Your MoneyWatch
It's understandable that you might be pessimistic about the economy right now, but have you considered what effect those emotions have on your approach to money? Pessimists tend to save more, and your natural caution can lead to more stable financial portfolios. But don't assume that riskier investments will never pay off.
- Read More: Money Rules for Pessimists
- Read More: Best Career Paths for Teens
- Watch: Which College Grads Earn the Most?
- Read More: Refinancing? 7 Things You Need to Know
- Watch: Should You Refinance
- Read More: Avoid These 5 Used Cars (Plus 5 to Buy)
- Watch: Save on Your Next Car
- Read More: What's the Right Amount of Allowance?
- Plus: Important Lessons Allowance Can Teach
- Watch: Giving Your Child a Modern Allowance/a>
- Read More: How the New Credit Card Rules Affect You
- Watch: Pitfalls of Store Credit Cards
- Read More: 6 Big Changes for Gift Cards
- Watch: New Credit Card Rules
- Read More: Teach Your Kids To Be Thrifty
- Watch: College Student's Financial Survival Guide
- Read More: How to Get the Best Deals Online
- Watch: Save Money with New Web Coupons
- Read More: Boost Your Social Security Benefits
- Plus: Retirement Nightmare: Women Getting Shafted
- Watch: Women: Catch Up on Retirement Savings
- Read More: Skimp or Splurge: Is the Price Right?
- Watch: When to Skimp and When to Splurge
- Read More: New Rules for Hiring Home Contractors
- Watch: 3 Tips for Hiring Home Contractors
- Read More: Free Stuff All Year Around
- Watch: Are Store Freebies Really Free?
- Read More: Financial Reform: Winners and Losers
- Watch: What Financial Reform Means for You
- Read More: Your BlackBerry vs. Your Vacation: 6 Rules
- Watch: How to Really Take Time Off
- Read More: Greenberg's Money-Saving Secrets
- Watch: Save Money on Your Vacation
- Read More: 2010 Graduates: How to Become a Millionaire
- Watch: Financial Tips for College Grads
- Best Car Deals Now
- Best Deal in America: Get Cash Back for Charging
- Worst Deal in America: Buying Miles
- Best Health Trend: Convenient Care
- Worst Health Trend: Haagen-Dazs Five
- Video: Americans Start Spending ... but Cautiously
- Read More: Best Workouts for Your Career
- Watch: How to Work a Speed Bag
- Video: Boost Your Career by Hitting the Gym
- Read More: Highest and Lowest Gas Prices in the U.S.
- More Misconceptions: 6 Big Myths About Gas Mileage
- Video: 3 Gas Mileage Myths
- Read More: 5 Tricks for Selling Your Home
- More Real Estate Advice: Real Estate's New Rules
- Video: For Sale By Owner
- Read More: 9 Tricks to Trim Wedding Costs
- Video: Plan a Wedding on a Budget
Your MoneyWatch offers real-world advice on the financial issues that matter most to you — jobs, housing, health care, taxes and other ways you spend and save your money. Watch the episodes on your local CBS television station, then visit CBS MoneyWatch.com for tools, data, and more information about what to do next.
Recent Episodes
Originally Aired: Week of October 11, 2010
There's a fine line between problem-solver and Pollyanna. Here's how you can avoid the common pitfalls of the happy-go-lucky approach to finance and build your wealth in smart ways.
Originally Aired: Week of October 4, 2010 Many traditional career paths will lead to a dead end for today's students. Here are four great career choices where the sky is the limit. |
Originally Aired: Week of September 27, 2010
Justin Halpern, author of the $#*! My Dad Says Twitter feed and inspiration for a new show on CBS, shares a few tips for parents on how to get along with their kids who have returned to the roost.
Originally Aired: Week of September 20, 2010 Record-low interest rates have millions of Americans considering refinancing their mortgages. But falling home values, declining credit scores and reluctant lenders have created a tricky market. Here are 7 things you need to know if you want to get a new loan and lower your interest payments. |
Originally Aired: Week of September 13, 2010
Buying a gently used car is a great way to save money -- let someone else pay for the depreciation. But it also can be scary. How do you know you're not getting a lemon?
