why is it that Jewish people are very often wealthy? [more inside]
posted by beccyjoe on Nov 26, 2008 - 40 answers

I want to read more about financial crimes, real and fictitious. Any recommendations? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Nov 25, 2008 - 12 answers

Where in the US can I go to convert Nicaraguan Cordobas to US Dollars, and am I really holding $125,000 worth? [more inside]
posted by willc on Nov 21, 2008 - 6 answers

How does one "put aside" x months of expenses for emergencies? Not pay expenses for x months? [more inside]
posted by swiffa on Nov 19, 2008 - 14 answers

What's the etiquette for a couple going to strip clubs in Australia? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Nov 18, 2008 - 6 answers

I'm in over my head, and I just need a system that will help me do some very, very simple accounting. [more inside]
posted by Medieval Maven on Nov 15, 2008 - 5 answers

I'm looking for a good, intermediate economics textbook. [more inside]
posted by dead_ on Nov 14, 2008 - 3 answers

What can I do with $50 worth of Skype Credits? (other than make calls) [more inside]
posted by Spurious on Nov 12, 2008 - 4 answers

This spring I will be finished with my second Master's degree. I've been at my current job for almost three years and while I enjoy it immensely, I am wondering about other opportunities that having two graduate degrees might open up for me. Am hoping to obtain answers especially from individuals who have multiple degrees and have gone into somewhat different career paths. [more inside]
posted by msposner on Nov 11, 2008 - 3 answers

We ordered our pictures almost 2 years ago, and still haven't received them. Now what? [more inside]
posted by CrazyGabby on Nov 10, 2008 - 8 answers

How much did it cost you to get pregnant using a sperm bank? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Nov 8, 2008 - 5 answers

I am basing my Masters in International Business thesis on Prof. Barry Eichengreen's 1998 paper, 'Does Mercosur Need a Single Currency?' Although by no means an expert, I've been interested in the Austrian School for a long time and, as a result, am instinctively distrustful of central banks and fiat money. Can anyone direct me to any reputable, well-written and persuasive essays arguing the inherent weaknesses of currency unions in relation to this? [more inside]
posted by Zé Pequeno on Nov 3, 2008 - 2 answers

A friend of mine is coming in from a couple hours away (each way) for the night (halloween party), and money is tight on her end. I would go pick her up myself, but have to work late into the afternoon and wouldn't have time to drive up and back twice between today and tomorrow. I want to give her the money for gas (I am in a much better position financially), since I know this is a big expense for her and she is saving me the trip, but she is very independent and does not want me reimbursing her. How can I get her to accept it without making damaging her ego or seeming like this is out of pity?
posted by pennstatephil on Oct 31, 2008 - 21 answers

With some products, the off-brand is as good as any other brand, sometimes even coming off the same production lines in the same factories. With other products, there is a quality difference between brands. How about for replacement HEPA filters for a Kenmore air cleaner? (And, as a bonus, should I believe the warning against washing and reusing the charcoal pre-filters?) [more inside]
posted by daisyace on Oct 30, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm drowning in clutter and my bank account is empty. How do I change? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Oct 29, 2008 - 24 answers

Charged too much for my supermarket sandwich, what should I do? [more inside]
posted by altolinguistic on Oct 29, 2008 - 17 answers

My friend needs suggestions and advice for a bad situation he's in. [more inside]
posted by symbollocks on Oct 27, 2008 - 17 answers

What is the best way to transfer money from Korea to U.S.? My sister is in Korea teaching English. The last time she transferred money into her US account it costs her about $2k to send $2500. How does she get around this problem. Sorry I don't know any more details.
posted by docmccoy on Oct 25, 2008 - 7 answers

Is there any point in trying to monetize a fansite that gets 200 visitors a day? [more inside]
posted by TheManChild2000 on Oct 24, 2008 - 16 answers

Is there a website that tracks the average selling price of used items? I'm particularly interested in used iPod prices, but something more general would be nice too. The price they actually go for would be more helpful than the original asking price. All I've been able to find are paid services for eBay sellers, but they seem like overkill for my needs.
posted by teg on Oct 22, 2008 - 9 answers

Recommendations for a cognitive behavioral therapist in the Houston area for my mother? He/she is going to have to deal with a lot, especially because she is irrational and suspicious. [more inside]
posted by Nattie on Oct 22, 2008 - 6 answers

Anyone have a good open-source alternative to Quicken? [more inside]
posted by ®@ on Oct 19, 2008 - 19 answers

What happens to a non-profit's cash on hand if they dissolve? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Oct 18, 2008 - 9 answers

Help name my friend's finance business! [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Oct 17, 2008 - 13 answers

With all the bickering over taxes in the election campaign, I'm trying to get a broader picture of US income tax history, theories behind past policies, and analysis of how they worked (in idiot friendly language). [more inside]
posted by p3t3 on Oct 17, 2008 - 4 answers

I'm looking for a way to supplument my current income with $200-300 a month on top of current work. Any suggestions? I have tons of Photos that I want to sell through stock photos, suggestions? [more inside]
posted by BoldStepDesign on Oct 13, 2008 - 8 answers

