The Euro is about as low relative to the U.S. dollar as it’s been all year, as policymakers and bankers alike fret that the shared currency masks deep sovereign debt problems and that the European economy is about to slide into …
Realtor Revise: Housing Downturn Was Worse Than We Thought
It may not seem possible, but the horrific housing market crash of the past few years has actually been worse than we previously thought.
In the past two years alone, more than three million fewer homes may have been sold than
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Homebuyers: Don’t Get Sunk Early in the Mortgage Process
If you are interested in buying a home, chances are you need a mortgage — and the first step toward a mortgage is a prequalification (or its cousin, pre-approval) letter. You provide your lender with basic financial information, and in return you receive a written offer to provide you with financial backing for a home purchase.
Teen Slapped With Hundreds in Bank Fees
Chicagoland teenager Daniel Ganziano thought he was doing the right thing when he opened an account last year with TCF Bank near his Illinois home to learn how to handle money responsibly. Instead, Ganziano learned that bank fees can very quickly spiral out of control — in his case, to more than $229 in less than two weeks.
U.S. ‘Very Disappointed’ By China’s New Auto Import Tariffs
U.S. trade officials are “very disappointed” in China’s decision to impose new import tariffs on several U.S. auto manufacturers, including Ford, GM and Chrysler, a spokesperson for the U.S. Trade representative wrote in a …
‘Snoopy House’ Saved From Foreclosure
When Jim Jordan suffered through a foreclosure, it wasn’t just about the family house. The Costa Mesa, Calif. ranch house that he grew up in (but no longer lived in) was host to a gigantic Christmas display. Sure, there was Santa on the roof with reindeer — but there was also an array of Charles Schultz “Peanuts” characters that drew …
White House Axes Wasteful $1 Presidential Coin Program
It cost us $50 million a year for a bunch of coins few people really wanted.
Green Monday? Gift Card Weekend? Enough With the ‘Special’ Holiday Shopping Events Already!
Consumers to Tech Companies: Please, Stop the Flood of New Gadgets
In a new survey, nearly half of consumers (48%) “feel high-tech manufacturers bring new products to market faster than people need them.”
Books — The Paper Kind — Make a Comeback This Holiday Season
Bookstores seem to be doing surprisingly well this year, but those sales might not be sustainable.
5 Signs That You’re Borrowing Too Much
Consumer debt figures show it: we’re getting tired of being so darned frugal. Here are five guidelines to keep you from borrowing too much.
Two Girlfriends Go on Ultimate Shopping Spree—Private Jets & Tiffany’s, Then Jail
Apparently sick of the workaday grind, a pair of 30-something roommates who are deeply in debt decided to live like the 1% for a spell. After forging checks from a law firm where one of the women worked as a paralegal, the twosome tore off on a private jet with friends to go shopping in New York City. They also rented an …