PERSONAL FINANCE


Overdraft coverage takes many by surprise

2012-05-18 00:16:05

A new study finds most consumers still feel blindsided when they get hit with overdraft fees.


Credit scores confusing consumers

2012-05-15 00:07:33

A survey from the Consumer Federation of America says consumers continue to harbor potentially costly misunderstandings on credit scores.


Good Question: You may want to keep credit card accounts

2012-05-13 00:15:44

Question: I'm working on improving my credit rating and want to know if I should close my credit card accounts as I pay each one off?


The debit card -- fees, fees and more fees

2012-05-13 00:12:03

For anyone looking for the best deal on a prepaid debit card, it helps to know which fees are the most common and which ones can be avoided.


Shop Smart: Avoid seven common errors in retirement plans

2012-05-13 00:02:58

When it comes to retirement planning, never before have so many things been so much in flux: the job market, the stock market, the economy.


20-somethings being forced to move back in with parents

20-somethings being forced to move back in with parents

2012-05-09 15:58:14

"Money Rules: the Simple Path to Lifelong Security" is a collection of 94 suggestions for solving the financial problems facing all ages.


Pet owners finding pampering a luxury

2012-05-09 15:49:39

The $87 billion pet-product market, once deemed recession-proof, is starting to show cracks as owners struggle to make ends meet.


As court ponders legalities, city woman realizes benefits of coverage

As court ponders legalities, city woman realizes benefits of coverage

2012-05-09 15:48:06

Two years into the Affordable Care Act, the breadth of the law's impact is still unfolding.


IRS warns of cheating income tax preparers

2012-05-09 15:42:19

If you're among the roughly 35 percent of taxpayers who haven't filed your federal return yet, don't seek help from just anybody.


Shop Smart: Smaller cell phone carriers rate better among Consumer Report subscribers

2012-05-09 15:38:52

Smaller may be better when it comes to cell phone carriers, according to a satisfaction survey of Consumer Reports' online subscribers.


Elder Law: Have you taken care of Fido?

2012-05-09 15:38:52

Providing for pets in the event of an emergency, disability or death of the adult owner is often an overlooked consideration.


To cope with high gas prices, drivers just pump less

2012-05-09 15:36:23

Americans have pumped less gas every week for the past year. The main reason: higher gas prices.


Tax season adds to stress of a dissolving marriage

Tax season adds to stress of a dissolving marriage

2012-05-09 15:32:52

Stakes are high and penalties can be severe when couples underestimate how divorce can affect what they owe the government at tax time.


Contract dispute between Walgreens and UPMC's pharmacy program is creating headaches

Contract dispute between Walgreens and UPMC's pharmacy program is creating headaches

2012-05-09 15:20:25

Because the chain couldn't reach an agreement with Express Scripts, Walgreens has been out of UPMC Health Plan's network since Jan. 1.


Agency sees health care overhaul as a boon

2012-05-09 15:20:14

An increase in the number of Americans dropped from employer-sponsored health plans could reduce the cost of the Affordable Care Act.


Tax assistance available

2012-05-09 15:13:38

Low- and moderate-income households and seniors can turn to a number of places for free help completing federal income tax returns.


Deadline nears to file for 2008 federal tax refund

2012-05-09 15:13:36

The deadline to file for a refund for 2008 is April 17, which is three years after the original due date.


Good Question: Credit report errors should be corrected

2012-05-09 14:59:54

Question: I recently checked my credit report and noticed there was an error on it. Is it possible to correct the mistake?


Shop Smart: CR's top coffee maker picks are as varied as the brew's beans

2012-05-09 14:59:54

Coffee makers that talk, that brew two different coffees at the same time and that double as single-serve pod machines are among the


PNC banking on new ATMs to cut costs

2012-05-09 14:55:34

PNC Bank wants to encourage customers to use ATMs more instead of stepping up to the teller window.


Tax refund scam targets seniors, poor

2012-05-09 14:48:52

The Internal Revenue Service is warning people about a new tax scam that tricks low-income and elderly people into filing for fraudulent


Warmth sinks natural gas futures price

2012-05-09 14:46:41

Natural gas futures tumbled to a one-month low in New York as forecasts of above-normal temperatures across the continental U.S.


