Online Features
Money & Finance
Dogged by pricey pet care? Cost-cutting tips for pet owners
(BPT) - These days, everyone is searching for ways to save money and stretch budgets. Consumer experts advise people to sniff out deeper discounts, saving opportunities and additional ways to cut costs. For pet owners, it can feel challenging to cut costs without compromising on care. Being vigilant is key, according t...
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Small steps keep financial resolutions within reach
(BPT) - Keeping resolutions is the hardest part of making them. If you’re like many, 2013 may be the year of getting your financial house in order. For some, that may mean getting out from credit card debt or paying off a student loan; for others, it may mean setting aside more for emergency savings or for retirement. ...
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Think beyond the allowance to teach kids lasting money skills
(BPT) - One of the most exciting parts of parenthood is watching your children learn as they grow. Of course, life’s lessons can be tough just as often as they can be pleasant. And as you want to protect kids from falling off their bike or scraping a knee, you also want to set them up for a successful financial future, ...
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Five steps to help improve financial - and physical - health
(BPT) - Plans to improve health and finances are among the most common resolutions Americans make each year. Both are worthy goals, but did you know that improving your financial health may boost your physical health as well? “Money problems are a well-known cause of stress, and the negative impact that stress has on o...
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How to protect yourself from identity theft
(BPT) - Identity theft occurs more frequently in the United States than people want to believe. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, identity theft and identity fraud are referred to as “all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person’s personal data in some way that involves fraud...
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A 2012 IRA contributions and deductions guide [Infographic]
As tax time nears, it’s helpful to review IRS code for the current rules and limits on retirement contributions . Let the following infographic guide you as you make sure you are getting the most out of your retirement dollars, and aren’t exceeding any federal limits as you close out your finances for 2012.
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Five tips to improve your financial health in 2013
(BPT) - Creating better financial habits tops many New Year’s resolution lists every year. If it is on your list for 2013, there are a few steps you could consider to help you pursue your goals. According the Fall Merrill Edge Report , 77 percent of mass affluent Americans – those with $50,000 to $250,000 in investabl...
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The six most common identity theft risks at tax time
(BPT) - Tax time is always tough. Whether you will owe or anticipate a refund, plan to do your own taxes or pay a professional to do them for you, preparing and filing your taxes can be a tedious task. It can also be a risky one: the information needed to prepare your taxes is a treasure trove for enterprising identity ...
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The 10 'never-break' rules of good credit
(BPT) - Some rules are meant to be broken – like the one about not wearing white after Labor Day. Others should remain sacrosanct, such as the rules of good credit. Those are the kind of rules that can make life easier and happier when you follow them – and help ensure your finances stay in good order, too. Unlike fash...
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Six steps to getting the best deal on a used car
(BPT) - When it comes to value purchases, there are few that compare to buying a used car over a new one, since new cars begin to depreciate the minute they are driven off the lot. If you are able to find a used car that still has plenty of life, you can save thousands from what you would pay for a new car. While buyin...
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How to achieve 4 common financial goals
(BPT) - Whether it’s the new year, a new job, a new baby or simply the right time to get your finances order, the process usually starts with setting some goals. The first step in the process of achieving your financial goals is to recognize what needs to be done to put yourself in the position you want to be in. Once...
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(Reuters) - Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called sexual assault a "scourge" on Saturday as he addressed graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where a sergeant stands accused of videotaping female cadets in the showers. "Sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military are a profound betrayal - a profound betrayal - of sacred oaths and sacred trusts," Hagel said. "This scourge must be stamped out." His comments came a day after President Barack Obama delivered a similar message to graduates at the U.S. ...
By Malia Mattoch McManus HONOLULU (Reuters) - The city of Detroit may be facing a deepening financial crisis but that hasn't stopped four trustees of its public pension funds from spending $22,000 of retirement system funds to attend a conference in Hawaii this week. The trip 4,500 miles west to a four-star resort on the world-famous Waikiki Beach in Honolulu doesn't sit well with the top officials now running Detroit's finances under an emergency order from the state of Michigan. ...