other federal benefits from paper checks to electronic payments.Bag This Fee
Who knew when the writers on MADtv penned a 2008 skit about a no-frills airline that charges multiple fees that it would be predicting the future?A Clear Vision For Retirement
The Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) released its 2010 Retirement Confidence Survey and found that many workers continue to be unaware of how much they need to save for retirementWalking In Taxpayers' Shoes
For the second straight year, the Internal Revenue Service is reaching out to folks in financial trouble. The agency plans to hold 1,000 open houses on Saturdays where taxpayers can work out their payment problems with IRS officials.Get To Know The New Overdraft Rules
By now you may have become a bit overwhelmed with correspondence from your bank or credit union about mandated changes to your credit card account. But NOW you've got to stay alert to a lot of changes concerning not just your credit card, but also your bank account.ON The Road Back, With a Push
Visits with prison inmates to review their credit reports and conduct workshops to teach them how to better manage their money or resolve any tax issues they may have.Credit Report Access Simplified
Beginning April 1, when you go online to view your federally mandated free annual credit reports, you'll get exactly what you came for. Hopefully.A Woman's Touch On Money Matters
Four financial books written by four dynamic women, recommended for the Color of Money Book Club in honor of Women's History Month.Best Protection: Cut Up The Cards
If you own and use credit cards, make it your business to know the basics of the new Credit Card Accountability law. If you won't take the time to know what's in the law, I want you to pull out your credit cards right now and cut them up.With Plastic, Trust But Verify
The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (also known as the Credit CARD Act) established sweeping changes intended to help curtail certain industry practices, reduce unfair fees and rein in huge interest rate increases.Page 1 of 31
