Your Money

Al Mak is the manager of Pronto Food Mart in Austin, Texas. Independent gas stations like Pronto are often the first to offer cheaper gas when the price of crude oil drops.

Looking For Even Cheaper Gas? Go Generic At An Indie Station

2:44pm February 10, 2015

by Mose Buchele

The prices that gas stations charge for fuel can vary widely. Smaller, independent stations are able to sell the cheapest gas because they undercut competitors by buying unbranded gasoline.

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Elizabeth Ebinger in Maplewood, N.J., bought her solar panels, while neighbor Tim Roebuck signed a 20-year lease. Both are happy with the approach they took, and both are saving money on energy bills.

The Great Solar Panel Debate: To Lease Or To Buy?

12:12pm February 10, 2015

by Jeff Brady

More homeowners are cutting energy costs by installing solar panels, due in part to leasing programs that require no up-front investment. Leasing means less hassle, but may also save you less money.

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Auto dealers are extending loans to a growing number of people with weak credit.

Auto Loan Surge Fuels Fears Of Another Subprime Crisis

3:41pm February 03, 2015

by Jim Zarroli

Dealers are extending loans to a growing number of people with weak credit, and more of them are having trouble making payments. The situation is evoking comparisons to the subprime mortgage boom.

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With Oil Prices So Low, What's That Fuel Surcharge For, Exactly?

12:27pm February 03, 2015

by Susanna Capelouto

Many transportation and delivery companies began adding fuel surcharges when oil prices shot up a few years ago. Now, the cost of oil has plunged — but many of those fuel fees still linger.

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How Do Some Highly Paid Athletes Go Bankrupt? They're Risk Takers

1:16pm January 27, 2015

by Joe Flood

A study finds that among NBA players, those most likely to go broke after retirement are the ones who fired off the most 3-point shots while playing.

Lou Graham prepares taxes in Connecticut and is ready to answer client questions about the Affordable Care Act.

Tax Preparers Get Ready To Be Bearers Of Bad News About Health Law

4:17pm January 24, 2015

With Affordable Care Act open enrollment ending Feb. 15, taxpayers could find themselves shut out of health insurance – and saddled with big fines – if they don't deal with taxes early this year.

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Economy

How Much More (Or Less) Would You Make If We Rolled Back Inequality?

4:28pm January 22, 2015

by Quoctrung Bui

What would incomes look like for U.S. families today if the income distribution were the same as it was in 1979?

Keith Herie is swamped in debt from medical issues he and his wife encountered starting about a decade ago. Heartland hospital is seizing 10 percent of his paycheck and 25 percent of his wife's wages, and has placed a lien on their home.

When Nonprofit Hospitals Sue Their Poorest Patients

10:13am January 22, 2015

by Chris Arnold

In exchange for tax breaks, nonprofit hospitals provide assistance to poor patients. But some hospitals seize wages from poor patients with unpaid bills — even those who qualify for reduced-cost care.

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To Drive Economy Toward Equality, Obama Requests More Spending

12:05pm January 21, 2015

by Marilyn Geewax

His State of the Union address celebrated a year that brought the U.S. jobs and growth, and called on Congress to expand child care and free education. Critics say it's pure politics that won't pass.

When Ed Neufeldt introduced President Obama in 2009, Elkhart, Ind. had the dubious distinction of having the highest unemployment rate in the country, close to 20 percent. The county's job numbers have recovered, but Neufeldt's now working three part-time

Working 3 Jobs In A Time Of Recovery

1:58pm January 20, 2015

by Tamara Keith

If Elkhart County, Ind. was the symbol of the recession, then Ed Neufeldt was the face of the unemployed worker. Elkhart's economy has recovered but Neufeldt is still struggling to bounce back.

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