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Worried About Your Wallet? Listen Up To Deficit Talk
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Opinion

Can I Just Tell You?

Worried About Your Wallet? Listen Up To Deficit Talk

Michel Martin delivers her weekly commentary with a focus on the debut of the Tell Me More series "Show Me the Recovery." The first installment looks at the national budget, the challenges facing government leaders working to reduce the deficit, and why we all should be paying attention.

Worried About Your Wallet? Listen Up To Deficit Talk

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Economy

Coupons Make A Comeback Amid Downturn

Some economists argue that Americans are getting thrifty just when they need to be spending more: Coupon redemptions grew by 27 percent in 2009, and for the first time in a calendar year, Coupons.com surpassed a billion dollars in printed coupon savings. But frugality in America is nothing new.

Coupons Make A Comeback Amid Downturn

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Business

Retailers Hope To Make Up For 2009 Holiday Season

Retailers hoped for a healthy turnout on Black Friday -- a huge shopping day that has become almost a national holiday. The recession has taken a lot of the fun out of holiday shopping for millions of households, but there are still a lot of bargain-hunters out there.

Retailers Hope To Make Up For 2009 Holiday Season

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National

Many Americans Will Spend Holidays Homeless

Many of you may still be in Thanksgiving holiday mode: away, visiting with family and friends or just kicking back at home. But for as many as 1.6 million Americans, home sweet home, this weekend, is likely to be a homeless shelter or some form of transitional housing. Statistics show that family homelessness rose nearly 30 percent between 2007 and 2009. And the numbers are expected to rise. Host Allison Keyes explores the problem with executive director of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Nan Roman, and Noelle Beaumon a former corporate manager who currently lives in a homeless shelter in Washington DC.

Many Americans Will Spend Holidays Homeless

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Planet Money

Jobless Rate Less Scary For College Grads

The Labor Department reported Wednesday that 470,000 Americans filed claims for unemployment benefits last week. That's a sharp decline, and the lowest in more than two years. But whether it seems like the economy is rebounding may depend on how much education you have.

Jobless Rate Less Scary For College Grads

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Holiday Shoppers Watch Budgets, Look For Deals

Peter Martin sells Microsoft's new Kinect controller for the Xbox 360 to Jonathan Hyde and his son Lucas at a Best Buy store in Miami Beach. Joe Raedle/Getty Images hide caption

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Economy

Holiday Shoppers Watch Budgets, Look For Deals

Consumers are expected to spend a little more this holiday season than last year. But they're doggedly looking online and at social media sites to compare prices, read reviews and get gift ideas. Many shoppers also expect to use their mobile devices for assistance.

Holiday Shoppers Watch Budgets, Look For Deals

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Money Coach

Money Coach: Don't Break The Bank This Holiday Season

The holiday season is almost upon us and for many Americans that means it's time to go shopping! But with the sluggish economy, the risk of over-spending on gifts is a big concern for many people. Host Allison Keyes gets some tips on how to make the holiday special without breaking the bank, from regular Tell Me More contributor and personal finance expert Alvin Hall and Washington Post personal finance reporter Nancy Trejos.

Money Coach: Don't Break The Bank This Holiday Season

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Business

GM Shares Jump In Return To Market

General Motors' IPO went according to plan with share prices moving up on the first day of trading Thursday. The stock debuted at $33, opened a couple of dollars higher and then held on to its gains. Many analysts say the strong demand shows that investors believe GM has fixed its problems and that the turnaround is real. Others are less convinced.

GM Shares Jump In Return To Market

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Congress' To-Do List Includes Unemployment Help

Economy

Congress' To-Do List Includes Unemployment Help

Lawmakers have a long list of items to take up in their lame-duck session, and one of the things they could tackle is a federal program extending unemployment benefits for millions of laid-off workers. It runs out at the end of November.

Congress' To-Do List Includes Unemployment Help

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Low-Skilled Workers Struggle For Jobs In Las Vegas

Job-seekers wait in line at a government-run employment center in Las Vegas, where jobless numbers have been in the double digits for months. Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Education

Low-Skilled Workers Struggle For Jobs In Las Vegas

Nevada Public Radio

At 15 percent, the city's unemployment rate is one of the nation's highest. And the job market there has changed. Now employers are looking for computer skills -- something many workers lack. So laid-off residents like Lorraine Valdez are learning to adapt.

Low-Skilled Workers Struggle For Jobs In Las Vegas

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