Recession

Over the past few years, Walmart lost its rep for being the place to go for the lowest prices. Now, the nation's biggest retailer is making a serious push to earn that bargain cred back.

So you want to be a millionaire and you're wondering what it takes? Finding the right career is a good place to start -- think doctor, manager or business owner. But people in at least one field hold a greater chance of living in a millionaire household than you'd ever guess.

If you shop at Walmart for groceries, your food bill is about to shrink. The nation's largest retail chain is looking to provide some extra financial relief to its shoppers by offering lower prices on grocery items every day, Reuters reports.

2011 was the most profitable year in General Motors' history. Thanks in large part to the $50 billion government-assisted restructuring it received, GM's U.S. operation is in good shape. So is it ready to fully pay back Washington now? Well, that depends on Europe.

Dollar stores are luring a lot more consumers these days, and their rock-bottom prices aren't the only reason: The chains have undergone major makeovers in recent years, sprucing up their dingy digs and adding better merchandise.

Americans plan to apply a new DIY-attitude across the board this year -- to their vacations, staying in shape and even beauty maintenance. It's all part of the trend of trying to scale back and save more money.

The holiday season was a heck of a party for retailers, but consumers are nursing a shopping hangover that'll keep them out of stores for a few months. "Now that those credit card bills are hitting mailboxes, shoppers will cut back in a very significant way," said Britt Beemer of America's Research Group.

Americans have grown used to oil at $100 a barrel and paying more than $3 per gallon for gas at the pump. But don't get too comfy -- the price of filling up is probably going up in 2012.

Multigenerational households in this country are growing fast. At the end of 2009, 51.4 million Americans lived in a home with three or more generations under one roof, up nearly 5 million from 2007. So what's driving this trend, and how can you move in relatives without drowning in drama?

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.