bills

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.

Should you pay the last $100 on credit card with 10% annual interest, or $100 of a card with $1,000 and 15% interest? A new study finds that consumers prefer to pay off credit cards with the smallest balance, not the cards with the higher interest, even though it costs them money.

If you're looking for a simple way to save on everyday purchases, consider an option you may have only looked at when shopping for others: gift cards. Many retailers and websites offer them at a discount, which translates into instant savings when you redeem them. And there are other saving tricks too ...

Shacking up isn't just for young folks anymore. Plenty of unmarried retirees are spending their golden years together. And while skipping the "I dos" can seem like the easier course, just living together can be complicated at this time of life. But we've got some tips to help you avoid the pitfalls.

You should always know what's in your credit report -- especially if you're planning any major purchases or intend to apply for a new job in the near future. But creditors and credit agencies aren't the only ones who can contribute to your report. You can have your say, too.

If you've ever felt like your debts were going to eat you alive, the authors of Zombie Economics have some advice for you: Battle for your financial survival with the same methods you'd use to fight off an approaching horde of the shuffling, brain-chomping undead.

Americans who are unemployed or underemployed are three times as likely to fall behind on their bills as those who are fully employed, according to a Gallup Poll released Tuesday.

It's hard to make huge changes in your spending habits all at once. To reach your new year's resolution to manage your finances better, try small steps instead. Financial experts offer 10 easy suggestions that could help you spend less and save more in 2011.

A key index that measures small business lending rose 16% in September, its second consecutive month of double-digit increases. That rise in the Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index is a strong signal that the U.S. economy is finally back on the road to recovery.

Hard times make for hard choices -- especially when it comes to prioritizing which bills get paid, when what you have is not enough to cover all your expenses. But there are some bills it behooves you to keep high on the priority list. A Tennessee homeowner found out the hard way this month when...