Saving

At this time last year, maybe you thought the economy would be a bit more gracious by now. No such luck. But as we reflect on the year that was, here are six financial lessons that 2011 taught us all.

When it comes to retirement, apparently even the well-to-do are wallowing in anxiety. A new survey of the affluent from Wells Fargo & Co. reveals that the wealthy are losing sleep over their lack of preparation for the good old days down the road, much like the less monied crowd.

Those Girl Scouts aren't just about selling cookies -- the green-sashed entrepreneur who supplies your Thin Mints is also preparing to be the boss. The GSA now offers 13 merit badges to teach its more than 3 million members financial literacy -- everything from good credit to savings and investing.

In these tough times, why would anyone pass up money for nothing? Inquiring minds at FINRA want to know -- because many of us are. According to research by Aon Hewitt, nearly 30% of 401(k) participants are not contributing enough to scoop up their full employer match.

That simple wait-and-see game plan we adopted when we believed recovery was just around the corner? Not cutting it anymore -- if it ever did. It's time for new strategies to win in the New Normal. Here's a rundown of ideas that once worked to which it's time to say goodbye, and the current wisdom for replacing them.

For many households, it's a personal fiance dilemma: Should they try to pay down debt first, or build up savings? In the aftermath of the Great Recession, opinions have clearly tipped toward the ditch-your-debt side. But that's not always the right answer.

As the stock market continues to spook investors, many are fleeing to the safety of bank certificates. Here's why they're looking good now and how to pick the right one for you.

Far fewer U.S. families are saving money for emergencies and education than their Chinese counterparts, according to a University of Missouri study released Thursday.

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.

The famously frugal host of The Clark Howard Show shares some tips on saving money from his latest book, Living Large in Lean Times. He also discusses one thing not to do.