We studied dependability reports to come up with a list of used cars not to buy, and we found five alternatives with high ratings and good prices.
Originally Aired: Week of September 6, 2010 Most kids aren't born with an innate talent to manage money. This is a skill they need to learn from their parents. And one of the best ways we can teach our children about basic finances is to give them an allowance and then let them make some real financial decisions during their teen years. |
Originally Aired: Week of August 30, 2010
Thanks to new rules regulating credit card companies, you may see fewer, and lower fees, and you'll get more warning before your interest rates go up. But the grand cat-and-mouse game between consumers and card issuers will ratchet up. Here's how to stay one step ahead.
Originally Aired: Week of August 23, 2010 The latest installment of credit card reform takes on gift cards, which used to be riddled with hidden fees and expiration dates. Here's what you need to know to get the most out of your plastic money. |
Originally Aired: Week of August 16, 2010
Students heading off to college face a long list of temptations - not the least of which is to spend money. Here's how to teach your children to manage their cash flow - and understand the value of a buck - from an early age.
Originally Aired: Week of August 9, 2010 These aren't your mother's coupons. A billion-dollar online industry has sprung up in just the past 12 months to offer consumers steep discounts on items ranging from rental cars to high-end meals to air conditioning repair. Here are 11 national and regional sites that can save you money. |
Originally Aired: Week of August 2, 2010
When it comes time to retire, women often have a smaller nest egg than men – and a longer expected lifespan. That's a recipe for retirement disaster. The good news: By taking action now, you can improve your chances of a secure retirement. Start by figuring out how to make the most of Social Security.
Originally Aired: Week of July 26, 2010 When making purchasing decisions, how do you know when to save money by going for the cheap option, and when it's smarter to shell out big bucks for quality? Don't go with your gut, or your effort to save a few dollars could end up costing you thousands. Here's why you should buy a small house in an expensive neighborhood, drive an economy car into the garage and pick up organic apples at the store. Plus 23 more choices you'll face and how to make the savvy financial call. |
Originally Aired: Week of July 19, 2010
In a sluggish economy, building contractors are hungry for work. That means homeowners like you have newfound economic power to get renovations done better, cheaper, and faster. But you need to know how to play the game.
Originally Aired: Week of July 12, 2010 The downside of getting something "free" from a retailer is that you sometimes end up spending more money than you otherwise would have. Nonetheless, we can't resist them. Here are 13 great freebies, from yoga to ice cream to physics classes, no strings attached. |
What's In It For You
Originally Aired: Week of July 5, 2010
Unless you're on a desert island with a good Wi-Fi connection, you don't have time to read the 2,300 page financial reform bill. Instead, for a quick explanation of who benefits and who gets hurt, go to Jill Schlesinger's scorecard.
Originally Aired: Week of June 28, 2010 Do you know how to take a vacation? Seems like a dumb question, but if you've ever spent a holiday sitting by the pool with a BlackBerry instead of a margarita, you should know that it's bad for your health - researchers have linked regular vacations to greater longevity and a reduction in heart disease - as well as your career. |
Originally Aired: Week of June 21, 2010
Planning a vacation? Knowing the best way to book travel can slash your costs. CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg shared some of his best secrets for saving on airfare and hotels - and getting a more interesting trip while you're at it.
Originally Aired: Week of June 14, 2010 Sure, you're entering the workforce at a time when the economy is in the dumps, but there's still a proven way for recent graduates to become rich beyond your wildest dreams: Act poor. You've probably been doing it for four years anyway; just keep it up a little longer. Here's how. |
Originally Aired: Week of June 7, 2010
In our post-recession economy, the idea of shop-till-you-drop is about as fashionable as shoulder pads and gas guzzlers. Consumers haven't put away their wallets entirely, but they are watching their dollars more carefully. Here are some of the best deals you can get for your hard-earned cash; plus a few of the worst ways to squander it.
