Jason Alderman

For many people, having roommates is a natural transition between leaving their parents' house and buying their own home. It can be a great way to trim expenses and save for the future. But if you're not careful, cohabitating can also devolve into constant bickering over finances and dirty dishes....

Disastrous wedding mishaps have long been a comedy staple, probably because so many of us can relate. What bride- or groom-to-be hasn't had nightmares about hurricane-force winds blowing over the reception tent or a drunken cousin falling into the wedding cake?

Besides the potential for embarrassing memories, there's a lot...

I'm usually a pretty savvy traveler, but a recent car rental mishap reminded me that even when you take every precaution, things still can go awry.

While planning a family vacation to Panama, I searched online for rental cars. One lower-cost car rental agency I'd never used before was...

On Mother's Day, children of all ages thank their moms for the many sacrifices made during their childhoods -- and well beyond, considering how many adult children still hit up their moms for a loan or free babysitting.

Unfortunately, for many mothers those sacrifices extend well beyond sleepless nights...

Thank goodness tax season is over. If the memory of hours spent hunting for and organizing paperwork is still fresh in your mind, maybe it's time to do some financial spring cleaning so preparing next year's taxes won't be such an ordeal.

Many people hold onto mounds of receipts...

Now that tax day has passed, chances are you're either waiting patiently for your 2011 tax refund to arrive, it's already been spent, or you just wrote the U.S. Treasury a check and are in budget-cutting mode.

It's difficult to calculate exactly how much you will owe in taxes...

For decades, millions of kids have faithfully followed the adventures of their favorite comic book superheroes like Spider-Man and the X-Men -- sometimes well into adulthood. Although often considered pure escapism, comic books also can serve an educational role -- whether it's teaching the principles of science, demonstrating right vs....

If you're among the millions of Americans expecting an income tax refund this year, you've probably already filed your 2011 return and are eagerly awaiting the money. But if you haven't already mentally spent your refund on a guilty pleasure, here are several great ways you might better put that...

It's hard to think of any act more generous than adopting a child. Not only are you bettering the life of a child in need, but many adoptive parents I know also tell me it's the most personally rewarding thing they've ever done.

But adoption is not cheap. Adoption-related...

Losing your spouse is one of life's most stressful events. Ironically, it's during that time of grief, when you're probably not thinking clearly or focusing on such matters, that you're expected to make many important financial decisions that will impact the rest of your life.

Although there are certain actions...

There are many reasons why someone might leave their home unoccupied for months at a time: Maybe you moved to another state and your old house is languishing on the market; or you can no longer afford your mortgage so you're working out a short sale and couch-surfing at your...

I'm a firm believer that the more knowledge you acquire, whether through college, trade school or self-study, the richer your life will be. But as college tuition and fees continue to skyrocket, students and parents increasingly are asking, "Is a degree really worth the cost?"

For many people it...

If you're worried you won't be able to pay your income taxes by this year's April 17 filing date, don't panic; but don't ignore the deadline and certainly don't wait for the IRS to reach out to you first. Acting quickly not only gives you more repayment options, it can...

Sometimes it's hard enough just keeping track of your own finances. But, as many of us have learned, life gets even more complicated when your parents come to you for assistance with their money matters -- or worse, when they don't ask for help but really should.

Many people, especially...

For most of us, income tax calculations don't change much from year to year. But thanks to the roller coaster economy of the past few years, many people have undergone major life changes that can have a significant impact -- good or bad -- on their taxable income and how...

After four years of coping with a stagnant economy, probably the last thing you want to hear is how important it is to sock away money for a rainy day -- you already know that. But hear me out, just in case.

Those who struggle with long-term unemployment or under-employment...

As you and your spouse celebrate Valentine's Day over a candle-lit dinner, you may want to avoid romance-killing topics like, "Honey, let's talk about our financial future." But you really should have that conversation sooner rather than later if you want to keep your relationship on a healthy footing.

In...

Getting paid to go shopping may sound like a dream job to some, but buyer beware: For each legitimate mystery or secret shopper opportunity, probably hundreds more are scams. In fact, the National Consumers League (NCL) says complaints it received regarding fraudulent mystery shopper and work-at-home schemes were up nearly...

By many measures, women's lives have changed substantially in recent decades. According to a comprehensive government report called Women in America, although certain social and economic situations for women have improved, when it comes to personal finances, many women still face challenging hurdles.

Key report findings include:

College costs are out of control. Total outstanding student loans hover around $1 trillion, second only to home mortgages as the largest debt Americans carry. Student loan repayment takes a hefty toll on starting salaries even during good economic times. But with so many recent graduates unable to find a...