Getting a handle on the household finances will be a defining theme for many consumers in 2009. But with a litany of different accounts — credit-card accounts, savings and checking accounts, not to mention IRAs, 401(k)s and money markets — to complicate our financial lives, that goal may be difficult to attain without a little help.
Fortunately, getting your financial house in order for the new year is just a mouse click away. A slew of new web sites allow users to organize and track various accounts from one location. These …

We are under constant media barrage about checking our credit report and we all know it’s important to have a high credit score. With the new legislation, it’s possible that a great credit score will be more important than ever. But does the average Joe really understand what goes into the calculating of a credit score? I know I didn’t until I started researching it.
I was surprised to find out that your debt to limit ratio has a 30% impact on your credit score. Only your credit history has a …

The Oracle of Omaha became the world’s richest person by adhering to simple but critical tenets. Here are his rules for smart living and savvy investing.  Last year’s market madness didn’t just flush away $7 trillion in wealth.  It also washed away a lot of investors’ confidence and left them stumped about the best position to take now.  “Somewhere between cash and fetal,” quips one pessimist.  In such downbeat times, let’s consider a dose of optimism, wisdom and insight: the basics as taught by that perennial investing Yoda, Warren Buffett.
For …

Your car insurance rates are based on a few factors you can’t readily change — your sex, age, marital status and where you live — and many that you can — your credit scores, what you drive, how well you drive and how much coverage you buy.  Here’s how to get the best deal.
First, let’s review the basics. Details vary from state to state.

Liability insurance pays for injuries and property damage caused by a crash if an insurance adjuster determines you were at fault. It does not cover your injuries …

The cost of a car is a lot more than the sum of its payments. It’s the gas, the repairs, the insurance, the parking. It’s the lost opportunity to do other things with your money as well.  Your homework should involve a lot more than a test drive. In fact, it starts with simply doing the math. Consider this: If you’re 25 and buy a $20,000 car rather than a $30,000 one, and sock away that 10 grand in a Roth individual retirement account at 7%, you’ll have $160,000 to …