Personal Finance - Claudia Buck

When someone we love passes away, the grief can be overwhelming. And it can be compounded by paperwork. Piles of it.

At most Mother's Day gatherings, money is rarely a convivial conversation starter.

Would we all have been better off during the recession if we'd been a bit more money-educated? Most likely, yes.

From pet stores to pharmacies, the local job market for teens is warming up along with the weather.

Who wouldn't want to get paid to go shopping? That's partly the allure behind "mystery shopper" scams.

Being a good negotiator isn't a skill reserved just for corporate CEOs and U.N. diplomats.

There's no question that tax fraud - failing to pay what you owe to state and federal tax collectors - is a big problem.

When it comes to socking away savings, most people think of their bank accounts, their 401(k)s or their stocks. Or maybe what they've stuffed in a shoebox or under the mattress.

Hey, buddy. Wanna sell your timeshare?

ChocolateBakery's evolution as an online retailer is a classic recipe for how small businesses can build and boost their customer base.

As bad credit goes, Riley's record certainly wasn't the worst out there. She'd racked up some late payments on her department store credit card. And she had some unpaid utility bills that eventually got turned over to debt collectors.

The calls went out by the millions to unsuspecting consumers across the country.

When it comes to managing money, there's no lack of advice online, on everything from figuring out a budget to calculating your retirement plan.

Here are some red flags that might indicate an online "romance" may be nothing more than an attempt to steal your money:

It started so sweetly. She was a lonely Yuba City widow, looking for conversation online. He was an Auburn architect, divorced with two teenagers and a job that took him overseas.

According to a study released last week, about 610,000 U.S. consumers jilted their existing bank and hooked up with a new one between October and December, specifically citing "Bank Transfer Day" as their reason.

Can a few dollars make a big difference? One young man from Grass Valley is attempting to find out.

Some teens learn about money from a book. Some learn it on the job.

When it comes to retirement planning, most women prefer to make their own decisions but rely primarily on friends and family for advice. Few have a written plan for retirement and most admit they "guessed" how much they'll need to live on. Only 8 percent feel "very confident" about their ability to retire comfortably.

As the winter break ends and students flood back into California classrooms, there's renewed attention on getting kids financially fit.

Once the champagne's gone flat and you've watched enough Rose Parade reruns, perhaps there's time to set a few New Year's resolutions.

Happy holidays, everyone.

"What's Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money …"

For weary job seekers, the holidays can seem like the perfect time to pull up the covers and retreat until January.

When most people think about bequeathing their belongings, it's the obvious: the house, the car, bank accounts, the sentimental family mementos.