CostOfLiving

Couples retiring this year can expect their medical bills throughout retirement to cost 4 percent more than those who retired a year ago, according to an annual projection released Wednesday by Fidelity Investments.

With everyday expenses rising, well, every day, thriftiness isn't shameful -- it's just good common sense. So Kiplingers went hunting for the 10 best cities for cheapskates: places where a dollar stretches a lot further.

The Consumer Price Index, which measures inflation, is only as effective as the assumptions it makes -- in this case, about what you buy. If you spend more on certain things than most people, then the CPI will do a terrible job of reflecting the prices you actually pay. In particular, retirees often don't fit the CPI profile well at all.

Consumer prices stayed flat in November, further evidence that inflation has cooled off. Energy costs dropped for the second straight month, which offset higher prices that Americans paid for food, clothes and medical services. The consumer price index was unchanged in November, the Labor Department said Friday. That followed a 0.1 percent decrease in October.

Social Security recipients, 55 million strong, will get a 3.6% cost of living increase next year. There has not been a cost of living increase from the fund in three years. This one is so small that it may harm consumer spending. It certainly won't help -- another likely drag on GDP.

As the world watches the uprising in the Arab world, another popular revolt is taking place in Israel. There, citizens are in an uproar over the same thing that raises the ire of many average Americans: the high cost of living. Israelis want affordable housing, food, gas, goods, and services. Or, as they put it, social justice. Could we take their actions as a model?

Everyday expenses have a direct effect on the price of doing business, which is why CNBC measures the cost of living when it does its survey of the top states for business. So where would a business find a state where the cost of living is low? The survey results point to the South.

Ask three different financial advisers the question "How much do I need to save for retirement?" and you will likely get three different answers. But knowing the right answer has a huge impact on how much you need to save now and what type of retirement you will enjoy down the road. Personal...

They say New York is the city that never sleeps, but that's because no one can afford to.People who live outside the five boroughs are probably aware that New York is expensive. What would probably shock them along with some residents of the "town so nice they named it twice" is just how much...

Real median household income in the U.S. increased 1.3% between 2006 and 2007, according to the U.S. Census bureau. It's up to $50,233. But, consumer prices climbed 5.6% between July 2007 and July 2008, so most households have to meet bills with less real spending cash. In case you're wondering why...