Taxes are tough surprise for jobless

2012-05-09 14:45:21

As if being unemployed were not bad enough, many people who were out of work for all or part of 2011 are discovering they may face even


Streetwise: Dow Jones small dogs are usually safe bets

2012-05-09 14:40:40

Having taught students at all levels, from college to adult education, I have learned the value of repetition.


Shop Smart: Cut the sneaky fat with smart food swaps

2012-05-09 14:22:46

Fats can be sneaky -- they lurk in lots of everyday, packaged food items and can put people at risk for heart disease and other health


Assistance for utilities gets boost in funding

2012-05-09 14:20:34

A Pennsylvania program designed to help low-income residents pay their utility bills will receive an additional $52.3 million in federal


Halt foreclosures on homes due to paperwork errors, group says

Halt foreclosures on homes due to paperwork errors, group says

2012-05-09 14:19:52

Housing activists are calling on Pennsylvania banks and sheriffs to temporarily halt all home foreclosures, saying a paperwork error could


Shop Smart: Cetaphil best lives up to long-lasting lotion claims

2012-05-09 14:05:16

All body lotions are supposed to moisturize, but some come with bigger promises like "long-lasting relief."


Feds gain foreclosure accord

Feds gain foreclosure accord

2012-05-09 13:39:22

WASHINGTON -- The federal government's $25 billion settlement Thursday with banks over fraudulent foreclosure practices begins a


Survey: Couples clash most often over money

2012-05-09 00:19:29

Money is such a touchy topic that couples fight over it an average of three times a month, according to a survey.


Card issuers target subprime borrowers

2012-05-08 00:04:27

Credit card issuers have been loosening their purse strings and offering credit to customers with less-than-stellar credit histories again.


401(k): the hidden costs

401(k): the hidden costs

2012-04-26 08:46:10

Workers enrolled in company 401(k) plans soon will be receiving a more detailed version of their quarterly account statements.


Student borrowing costs may be going up

2012-04-24 13:07:49

On July 1, the interest rate on subsidized federal student loans may double on borrowing made after that date.


Social Security outlook worsens; trust funds could run dry by 2033

2012-04-24 12:53:25

Surging energy prices and a slower-than-expected economic recovery have worsened the financial outlook for Social Security.


Elder Law: Kin may be held liable for care

2012-04-22 06:20:16

Planning ahead clearly pays off. The root of many crises are created by the need to finance extremely expensive long-term care costs.


ShopSmart: Warehouse club savings often worthwhile

ShopSmart: Warehouse club savings often worthwhile

2012-04-22 00:04:16

People are often surprised to find that warehouse club savings are worthwhile even if you have a small family or live alone.


Deadline draws near for IRA investment

2012-04-15 00:07:34

Tax time is just around the corner, and with that looming deadline so, too, are decisions about individual retirement arrangements.


Giant Eagle tests new online shopping service

Giant Eagle tests new online shopping service

2012-04-08 00:35:53

Giant Eagle is opening up its new Curbside Express service Monday to any customer willing to swing by its Market District store in Robinson.


Good Question: Reassess your budget to plan for high fuel costs

2012-04-08 00:21:03

Question: I've been hearing that gas prices are expected to rise significantly this summer. How can I best plan for the additional cost?


Premiums skyrocket for long-term care

Premiums skyrocket for long-term care

2012-04-08 00:08:26

Investing is coming back to bite many of the millions who bought into long-term care insurance policies over the last few decades.


Consumers still clipping coupons after manufacturers revise some rules

2012-04-05 00:21:36

Coupon offers expired faster last year and more of them required customers to buy multiple items, as consumer packaged goods


Gay spouses filing taxes pay more

2012-04-05 00:08:59

ORLANDO, Fla. -- When Kathryn Norsworthy fills out her federal tax-return forms, she does so as a single person. So does her wife.


Pennsylvanians catching on to choosing low-price suppliers for electric power

Pennsylvanians catching on to choosing low-price suppliers for electric power

2012-04-04 18:32:40

Pennsylvania mailboxes are stuffed with offers from utility companies with one message: You better shop around.


Prepaid debit cards have their pitfalls

2012-04-01 10:13:47

What's in your wallet? For a growing number of consumers, the answer is a prepaid debit card.


ADVERTISEMENT

PG Products