Your Money : NPR

Why Year's End May Be A Good Time To Buy A Car

December 30, 2011 • Seven of the best days to buy a new car are in December. The year is almost over, and there is a last-minute push for big car sales.

Year In Review: Mega Tech Brands Raise Megabucks

LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman watches as his company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange in May. Despite the global economic uncertainty, tech companies held steady on Wall Street. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Mark Lennihan/AP

Technology

Year In Review: Mega Tech Brands Raise Megabucks

December 29, 2011 • This year was tumultuous for stocks. But that didn't scare off mega brands in technology. Twenty-eight tech companies went public and raised more than $6 billion — a whopping 85 percent increase over 2010. Winners included LinkedIn; busts included Groupon.

It Was A Good Year For...

Credit Unions Booming From Anti-Bank Outrage

December 27, 2011 • Customer satisfaction for credit unions soared this year, and roughly a million Americans moved their money into credit unions, according to the Credit Union National Association. This was partly due to backlash against big banks instituting new fees. Host Michel Martin hears from regular financial contributor Alvin Hall.

What's The Economic Impact If The Tax Break Dies?

Mary Polocy (left) stands in line to enter a career fair in Independence, Ohio, in November. Congress has yet to agree on a measure that would extend unemployment benefits. Tony Dejak/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Tony Dejak/AP

Economy

What's The Economic Impact If The Tax Break Dies?

December 22, 2011 • Economists say the legislative impasse over extending a payroll tax cut and other provisions could reduce consumer spending, slow growth and disrupt the health care sector.

Investors Endure Another Disappointing Year

Traders Richard Cohen (left) and Lewis Vande-Pallen work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Nov. 21. Richard Drew/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Richard Drew/AP

Business

Investors Endure Another Disappointing Year

December 20, 2011 • In 2011, savers earned almost no interest in savings accounts. That was painful because consumer prices were rising by nearly 3.5 percent. Investors also found it tough going. Most stocks declined, with prices falling by roughly 5 percent across the board. But there were some bright spots: gold and bonds.

Hear Marilyn Geewax On 'Talk Of The Nation'

Listen

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/143957034/144022371" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Money Coach

This New Year, Resolve To Improve Your Credit

December 20, 2011 • Personal finance experts say the start of a new year is the perfect time to check your credit report. Host Michel Martin speaks with Tell Me More regular 'Money Coach' Alvin Hall about what to look for and how to boost your credit in 2012.

Amid A Blizzard Of Discounts, 'The Thrill Of The Hunt'

Customers crowd into a Best Buy store in Burbank, Calif., on Nov. 25. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption

toggle caption

Jae C. Hong/AP

Amid A Blizzard Of Discounts, 'The Thrill Of The Hunt'

December 16, 2011 • Consumers are clawing through coupons and prowling the "deal blogs" in search of the ultimate discount. For retailers, though, technology can make the last full shopping weekend before Christmas a bit bloody.

Ways To Cut Your Tax Bill Before 2011 Ends

Taxes might not be due until April, but there are a few things you can do before the new year to lower your bill. iStockphoto.com hide caption

toggle caption

iStockphoto.com

Ways To Cut Your Tax Bill Before 2011 Ends

December 16, 2011 • Tax season is months away, but there are steps you can take before year's end that could save you money when it's time to file. An editor at Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine recommends taking advantage of an energy-efficient-home credit set to expire this year, and giving yourself what she calls a self-made pay raise.

An Early College Economics Lesson For One Student

Youth Radio's Sayre Quevedo, 19, attends community college and lives in Oakland, Calif. Courtesy of Youth Radio hide caption

toggle caption

Courtesy of Youth Radio

December 14, 2011 • The holidays are often a peak season for scams. In 2011, those swindles go far beyond the suspicious email asking for a helping hand or the bogus charity organization pleading for help. Regulators report a significant rise in the number of baby boomers who are targeted in investment scams.

Television

Crowd-Sourced Giving Changes Philanthropy

December 14, 2011 • Websites like Kickstarter, Kiva and Giving Tree are changing how people donate money. With what's known as microphilanthropy, individuals, non-profits and even small businesses raise money directly from individual donors. Journalist and author Laura Vanderkam explains how crowd funding works.

Money Coach

Why Do So Few Women Have Mentors?

December 14, 2011 • A good mentor can steer you to professional success. But according to a survey by LinkedIn, nearly 1 out of 5 women say they've never had a mentor at work. Host Michel Martin discusses the findings with Linked-In's Nicole Williams.

Dollar coins gathering dust in the Fed's Baltimore brach. John W. Poole/NPR hide caption

toggle caption

John W. Poole/NPR

Hear Marilyn Geewax On 'Tell Me More'

Listen

Download
Embed <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/143438731/143579891" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Economy

Just What Do The Rich Have That's Taxable?

December 10, 2011 • The top income tax bracket in America is 35 percent, but the rich often make their money in ways the IRS doesn't classify as taxable income. That makes it hard to gauge the true income gap in America — and hard to tell exactly how much tax the rich are really paying.

Your Money

Why Year's End May Be A Good Time To Buy A Car

Technology

Year In Review: Mega Tech Brands Raise Megabucks

It Was A Good Year For...

Credit Unions Booming From Anti-Bank Outrage

Economy

What's The Economic Impact If The Tax Break Dies?

Business

Investors Endure Another Disappointing Year

Hear Marilyn Geewax On 'Talk Of The Nation'

Money Coach

This New Year, Resolve To Improve Your Credit

Amid A Blizzard Of Discounts, 'The Thrill Of The Hunt'

Ways To Cut Your Tax Bill Before 2011 Ends

Opinion

YR Media

An Early College Economics Lesson For One Student

Money Scams Snare Desperate Investors

Television

Crowd-Sourced Giving Changes Philanthropy

Money Coach

Why Do So Few Women Have Mentors?

Planet Money

White House Kills Dollar Coin Program

Still No Job: Over A Year Without Enough Work

The Impacts Of Long-Term Unemployment

Hear Marilyn Geewax On 'Tell Me More'

Economy

Just What Do The Rich Have That's Taxable?