Investing in energy-efficient home technology is like buying a home gym: Though you may be tempted by the promise of a long-term payoff, it's easy to be turned off by the upfront cost. "That's really what the challenge is — to move customers to action," says Stephen Cowell, CEO of Conservation Services Group, a company that works with utilities and conservation groups to improve energy efficiency.
You can overcome this inertia, however, by MORE
Eric Feldman - Jul 31, 2011 5:58 PM ET
Are you living a successful retirement? Share your story in MONEY magazine!
Read just about any survey about Americans' retirement readiness, and you might worry that you'll be stuck at your desk forever. A study released recently by the Employee Benefit Research Institute concludes that even delaying retirement may not be enough to make up for paltry savings; many Americans, especially lower-income Americans, will have to keep working into their 70s MORE
Jul 30, 2011 8:55 AM ET
With the debt ceiling deadline just days away, all eyes are on the government's ability to borrow money. But if the ceiling isn't lifted, it won't be just the government having problems taking out a loan; everyday Americans will likely encounter new costs and difficulties as well.
The worst-case scenario would be that the U.S., running out of cash on August 2, ends up defaulting on its outstanding loans. A default would MORE
Angela Wu - Jul 30, 2011 12:39 AM ET
When last Friday's debt ceiling talks came to a frustrating end just hours after the market closed, it made sense to expect a repeat of what happened during the TARP debate. In 2008, the Dow plunged 777 points after the House voted against the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Congressional representatives turned around and later approved the bailout package.
But Monday came and went without the kind of market slump that could MORE
Angela Wu - Jul 25, 2011 8:51 PM ET
If you're in the market for a used car, you may have noticed that prices are higher than they used to be. Blame limited supply (following reduced production and fewer leases amid the financial crisis) combined with higher demand. Used cars are now keeping about 12.5% more of their value than they did three years ago, says Alec Gutierrez, manager of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book. As a result, MORE
Noelia de la Cruz - Jul 25, 2011 3:18 PM ET
Washington may reach a deal to raise the debt ceiling by Aug. 2, the date after which Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner says the US will no longer be able to meet its debt obligations through accounting tricks.
But what happens if the $14.3 trillion debt ceiling, which places a legal cap on the amount the country can borrow — and which the U.S. actually hit on May 16 — isn't raised?
"Frankly, MORE
Angela Wu - Jul 16, 2011 3:22 PM ET
Are you a retiree who has a smaller nest egg than you'd planned for — but who is still enjoying a high-quality, satisfying retirement? If so, MONEY magazine would like to interview you for an upcoming story.
Maybe you had a setback — your investments took a big hit in the market downturn, or you retired early because of a health issue or job loss. Maybe you just tired of the MORE
Donna Rosato - Jul 12, 2011 11:51 AM ET
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