Gas is still expensive. “So should I spend even more for premium-grade?” a New York woman asked. “I’m willing to pay a little extra if I’ll get more miles per gallon. Will I better performance if I use premium-grade gas instead of regular-grade gas?”
No.
Octane ratings, the Federal Trade Commission explains, measure a gasoline’s ability to resist engine […]

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The more you know before you go on your summer vacation, the better the odds that you’ll enjoy the trip. Here are some things to keep in mind:

When you make a reservation for a hotel or rental car, write down the way your name appears in the records. This is especially important if you use […]

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Price realistically, make minor repairs and accept the reality that houses are worth less today than they were a few years ago. That’s the consensus of real estate agents in and around the District, who say a three-year slide in housing prices, low mortgage rates and a new $8,000 federal tax credit has shifted power […]

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Congress is considering two bills that would restrict the fees and penalties credit card companies can charge consumers.

The House bill, authored by New York Democrat Carolyn Maloney, was approved by the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday. It now  goes to the House floor for debate.
The Senate bill, regarded as one with tougher terms, was written by […]

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Getting a credit card is a major rite of passage. But many parents wonder whether their teens are ready for the very adult rights and responsibilities that come with the card.
There are significant pros and cons to consider, from safety and convenience to the potential to create long-term credit problems. Just don’t think too long. […]

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What could be better than saving time and money? Here’s a sample of some web-based services designed to help you do both.

Find constantly updated codes for free and discounted shipping from more than 600 etailers, including Best Buy, Amazon, Home Depot, Target, Macy’s, and PetSmart at FreeShipping.org.
Yapta.com is an  online travel shopping service known for monitoring airline […]

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Plenty of grown children worry about their parents’ debts, especially if they think they may have to pay it. One reader, for instance, said she only discovered her mother had unpaid credit cards after she died. “She owned a house, where two of my siblings are now living, but that was her only asset. Are […]

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Saving money is a priority for many consumers these days. But the New York City-based Insurance Information Institute advises thinking twice about reducing insurance coverage. Here’s what the III describes as the six biggest insurance mistakes:

Insuring a home for its real estate value rather than the cost of rebuilding.Because the value of real estate has declined in […]

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They say death and taxes are inevitable. But monthly bills are just as predictable - and far more consistent. “I’ve never paid a bill late, always send more than the minimum payment due, yet feel as if I’m in a never-ending bill-paying cycle,” a New York woman complained. “The finance charges are outrageous, and I feel as if […]

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It’s not much. But it’s something. And right now, we’ll take whatever good news we can get.

Retail sales fell 0.1% in February.
Sales at auto dealers fell 4.9% as vehicle sales hit new lows.
But excluding autos, sales rose 0.7%, better than expected.
Higher gas prices pushed sales higher, but even excluding both autos and gas, sales were […]

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