Happy Monday Morning! This week’s edition of the Monday Morning Personal Finance News features stories on unpaid jobs, goodbye debit rewards programs and better, higher-paying summer jobs.

• Are you willing to work for free? An increasing number of unemployed Americans are in order to boost their resume, gain workplace experience and more.
• If you don’t already hate the big banks, here’s some news that might put you over the edge: Wells Fargo, SunTrust and Chase are nixing their debit card reward programs; Citi is researching the possibility.
• Good news for those planning on getting a summer job – there are likely to be more summer jobs available this year and at a higher hourly pay rate.
• Could the housing market be worse than experts think? This story examines the upward drift of a key indicator for housing sales in the country.
• Speaking of the crappy housing market, if you’re underwater on your mortgage there may be a little glimmer of hope for you – if you believe that bank’s care about keeping you in your house.
• Check out this slideshow on financial infidelity and how it can destroy a marriage.

Photo: bgottsab/Flickr

I’d like to start sharing some guest blog posts on my site and so I figured the best place to look was to my readers. If you are interested in submitting a guest blog post related to personal finance, please drop me a note via my contact form. The post can be on anything personal finance related, including your own personal stories, news-type reports and even an opinion piece. It doesn’t have to be about Dave Ramsey’s method, it can be about anything that falls under the personal finance umbrella.

Thanks!

Happy Monday morning! This is my first Monday Morning Personal Finance News since completing Dave Ramsey’s Baby Step 2 – woo! Topics in this week’s post include dining on a dime, the need for disaster insurance and the continued rise of gas prices.

• Do you want to maximize your dining out budget? If so check out this post with kids eat free ideas and printable restaurant coupons.
• Has the recent quake in Japan made you question whether you need disaster insurance?
• Ugh, gas prices are up again. This time we’re facing a 7-cent increase in just the last two weeks.
• Bad news for Florida homeowners that are hoping for a rebound in the housing market – 20% of the state’s homes are vacant.
• If you’re in the market for a raise, check out this post on how to make the case for a merit raise.
• If you thought it was impossible to pay cash for a home, you were wrong. In January 2011, 32% of homes purchased were paid for with cash.
• If you’re looking for a new job, check out Liz Ryan’s 10 Tips to Ace Your Next Job Interview.
• This story hits close to home – Making Sure the Kids Are All Right. The article examines the importance of preparing for a special needs child’s future through a special needs trust. This is something we will be doing once we hit Baby Step 5 since we’re not sure that our children will be able to successfully attend college – we certainly hope so but we are realistic.

Photo: claytron/Flickr

Happy Monday Morning! This week’s Monday Morning Personal Finance News edition features 7 tax tips for your 2010 return, five luxury retirement communities and gas prices increased 33 cents in just two weeks!

• If you haven’t filed your 2010 taxes yet, check out these 7 tax tips for your 2010 return courtesy of SmartMoney.com
• If you’re ready for retirement and have a fat retirement fund, check out one of these 5 luxury retirement communities.
• In case you didn’t notice, gas prices are up again. According to this CNNMoney.com article, “U.S. gasoline prices increased nearly 33 cents in a two-week period, the second-biggest price jump in the history of the gasoline market.” Yikes!
• If you’re confused about the state of the housing market in the U.S., check out these two articles for more confusion: Why the Housing Crisis May end in 2011 and Home Prices: The Double Dip is Near.
• Do you want to loan the government $250 a month, interest-free, for a year? Millions (or maybe not millions, but a LOT) of Americans are – the average 2010 tax refund is over $3000! Fix those W-4s folks.
• If you’re a military family, check out Kiplinger’s article: Tax Rules for Members of the Military.
• This is an article from late 2008 but it is relevant today – Top 15 ways to save money on gas.

Can you believe February is already over? This year is passing quickly for me. Okay, back on topic – my choices for the February 28, 2011 edition of the Monday Morning Personal Finance News include stories about the rising price of gas, stockpiling and credit checks by employers.

• If you haven’t paid attention to gasoline prices lately, let me prepare you for a little sticker shock – prices went up 17 cents last week!
• While the rising gas prices may be putting a squeeze on your budget, some industries are poised to make a lot of money in the coming weeks and months.
• When I think of stockpiling I often feel like I need to put on a tin foil hat (it’s a joke!) but SmartMoney.com looks at the big picture – Will Stockpiling Save You Money?
• Are you taking care of your parents or grandparents? If so, read about the best careers for family caregivers.
• This is a hot topic – should employers check your credit before hiring? I see the question come up regularly on the My Total Money Makeover boards – check out Knight Kiplinger’s views on the topic.
• Are you retired or preparing for retirement? If so, check out this Forbes article – Six ways to get income during your retirement.
• Experian, one of the nation’s three major credit reporting agencies, is beginning to add rental histories to consumer’s credit reports. What do you think – is this a good thing or a bad thing?
• I’m in the United States and so the majority of my posts focus on issues here in America. However, I have something special for my international readers today – the Best Non-U.S. Personal Finance Sites.

