Jean Chatzky blog :: The Difference :: Personal finance, debt, and money advice » NBC/Today Show http://www.jeanchatzky.com Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:27:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Today’s Money: Inside scoop on mail-order flowers http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-inside-scoop-on-mail-order-flowers/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-inside-scoop-on-mail-order-flowers/#comments Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:27:31 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5468 The National Retail Federation estimates that Americans will spend nearly $2 billion on flowers this Valentine’s day. Considering that much of this spending will take place online, we decided to test the five biggest online floral retailers. How well do the real products match the picture you see on your computer? To see the results of our test — plus for some tips on how to save money on your flowers — check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-inside-scoop-on-mail-order-flowers/feed/ 0 Money 911: Maximizing your tax return http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-maximizing-your-tax-return/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-maximizing-your-tax-return/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:45:31 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5466 This morning on Today‘s Money 911, we heard from a woman who wanted to know how to use her $10,000 tax return. Should she: pay off student loans, pay off her credit cards, or boost her emergency savings? To see what we told her, plus tips on taking Social Security, check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-maximizing-your-tax-return/feed/ 0 Today’s Money: Tax season do’s and don’ts http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-tax-season-dos-and-donts/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-tax-season-dos-and-donts/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 21:16:18 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5454 Tax season is upon us, and with it comes a somewhat dizzying array of potential deductions and tax credits. This morning on Today, I sat down with Savannah to un-complicate the process.  To see which deductions you should look out for (hint: job hunting costs are one!) and which ones might act as red flags for an IRS audit (like the home office deduction), check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-tax-season-dos-and-donts/feed/ 0 Money 911: Financing graduate school http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-financing-graduate-school/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-financing-graduate-school/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 21:31:06 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5452 This morning on Today’s Money 911, we heard from a woman in her 50′s who wants to go back to school and get a graduate degree, but also has two kids approaching college aid. Is there a way to pay for it all? To see what we told her, plus how to get rid of unwanted time-shares, check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-financing-graduate-school/feed/ 0 Today’s Money: Avoid simple money mistakes http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-avoid-simple-money-mistakes/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-avoid-simple-money-mistakes/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:36:29 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5426 Last week, WiseBread.com released a list of 10 things you do to save money that actually end up costing you more. This morning, I went on Today to talk about this list and how you can avoid making these mistakes. To see why you should make an appointment with your dentist now — and why the cheapest products aren’t always the best buy — check out the video clip below.

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/todays-money-avoid-simple-money-mistakes/feed/ 2 Nightly News with Brian Williams: Road to retirement http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/nightly-news-with-brian-williams-road-to-retirement/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/nightly-news-with-brian-williams-road-to-retirement/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:41:23 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5421 On Friday, January 13, I went back on Nightly News with Brian Williams to talk about saving for retirement. It’s an issue that many people are concerned about, especially if they’ve started saving very late in life or if their retirement accounts have taken a hit in recent years. The good news is that there are ways to bounce back. To see our discussion, check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/nightly-news-with-brian-williams-road-to-retirement/feed/ 0 Money 911: Applying for store credit cards http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-applying-for-store-credit-cards/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-applying-for-store-credit-cards/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:01:56 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5419 During the holidays, many retailers try to entice you to sign up for their store credit card  by promising additional deals and savings. So should you take the bait? To find out the answer to that question — plus tips on balancing medical bills and paying for school — check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/money-911-applying-for-store-credit-cards/feed/ 0 New Year, New You: Going back to school http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-going-back-to-school/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-going-back-to-school/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:23:55 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5412 This morning on Today‘s “New Year, New You” series, we heard from a woman who, at the age of 49, realized she needed to go back to school to get a higher-paying job in the wake of her husband’s layoff. Going back to school may seem daunting, but she did it, and now is in a job she loves. To hear her story, plus our discussion about how to go back to school after a certain age, check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-going-back-to-school/feed/ 1 New Year, New You: Finding a job you love http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-finding-a-job-you-love/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-finding-a-job-you-love/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:22:28 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5408 On today’s segment of “New Year, New You” with Kathie Lee and Hoda, we heard from a woman who left her career as a political consultant and started a bakery business she loves. To see how she did it, check out the video clip below.

 

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]]> http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-finding-a-job-you-love/feed/ 0 New Year, New You: Overcoming setbacks http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-overcoming-setbacks/ http://www.jeanchatzky.com/appearances/new-year-new-you-overcoming-setbacks/#comments Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:17:19 +0000 Jean http://www.jeanchatzky.com/?p=5406 As part of Kathie Lee and Hoda’s “New Year, New You” series, we took a look at a woman who was able to turn a debilitating illness into a fantastic business opportunity. Starting a business isn’t always easy — you have to make sure it’s more than just a viable hobby — but this woman and her family were really practical about it. To hear their story and our discussion afterwards, check out the video clip below.

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