Friday, July 31, 2009
In this show. . .
Too many clunkers, not enough cash
So many people turned in their old gas guzzlers in Cash for Clunkers, it ran out of money in just a week. Tess Vigeland talks with Phil Reed of Edmunds.com about the good, the bad, and the ugly in the Cash for Clunkers program.
Demystifying the "Cadillac" health plan
"Cadillac" or "gold-plated" insurance programs have come under fire in the Capitol Hill debate about health care. But just what do the plans cover and how do they work? Joel Rose reports.
Straight Story: Fall of the money market
Economics Editor Chris Farrell traces the rise and fall of the money market account, and explains why he's putting his extra cash into a good, old savings account.
Balance is crucial for safer investing
Markets are unpredictable, so why should anyone trust investing advice? Tess Vigeland talks with Wall Street Journal columnist Jeff Opdyke about why anyone should still read investment tips, and what they can expect to get out of the market these days.
Shopping's not a snap with food stamps
Food stamps help thousands of families in need. But to get the most of out of them you need some smart shopping strategies. Reporter Jeff Tyler follows one woman who's become very savvy at navigating the food benefit system.
Slowing down the mortgage process
You may think you know the price of your house, but by the time you sign your closing papers the amount may be much different. Tess Vigeland talks with Elizabeth Razzi, author of "The Fearless Homebuyer" about new regulations that will slow everything down and make the mortgages process easier.
Survey of the biggest consumer gripes
Aggressive debt collection tactics and false promises to fix foreclosure problems are just a couple things listed on a new survey of consumer complaints. Tess lists a few more.
Kiva expands loan offerings stateside
The microfinance site Kiva.org has been lending to businesses in developing countries for years. But now it's expanding its reach to those within the U.S. Kiva President Premal Shah about the company's decision to start lending stateside.
Web site makes you the charity
Helping friends or family members financially can be embarrassing for those on the receiving end. But a new Web site called "Giving Anonymously," is helping people give to those in need without the awkward face-to-face exchange. Lisa Napoli reports.
Getting Personal
Host Tess Vigeland and Marketplace Economics Editor Chris Farrell tackle listeners' questions about term vs. whole-life insurance policies, tuition reimbursement, and a correction about the term "joint-will".
Study: Opposite financial habits attract
Eli Finkel of Northwestern University recently did a study showing that when it comes to financial styles, opposites attract. Tess talks to him about why spenders are drawn to savers and vice versa. We also hear from people on the street about the fiscal dynamic with their partners.
