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Falling Slowly: Predictions for 'Mad Men' finale 05/14/2015 07:57am • WASHINGTON - Our eight-year TV bender is at its end. And as we take our final swig of "Mad Men" on Sunday, the farewell toast is bittersweet. We've cherished every last drop of our beloved cocktail, certain that it will go down smoothly as one of history's best TV dramas. And yet, there's Beware of Companies That Win When You Lose 05/06/2015 08:00pm • When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. That may be a tired adage you've heard a million times, but it could pay off to reconsider the next time you debate using certain products and services. (Another old-time favorite: There is no free lunch.) Think about it: If a business stands How to Use an Anti-Budget 04/30/2015 08:00pm • Are you the type of person who diligently tracks every expense and knows exactly where all your dollars go? If so, congratulations! You're a rare specimen. If you're a regular, everyday person, on the other hand, line-itemizing your budget just isn't realistic. Sure, it's possible to keep a detail 10 Dumb Credit Card Mistakes You're Making 04/22/2015 08:00pm • Many consumers either love or hate credit cards. They can be extremely helpful if used responsibly, but they can also hurt you if you don't use them right. Wondering how you can use your credit card better? Check out this list of mistakes to avoid and what to do instead.1.Not reading the fine print. 10 Strategies to Save for Retirement on a Low Income 03/12/2015 08:00pm • It's extremely difficult to save for retirement when you are only earning a small salary. The Senate Special Committee on Aging recently held a hearing about retirement preparedness, and witnesses shared ideas for encouraging saving. Try these strategies to boost your retirement savings: Save by de 10 Smart Ways to Spend Your Tax Refund 03/04/2015 07:00pm • P is for practical.Hotly anticipating your tax refund? Us too. But before you splurge on that Jacuzzi you've always wanted or pile items into your virtual shopping cart, do yourself a favor: Hit pause, experts suggest, and consider finding a practical use for your money. What's practical, of course, Huge Medical Bill? Balance Billing Might Be to Blame 02/19/2015 07:00pm • It's a terrible feeling to open a bill and find a balance that's way higher than you expected. But it's even worse when you're recovering from an illness or injury that landed you in the hospital -- something you didn't plan and now can't afford. Health care is expensive, but it's also common to be How Financial Devastation Can Help a Relationship 02/12/2015 07:00pm • Stressed over money? There's a lot of evidence suggesting your relationship is being affected, the most recent statistic coming from the American Psychological Association, which just released data from a survey of 3,068 men and women showing that 31 percent of couples say money is a major source of How U.S.-Cuba relations are shifting the landscape of Major League Baseball 02/11/2015 03:15am • WASHINGTON -- It was, perhaps, fitting that last weekend Cuba took home its first Caribbean Series title since 1960. After a 54-year absence, Cuba returned to the tournament last year, but was quickly dispatched after four games. This year, on the heels of President Obama’s diplomatic olive br How to take a guilt-free vacation 01/29/2015 07:00pm • With all the ice and snow, you might be envisioning yourself on a beach somewhere -- listening to the surf and drinking a iced tea. But that doesn't mean your pocket book is envisioning the same thing. Chances are, you've got holiday debt to pay off, bills to pay and something more important to save Is Overdraft Protection Real? A Look at the Big 4 Banks 01/26/2015 07:00pm • Overdraft fees originated as a way for wealthy bank clients facing a liquidity problem to borrow money from the bank as a line of credit and pay it back with some interest. Today, overdraft fees often target those on the low end of the socioeconomic ladder, while wealthy bank clients can easily get What your child should know about money by key ages 01/15/2015 07:00pm • Parents frequently hear that it's important to teach children about money, and it's hard to imagine any mother or father arguing the point. But obviously you're rushing things if you're trying to explain revolving credit to a 5-year-old. So if you're wondering what concepts kids can grasp and by wha 5 Credit Mistakes to Avoid in 2015 01/14/2015 07:00pm • Some mistakes are easier to recover from than others. Having to pay for a parking ticket may not be pleasant, but it shouldn't set you back a huge amount of money. Forgetting about a homework assignment may hurt a little, but one negative score won't usually impact your overall grade too badly. On 5 'Band-Aid' Fixes That Hurt Your Finances 12/08/2014 07:00pm • You're short on cash, but there is something important you need to spend money on, like your mortgage or an electric bill or groceries. So you settle on what's often called a "Band-Aid" fix. That is, you come up with a very short-term solution that solves your financial dilemma today. The trouble Analysts: How GOP Congress could boost US economy 11/07/2014 08:10am • JOSH BOAK AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) -- Voters made clear Tuesday that they're worried about the economy, despite steady job gains, a robust stock market and faster economic growth this year.So what can -- and should -- the now-dominant Republicans in Congress and President Barack Obama do