Family Money

The other day, a friend told me an interesting story. Her daughter had just gotten into her pick of colleges, but her top-choice school wasn't offering as much financial aid as the schools that were a bit lower on her list. So she was wondering – should she pick up the phone and called the...

"Staged elopements" -- weddings where the couple escapes with little more than an officiant, a photographer and a dream wedding dress -- are becoming increasingly popular. The nuptials may be extravagant, but without the big guest list, they're still cheaper than traditional weddings.

One recent study of used-car buying habits found that women were more likely to do research, ask tougher questions, and have a mechanic inspect a used car before buying. Another study on new-car buying preferences shows that women make more practical automotive choices.

Prom has gotten almost absurdly pricy: The average teen this year will spend $1,078 on the spring formal. Be smarter than average, and try these tips from consumer expert Andrea Woroch that could save you and your teen a ton, without making the night any less special.

If you lack money smarts, you're not alone. But the ranks of the financially inept might shrink a bit over the next seven days, thanks to the Money Smart Week program, a partnership between the American Library Association and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Spring bringing fresh flowers, sunny days and, for pet owners, drifts of hair as your beloved animal sheds his winter coat. The Shed Pal allegedly sucks up all that excess hair and gives your pet a nice massage too. DailyFinance and Beezer the cat test that claim.

The rough economy has spurred a nationwide trend toward thrift and reuse, and nothing exemplifies that quite like Pinterest. The social photo- and idea-sharing website is more than just an electronic corkboard: It's a money-saving, life-hacking virtual community.