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If you can't afford a vacation home, you're certainly not alone. But many people opt for the next best thing...owning a share of a vacation home or condo that you visit once a year. They're called time shares. Are they for you?

There are many things in life that are easier to get into than out of. Like a car lease for example. If you've ever wondered whether you can walk away once you've signed on the dotted line, money reporter Stacy Johnson has your answer.

Most cell phone contracts keep you with a carrier for at least a year. And if you leave early? You lose $200, maybe more. But money reporter Stacy Johnson has the story of a service that will promises to let you get in or out of a contract without the hefty fees.

Just about everything you buy comes with some kind of warranty. And that could include your house. Are home warranties worth the money?

The pay gap between men and women in the workplace has been widely documented. But women may also be discriminated against in other places as well, like the drycleaners or car dealers.

Death is an uncomfortable subject for most people. Maybe that's why it's easy to get into a bad deal when making your funeral arrangements ahead of time.

Ceremonies like weddings and funerals are often expensive affairs. But with funerals, most of the planning is done last minute, and saving money is the last thing on anybody's mind. But there are solutions...

If you're one of the nearly 3 million Americans whose car lease is up this year, you've got a decision to make: should you buy that car now the lease is ending?

If you're borrowing money to buy or refinance a house, you could be paying too much. Money expert Stacy Johnson explains...

Getting something for low or no cost certainly sounds appealing...especially when what you're getting is a mortgage. But are the no-closing-cost mortgages you see advertised really no cost?

It's billed as the most sweeping change to federal education funding since the GI Bill. It's the College Cost Reduction Act, passed by the House and soon to be voted on by the Senate. Money reporter Stacy Johnson reveals who wins and who loses if this bill becomes law.

Selling a home in most places is a lot harder today than it was a few years ago... which means getting the best possible help.

Looking for a good deal for you and your small business? Then do a little sales work on your personal business as well.

You've tuned up your car, checked your tire pressure and done everything else you can think of to use less gas. Well, there may be a simple way to shave your bill by an additional 15 - 30 cents on every gallon.

If your family pet is injured or killed the emotional toll may be devastating. But should that translate into a big check?

If you've ever dreamed of making money in real estate, you're in the right place. Because today money reporter Stacy Johnson completes his series on investing in distressed properties.

Owning a home may be an American dream, but it's one with an increasingly expensive price tag. Maybe that's why so many people are trying to learn how to do it at a discount.

Everybody loves a bargain. Especially when you can take that bargain and live in it, or sell it for a profit. That's the promise of buying foreclosed property.

With the start of school around the corner, maybe you've considered giving your student a leg up on learning by hiring a tutor.

When you're in the market for something expensive, like a car or a house, you're prepared to do a little bargaining, right? Yet few things are more expensive than a college education, and it's rare for consumers to try to get a better deal.

Cell phones can be expensive, and cell phone billing methods can be confusing. What would you do if your cell bill arrived, and it was more than 200 pages long and totaled more than $1,400?

Is there a deal to be had by buying at government auctions? Our bargain-hunting money reporter Stacy Johnson went to find out, and filed this report.

According to some industry websites, 3 out of 4 frequent flier miles are never redeemed. Part of the reason is that many people fly different airlines, so they don't accumulate enough miles in any one for a free trip,

There are now almost 50 million Americans without health insurance. But even for those who do have coverage, collecting on it can sometimes be frustrating.

Getting a driver's license is a coming-of-age for many kids. It's their ticket to freedom, no longer having to rely on family and friends to get around. But there’s a price to be paid for freedom: high insurance rates.

You've heard the old saying... it can’t hurt to ask... And when it comes to your credit card interest rate, just asking the bank to lower your rate could save you hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

You've seen the offers... 0% interest if you transfer your credit card balance to a new card. But have you ever considered borrowing at zero and earning money on the bank's with the bank's money?

Hiring a licensed contractor for your next home improvement project should assure you that they’re honest and competent. The problem is making sure they’re actually licensed contractors.

Nationwide, home prices are expected to decline this year: Bad news for both builders and home owners. But as with many dark clouds, this one has a silver lining.

Want a better credit rating? The usual way to get one is to pay off debts... but some people are now doing something different: piggybacking on someone else's score to make theirs look better.

You write a check, the money leaves the account the next day. But you deposit a check, it could be a week before you get the credit. Is it fair? Uncle Sam seems to think so.

If you’ve noticed more banks in your neighborhood, but fewer names, you’re seeing the results of mergers in the banking business. But with fewer banks competing for your business, does that mean higher fees ahead?

In these days of soaring gas prices, you may be tempted to switch from premium to regular gas. A good way to save money, or something penny-wise but pound foolish? Money reporter Stacy Johnson files this premium report.

Everyone has a horror story about customer service. The clerk rolled her eyes at you. You had to bag your own groceries. It used to be the exception and not the rule. Well, there’s a growing trend in American business that claims to be putting the customer first. Money reporter Stacy Johnson explains…

“Buy staw hats in winter.” It means buying things out of season can save you money. As it turns out, for every shopping spree, there’s a season. Today money reporter Stacy Johnson takes us on a tour of the calendar to see when you’ll find the best bargains.

With the cost of energy skyrocketing, many people are turning to things like solar to shave their power bills. But you don’t have to spend 10s of thousands of dollars to make a difference. Money reporter Stacy Johnson explains how little things can make a big difference.

With the focus on the high cost of energy, alternative ways to heat and cool your home are gaining traction. But are they finally going to become affordable? Money reporter Stacy Johnson has an update on one of the brightest ideas: solar.

If you've ever dreamed of being a published author, a new movement called Public Publishing can make that dream come true for as little as $13.

The cost of a wedding these days is approaching 30 grand. Will you be vowing till debt do you part?

It's June, the wedding month. And if you're about to walk down the aisle, there are lots of things to talk about, including family finances.