There is almost nothing standard about today’s credit cards. There is so much competition and versatility with credit cards now that choosing them can seem like an incredibly overwhelming task. So much so, that many people make the mistake of applying for the first one that comes in their mailbox without doing the proper research and making an educated decision.

There are at least 7 key factors that should influence your decision to choose a credit card that will work for you and your personal financial situation. Here they are:

Here's how to stretch your dollars -- and pinch your pennies 'til they scream -- while you feel little or no pain.

Want to save a buck? How about a few hundred or a couple thousand?

We took a look at eight spending categories in your budget and identified dozens of ways you can keep more money. Whether you need to plug leaks in your spending, learn where to find the best deals or even trick yourself into shaving expenses, we've got something for everyone.

And here's a bonus tip: Before you even start looking elsewhere in your budget to cut costs, start at the source with your paycheck. If you get a tax refund, that means you're overpaying Uncle Sam from the beginning. Boost your take-home pay today by adjusting your tax withholding with your employer.

Up to your ankles, knees or neck in debt? Try these two dozen tips to help get your finances back on track.

At some point in our lives, most of us have borrowed too much. If you're in over your head, don't despair. But make no mistake: You must learn to live on what you earn.

First, stop making excuses about why you're in debt. Don't blame the credit card companies or your parents. Put that energy into reducing your debt.

Your beautiful new baby has arrived and you think you've got the safety thing under control. The house is child-proofed, you've got the pediatrician's phone number posted on the fridge, and a brand new car seat sits in the back of your minivan. But physical safety is just part of the challenge. Unless you're Julia Roberts and your baby has a multimillion-dollar trust fund, you need a financial gameplan that will keep your baby financially safe in times both good and bad. Here are five steps from the nonprofit Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education (LIFE), to help you get started on the right financial foot.

Let’s face it. Getting divorced is a financial blow to any family. It is quite a touchy subject. Even in the best of circumstances there are double the housing expenses because suddenly there are two homes to support. Ah you know, two phone bills, to cable bills, two water bills and so on. When there are kids involved and split-family living becomes the lifestyle of choice for the foreseeable future, finances can get even stickier. If you are on reasonable terms with your ex-spouse there are some ways to avoid common pitfalls of supporting your kids financially. If you are not, there are still limited actions you can take without having to involve the family lawyer, they just may not be as equitable.

But Kelly, like most moms, loves her kids dearly and it will be of tremendous benefit to them…but only if the people of America understand it, are inspired (inflamed) by it, and vote accordingly. If they do, the leaders who all seem to be lost in space these days, will suddenly be sounding intelligent and meaningful instead of totally empty and full of BS. To learn more check out Joe’s web site www.joelunchbuckett.com and click on the page labeled “The $3,000 Plan.”

Despite that rather obvious conclusion, studies show about two-thirds of credit card holders who receive such notices are not even aware that changes have been made to their accounts. Woefully uninformed, they ignore the significance of many important new clauses, such as the expiration of low interest rates, universal default agreements, and inflated late fees.

The nonchalant attitude toward credit card changes is one of the many factors contributing to the explosion of consumer debt over the past 10 years, says Geri Detweiler, author of "The Ultimate Credit Handbook."

After graduating Princeton, Mellody took a full time position with Ariel Capital Management, LLC, where she had previously interned as a student. In 1994, when the company split from its mutual fund company distributor to create an independent mutual fund business, she was instrumental in this process. "That was very expensive and extremely risky," Mellody recalls of the transition that helped her master the qualities of a leader. "I had to have a lot of resolve to be convincing to my colleagues and others. And I understood that if this didn't work, then I was accountable."

Let's take it one step further. Last month, we reported on how men and women use their time. The upshot was: working women spend more time doing housework and taking care of their family each day than working men, while men are putting in more hours at work.

Neither gender really wins, it appears. In general, compared to the old days, everyone is just working harder and longer.

In effect, though women are getting the equivalent of an extra 3-5 weeks off from work, we pointed out that it's no vacation. That extra time off is spent managing the family and the household. "It's like a second job," says Bill Coleman, Senior Vice President of Compensation at Salary.com.

Uncle Sam might have some money for you, just in time for holiday spending. The Internal Revenue Service has over $73 million in undeliverable refund checks. The reason? The agency has the wrong address for the taxpayers due the money.

So your parents are retiring! What’s that got to do with you? Plenty, it turns out. Retirement is a change in life status that can affect the whole family. What’s at stake? Oh, not much—just money, health and relationships. Here are 20 questions to ask your parents, whether they are about to retire, or currently retired. But take it slowly! You don’t need to ask every question the morning after the big retirement party!

Check out this section for tools, tips, and advice on choosing and qualifying for a credit card, building your credit history, and ways in which you're responsible for wise credit use. investment.

Choosing a credit card

Today's consumers are presented with a wide array of credit card choices—cards with low annual percentage rates, cards with no annual fees, rebate cards, gold cards, platinum cards, and so on.

Checking Accounts

A checking account offers quick and convenient accessibility to your funds. Depositing money into a checking account provides you with a record (receipt) of bills that you have paid. Funds in a checking account is safer than carrying large amounts of cash. If your checks are lost or stolen, you can close your account and your liability would be limited. It is important to store your blank checks in a safe place. Someone may be able to gain information on your account or attempt to gain access to your account.