The outgoing administration has presided over 8 years of disasters and crises with some of the biggest price tags the nation has ever seen.

As oil prices hit new highs and pulled back, it became harder to tell who was benefiting. Doubt remains, but a few exciting things are developing.

Gas pains have put the squeeze on both consumers and the big US automakers. Here's what to expect in the coming shakeout.

As an economic crisis stares us down and the holiday season quickly appoaching, these are lousy times for retailers.

The doughnut maker has taken aim at its upscale rival, and now McDonald's has joined the coffee fray as well. Can Starbucks pull through?

Housing prices have fallen across the US, and there are few signs of relief on the horizon. Here are some tips if you're trying to sell in this market.

The mortgage crisis isn't messing with Texas or with parts of Manhattan. See 3 categories of real estate that are mostly unscathed amid the pain.

While the real-estate market was expanding, single women benefited as never before. But when the boom went bust, those women lost big.

Just 2 years ago, real-estate agents and mortgage brokers were rolling in cash. Now they've become job seekers.

With major banks and companies shifting jobs and operations across the pond, London is challenging New York as the global financial center.

The US currency is now foundering -- meaning pricey European hotel rooms, $50 gas fill-ups and a bad case of the greenback blues.

When times were good, Detroit's Big Three minted cash with big gas guzzlers and protested fuel-efficiency mandates. Now gas prices are soaring.

With the euro strong and the dollar weak, pricey goods look cheap to foreign tourists. No wonder the US has become the world's bargain basement.

When London art fairs outdraw US ones and London auctions set international sales records, can New York still be called the undisputed No. 1?

It's a bad time for big splurges -- and you probably shouldn't ask for a raise right now -- but it's a good time to find bargains.

Looking for American-made socks, or a cigarette? Good luck. Like many traditional domestic industries, these are leaving home.

The global recession is likely to reshape our economy in several ways, positioning it for a future brighter than we might have expected.

A few isolated tree poses won't do the trick, but some of yoga's practices and insights can make it easier to balance your finances and your body.

Wealth alone doesn't guarantee happiness, but if you can identify your deepest desires, you can create a plan to get there.

It's almost impossible to repeat great experiences, but that doesn't stop us from dropping ever more money trying to replicate them.

Whether you're broke or flush, you may not escape the financial curses of fear, greed and resentment.

Artistic passion and social consciousness trump finances and possessions for many Americans. Here's how to line up your dollars and values.

Laurie Cook cares for a mom with Alzheimer's and a brother with Asperger’s syndrome, and can't manage to make ends meet.

The Lazars face years of tuition bills and don't have nearly enough savings. MSN Money helps them get on track to handle the financial strain.

Deborah Marinuzzi has big plans for her apparel enterprise. But finances are so tight that she can't even spend the money to get it off the ground.

Leslie and Cy don't have debt or saving problems. But their financial and retirement plans are a mess because they're paralyzed by indecision.

A woman's split from her second husband -- who controlled their finances -- came with a rude awakening: She owed $50,000.

Two 24-year-olds are ready to take the plunge, but they're several thousand dollars short of the wedding they want.

Nagging debts, begun with a credit-fueled spending spree in college, are keeping a hairdresser from her dreams.

MSN Money columnist MP Dunleavey lays out an ambitious goal: To use smarter shopping and meal planning to cut her family's food spending in half.

We moved to the country when we had a baby, hoping to cut costs and improve our quality of life. The payoff was real -- and so were the surprises.

Conquering debt can seem nearly impossible. But a determined group of women, using 2 powerful tools, is finding a way to defeat it.

Money may be tight, but that doesn't mean you have to stop spending altogether. Rather, use these tips to get the most joy for your cash.

For the new crop of 50- and 60-somethings, retirement doesn't mean they’re ready to stop working. It simply means changing gears.

Baby boomers will have different retirements than their parents did. But the advantages of travel and second careers have pitfalls, too.

Instead of relaxing, new retirees are taking time to pursue dreams that range from hang gliding to Ironman races to . . . divinity school.

For a generation of 50- and 60-somethings, getting out of the rat race has meant a chance to make a difference.

For this generation of active retirees, Tennessee is among the many new Floridas. And some leave a permanent address behind altogether.

US Trade Representative Susan Schwab says no. Schwab sits down with MSN Money to discuss the economy, product safety . . . and fake handbags.

