Hot Today

Wise Bread articles that are hot today.

Cooking great meals with your car engine. The heat is on.

Ladies, gentlemen, start your engines. But only after you've loaded them up with sausages, chicken, crabs, Cajun shrimp and plenty of vegetables. [more]

9 Home Improvements You Should Always Negotiate

Hiring pros to tackle your biggest home improvement projects is unavoidable. What is avoidable is paying exactly what they ask.

How to Prepare Your Money for the Coming Economic Slowdown

Experts warn an economic downturn may be on the horizon. Is your money prepared?

The 10 Commandments of Reaching Financial Freedom

We all want to reach financial freedom, but there are rules we need to follow in order to get there.

7 Affordable Destinations for Nature Lovers

You don't need to drain your budget to enjoy a beautiful vacation in the great outdoors. Get out there!

Kill Boredom With These 34 Fun and Productive Projects

Bored? Get off the Internet and get busy tackling these fun, small projects that will improve both you and your life!

8 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Credit Counselor

Credit counselors can help solve credit and debt management issues, but be sure to ask plenty of questions before you hire one. Some are more expensive than others.

8 Truths From a Mystery Shopper You Must Read Before You Get Started

These eight tips are vital to making money in the somewhat misunderstood profession of mystery shopping.

6 Ways My Family Scores Free Travel With Credit Cards

Want to travel the world for free? Take advantage of my insider tips that took me years to learn!

4 Smartest Ways to Use a Home-Equity Loan

If you have the home equity to spare, you can borrow against it. Just be sure you're using the loan for something smart.

6 Pitfalls of Down Payment Assistance Programs

Before you apply for a down payment assistance program to help pay for a house, make sure you understand all the potential downsides.

10 Stores With the Best Price Matching

Start taking advantage of these great price match guarantees, and you'll never pay full retail again.

7 Ways to Make Owning a Pool Less of a Nightmare

They say owning a pool is not worth the headache, but you can make pool ownership easier — without spending a lot of money.

5 Steps to Successful Budgeting

Ready to build your best budget? All it takes is five steps to clear financial control.

Stop Believing These 5 Myths About IRAs

Don't let these myths prevent you from getting an IRA — the most important savings account you may ever have.

5 Savings Tricks You Haven't Tried Yet

If saving was easy, we'd all be saving more. Try one or more of these savings strategies and see if the habit doesn't finally stick.

8 Myths About Health Savings Accounts — Debunked!

An HSA can be a great way to pay for health care, earn investment income and cut your taxes. Cut through the confusion before you jump in.

7 Things Your Credit Report Does NOT Include

Your credit reports may be handy snapshots of your financial health, but they don't show the whole picture. Find out what's missing.

6 Ways to Improve Your Curb Appeal for Next to Nothing

A few cheap, easy fixes will snaz up your home's curb appeal without making an ugly mess of your bank account.

What It Costs to Raise a Child

You probably already know (or, if you're not a parent, you've already guessed) that it costs a lot to raise a child. But just how much is "a lot"?