Boston Globe -- Michelle Singletary columns

There’s no shame in regifting, as long as you adhere to a few key rules

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-29T04:25:29Z

Given the state of the economy and your bank account, purchasing gifts for certain friends and family may not be possible this holiday season.

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2009-11-29T04:25:29Z

Warding off those annoying sales tactics

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-26T02:35:37Z

Given the stakes involved, I would encourage retailers to pay attention to a holiday shopping survey recently released by Consumer Reports.

If you still have money to give to any charity, make sure you give it wisely

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-21T22:04:13Z

There’s no surprise that charitable giving is down this year. A recession can make even the most altruistic person pull back. Fifty-one percent of charitable organizations responding to a poll by the Association of Fundraising Professionals reported lower fund-raising totals so far in 2009 compared with the same period last year.

On my list: an improved gift card

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-19T04:10:14Z

I have a love/hate relationship with gift cards. I love the concept and the fact that they make gift-buying so much easier. A gift card is a respectable way to give money - without looking as if you have no idea what to get a person, which, if we’re being honest, is often the case.

Long overdue, new rules should help consumers avoid bite of overdraft fees

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-15T00:20:41Z

New rules by the Federal Reserve should help curb those expensive overdraft fees that have become an annoyance for many consumers.

Congress whiffs on tax credit

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-12T03:10:43Z

It’s official, we have a new tax break for people who don’t need it, with money our government doesn’t have.

FTC settlement emphasizes the need to be careful when wiring money

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-08T02:54:45Z

In one of the largest consumer payouts of its type, MoneyGram International Inc. has agreed to fork over $18 million to the Federal Trade Commission to settle charges that it knowingly allowed its operation to be used by con artists to swindle US consumers out of millions of dollars.

Do parents get a say on finances?

Michelle Singletary — 2009-11-05T03:41:02Z

I’ll be the first to admit, I’m a hovering parent, especially when it comes to the money my children get and spend.

Don’t get fooled again: freecreditreport.com aims to make you spend money

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-11-03T04:09:58Z

I’ve been meaning to pull my credit reports. I, like so many others, am concerned about identity theft or uncorrected errors. When I finally got around to checking my reports, I knew to go to www.annualcreditreport.com. I have not been fooled by those clever commercials for freecreditreport.com with the goofy guy playing a guitar complaining about how his life is ...

Translating the language of money for multigenerational Hispanic families

Michelle Singletary, Washington Post — 2009-10-31T10:53:34Z

No es facil hablar de dinero. In English this means, it’s not easy to talk about money.