All Articles Tagged As: personal finance

Over 60 percent of all US bankruptcies attributable to medical problems (6/5/2009)

Most victims are middle class, well-educated and have health insurance ...> Full Article

From stress to financial mess: Study suggests acute stress affects financial decision making (4/3/2009)

According to a new report, stress could make our financial troubles even worse. This study suggests that stress exaggerates the reflection effect; while exposed to stress volunteers were more conservative when choosing between potentially positive outcomes and were riskier when choosing between gambles that could result in a loss. These findings indicate that in financial decision making, where rational and deliberative thinking is essential, a stressful environment might hamper our ability to make decisions. ...> Full Article

Living longer on less: The new economic insecurity of seniors in Massachusetts (3/28/2009)

Almost 7 in 10 senior households lack sufficient resources for long-term economic security ...> Full Article

Growing income gap among US families suggests increasing economic insecurity (12/20/2008)

The incomes of American families with children have become increasingly stratified since 1975, with income inequality increasing two-thirds during a 30-year period, according to findings published in the December issue of the peer-reviewed science journal American Sociological Review. ...> Full Article

How you spend affects how much you spend: Non-cash purchases found to be higher than cash buys (9/8/2008)

Itemizing estimated expenses also curbs spending ...> Full Article

New guide explores making the most of Social Security (9/5/2008)

Many older Americans may be shortchanging their golden years by tapping into Social Security too soon ...> Full Article

Household Health Largely Immune to National Economic Shocks, Study Finds (8/26/2008)

Researchers find that families adapt household spending to economic crises. ...> Full Article

Americans need to save paycheck-to-paycheck (8/22/2008)

Americans are better at saving money when they set goals in the near future -- such as next month -- rather than the more distant future ...> Full Article

After Bankruptcy, Americans Need 10-20 Years To Recover (7/1/2008)

People who file for bankruptcy eventually recover financially compared to those who never had to file - but it takes a long, long time. ...> Full Article

Reducing demand can lower electric bills, lessen chance of blackouts (6/11/2008)

A 5-percent reduction in electricity use will lower the market price of electricity, cut consumers' bills and lessen strain on the grid when demand shoots up this summer ...> Full Article

People More Likely to Overestimate Their Credit Quality (6/6/2008)

Consumers' self-assessments of their credit rating and found that respondents were more likely to believe they had average or above average credit and those who overestimated their credit quality were less likely to budget, save, and invest regularly. ...> Full Article

Risky rainy days: who plans for their financial future? (5/17/2008)

How much does your background and the social and cultural groups you belong to affect your financial planning? ...> Full Article

Borrowers Who Complete Homeownership Education Programs Make Better Refinancing Decisions (5/14/2008)

In light of the subprime mortgage crisis that has resulted in extraordinarily high default rates on home mortgages, one might wonder what the government can do to better educate new potential homeowners. A recently published article appearing in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management found that borrowers who complete homeownership education and counseling (HEC) programs are more informed about when to make refinancing decisions. The effectiveness of education and counseling varies by the type of program. ...> Full Article

Consumer specialist offers tips for dealing with economic hardship (5/13/2008)

With incomes dropping, lay-offs rising and home foreclosures everywhere signaling a struggling economy, a consumer finance specialist offers tips for dealing with financial difficulty. ...> Full Article

When positive thinking leads to financial irresponsibility like compulsive gambling (4/25/2008)

Looking on the bright side can lead to irresponsible financial behavior ...> Full Article

New research reveals surprising lifetime risk of economic insecurity among Americans (4/8/2008)

More Americans are encountering severe periods of economic risk and insecurity in their lives ...> Full Article

Financial literacy can make, break money management efforts (3/19/2008)

When President George W. Bush cited the nation's subprime mortgage debacle in the formation of the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy, he was the latest to acknowledge that Americans need to be better educated about financial and savings matters ...> Full Article

Tightwads outnumber spendthrifts (3/18/2008)

We all have a friend who can't seem to save, constantly splurging on new shoes or the latest gadgets. But, contrary to persistent media coverage of overspending and under-saving, a recent international survey of more than 13,000 shoppers suggests that chronic under-spending is far more widespread than originally thought. In fact, the study reveals that tightwads outnumber spendthrifts by a 3 to 2 ratio. ...> Full Article

Changing economic factors, social norms delay transition to adulthood (1/29/2008)

Scientist concludes that young adults lazier now than they were 20 years ago. ...> Full Article

Financial Savvy - 'Key To Successful Living' (1/10/2008)

Reevaluating your financial plan is something that you can do at any time of year, but for most people, it makes sense to schedule a little check-up when the New Year rolls around. That makes it easier to remember when it's time again. Although there are many aspects of your financial plan that you should go over every year, my suggestion today is for you to take a careful look at your household's asset allocation. ...> Full Article