Many consumers have been banking online for some time now, so the last thing you probably think you might need is a refresher course on just what boneheaded things you shouldn't be doing. On the other hand, it's online banking veterans who may need this list the most -- after all, when you do...

Everyone talks about how important it is to have an emergency fund, but few people talk about what kind of emergency fund that should be. After all, there's a big difference between stuffing money in a shoe box for a rainy day and setting up a savings account. Take it up a level, and there's a big...

In case you hadn't noticed yet, you will sooner or later: Bank fees are changing. In fact, in just the past week alone, JPMorgan Chase has received a lot of ink from personal finance writers. They're experimenting with $5 ATM fees for non-customers and considering limiting the amount people can...

Landing a personal loan has never really been easy, but since the recession began, it's been harder than ever, despite the fact that some types of lending, like auto loans, have started to make a comeback among banks. The funny thing is, most of what goes into a bank decision to give you a...

Cheree Miller has a cautionary tale for anyone in debt -- and for anyone without an emergency fund. Miller, 52, lives in London, Ark., (population 925) with her live-in, college-attending son, Nick, and is the caregiver to her 47-year-old sister, Tina, who has Down syndrome. Until last December,...

While some parents may be thrilled to help their teenagers plan and pack up for college, other moms and dads are having something closer to an anxiety attack. It's not just that time is passing and that the most important, cherished people in their lives are about to move out and on with their...

Heading to the car lot to pick out a new ride can be a lot of fun. Talking to the auto lender, however, can feel a bit like a hostage negotiation. After all, you're trying to get the best car you can get for the best price, while the dealer simply wants to make as much money off you as...

Buying a house, to put it mildly, is hard. There are a rash of decisions to be made, from deciding what community you want to live in and choosing a real estate agent to determining just how much house you can afford and how much you want to put down. It's a nerve-wracking experience, to be...

By the time Cherie Kerr and her ex-husband finally went their separate ways, her ex had run up $89,000 in debt during the divorce proceedings alone. She knew that if she didn't take action fast, that debt would scar her financial life forever. In a way, Kerr knew the marriage was over before it...

Why aren't we saving more money? According to a Harris Poll released early this month, 27% of Americans have no personal savings and 34% have nothing saved for retirement. Of course, not all the news is bad. As a country, we're beginning to spend more than we did just a year ago when we were in...