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There are many roads to financial security, but whatever path you follow, there are some mandatory steps everyone ought to take along the way. Alexa von Tobel, founder of LearnVest.com, cuts through the thicket of advice to give us her essential keys to sound money management.

U.S. credit card debt shrank 5% in the second quarter from a year ago, approaching 10-year lows. It's not just due to banks, which have written off uncollectible debts. Learn how consumers are taking control of their finances and how you can too.

In the season premiere of reality-television show "Downsized," which airs Tuesday, things are looking up for the Bruce-Rumsey family of nine. In an interview with The Price of Fame, family members tell us they've made mistakes. Here's what you can learn from their story.

Most Americans rely on other sources besides their savings accounts when hit with an unexpected expense, according to a poll by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. The moral of the story? Americans need to save up more for emergencies.

Even before the latest stock-market plunge, U.S. consumer confidence was already sliding downward, according to a Fannie Mae survey released Monday. Some 70% of respondents say the economy is heading in the wrong direction.

The stork has arrived, bringing a beautiful baby girl or boy into your life. It also brought a ready-made drain on your wallet. The list of costs is seemingly endless: diapers, health care, child care, education, clothing, and much more. Here are some family-planning tips to keep your finances from interfering in the joy of parenting.

Amid health concerns over smart meters, which can wirelessly transmit household energy-usage data to utilities and customers, California's largest utility has proposed a plan that would allow homeowners to opt for regular meters -- at a cost. Here are some facts for consumers to consider.