Marketplace®

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  • Virtual bank accounts allow parents to deposit allowance online and teach kids about spending and saving.

  • Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange October 31, 2012.
    STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images

    Despite the impending fiscal cliff, slowing global economy, and a weak domestic jobs market, the stock market is still going strong — outperforming U.S treasuries, corporate bonds, and commodities.

  • The average child’s allowance is $65 a month. That’s $780 a year. How do you keep track of all that money? A slew of online startups is trying to solve that problem — creating virtual banks managed by parents and their kids.

  • With childcare costs on the rise, it may be more affordable for some parents to stay home with the kids. But there are hidden costs.

  • A 'Home for Sale' sign points to an existing single-family residence for sale in Park Ridge, Ill.
    Tim Boyle/Getty Images

    The National Association of Home Builders says builder sentiment is at the highest level in six years. So what if you want to get into the housing market right now?

  • Cheap credit is boosting car sales. But more buyers are taking loans of up to seven years. Monthly payments are lower; the total cost is higher.

  • Claudia and Richard Launey board up their home before Hurricane Isaac, which still bears a marking from Hurricane Katrina, on Aug. 28, 2012 in New Orleans, La.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    If you live in a state that suffers from severe weather, finding good homeowners insurance is getting more difficult as weather patterns grow more extreme. So what do you do if the insurance company drops you?

  • Shoppers walk down the Third Street Promenade outdoor shopping mall in Santa Monica, Calif.
    Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

    Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains the difference between consumer confidence and consumer sentiment.

  • Breaking down the numbers of raising a family. The Department of Agriculture estimates middle-income families will spend about a quarter of a million dollars raising one child.

  • First came mortgages. Now, courts are ruling against credit card issuers for sloppy paperwork or lack of proof when they sue alleged deadbeats.

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