TheRepublic.com - Your Money News

Extraordinary wealth inequality between U.S. races, study...

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:28:59 -0400

By TIM GRANT - Wealth disparities for middle-income blacks and Hispanics have worsened over the past three decades relative to white families, largely because of a lower likelihood of owning homes and retirement accounts, according to the Urban Institute.

Law change allows stay-at-home spouses to apply for credit...

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:19:28 -0400

By TIM GRANT - Stay-at-home spouses and partners cried out for fairness when new rules approved by Congress in 2009 required credit card companies to deny credit to anyone who had no income of their own.

Exchange-traded funds entering new phase of growth

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:29:55 -0400

BOSTON - The headlines about exchange-traded funds suggest there are no limits to the growth of these low-cost, easily traded alternatives to mutual funds.

How loyalty programs influence the way you shop

Thu, 16 May 2013 13:47:56 -0400

NEW YORK - Loyalty programs at supermarkets used to be as simple as getting access to the cheaper advertised prices on store shelves.

Real: Effective and cheap home-security solutions

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:47:59 -0400

By DEBORAH ABRAMS KAPLAN - You spend time and money to create a nice home. How can you protect it from intruders without it costing a fortune? It's easier than you think.

Retired couples may need $220K for health care

Wed, 15 May 2013 16:43:13 -0400

WASHINGTON - After years of increasing health care costs, the outlook is improving for seniors worried about paying their medical bills during retirement.

Ask Babe: DiMaggio bat a winner, experts say

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:52:25 -0400

By BABE WAXPAK - Dear Babe: When I was a boy about 8 (I'm now 61) I was injured and in a hospital in Pittsburgh. A friend of my father, Carl Dephillipo from Cleveland, gave me a bat, which he said was given to him by, as well as used by, Joe DiMaggio. Mr. Dephillipo is still alive (about 87 years young) living near Cleveland and has had the nickname of "DiMag" forever. I have a copy of a news article (maybe 45-plus years old) where he discusses his collection. In the interview, he makes mention of his gift of a Joe DiMaggio bat to a crippled boy in Pittsburgh. I am that boy he notes but, I was not "crippled." Though for sure, a gift to a crippled boy makes a much better story. -- Tom Hadley, Hugo, Okla.

Time2Save: Use Plink to earn rewards for free

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:18:03 -0400

By KASEY TRENUM - Q: Recently I've seen offers for Plink everywhere. Are they legitimate offers, and if so, how does Plink work?

Consumers still confused about credit scores

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:49:00 -0400

By PATRICIA SABATINI - Many consumers are confused about credit scores, harboring costly misunderstandings that could result in lower scores and thousands of dollars in extra finance charges, according to a just-released survey from the Consumer Federation of America.

'Digital assets': the new frontier for estate planning

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:21:53 -0400

By TIM GRANT - So much of our lives are spent online -- banking, shopping, social networking -- that a new category of personal property has emerged, known to estate planners as "digital assets."

DebtAdviser: Should he pay off student loan, despite low...

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:22:02 -0400

By STEVE BUCCI - Dear Debt Adviser: I own my home and have no mortgage or note. I have no debts except a student loan of about $11,000, and I can pay that off right now. I've always wanted to be debt-free, and I could write a check tomorrow and do that.

Increasing amount is paid in overdraft fees to banks

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:21:25 -0400

By PATRICIA SABATINI - Overdraft fees -- a staple for banks and the bane of customers -- are on the rise again, despite new federal regulations and consumer lawsuits aimed at reining them in.

Fund manager: Don't get caught up in Asia numbers

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:32:28 -0400

BOSTON - Investors are worried about the slow pace of U.S. economic growth, but we're just one player in the international arena. To assess the global outlook, two numbers are critical: China's gross domestic product and Japan's inflation rate.

In family finances, moms lead the way

Fri, 10 May 2013 14:19:52 -0400

By JENNIFER NAPIER-PEARCE - Moms are more likely than dads to have a sit-down with their grown children about money.

Use 'minimum' knowledge to gain maximum credit card...

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:47:38 -0400

By PATRICIA SABATINI - The most important information on your monthly credit card bill isn't necessarily the balance.

Hyundai creates spirited crossover in 2013 Santa Fe

Thu, 09 May 2013 16:52:07 -0400

By FRANK A. AUKOFER - It has nothing to do with basketball, but Hyundai has nailed a triple double.

Real: Tips for negotiating the best sale price on your...

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:22:26 -0400

By DANA DRATCH - Selling your first home in a buyers' market? You can get the best possible price if you know how to negotiate.

For mom, give the gift of financial security

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:19:38 -0400

BY CYNTHIA BUCK - Here's a novel idea for a Mother's Day gift: financial security.

Drive: Hyundai's triple double with Santa Fe

Thu, 09 May 2013 13:19:59 -0400

By FRANK A. AUKOFER - It has nothing to do with basketball, but Hyundai has nailed a triple double.

6 tips to manage student loan debt

Wed, 08 May 2013 18:38:51 -0400

Finding a job in a slow-growing economy is daunting enough without new financial obligations.