SAVING MONEY

There are few places more money-sucking than the airport. I mean, you’re pretty much held hostage once you pass though the security gates unless you relish standing in another long line and getting intimate with the friendly TSA agent yet again. If you don’t plan ahead, you can easily drop $100 at the various restaurants, gift shops and magazine kiosks. Here are just a few tips on how to minimize pre-plane costs so traveling this summer is more budget-friendly:

1. Bring an empty bottle. I just can’t abide by dropping $4 or $5 on a bottle of water. Most of it is repackaged from the tap anyway. But being thirsty isn’t a joy either. What to do? Just bring a canteen or thermos and fill it up at the drinking fountain.

Prices at the pump are expected to drop as low as $3.40 a gallon by July 4 weekend, according to new projections. These projections come after the International Energy Association (IEA) announced plans to sell oil from emergency reserves to cut costs.

IEA Plans to Sell 60 Barrels of Oil

The IEA announced on Thursday that it, along with the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), plan to sell a combined 60 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves–and possibly more later.

There’s no better way to show Dad you care than by buying him stuff, and this June 19th it’s expected you do just that. Luckily, there are a few really good deals happening this weekend to make the special day a little easier on your budget, but even if you aren’t celebrating Father’s Day 2011, you can still take advantage of the following offers for yourself.

Free T-Mobile Data Plan for One Year

Following a string of security breaches on three major organizations–Lockheed Martin Inc, Google Inc. and Sony Corp (twice in their case)–Citigroup was next in line as hackers compromised the security of over 200,000 credit card accounts. Along with this comes news that leading economic experts predict a 15% chance the U.S. economy could fall into another recession. An upside amid all the recent bad news is that we’ve experienced a drop in oil prices, which has translated to slightly cheaper gas.

Citi Security Breach Prompts Stricter Standards

Being in a relationship can be tough enough without adding extra stressors to the equation. It happens all the time, though, especially when it comes to money. It’s no secret that financial stress is one of the leading causes of divorce. So when your significant other is financially irresponsible, it’s sometimes hard to make the relationship work.

If you find yourself in a position where your partner is maxing out the credit cards, going on wild shopping sprees and eating in restaurants every few days and it seems you’re the only one trying to keep money in the household, before packing your things and walking away, consider some tips for getting things back in order.

The recession may be officially over, but Americans are still hurting financially. The Department of Labor reports hiring was down last month, and the disappointing news had a ripple effect on the economy as the stock market fell this week. The good news is it’s national doughnut day, and who doesn’t love doughnuts?

Sony Gets Hacked…Again

Like most people, you probably sit down and at least attempt to draw up a budget each month. As you do, excitement might build while you list your expenditures and plug in the numbers. With those figures, it sure looks like you can finally pay down that debt and begin setting cash aside.

But even carefully constructed plans often fail, because somehow more goes out than you think or want. You’d like to plug the leaks–if only you can locate them. Want a hint? Here are the top six expenses that could have derailed that master plan:

A new USA Today/Gallup Poll found that Americans are taking a big hit at the pump due to the major increase in gas prices. The poll found that more than 50 percent of Americans have had to make substantial adjustments to their daily finances to compensate for the costs.

Hike in Gas Costs Hindering Many Areas of Daily Life

There’s no doubt the Great Recession, which officially occurred from Dec. 2007 to June 2009, has severely impacted the economy. It has left millions struggling to find a job, hold onto their homes and keep food on the table.

But a recent IRS report revealed that though the recession has created many challenges, American households had already been struggling. In fact, middle-class incomes have been stuck in neutral for at least an entire generation.

If you’re a frequent lottery player, it’s possible you’ve invested hundreds (maybe even thousands) of dollars into the lottery system over the years in hopes of receiving a big payoff. Most say it’s all a part of the game and is worth the risk if big winnings eventually come.

But while you may be okay with taking the loss, wouldn’t it be nice to have some or all of that money returned to you at the end of the year? A savings account proposal considered in Arkansas could one day make this dream a reality for its residents.