• Pay Off That Holiday Debt Fast! • How to Invest in a Volatile Market • Fight Back Against Rising Bank Fees • Beware the Latest Scams

The Fed surprised almost everyone with the interest-rate cut announced Tuesday. Are you confident that the Fed will keep the U.S. economy out of a recession, or at least keep any recession a mild one? Or do you feel the situation will only get worse from here? We want to know what you think: The Fed will keep the economy out of a recession We will experience a mild recession I anticipate a moderate to severe recession Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us and your fellow Dolans.com members! For more of our take on this whole mess, see The Truth About Lower Interest Rates.

We've said it all along: If the folks in Washington want to really know the costs of things that we buy… they should just come to the grocery store with us. Well, now we have confirmation. Consumer prices rose 4.1% last year, the biggest increase in 17 years. Food and energy were the big culprits. Inflation also has a big impact on your retirement. To see exactly how, click here to use our calculator. It's all the more reason to start planning for your retirement now! We have plenty of help for you in our Retirement Center at Dolans.com.

For the first time in 76 years, General Motors is no longer number one when it comes to selling cars. Toyota has been gaining ground for a long time, and new numbers show both automakers sold almost 9.4 million vehicles in 2007. If you're in the market for a new car, check out Dolans.com for all kinds of helpful information, including 5 Tricks Car Dealers Use to Take Your Money!

Credit Smarts
Pay Off That Holiday Debt Fast!

I (Daria here) know times have changed and most of us communicate electronically these days. I think that's fantastic. After all, it's what enables us to talk with you regularly through Smart Money Moves and any time of the day or night at Dolans.com!

But you know what? I still enjoy walking out to the mailbox every afternoon to see what our mail carrier has left for us.

Yes, most of it is junk, but I still get a thrill from that unexpected note from a friend, a letter from one of our listeners or readers, and even those money-saving coupons! (Hey, every penny counts, right?)

At this time of year, however, walking to the mailbox (or even checking e-mail on the computer) is a bit like the television show Deal or No Deal: You don't know what's going to be inside the "case" when you open it up. It could be something good, or it could be the credit card bill that means that it’s time to pay for your holiday shopping.

Ouch!

If you can pay off your credit card bills in cash, please do it! And let us be the first to congratulate you. That's the smartest money move you can make.

If you're not able to pay cash -- or can pay cash for some cards but not all of them -- don't panic. We have some helpful advice for you. Learn our 5 simple steps to managing your credit cards the smartest way possible – including how to get down to a $0 balance in one year!

Invest Wisely
How to Invest in a Volatile Market

We're hearing from a lot of your fellow Dolans.com members and listeners to our national radio show who are concerned about what's going on in the stock market and the economy.

As you should be. The Dow, S&P 500 and NASDAQ are all down more than 10%, and we're only three weeks into the new year! Even the Fed is panicking. (Read our Special Alert on yesterday's surprise rate cut and learn three smart money moves you should make now.)

We continue to believe that 2008 will be a rough and volatile year. Looking back over the last several months, there’s no question the market is a lot wilder and unpredictable than it used to be.

Well, let me tell you a little secret: Daria and I have been through a lot of bull and bear market cycles in our time, and we’re here to tell you that you can invest in a volatile market and still sleep at night.

Banking 
Fight Back Against Rising Bank Fees!


This article is not going to win us any friends in the banking industry, but we don’t care. Our job is to look out for you, and we think it’s high time someone exposed the ludicrous ways many banks are making profits that eat away at your hard-earned money.

Banking fees are now at all-time highs for everything from bounced checks to ATMs -- some banks are now charging as much as $3 for the "privilege" to use their ATM.

That's ridiculous. Banks are supposed to help us save our money, not take it from us!

Discover 6 ways banks are raising fees and how you can fight back!

Don't Mess with My Money 
Beware the Latest Scams