A new rule goes into effect tomorrow, September 1st, that could silence phones throughout the country: a ban on so-called “robocalls”—automated calls from telemarketers.
Prerecorded calls offering time shares, auto warranties and other offers will be silenced, and those who violate the regulation will face hefty fines, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
While the thought of [...]

If there’s one thing that can ruin your credit without you knowing, it’s identity theft.
Identity theft can strike anyone at any time, and if there was ever proof, look no further than Newsweek’s report this week that the Chairman of the Federal Reserve, the nation’s banker, was victimized last year.
Chairman Ben Bernanke was the victim [...]

CNN has a great new feature online on how to cut spending by $500 a month. If you can find a way to follow all these tips, you could save $6,000 a year—and catch up on bills and pay down debt.
Highlights include tips on:

Buying groceries (buy in season fruit, water filters instead of bottled water, [...]

When you’re feeling stressed, movies are a great way to escape. And when you’re stressed about money, movies with similar stories may help put your problems into perspective, or even provide a lesson.

Now for some good news/bad news.
Good news: Home values nationwide are showing an increase for the second quarter of the year, with two consecutive months of rising values—the first in three years.
Over last quarter, the average home value was up 2.9%, according to S&P Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index and reported in the Wall [...]

The majority of college students graduate without ever taking out a loan, a new survey from Sallie Mae and Gallup reveals.
The survey of 1,600 families and titled How America Pays for College found that 58% of American families fund their students’ higher education without federal or private student loans, down from 61% last year.
Borrowing Statistics
The [...]

The government’s Cash for Clunkers car rebate program is putting on the brakes starting Monday. That means you have about 48 hours to trade in your “clunker” for a new, fuel-efficient model and get up to $4,500 back.
The program, which launched July 24, was supposed to run until November 1. The government has given out [...]