Comparing 2009 economic predictions on the stock market, price of oil, and housing market from an expert on Wall Street and people on Main Street.

Every year experts predict what’s going to happen in the year ahead, including things that will affect your money. Last year money reporter Stacy Johnson talked to one of Wall Street’s top economists, as well as people just like you. Now it’s time to see who was smarter.

Money Talks reporter Stacy Johnson has 4 ideas to rebuild your retirement and get your savings back on track.

It’s hard enough to think about income taxes in April, much less during the holidays. But a few minutes spent now could be worth serious money when tax time comes.

This is the time of year when most of us spend a lot more time thinking about tree-trimming than tax-trimming. But year-end is a time when you really should do some planning.

Ever since their introduction, gift cards have been a holiday staple, but this season fewer of us may be giving or receiving them. If you plan on stuffing a stocking with a gift card this season, here are 3 things to watch out for.

Holiday tips aren’t a law, but they are a centuries-old custom… one that seems to keep expanding in this new age of personal services. But how much do you give to whom?

This is the time of year for giving. But the last thing you want to do is to make it a happy holiday for a scam artist. Here are a few of this year’s most popular scams.

US Treasury Government Auctions offer great bargains for shoppers in-the-know. But, whatever kind of auction you’re attending, live or on eBay, there are a few simple rules to follow.

Looking for low cost gifts this holiday season? You might find some great deals on some excellent gift ideas from your local thrift store.

Most Christmas gifts for kids will be broken, forgotten or both within weeks of the holidays. But the gift of knowledge can last a lifetime. Today Money Talks has some suggestions if you’re interested in buying your kids gifts that pay.

Just because you have to get it there overnight doesn’t mean you have to overpay. UPS, USPS or FedEx… which of these three will get the job done for less?

The holidays come complete with many traditions, from trimming a tree to exchanging gifts. But there’s one tradition most of us could do without: waiting in line at the post office. If you hate those lines, here are three ways to easily skip them…

Saving money on gifts this holiday season is all about creativity and imagination. Just follow these Money Talks tips to save money on your holiday shopping.

The new breed of phones, like Apple’s iPhone or T-Mobile’s Google Phone, may be both expensive and complicated, but they can also save you money by making you a better comparison shopper.

Depending on your purchase, extended warranties may or may not be worth the extra money.

According to the Giving USA Foundation, the amount Americans will donate to charity this year will approach 206 billion dollars. Impressive numbers, but that money could help even more people if all of us followed this advice…

With rising gas prices and requests for Americans to use less energy, more companies, governments and schools are switching to (or at least testing) a four-day work week. Experts say it can help businesses cut their budget, increase energy efficiency, and even help reduce overtime, sick time and turnover.

From Egyptian astrology to Nostradamus, people have always been fascinated with catching a glimpse into the future. And now, perhaps for the first time, science is finally weighing in. Not with a crystal ball, but a genetic map that can predict the future of your health… and even look far into your past.

You know some doctors specialize in seniors. But did you know some Realtors do too? Are SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialists) worth it?

Maybe you’ve heard about how the $700 billion bailout bill only helped those folks on Wall Street and not the folks on Main Street. Well, that’s not true. One thing the bailout has already done is to lower you taxes.

It would be great to get all your home’s power from the sun. But that’s an expensive proposition… up to $40,000. If you’re short on cash, though, there are cheaper ways to go solar.

Organic food shopping isn’t what it used to be, because now more stores offer more selections.

“It varies by store, but in our larger stores, you can find up to a thousand organic and natural products.”

Maintaining a car isn’t cheap, but the price of repairs for some of today’s accessories could blow you (and your budget) away.

The holiday season is one of the most expensive of the year… but it’s also a time when it’s most possible to pick up extra work. The classic example, of course, is stores that add workers for holiday shopping crowds. But there are also less traditional places that you might consider for temporary work.

When it comes to saving a buck, your first instinct may be to shop at the closest dollar store. Might be a good idea, but just because something’s a buck doesn’t mean it’s always a the better buy.

With prices rising on just about everything these days, finding bargains is more important than ever. Maybe that explains the popularity of dollar stores: store where everything costs a buck or less. But not every dollar item is a deal. Here are the five best…

College takes some getting used to. There’s a lot to know and a lot to learn, but one thing often left unstudied is how to insure your student while they’re away. But insuring your college student properly doesn’t have to be hard and could even save you some money.

Lowing your property taxes is as simple as understanding how they work. Since property values are estimated by a computer, your assessed value could be wrong, and you could be entitled to a smaller tax bill. How do you go about getting it?

You’ve just come home from the grocery store where you carefully handpicked the freshest fruits and veggies you could find. Now that you’ve got the good-for-you green goods you want… how do you keep them fresh for as long as possible?

Thanks to the faltering economy and high gas prices, banks and auto makers have lost billions because gas-guzzling SUVs, trucks and luxury cars aren’t selling for even close to their residual values. But their problem is your opportunity.

When it comes to home improvement, some people are so handy, they’d never think of hiring of a pro. Others are all thumbs, so they always call for help. The rest of us fall somewhere in between. But how do you decide when a contractor is the way to go?

With all the turmoil in the market, how about a fun blast from the past?   “What Makes Us Tick” is a cartoon produced in 1952 by Sutherland Productions and sponsored by the New York Stock Exchange.   Following the story of John Q. Public, a “Joe The Plumber” from the 50’s, it gives an [...]

Everywhere you look these days, there’s a “green” message from someone about something.  It’s good stuff, but it also means there’s a lot of misinformation circulating out there.  So let’s separate the fact from fiction…
Myth number one is that small changes don’t really add up, but nothing could be further from the truth.  A simple [...]

It’s hard to live without a checking account. But it’s also hard to live with the fees you can rack up if you overdraw it, and banks are only too happy to help you do it. For example, many clear checks by size rather than sequence.
Say you have $1000 in your account. You write 4 checks throughout one day: three [...]

If you’ve been watching the news lately, you might’ve seen something about the economy… but in case you’ve been living in a cave, things are bad.  Are we on the verge of another depression?  Should you be scared by what you see happening in the stock market?
Let’s take a stroll through history… all the way [...]

With billions of credit card come-ons bombarding Americans every year, it’s practically impossible to know that you’re getting the best deal possible on your credit card. But whether you’re looking for the lowest rate, most cash back or other perks, there’s something for everyone.
We asked Amal Rhoe of CardOffers.com which credit cards win out… here’s what [...]

If you think you know how to save money, think again… When the Rachel Ray show was looking for the thriftiest mom in America, they found Margie Read.
Margie reuses paper towels, and long before it was “in”.  She only runs some of her appliances at night, after 9 when your electricity prices fall.  She’ll reuse dryer sheets [...]

The average college student now graduates with more than $2,000 in debt.  Obviously, keeping a clean credit history and a high credit score isn’t part of the regular curriculum.
First, establish credit by piggybacking on parents.  As an “authorized user” on a parent’s credit card, you’ll share their credit history (hopefully, it’s good).
Then, get a cell [...]

The bailout of our banking system, considered a short-term solution by many experts, could end up costing you big in the long-term.  Of course, there’s the $700 billion required to buy up bad mortgages, but there are also a host of potential costs that you may not be aware of.
First, you should probably expect some [...]