Women more optimistic than men about finances

Women appear to be more optimistic about the economy and their financial future than men are, according to a recent survey. But it helps to be young.

Asked whether business conditions where they live will improve over the next year, 56% of women polled by Citigroup said yes, compared to just 50% of men. (The telephone survey, conducted in June, is accurate within 2.2 percentage points, according to Citi.) The outlook was similar when it came to personal finance: 66% of ..read more

Reality sinks in for 401(k) investors — and providers

It’s taken a few years, but Americans are finally giving up on the dream of an early retirement. A new poll by the Gallup organization found that for the first time more Americans say they will work longer than age 65, rather than call it quits in their 50s or early 60s.

The change is dramatic. More than a third of those surveyed said they would retire after 65, compared with just 12% in 1995, which was the first year Gallup ..read more

How to dip your toe in the art market

As Michelle Andrews reported for the MONEY article “Investments You Can Live With”, prices for art, antiques, and the like are still down significantly from their pre-recession peaks. If you’ve been itching to invest in art but don’t exactly have millions to blow, fine photographs are a great option. Because they’re made in multiples (unlike paintings), they’re much more affordable; you can snap up one by a master for a few thousand dollars. Interested? Get moving — the spring auction ..read more

More Money Tuesday roundup: Car insurance costs and blackjack odds

Personal finance from around the Web:

Explore the idea of paying off the national debt by only increasing income taxes. [All Financial Matters] Thought your car insurance was expensive? Well, unless you live in Louisiana, the most expensive state for car insurance, it could be worse. See how your state ranks. [Bucks] We have been importing less petroleum as a percent of all imports but we have been paying much more for it. [EconomPic] Fewer benefits and longer hours: it's the post-recession world of ..read more

More Money Thursday roundup: Gordon Gekko fails & 401(k) matches return

Personal finance from around the web:

The 401(k) match is making a comeback, a new survey by Fidelity reports. Forty-four percent of employers who slashed or eliminated matches during the recession now say they've restored them or will do so in the next 12 months. [BusinessWire] April is Financial Literacy Month, and the Move Your Money campaign wants you to remember the virtues of community banks and credit unions. [Move Your Money] Wall Street's Gordon Gekko was a wildly successful investor. Michael Douglas, ..read more

More Money Monday roundup: 10 immediate benefits of healthcare reform & outrageous traffic tickets

Personal finance from around the Web:

You're sick of reading about healthcare reform, of course. But now that it's passed, check this list of ten immediate benefits for you and your family. [Crooks and Liars] Forget about getting an early look at those Wall Street analysts' reports: A US District Judge ruled Thursday in favor of complaints brought by several financial services firms against Theflyonthewall.com for publishing their investment recommendations before the firms could communicate them to their clients. [Yahoo News] Think twice ..read more

How to save on a classic watch

Why it's a buy: With proper care, a good mechanical watch — the kind that needs to be wound — lasts virtually forever. (Not so the typical quartz.) Buy used, and you can save 20% or more off the retail price. Plus, the downturn has pushed prices on secondhand watches about 20% lower than they were at the end of 2008, according to Antiquorum, an auction house. The pre-owned watches at right–  a 1990s Rolex, a 1950s Longines, and a ..read more

More Money Tuesday roundup: Avoiding fees & smoking cigars

Personal finance from around the Web: Cuban cigars are not immune to the recession, but Cuba's cigar distribution company hopes it can improve sales by getting more women to light up. [Economix] Foreclosures in Nevada are causing census-related nightmares. Every uncounted  person brings a loss of about $900 for the state. [Las Vegas Sun] The Small Business Administration this week is offering Webinars (Web-based seminars, that is) to educate teenagers about entrepreneurship. Oddly enough, the online discussions are scheduled during school hours for ..read more

More Money Wednesday Roundup: tax-prep tips and Twitter deals

Personal finance from around the Web: Economic (re)construction? Housing construction activity was up 21.1 percent last month from the previous year — and the most prolific it has been since July 2009. Could be a hopeful sign for a key pillar of the US economy. [The New York Times] Does cutting costs have to mean sacrifice? Sure, recession time is all about trimming here and there. But there may be ways to decrease regular monthly expenses without eliminating convenience. It's all ..read more

More Money Monday roundup: Bull market 2.0 & tequila at home

Personal finance from around the Web:

Sweet savings for Valentine's Day: Five easy tips on how not to break the bank — or disappoint — on February 14. [Globe Investor] To circumvent competing with unbeatable deals on the Internet, many brands are removing the price tags from listings on e-commerce sites. Consumers must put items in their "shopping cart" and proceed to the virtual checkout before they know their total. [The New York Times] Is Happy Hour at home just as happy? New ..read more

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