Wine is the latest target for counterfeiters, so companies like Kodak and Hewlett-Packard are attempting to put a pedigree on your pinot.

As prices at the pump hover around $4 a gallon, some Americans are rethinking summer vacation plans.

With the US economy slowing, many consumers are locking up their wallets. Yet some are still spending freely . . . on premium denim?

Despite the economic downturn and bleak employment picture, many companies are still celebrating with year-end holiday bashes.

The turmoil that has punished the stock market is impressing teens with the value of conservative, common-sense investing.

It took the government a year to tell us the economy was in a recession; here's how to tell when we're out of it.

With Americans downsizing amid the recession, eateries are offering special deals to keep patrons coming back.

Even the experts don't agree. But for many, paying a pro is the best way to navigate the increasingly complex financial landscape.

Vehicles outnumber people in the U.S., but some see the tide turning.

The halls of higher education are no place to hang out unless you're ready for the financial consequences.

Some purchases should last a lifetime; others don't need to survive a summer trend. Here is how to choose between cheap and steep.

Budget travelers dispel the myth that you can't afford a grand tour around the world.

You've got the job, the spouse, maybe a child. Now it's time to grow up.

Here are 3 cases where people are going the well-worn route -- 20% down for 30 years at a fixed rate -- without Wall Street jobs or trust funds.

The time to worry about money is before your child arrives. Here are 4 smart tips for thinking about your family's financial health.

For some people, getting rich quick is the easy part. It's knowing how to handle the windfall that's hard.

Patience isn't the sexy route -- but a slow and steady strategy is the most certain way to end up with a pot of gold.

Lessons from the pros: Diversify, watch your assets and treat your whole life like an investment portfolio.

If you want to make big money, you may need to take big risks, but there are ways to make sure your payoff is worth the danger.

If you're not keeping an eye on inflation, you're probably losing money right now. Here's how to be smart about protecting your nest egg.

Hedge funds are hot now, and exclusive -- you need a net worth of $1 million just to be allowed in. The risk can be high, but so can the payoff.

Once you've figured out what Christianity, Judaism or Islam preach about making and spending money, teach your kids early and often.

America's youth will command more than $21 billion in pocket money by 2010, according to one study. Here's how they're dropping their cash.

Forget lemonade stands: Today's young entrepreneurs have real businesses -- and bring in real money.

Prestigious private schools mix scholarship kids with children of the well-to-do. The question is: do they learn to succeed or develop greed and envy?

They actually hope their kids learn that some things are more valuable than money. Here's what wealthy parents hope their kids end up with.

Teens of all economic brackets share a love of money, but that's where their financial attitudes begin to diverge.

The expenses start early -- maybe when a child is in kindergarten -- and can total hundreds of thousands of dollars for parents of elite athletes.

Talking to your kids about your money can be tricky. The key, experts say, is to avoid drama and focus on the practical.

Young women are still falling behind when it comes to financial skills and savvy. Do they really still think that money is a guy thing?

As times get tough, many families are planning to spend less on holiday gifts. Here are tips to help kids understand a less materialistic season.

Don't expect scandal headlines from The Donald's offspring: He and his ex-wife raised their ultrarich kids to be disciplined and hard-working.

You won't be starting with Warhols and Klimts -- but you can work your way up to them. Here's how to do it.

Sure, a smart art investment can make you richer. But a bad one can put you in the poorhouse. Here's how to be smart about it.

Avoiding the buzz in the art market is hard. Here's how to navigate a world of body fluids, puppy dogs and diamond-encrusted skulls.

You can buy a designer vase at Ikea for $39.99. Yet there are buyers willing to pay $60,000 for a vase by the same artist. We examine why.

Can buying art make you rich? Buying the right art can. To see how it works, we look at the sale history of one artwork: 'Orange Marilyn.'

It's always easier to follow the crowd. But it's almost never smarter.

Most people are. Here are four things you do that don't add up.

Don't wait until you've made your fortune to kick back. Some proven methods can help put your mind at ease and your finances in better shape.

Your brain's pleasure center can lead you to financial ruin. Here's how to keep it under control.

Smart investors figure out how much uncertainty they can stand. Risk profiles can help, but they have limitations.

Local is the new organic -- and a great way to cut your carbon footprint. But unless you get creative, you'll end up paying more.

