The Most (and Least) Charitable States in America
A recent spate of disasters has people across the country reaching for their wallets to help out. But residents of some states are a lot more generous than others.
Charity
Warren Buffett's Charity Lunch Date Sells at a Bargain Price
The annual charity auction of a private lunch with billionaire investor Warren Buffett went for just more than $1 million Friday night — a bargain compared to past years.
Big Ticket Buffet(t): The World's Most Expensive Dinner Guests
Want to break bread with one of the country's top movers-and-shakers, or perhaps a movie star or musical icon? Here are a few of the most expensive dinner dates in history.
Our Most Embarrassing Money Moments Revealed
Nearly everyone has had cringe-worthy moments relating to cash -- with strangers, friends, co-workers, even family. A new survey reveals the most common, and the most painful.
Watchdogs Warn of Bogus Boston Marathon Charity Sites
As Americans rush to donate to victims of Monday's Boston Marathon bombing, watchdog groups are warning of potential online scammers looking to profit from the tragedy.
If You Donated for Sandy or Sandy Hook, Don't Expect Tax Break
If you donated to disaster relief in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, or local charities after the Newtown, Conn., school shooting, you may not get the tax break you expected.
Panera Tries a New Pay-What-You-Want Experiment -- with Chili
Order a bowl of turkey chili at a St. Louis-area Panera Bread cafe and it'll cost you a penny. Or $5. Or $100. In other words, whatever you decide.
Don't Get Burned by Your Charitable Deductions
Making a charitable donation is one way many Americans help to reduce their overall tax liability, but if not done properly, you could lose that cherished deduction.
3 Reasons America's Wealthy Don't Give More to Charity
Americans dominate global giving lists and surveys consistently show that the U.S. rich are far more likely to make philanthropy a priority. But some say they could give more.
These Are Most and Least Charitable States - but Why?
Earlier this month, Mint.com published a map of the most and least generous states when it comes to charity. Since then, personal finance writers have struggled to find a pattern to explain why some states give so much more to the less fortunate than others don't.
From White Friday to Giving Tuesday: Other Ways to Celebrate After Thanksgiving
First, there was just Thanksgiving. Then came Black Friday, and then Cyber Monday. Now, we have White Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Giving Tuesday, too -- enough special days to make your head spin. But we're here to guide you through them, and to help you make the best of the post-Thanksgiving week.
Slash Your Holiday Gift Bill By Tapping Credit Card Rewards
If you're looking for a way to save on gifts this holiday season, you might want to tap your credit card. No, not by charging up a big fat bill -- but by maximizing your rewards points. Here are six ways to do just that and in turn, stretch your gift-giving budget.
5 Ways to Save Your Tax Refund (and 1 to Spend It)
Chalk it up to the nation's lingering economic malaise: More Americans this year plan to sock some of their tax refund away in savings. If you're among them, here are a few smart ways to stash that cash.
Ensure Your Charitable Gifts Give Back to You at Tax Time
If you gave money to charity last year, you're in good company. Charities received more than $290 billion in gifts in 2010. But as April 15 approaches, you'll want to know how your giving can score you a bigger tax refund. Here's what you need to know.
4 Money-Etiquette Questions Answered
When it comes to matters of money, tact is often in the eye of the beholder. Take some tips from etiquette experts on how to defuse these tricky financial situations.
Thanks, Mitt and Newt: 12 Tax Tips for the Rest of Us
While the pundits debated the vices and virtues of Mitt Romney's and Newt Gingrich's tax returns, the folks at Kiplinger were scouring them for ideas that could help you. Even if you'll never have a Swiss bank account or own complex foreign assets, these dozen moves could help you lower your IRS bill.
Consume with a Conscience: The Rise of Ethical Shopping
More Americans are waking up to the idea of citizen consumerism -- a fitting topic on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, when our thoughts turn to social consciousness. Could the concept of making more of our purchases purposeful go mainstream in the same way that the green buying movement has?
12 Money-Saving Year-End Tax Tips You Shouldn't Miss
Although the end of 2011 is near, it's not too late to make sure you don't owe more to the IRS than you need to on April 15. Here are some tax-smart moves to make before you head out to that New Year's Eve party.
Secret Santas Share the Wealth, $100 at a Time
You don't have to be a billionaire -- nor a jolly, white-bearded figure out of folklore -- to make the holiday season remarkably sweeter for a stranger. Or a lot of strangers. Over the past few years, ordinary people across the country have been taking up the calling of Larry Stewart, the original Secret Santa.
Give Painlessly: How to Be More Charitable With Less
The holidays are a time to give, but the current economy is really hurting charities. Still, just because money's tight doesn't mean you have to give up on giving: There are several new ways to be generous without opening your wallet -- and some even save you money when you donate.
How to Use Life Insurance to Donate to Charity
When most of us buy life insurance, we're thinking about one thing: Making sure our families are taken care of after we're gone. But in this season of giving, you might also want to think about setting up a policy to take care of your favorite charity.
7 Ways to Teach Kids About Saving ... and Giving
As the season of giving brushes elbows with the cabal of commercialism, we're presented with an ideal "teachable moment." Here are seven ways to show material boys and girls that saving -- and giving -- can be just as rewarding as getting.
Salvation Army's Kettles Get Mobile App Upgrade
For over a century, the Salvation Army's red kettles have reminded holiday shoppers not to forget charity during the season of giving. But this year, you don't need cash on hand to give, because there's something new in the kettle: a card reader and a mobile donation app.
Whole Foods Sells 'LIFE Jackets' for Kenyan Kids
Whole Foods is asking its shoppers to help a good cause -- with "LIFE Jackets." They're reusable cup sleeves to protect your hands from hot beverages, and all proceeds go to Kenyan women and special-needs children.
Breast Cancer's Financial Toll: Where to Go for Help
A breast cancer diagnosis can be like an earthquake in the life of the patient and her family, but the medical community is there to help guide them. What's often hard to find is a monetary lifeline for those in danger of getting washed away by the financial tidal wave that can follow.
