In a down economy, how are the wealthy protecting their money? Let the same advice they are receiving guide you through these hazardous financial times.

Two years after her husband's death and almost 10 years after his cancer diagnosis, a woman examines the wrenching emotional and financial costs of keeping him alive.

More than ever, credit card companies are ready to negotiate with borrowers who are in over their heads. But know your options before you commit.

Insurance companies won't randomly decide to drop you or raise your rates. But many things could put you on your insurer's bad side.

Government support that artificially props up home values is forestalling a real recovery for the housing market.

Your college debts may not be toxic, but making the wrong choice between federal and private loans can be a life-altering decision. Here's what to look out for.

You may not know you have them, but your card issuer provides free protections and services that could cost you hundreds of dollars elsewhere.

There are numerous programs available to help taxpayers who qualify, including outlets for filing online. The big question: Why don't more people use them?

Depending on your medical needs, you have several levels of health care available, from relatively inexpensive retail clinics to lifesaving, but expensive, emergency rooms.

Borrowing money to go to college is not the problem -- borrowing money at relatively high rates is. Private interests have given student loans a bad name. 

Listing prices are drawing increasingly closer to what the market will bear. As a consequence, buyers are facing a new reality of their own: Less bargaining power.

That's an increase from over the third quarter and a year ago. Five states, including Nevada and California, continue to have most of the problems.

It has become common for retailers to request your ID, your e-mail address and even your Social Security number. Are you obligated to provide them?

$1,200 legally yanked from savings accounts drove one man from his bank. Lower interest rates on credit cards and fewer fees attracted others to credit unions.

Consumers have some important new protections when they use plastic. But some analysts warn that the reforms will come with unforeseen costs.

Prosper.com, a sort of eBay for loans, is billed as an alternative to banks. But the Internet pioneer's default rates are sky-high, and lenders have been losing money.

If you're not doing all you can to keep your credit scores high, you're borrowing trouble -- and you could pay a very heavy price.

If you've been shopping for a home, now may be the time to buy. Mortgage rates are expected to rise sharply within the next few weeks.

Welcoming those cornered by bad credit, rent-to-own stores are thriving. But the costs of their convenient payment plans are equivalent to sky-high interest rates.

There's a lot to consider when insuring a car -- rates, teen drivers, what happens if you have an accident. Is your insurer looking out for you?