Business - Motley Fool

Dear Mrs. Riches:In my extended family (largely adults), it's become customary for people to exchange wish lists. The wish lists have evolved over the years to a degree of specificity (and expense) that makes me uncomfortable. I mean, when you are specifying a make and model, it seems like some of the "magic" of Christmas is a bit tarnished. Wouldn't you agree? Plus, it is a bit presumptuous to assume that every person in the family is financially able to accommodate the wish list. Full Story »

Did the holidays feel like one long competition for your money? From gifts for family and friends, Secret Santa games, Salvation Army bell-ringers, and the checkout folks at every store asking, "Would you like to add a dollar for XYZ charity?" it can be hard to catch your breath, much less stick to a budget. Full Story »

When it comes to budget-busters, the holiday season is full of them. Egg nog, turkeys, stocking stuffers, and elf figurines can really add up. Full Story »

Dear Mrs. Riches:My husband's family is accustomed to very lavish Christmas spreads with gifts a-plenty. Try telling these folks Christmas doesn't come from a store! The trouble is that my husband lost his job recently, so it will be very hard for us to participate in the holiday gift-athon to our usual degree. Full Story »

There are plenty of articles about how to slash your holiday spending. Sure, you can clip coupons, make retailers play "match the markdown price" and spend your Thanksgiving evening loitering in some dark, damp parking lot guarding your place in line so you can snag those Black Friday door buster deals. Full Story »

Over the past 25 years, health-care costs have grown more than twice as fast as overall inflation. What's a Fool to do? Here are nine ways to alleviate the health-bill blues: Full Story »

Every year, you get a chance to make a decision that will have a big impact on your paycheck. The right choice can mean saving hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The wrong choice can cost you. Full Story »

When's the best time to negotiate a severance package? Believe it or not, it's when you get hired. Full Story »

Look at the front page of any newspaper on any day, and you'll see stories about events (often unexpected) that changed peoples' lives. Some of these are happy events -- for example, winning a lottery, placing first in the national spelling bee, or being reunited with your long-lost quadruplet. Full Story »

Our parents, peers, the Joneses, and others have a lot of sway over our financial decisions -- both good and bad. All these outside influences can make it hard to heed that little voice inside our head (the reasonable one, that is) telling us to shape up and declare bankruptcy, rather than going back to the fridge for a third helping of Chunky Monkey. Full Story »