Traditional wisdom suggests that saving money while in debt is a bad idea: you pay hundreds of times more in finance charges on money you owe than you would get in interest on money you save. Under this scenario, your "safety net", at least until you are debt-free, would be the credit lines you are clearing out. However, in a response to a Lifehacker comment I made outlining this traditional wisdom, someone replied that given the financial crisis, companies could then lower your credit limit, regardless of cause, killing your safety net. Given this, is the traditional wisdom now wrong? [more inside]
posted by WCityMike on Oct 13, 2008 - 18 answers

How to handle a retro-reduced inheritance? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 - 14 answers

MarketFilter: Got any advice for trading Futures? Help a newbie! [more inside]
posted by dragontail on Oct 11, 2008 - 5 answers

I recently inherited about $100k. I'm pretty dumbfounded. This is the largest amount of money I will probably ever have to figure out what do with, so I want to be safe and smart and invest in the long term. I have no debts. I'm 30 years old and single. I know no one has a crystal ball, but what are your best guesses for what I should do with this money in light of our current financial meltdown? (I haven't even deposited the check yet... my bank is Wamu and I wasn't sure if it would fold).
posted by Anonymous on Oct 10, 2008 - 37 answers

Recommend any financial crisis blogs written by people who are following all the relevant indicators, or by people involved in the finance industry, who are trying to make sense of the market and economy?
posted by vizsla on Oct 9, 2008 - 12 answers

By day I work as a content strategist for big corporations, and by night I write essays on social justice issues for independent media. [more inside]
posted by elke on Oct 8, 2008 - 7 answers

I want to invest, but I'm a little wary, is a money market the right choice for me? [more inside]
posted by DrDreidel on Oct 7, 2008 - 10 answers

My ex-employer is claiming I was overpaid, and is asking for the money back - what should I do? [more inside]
posted by hnnrs on Oct 7, 2008 - 21 answers

Where should I keep my money (to protect it from the US economy)? I'm American and it's in US$, but I don't live there and don't have any good reason to keep it there. [more inside]
posted by xanthippe on Oct 7, 2008 - 10 answers

How can I find out the health of my investment brokerage (like Fidelity.com, E-Trade, etc)? Can brokerages even crash and lose my money like in a bank failure? [more inside]
posted by random1destiny on Oct 6, 2008 - 7 answers

Given the current economic climate, should I be padding my emergency fund or paying off my credit cards? [more inside]
posted by ourobouros on Oct 2, 2008 - 17 answers

Advice/resources for adjusting our household budget to accommodate a child? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Oct 1, 2008 - 14 answers

D...d...dowryfilter? Maybe? I'm getting married to a Chinese woman, very soon, and her rather wealthy parents are asking (hinting, in this face-sensitive culture, so I think that's what it is, but it could mean something else?) where my divorced, broke parents' contribution to the marriage is, or, in lieu of theirs, mine. They've tossed a $140,000 duplex our way, a prime rental property, and a ton of financial support for their daughter. I have about $400 in the bank and an okay freelance career. Barring 10 years to save up and match that...what, exactly, can I do to prevent this from getting really, really, really awkward? A long, rambling explanation follows. [more inside]
posted by saysthis on Sep 29, 2008 - 19 answers

How can I keep track of the health of European banks? [more inside]
posted by fuzz on Sep 29, 2008 - 4 answers

This question always comes up with my husband and I when watching Boston Legal. How does the jury decide how much to reward in damages? [more inside]
posted by Becko on Sep 28, 2008 - 5 answers

I got ripped off by the person whose lease I took over. What should I do to recover my money? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Sep 28, 2008 - 19 answers

Where does Dick Cheney have his money now? I remember a couple years ago reading about how Cheney was 'shorting' the dollar (betting against it's continued good health). It struck me at the time as cynical, sure, but also indicative of better financial advice than I get. So, where's he squirelling away his money now? How to find out?
posted by From Bklyn on Sep 24, 2008 - 5 answers

Living together: questions about money and space [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Sep 23, 2008 - 23 answers

I love my Treo (smartphone), and I use it for everything - except for making phone calls. Are there any plans out there that privilege texting over speech? [more inside]
posted by tzikeh on Sep 22, 2008 - 15 answers

Where to put what's coming to me? [more inside]
posted by Anonymous on Sep 22, 2008 - 11 answers

iPhone 3G without 3G Plan? [more inside]
posted by brandoniain on Sep 21, 2008 - 7 answers

What is the name of the story in which a man buries stolen money under a sapling, ends up buying the house next door, and years later tries to retrieve the money only to find that the neighbor has already taken it and left newspaper clippings? [more inside]
posted by Mapes on Sep 20, 2008 - 2 answers

I need to choose which shells (account types) under which to put the coins (inherited and disclaimed assets), and I am worried that if I choose the wrong one, I will lift it after shuffling to find nothing underneath. [more inside]
posted by Clyde Mnestra on Sep 17, 2008 - 2 answers

Are there any credit counseling or 3rd party agencies that work with student loan repayments? [more inside]
posted by smashingstars on Sep 17, 2008 - 16 answers