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Banking & Budgeting

10 Effective Ways for You to Battle Bank Fees

Here are the ways your bank might be sapping your cash, and how you can protect yourself from the onslaught of charges...  read more

• Should You Shun Your Bank for a Credit Union?
• How to Lower a Credit Card Interest Rate
• 8 Ways to Protect Your Personal Information
• Stock Up on Food for Rich Returns
• Crank Up Your Credit Score: Dos and Dont's
• Shift Your Savings Strategy for Inflation
• 7 Surefire Ways to Become an ID Theft Victim
• 5 Things the Rich Understand About Money
• 7 Reasons to Welcome a Recession
• Understand Your Ever-Changing Credit Score

View Banking & Budgeting basics

Top Stories

• What happens when a bank fails?Bankrate.com - Today, Fri, May 9, 2008
• Barely surviving by using their credit cardsCNNMoney.com - Today, Fri, May 9, 2008
• More shoppers seeking shelter from economy in discountersAP - Today, Fri, May 9, 2008
• More shoppers seeking shelter from economy in discountersAP - Thu, May 8, 2008

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Most Popular Articles

• Wall Street set to stumble on AIG lossReuters - Fri, May 9 - 8:58am ET
• Circuit City And Wattles Capital Management Reach AgreementPR Newswire - Fri, May 9 - 8:45am ET
• Circuit City Board of Directors Authorizes Exploration of Strategic Alternatives to Enhance Shareholder ValuePR Newswire - Fri, May 9 - 8:45am ET
• Meridian Resource Announces First Quarter 2008 Financial ResultsPrimeNewswire - Fri, May 9 - 8:42am ET

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How-To Guides

• Financial Planning for Those Just Starting Out
• Yes, You Can Get Out of Debt
• Put Savings First With a Budget
• Managing Debt and Credit
• View more how-to guides

Calculators

• Should I Consolidate My Personal Debt Into a New Loan?
• What's my current cash flow?
• How much do I need for emergencies?
• How much am I spending?
• Should I pay down debt or invest more?
• Value of reducing or foregoing expenses
• View more calculators

Expert Opinion

Can You Live On One Income? It’s Worth a Try

By Laura Rowley

Two-income families may be the norm, but with bold lifestyle changes it may be possible to downscale to one paycheck.

• Don't Let Your Money Yield to the Fed Rate Cutsby Suze Orman
• Quick Study: Money and Happiness Under the Microscopeby Laura Rowley
• Ailing Economy Could Be a Blast from the Pastby Laura Rowley

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More on Personal Finance

• 
  The Inflation Debate Grows LouderBusinessWeek –Thu, May 1 - 12:00am ETWatch video
• 
  Stop Identity TheftMoney Talks –Wed, Apr 30 - 6:00am ETWatch video

• Is Insurance Underwriting Right For You?Investopedia –Mon, Apr 21 - 4:48pm ETWatch video
• 
  Negotiating with Your LenderMoney Talks –Mon, Apr 21 - 6:00am ETWatch video

• Litigation: Are Your Investments At Risk?Investopedia –Tue, Apr 15 - 1:33pm ETWatch video
• Accounting Not Just For Nerds AnymoreInvestopedia –Mon, Apr 14 - 3:44pm ETWatch video

• Should You Incorporate Your Business?Investopedia –Fri, Apr 11 - 5:01pm ETWatch video
• Executive Compensation: How Much Is Too Much?Investopedia –Thu, Apr 10 - 12:29pm ETWatch video

» View all finance videos

Rates

See today's average rates across the country.

• Mortgage

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  30 Year Fixed	5.74%	5.72%
  15 Year Fixed	5.33%	5.29%
  1 Year ARM	5.92%	5.90%
  30 Year Fixed Jumbo	6.95%	7.04%
  5/1 ARM	5.19%	5.31%
  3/1 ARM	5.14%	5.28%

  Source: Bankrate
• Home Equity

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  $30K Home Equity Loan	7.41%	7.42%
  $50K Home Equity Loan	7.26%	7.26%
  $75K Home Equity Loan	7.50%	7.51%
  $30K HELOC	5.03%	5.06%
  $50K HELOC	4.17%	4.18%
  $75K HELOC	4.16%	4.17%

  Source: Bankrate
• Savings

  Savings Type	Today	Last Week
  6 month CD	2.72%	2.75%
  1 year CD	3.01%	3.01%
  3 year CD	3.16%	3.15%
  MMA	2.35%	2.37%
  $10K MMA	2.54%	2.56%
  $25K MMA	2.93%	2.94%

  Source: Bankrate
• Auto

  Loan Type	Today	Last Week
  36 Month New Car Loan	6.67%	6.63%
  48 Month New Car Loan	6.57%	6.76%
  60 Month New Car Loan	6.57%	6.75%
  72 Month New Car Loan	7.10%	7.10%
  36 Month Used Car Loan	7.16%	7.18%
  48 Month Used Car Loan	6.89%	7.09%

  Source: Bankrate
• Credit Cards

  Card Type	Today	Last Week
  Balance Transfer	10.31%	10.03%
  Low Interest	11.01%	10.97%
  For Bad Credit	13.02%	13.12%
  Cash Back	11.47%	11.46%
  Business	11.10%	10.91%
  Airline	12.75%	12.69%

  Source: CreditCards.com

View rates in your area

Top 5 Questions & Answers

Ask a financial question and get answers from real people on Yahoo! Answers.

• I've been getting a lot of credit cards paid off, what else can I do to boost my credit score?
  Asked by Liesel
• Why would someone get denied a savings bank account because of credit?
• Does opening a second checking account at a different bank affect my credit score?
• Any downside to adding a beneficiary to savings account?
• How can you make sticking to a budget/saving money fun?

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