MICHIGAN -- Michigan has had more than its share of economic hardships in recent years, but when Michigan voters were asked the biggest economic problem facing their family, the cost of fuel trumped everything. Gas prices have risen to $4.15 across the nation. 

Before you sign on the dotted line, check it out before you check in:
 
Would-be travelers are spending  thousands of dollars to take advantage of travel deals that didn’t exist.

One company was also ordered to pay $70,000 in restitution to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office.

Today, the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is the largest program that state government operates directly, accounting for nearly 20 percent ($2 billion) of the current discretionary General Fund budget and employing nearly one-third of the classified workforce.  Corrections programs growth is a direct result of the dramatic increase in the number of inmates from 1973 to 2007, during which time the population grew 538 percent, or roughly 42,000 prisoners, to 50,000 inmates.  Official MDOC projections reflect a continuation of the historical trends over the next five years as the prison population is estimated to be slightly more than 56,000 by the end of 2012.

Getting the most for your money?  Have you checked on your insurance rates lately?  You may just have an opportunity to save money by reviewing your car insurance policy and getting new estimates.

Tax time can be very stressful especially when you can’t locate the forms that you need.  People who also receive Social Security benefits may also have to pay taxes.

April 15 has long been considered a date to avoid. Visions of tax men coming for your money are common in many advertisements on television and in print.

Layoff and foreclosure notices will continue to loom in Michigan’s future as the state’s economic woes continue into 2008 according to a University of Michigan forecast that projects the state losing another 51,200 jobs this year.

     Columbus, OH - It's good to be a positive thinker, but don't think for one second that that's all you have to do. Being a successful entrepreneur requires more than just having a optimistic outlook.

(BPRW) -- Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are one of the most convenient tools developed today, especially when you want cash in a flash and don’t have the time to stand in a long line.

You likely have heard about the 2001 report from the U.S. Census Bureau that states that African Americans are more likely to start a business, than their white counterparts.

PROCRASTINATION: ONE REASON WHY BLACK BUSINESSES FAIL

How to Finance Your Business

Q: I want to write an advertisement for an open position in my company. What can I do to ensure that my advertisement is nondiscriminatory or offensive?

Researchers Assert Development Strategy is Obsolete

Local Church Holds Financial Seminars to Help the Community Secure Their Future

With Transit Stations, New Neighborhoods Could Take Shape

    Buying a home is one of the most important purchases you will make in your lifetime, so you should be sure that the home you want to buy is in good condition. A home inspection is an evaluation of a home's condition by a trained expert. During a home inspection, a qualified inspector takes an in-depth and impartial look at the property you plan to buy.

What are credit scores and how are they determined?

 Chicago saw its rate of home foreclosures reach its highest level in a decade. Statistics indicates those earning above the median income level are contributing to the spike in foreclosures.

    If you have questions about these options and others, you owe it to yourself to contact a financial services professional that you know and trust. Your financial future may depend on it.

I have heard the term “Land Contract”, what is a Land Contract?

What is this Subprime Mortgage Melt Down, I hear about in the news and how might it effect me the average  consumer?

 Whether you're a first time buyer of auto insurance or already have it but are looking for a better deal, you should be asking several questions.

  Personal financial advisors and all sorts of managers top the list of “Michigan's Hot 50 Jobs for Today and Tomorrow,” recently released by the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives.

Think east versus west, the Yankees versus the Dodgers, Manhattan versus Hollywood.  New York, N.Y., and Los Angeles, Calif., boast many differences, but they have one thing in common:  Many of their residents don't have enough life insurance to protect their families.

Were you a last minute tax filer because you owed more money to the federal or state government, and you just do not have it to give?  If so don't worry; you have company.  Millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet.  Many are making the tough choice of which bills to pay or not between food on the table, medicine, utilities, and a mortgage/rent payment.  If you own a home, you have options.  One could be to refinance your home. 

Green builder, Laurey Wyble (left) at her booth at the 2007 Michigan State University Spring Home and Garden Show.

At Laurey Wyble Custom Builder they feel that it is their responsibility to our planet, as well as future generations to take care of what we have been given.

Ways to Reduce Your Auto Insurance Premium

Ways to Reduce Your Auto Insurance Premium

Try to imagine a world without Walt Disney. A world without his magic, optimism and childlike fantasy.

Life insurance is a practical way to protect your family’s financial hopes and dreams.

If you're considering joining these ranks, you've got a lot to be excited about, and you may be prepared to make large sacrifices to help your business succeed. But there's one sacrifice you don't have to make: your financial security.

So, you are renting an apartment for school? Protect yourself from fire and theft.  Renters’ insurance should be considered for college students living on their own.

Thousands of chiliheads toured the riverside Board of Water and Light (BWL) Chili Cook-Off to sample more than 2,000 gallons of chili and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Dr. Rev. Linda Hollies takes a new position of Calvary United Methodist Church in Jackson, MI. Read about her thoughts about the journey her family has already begun to their new home.

To enjoy a comfortable retirement lifestyle, you will need to build your net worth before you retire.

From June 2004 through February 2006, the Federal Reserve raised a key short-term interest rate 14 times. These rate hikes may make the evening news - but what do they mean to you, as an investor?

Time to Think About Medicare Drug Benefit

 42% of American Household Wealth Comes From Home Equity.