Photo: futureatlas.com/Flickr

Happy President’s Day! The kids are home from school and our rappelling trip was cancelled due to rainy weather – boohoo! Soooo…I’m going to spend the day catching up on the personal finance news from the weekend, including stories about cable TV alternatives and American spending habits.

• Are you thinking about doing something radical like cutting out your cable (we reduced ours!)? If so, check out this overview of Redbox vs. iTunes vs. Netflix vs. Blockbuster at Get Rich Slowly.
• Ruh roh – are Americans’ spending habits getting worse?
• If you’ve recently received an inheritance and would like to be interviewed for a story, email Donna Rosato at CNNMoney.
• If your company is in the middle of a merger, find out how you can protect your career.
• Sending a kid to college in the fall? If so, find out how to get the most free financial aid.
• Do the rising gas prices have you looking at hybrids? If so, find out how long you have to wait until your hybrid pays off before buying (with cash!) a new hybrid.

Happy Monday Morning! It’s been a great January for the Six Figures and Broke household but I am amazed at how fast the month has gone by. Here’s this week’s edition of the Monday Morning Personal Finance News including stories on credit card interest rates, the 8 least evil banks and smartphones as credit cards.

• In case you didn’t already know this, interest rates on credit cards are near record highs.
• This CNNMoney.com list made me laugh – The 8 least evil banks. #1 – Ally Bank.
• Smartphones – the new credit card? Sure, let’s make it even easier to spend money we don’t have!
• We’re happy to make six figures a year, check out how John Paulson made 10 figures last year!
• What is your opinion on personal finance books for women?
• This post title just made me laugh – Are the Self-Employed Tax Cheats Or Financial Failures?
• Did you know that last year’s tax compromise included a $5 million lifetime max on charitable giving? I didn’t but if you’re uber rich you have until 2012 to help out your favorite charity without paying taxes!

I receive email notifications from the IRS with tax tips for consumers, businesses, nonprofits and more. Today’s tax tip focused on 10 tax benefits for parents and I wanted to share the list with you. Of course there are a bevy of rules, income limits, phaseouts etc for each of these credits so check out IRS.gov for more details on these tax benefits.

1. Dependents
2. Child Tax Credit
3. Child and Dependent Care Credit
4. Earned Income Tax Credit
5. Adoption Credit
6. Children with Earned Income
7. Children with Investment Income
8. Higher Education Credits
9. Student Loan Interest
10. Self-employed Health Insurance Deduction

Happy Monday Morning! If you’re waiting to file an itemized tax return, the IRS has finally announced an acceptance date – 2/15/11. That’s just one of the stories making this week’s Monday Morning Personal Finance News link list.

• Yes, you read that right, the IRS will be able to accept itemized returns beginning on 2/14/11. I’ll be ready to file that day!
• Citi’s CEO received a raise and will be making $1.75 million this year. This is quite a jump from last year’s $1 salary.
• Gas prices rose by 4% over the past month and are expected to go higher.
• If you’re already debt free and looking to invest in a franchise, check out Forbes’ list of The Top Franchises for the Money.
• If you’re nearing retiring, learn how to make the most out of your social security benefits.
• If you’re already retired but want to work a few hours a week, check out this list of the best part-time jobs for retirees.
• In an effort to entice new buyers, the 0% auto financing offers are back!
• If you’re buying a new house this year, you should check out this article about an increase in mortgage fees – even for those with 20% down in some cases!

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Catch up on the latest with this week’s edition of the Monday Morning Personal Finance News.

• This is from the week prior but housing in Vegas may not recover until 2032 if this prediction is right. 2032?!?!
• Find out what the nation’s most overvalued and undervalued housing markets are.
• One freelance photographer went on a spending fast and saved $18,000 in one year.
• If you’re an entrepreneur, check out this list of the most annoying business jargon before you head out to woo potential clients.
• This may sound like common sense but if you’re searching for a job, you should read this first: You Won’t Land A Job If You Can’t Follow Directions.
• Read a personal story of how one woman is coping with an inheritance.
• If you use the U.S. Postal Service frequently, you should prepare your budget for the rate hike expected in April 2011.
• Do you need a Chinese bank account?