Read More:
Originally Aired: Week of May 31, 2010 Studies show that people who exercise are more likely to succeed at the office. Check out the best workouts to fight job stress - and see what some employers are doing to help you improve your own health. |
Originally Aired: Week of May 24, 2010
With summer driving season just around the corner, it's a good time to get serious about improving your gas mileage. Check out where prices are highest and lowest, and see what will (and won't) help you save at the pump.
Originally Aired: Week of May 17, 2010 Selling your house on your own is tougher than it was when the economy was booming and buyers were falling over themselves to make offers. But FSBO owners often fare well. Here's how to do it. |
Originally Aired: Week of May 10, 2010
With the summer approaching, so is the time for weddings. And with an average cost of $28,000, weddings can really put a dent in your wallet. According to a survey taken by TheKnot.com, one-third of 2009 brides said the economy impacted their overall wedding plans. But has that changed the wedding business?
Originally Aired: Week of May 3, 2010 Ever wonder where you'd be financially without the advice of your mother? With Mother's Day approaching, CBS MoneyWatch.com's Jill Schlesinger reports on money lessons from mom.
|
- Video: Breaking Up with Your Bank
- Find One Near You: Credit Union Locator
- More on MoneyWatch: What to Look for in a Credit Union
- Video: Go Green, Save Money
- Lower Your Electric Bill: How Much Will New Lightbulbs Save You?
- Save on Gas: The Greenest Car for Your Money
- Video: Last-Minute Tax Tips
- Read More: Resources for Taxpayers
- More Tax Advice: Last-Minute Filing Strategies
- Video: 3 Financial Aid Myths
- Read More: Student Debt: Getting Your Payments to $0
- More College Advice: 4 Ways to Win a Scholarship
- Video: Where the Jobs Are
- Read More: Where You'll Make Your Next Fortune
- More Career Advice: The Ultimate Job Security Guide
- Read More: Housing Forecast: See Prices Near You
- Video: 3 Real Estate Myths
- Read More: Best Way to Save on Your Tax Return
- Video: 3 Audit Red Flags
- Read More: How to Invest for Your Age
- Video: How to Invest Now
- Read More: How to Claim the Home Buyer Tax Credit
- Video: 3 Reasons to Buy a House Now
Originally Aired: Week of April 26, 2010
If you're fed up with your bank, consider joining a credit union. See what these nonprofit financial institutions have to offer.
Originally Aired: Week of April 19, 2010 Conserving energy can have some big financial benefits. Whether it's trading in your car for a more efficient model or simply replacing your incandescent lightbulbs with fluorescent models, we'll show you how to protect your wallet and the planet. |
Originally Aired: Week of April 12, 2010
Still scrambling to file your taxes? We've got all the information you need to get it done in a hurry: Links to the necessary forms, answers to common questions, plus advice for taxpayers. Read on to save time and ensure you don't make any expensive mistakes.
Originally Aired: Week of April 5, 2010 If you're struggling with your federal student loans, the government may allow you to go a few months without making any payments. |
Originally Aired: Week of March 29, 2010
Sure, the nation's unemployment rate hovers around 10 percent, but the jobs are coming. They're going to be high paying, challenging, and they will be right here in the U.S. Here's how to catch the next wave.
Originally Aired: Week of March 22, 2010 If you're using the Internet to search for a home, Moneywatch.com's Jill Schlesinger reports on three things to watch out for. |
Originally Aired: Week of March 15, 2010
Will you lower your tax bill more by hiring an accountant, using Turbo Tax, or just plugging numbers into a cheapo software program? One intrepid family pits man versus machine in a tax preparation showdown.
Originally Aired: Week of March 8, 2010 It was one year ago when the stock market tumbled to a 12-year low. Stocks have bounced back significantly, though. MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger explains why now is a good time to take a close look at your investment strategy. |
Originally Aired: Week of March 1, 2010
New figures on home prices are expected to be released on Thursday and the results may surprise you. MoneyWatch's Jill Schlesinger reports why now is the right time to buy.