NPR: The Color Of Money Podcast

The number one sin people commit in investing is putting all their eggs in one basket, says Michelle Singletary. She offers tips on the best way to diversify and explains the importance of appreciating assets.

The financial crisis has left many people wondering what to do with their money. Our personal finance contributor offers tips on how to proceed and invites you to send your financial questions.

Thanks to a settlement over allegations that TransUnion Corp. improperly sold consumers' personal data, you can now take advantage of their credit monitoring services at no cost.

Thinking of raiding your 401k to pay this month's bills? Our personal finance contributor examines the pros and cons of taking money out of one's retirement account to cover living costs.

As the mortgage crisis has grown in scope, lenders have cut back on home equity lines of credit. The move might not be legal, says our personal finance expert.

So you came into a large inheritance. What do you do with it? Our personal finance expert weighs spending it, saving it, paying off credit card debt and reducing students loans.

Many auto lenders are pulling back incentives to lease vehicles. Consumers don't want to lease trucks and SUVs anymore and the credit crunch isn't helping. Avoiding leasing is actually a good thing, says our personal finance expert.

Congress just passed the Housing Act, authorizing a tax credit of up to $7,500 for certain first-time home buyers. Our personal finance contributor says consumers need to be careful when signing up.

When people get into credit card trouble, courts sometimes work out repayment schemes that include garnishing wages and taking automatic bank withdrawals. But the Social Security Administration says the legality of garnishing Social Security benefits is questionable at best.

Bad economic times have some people thinking about returning to school. But getting that master's degree may not be the best way to weather a financial storm, says our personal finance expert.

Things are not as bad as they were 30 years ago, says our personal finance expert. Making sure your house is energy-efficient and shopping smarter are two ways to defend against recession and inflation, she says.

Our personal finance contributor discusses how to resolve the reverse mortgage of someone who has died, whether to buy a home while living off student loans and how to prioritize debt.

Can personal finance books actually make fun summer reading? Our money expert thinks so and offers some recommendations for the whole family.

Donating money to an aid organization is a natural response following a disaster, but choosing which one can be complicated. Our personal finance contributor discusses how to choose a charity and how much to give.

Maybe you just got fired. Maybe you just graduated from college. Our personal finance contributor discusses what interviewees should keep in mind when heading off to a job interview.

Maybe you just got fired. Maybe you just graduated from college. Our personal finance contributor discusses what interviewees should keep in mind when heading off to a job interview.

Has your recent college grad moved back home? Personal finance guru Michelle Singletary discusses how to get recent graduates who move home to start stashing away some savings and to pay down debt. She also suggests writing up a rental agreement.

Has your recent college grad moved back home? Personal finance guru Michelle Singletary discusses how to get recent graduates who move home to start stashing away some savings and to pay down debt. She also suggests writing up a rental agreement.

The tight job market could be bad news for teens seeking summer work. If your teen does find a job, will he or she know how to manage those paychecks? Our personal finance contributor talks with Alex Cohen about ways to help teens find a job.

The tight job market could be bad news for teens seeking summer work. If your teen does find a job, will he or she know how to manage those paychecks? Our personal finance contributor talks with Alex Cohen about ways to help teens find a job.

Is it better to pay off your car or to put that money into savings? What about student loans? Madeleine Brand gets advice from personal finance contributor Michelle Singletary.

Is it better to pay off your car or to put that money into savings? What about student loans? Madeleine Brand gets advice from personal finance contributor Michelle Singletary.

Having trouble keeping up with your credit cards these days? Our personal finance contributor has some tips to help you manage your plastic.

Having trouble keeping up with your credit cards these days? Our personal finance contributor has some tips to help you manage your plastic.

The credit crunch means some credit card companies are clamping down on outstanding debt. Our personal finance contributor discusses how to get and keep the best credit deal.

The credit crunch means some credit card companies are clamping down on outstanding debt. Our personal finance contributor discusses how to get and keep the best credit deal.

This spring, millions of college students are joining a workforce battered by a bad economy. Resist the urge to buy a new wardrobe and car, says our personal finance contributor.

This spring, millions of college students are joining a workforce battered by a bad economy. Resist the urge to buy a new wardrobe and car, says our personal finance contributor.

Could you potentially make more money freelancing than in your current job? Our personal finance contributor offers tips on how to survive an independent work life.

Could you potentially make more money freelancing than in your current job? Our personal finance contributor offers tips on how to survive an independent work life.