The U.S. government provides money to retired, unemployed and disabled persons through the Social Security Administration. People who pay into the system through payroll taxes for at least 10 years receive a financial safety net upon retirement. The amount you receive from Social Security is supposed to replace some, but not all, of your pre-retirement… Read More

If you have a significant other, you know how stressful Valentine’s Day can be – stressful and expensive. From cards and gifts to flowers and dinners, your wallet can face a hit worse than during the holiday season. Love-struck consumers dish out billions every year, but you don’t have to go broke to make your… Read More

Do these cold, short days have you dreaming about summer vacation? While you are reading travel site reviews, comparing car rentals and shopping for airline tickets, start a dedicated savings account right now so you can pre-pay part or all of your vacation costs. “The key is to start small but start soon,” says Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson…. Read More

After a long week, a night out with friends can be a great way to unwind and start the weekend off right. Getting dinner and drinks may seem like a harmless plan… until you get the bill. Expenses like these can quickly add up, especially if you’re splitting a bill with big eaters and drinkers… Read More

According to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, it’s illegal to robocall a mobile phone number without permission. The American Bankers Association wants to change that, arguing that robocalls will help fight identity theft and other kinds of fraud. Opponents say that’s an overreach, one that will erode an important consumer protection. “Gee, I can’t talk… Read More

Fighting with a credit reporting agency over inaccuracies isn’t easy, and plenty of consumers simply give up, a new Federal Trade Commission study suggests. Nearly half of consumers engaged in an unresolved dispute with a credit reporting agency wave the white flag, according to a study published this week by the Federal Trade Commission. Of… Read More

Offers for free things are usually followed by asterisks, tiny print, “buts” and “ifs.” That’s not the case with free annual credit reports. Credit report information can vary, depending on when you request it and the credit bureau compiling your report, but as far as whether there’s a difference between free credit reports and ones… Read More

Happy tax season! Not only do you have to make sure you get everything together you need to file your taxes on time and accurately, you have to deal with people trying to capitalize on your stress. I’m talking about the “IRS” — not the real Internal Revenue Service, but the slew of people impersonating the… Read More

There are several things people freak out about when their wallets or purses have been stolen: knowing a thief has your ID (and your home address), losing irreplaceable gift cards or cash, and having to cancel your credit cards. That’s usually the first thing people do — call their banks — but it’s easy to… Read More

It’s perhaps not surprising that the older folks get, the better they are at handling money and avoiding penalty fees. But you might be surprised at how stark the difference is between younger and older generations when it comes to that super villain of financial penalties, the checking account overdraft. Young adults aged 18-25 are… Read More