Among our tips: Power down, put up a clothesline and go a little retro.

In an effort to go from retail villain to eco-hero, the chain is saving with its new sustainability program. Now it wants shoppers to change, too.

Futuristic 'green' buildings fight global warming, offer perks to residents and workers, and can cut power costs to almost nothing.

Does it make sense to fill your car's gas tank with corn? Not necessarily. It may not make sense to invest in it, either.

Among these companies' accomplishments: Solar star power, bright lighting ideas and a hot new coffee cup.

There are subsets of socially responsible funds based on religious principles. Investors are guided by their beliefs, but do they translate into profit?

When even the ultrarich are saying that they should be paying more in taxes, you know the system is out of whack.

It's not food and rent that are busting our budgets, say experts. It's those little luxuries that we now consider basic needs.

Oil addiction is squeezing the middle class, with the costs now including climate shifts. Can a race toward green technology solve both problems?

When parents work, someone needs to mind the kids. With costs reaching $14,650 a year, day care can eat most of one parent's wages.

The middle class is getting hammered by health costs. It's time to start paying doctors for the one thing that really matters: Patient health.

The middle class is burdened by a system that covers too little, costs too much and leaves people afraid of falling through the cracks.

America's middle class is facing a debt crisis. To solve it, the US needs to rein in credit card companies and home lenders.

To afford a middle-class lifestyle, many workers are trading in time at home for time on the interstate.

Our schools are failing the next generation of Americans. How can they be fixed? Universal pre-kindergarten is a start.

What with car, mortgage, child-care and college costs, middle-class workers are finding they may never have enough money to quit the daily grind.

Many middle-class Americans will have to depend on their own retirement savings. But here's the problem: We aren't saving enough.

Houses used to be an essential part of the American dream. But for many families, a home of one's own now seems out of reach.

For consumers who grew up with almost no choice, savvy shopping isn't a leisure activity -- it's a survival skill.

Today’s Chinese consumers are hustling to get wheels of their own. That's good news for dealers but bad news for commuters.

Forget about the frozen food and bulk toilet paper. Wal-Mart shoppers here are more likely to find live crabs, 'black chicken' . . . and a blow-dry.

Fueled by an economic boom and accelerating migration from rural areas, China's cities are exploding upward and outward.

Millions of only children -- ambitious, modern and spoiled rotten -- are coming of age. Marketers are still figuring out what makes them tick.

For the surging millionaire class, status has an ever-increasing price tag.

A Chinese beverage maker fights back against the multinational giant.

When lovers from opposite sides of the tracks marry, the endings sometimes aren't so happy.

Prenuptial agreements can protect you and make divorce less painful if your marriage fails. So why are women so resistant?

Today's talented, ambitious women are staying single in droves. Are they too busy, too picky or -- horrors -- too awesome?

Secretly overspending from the family coffers can be a deadly marital money conflict.

A new generation of pricey, upscale matchmakers caters to rich bachelors hoping to score the perfect spouse -- for a fee.

Studies tell us what we already know: Wealth is a turn-on. But a luxurious life may not be enough to sustain a long-term relationship.

It's more than a pricey stream of water. Think of it as your own personal massage therapist and a custom work of art.

Pampering may not help you grasp the meaning of life, but finding the time for a more relaxed way of life is the ultimate luxury.

Can an instant gourmet kitchen make you an instant master chef?

Fancy massages for two, plus dinner in bed? Fabulous -- but none of it compares with hearing my honey say thank you.

Royalty and celebrities rub elbows at a retreat in the Himalayas, where nirvana-seeking guests can drop a fortune on learning yoga and meditation.

New reproductive technologies are giving would-be parents more options -- if they can cough up enough money.

Some New York restaurants try to create menu items with 4-digit price tags. But can a fancy omelet really be worth so much?

At age 10, Tarik has been helping his single mom save for his college since he was barely out of kindergarten.

For many families, paying for a college education is out of the question. Here are tips and tricks for navigating the tuition assistance system.

Need help paying your kids' tuition? It's time for them to start taking some financial responsibility for their education.

If you've started a college fund, you get an A for effort. But it's equally important that your higher-education spending decisions make the grade.

College-savings plans help you save a for your kid's education, but they're not for everyone. Here are five tips for picking the right one.