The New Year brings a new federal regulation that will help you opt out of at least some telemarketers come-ons. Many of you may have wondered why junk mail and phone solicitations seemed to increase shortly after you applied for a new credit card, opened a bank account or applied for a loan, mortgage or life insurance. Often, the solicitations were from companies you never heard of, never did business with, but somehow they had your contact information and tried persistently to convince you to part with your money.

Anecdotal stories have New York City cab drivers using all kinds of excuses to discourage riders from paying with a credit card. But news reports of a rider apparently hacking the credit card reader display screen could do more to discourage plastic payments than any tall tale told by a cabbie.

Anecdotal stories have New York City cab drivers using all kinds of excuses to discourage riders from paying with a credit card. But news reports of a rider apparently hacking the credit card reader display screen could do more to discourage plastic payments than any tall tale told by a cabbie.

Men's Health put together a list of cities in its November issue with the worst personal debt, "Is Your City A Debt Trap?" and gave grades from A+ to F.

Alert, alert! According to a new Charles Schwab survey examining teens' attitudes, behaviors and concerns about money, only one in three believes their parents are concerned with making sure they are learning the basics of smart money management.

You knew this had to happen: A South Korean bank has issued a combo contactless credit card / USB device to make spending money faster and easier and more secure.

As shoppers head to the stores to take advantage of post-holiday sales or return unwanted presents, gift cards continue to make news.

Some of you may still be tossing out boxes, cartons and the foam packaging that cushioned your cool, new holiday gifts: digital cameras, MP3 players or maybe the latest version of the Guitar Hero video game. If you're like me, you set aside the instruction manual and other papers and material packaged in with your cool gift to "read through it when I have time."

The Federal Reserve thinks getting approved for a new credit card recently got tougher. But since communicating in easy-to-understand language just isn't the central bank's style, the Fed didn't come out and say so in exactly those words.

The American Bankers Association today released its quarterly study of consumer borrowing, and the percentage of loans in delinquency rose in several categories, including home equity loans, home improvement loans and auto loans made through dealers. In all, the level of late payments rose to a level not seen since the last recession in 2001.