Stretching Your Dollar / Savings

Mortgage rates fall slightly

Rates for 30-year home loans inched downward this week, but still remain above record lows posted during the spring, Freddie Mac said Thursday.

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Stretching Your Dollar: Makeup

In a tight economy, buying expensive bags or clothes is probably one of the first things many buyers to go.

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Summer Survival Guide: Finding great deals

The recession can be considered one long white-knuckle ride. On the flip side, it's providing some thrill-seekers with deep discounts for summer fun.

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Subsidized dental care in Dallas may be cut

Updated budget figures come out Friday night from Dallas City Hall providing a closer preliminary look at how bad things are for the budget starting October 1st. Dental care for low income residents is on the chopping block.

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Richardson company sued over debt-help promises

Attorney General Chris Koster has sued a Texas company, alleging it falsely promised to help Missouri customers with credit card debt.

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Summer Survival Guide: Deals on summer camps

It's possible to send your children to summer camp without blowing your budget.

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Survey: Most economists see recession end in '09

That assessment came from leading forecasters in a survey by the National Association for Business Economics released Wednesday. It is generally in line with the outlook from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and his colleagues.

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Obama signs law curbing credit card fees

President Barack Obama warned overeager shoppers and greedy credit card companies alike on Friday to act responsibly as he signed into law a bill designed to protect debt-ridden consumers from surprise charges.

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Customers cash in as FW dealership folds

Bankrupt Chrysler says Frank Kent Dodge must close by next month. "If they're going to sell the cars, somebody's got to buy them," said SUV shopper Phillip Martinez.

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Thrifty ideas for Memorial Day weekend

Many North Texas families are looking for cheap getaways for Memorial Day during this economic slump.

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Teaching children how to save

Once a month, in the library at Adelle Turner Elementary School, first graders line up for a valuable lesson on saving money.

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Hot in recession: Chocolate, running shoes, Spam

It's not all doom and gloom in the U.S. economy. Some products are bucking the recession and flying off store shelves.

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Lose your job? Get free prescriptions

The world's biggest drugmaker will provide more than 70 of its prescription drugs at no cost to unemployed, uninsured Americans, regardless of their prior income, who lost jobs since Jan. 1 and have been on the Pfizer drug for three months or more.

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Soda tax proposed to help fund universal health care

President Obama needs $1 trillion to pay for universal health care. One of the proposals to pay for it is a soda tax. But is there an appetite in Congress to pass the cost onto consumers?

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Giving children vitamins won't make up for poor diet, warn experts

With the economy in the tank, many parents are opting to buy fast food because it's cheap. They think giving their children vitamins is going to make up the difference but hospitals and doctors say not so fast.

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Homeowners use stimulus tax credits to install solar panels

The stimulus package gives homeowners like Cinde Pettey 30 percent tax credits on solar panels. "This will pay itself back in 20 years," she says.

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Program offers cash for clunkers

Your clunker could be worth some cash. Congress is taking up legislation that would let you trade in a gas guzzling car, that's at least nine years old, for a voucher to get something more energy efficient.

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Obama hosting credit-card CEOs, pledges new rules

President Barack Obama is pushing to rein in costs for millions of Americans who use credit cards, an appeal to consumers as many struggle to pay their bills.

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Blog: Get something back for used gear

Recycling your old electronics gear is great for the environment, but it doesn't necessarily put any cash back in your pocket. Now RadioShack has a program for you to get something back for that unused cell phone or outdated MP3 player.

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N. Texans find free goodies on 'freecycle' site

Sarah Bailey said her home has become as cozy as they come, and she didn't have to break the bank to get it there.

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Homes that use natural gas for heat may see savings

The 60 million American homes that rely on natural gas for heat can expect substantially lower bills next winter thanks to a glut in supply and the weak economy.

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Tips for getting the most for your gold

Before selling your family gold heirlooms for cash, there may be some steps you should take to ensure you're getting the most for your gold.

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Consumers choose simple green life in recession

When it comes to going green, Kristen Chase does what she can: recycling, using her own grocery bags, buying organic produce and conserving energy and water.

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Stretching Your Dollar: Feeding the family cheap

It is possible to feed yourself and your family for just dollars a day.

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New monitor calculates electricity usage penny-by-penny

Want to cut your electric costs? You'll soon have the power.

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Recession leads to boom for dollar stores

Dollar General stores are booming. The chain is opening 450 new stores this year, including one in Rhome, Texas.

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January home sales drop to lowest level in 12 years

Sales of existing homes unexpectedly plunged in January to the lowest level in nearly 12 years as pessimism about the economy grew and buyers waited for President Barack Obama's plan to help revive the U.S. housing market.

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Is your retirement safe?

Money has been on almost everyone's minds these days. Preserving what one has and rebuilding what one has lost has become a common action as the economy continues to struggle.

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Libraries face cuts, as number of users increase

Across North Texas, libraries are bracing for budget cuts, just as a growing number of folks are using them to save money.

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Carrollton stimulus plan to focus on job creation

Carrollton is hoping to jumpstart its own economy with what people need most - jobs.

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