Friday, June 26, 2009
In this show. . .
Banking on the previously unbanked
A neighborhood bank is hard to find in low-income areas of Los Angeles. But the "Bank On L.A." program is trying to bring people reliant on check-cashing shops into the banking system. Tess Vigeland reports.
Decoder: 'Plain vanilla' products
The Obama administration wants "plain vanilla" to be the standard for mortgages, credit cards and other financial products. But what exactly does that mean? Marketplace's Amy Scott explains.
More reasons to ditch the gas guzzler
A new law is motivating people to trade in their old vehicles for more energy-efficient models. Tess Vigeland braves a car lot in Santa Monica to get the low-down on the Cash for Clunkers trade-in program and tax incentives for new cars.
Getting Personal
Marketplace Money host Tess Vigeland and economics editor Chris Farrell answer listeners' personal finance questions about rental car insurance, credit checks for your child and paying down debt while unemployed.
Changes afoot for student loans
Income-based repayment for student loans begins July 1, meaning many borrowers will be able to lower their monthly payments. Tess Vigeland talks to Lauren Asher of the Project on Student Debt about changes to the loan process.
Day in the Work Life: Shoe designer
Kathryn Kerrigan noticed that taller women like her had difficulty finding cute, designer shoes that fit. Now she makes a living designing shoes for women of all sizes.
Where did credit-card junk mail go?
Credit card offers aren't clogging up the mail like they used to. Those that do come in aren't the zero-interest, zero-fee deals of the past. Rico Gagliano reports.
Listener commentary on our coverage
Tess Vigeland and producer Eve Troeh sift through e-mails, voicemails and letters from listeners who have something to say about our recent coverage.
Fee-free National Park check up
Last week, Tess Vigeland talked to park rangers from Oregon and California about how they were preparing for the first of three free weekends at U.S. National Parks. She checks in with them to see how things went.
