Week of June 24th, 2013

Be the judge in our personal finance court of opinion. Or submit your own argument and let a jury of Marketplace Money peers decide the case.

Movies and television have sometimes reflected and sometimes shaped our ideas of how the American middle class lives.

Not everyone wants to ditch their underwater mortgage once it resurfaces.

A monsignor, an Italian Secret Service Agent and a financier were arrested after plotting to smuggle millions into Italy.

Next week, the U.S. government officially changes the way it measure the economy. How does the GDP calculation work? And U.S. mortgage rates jump to their highest level since July 2011, following comments from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.

Hello, My question is this: I recently had my credit report pulled as I was looking to refinance my auto loan, which is currently around 17% interest. My score is around 575. Looking at my report with a consultant, I noticed some double reporting, which was affecting my credit. I contacted the companies and they stated they do not have the accounts. I finally found where the account was and paid it off and filed a dispute for the other companies that were reporting it even though they don't have the account. So that was my first step towards fixing my credit. There were also 3 negative reports from my student loan as it fell into collection for awhile, but the companies that are reporting them closed the account in 2009 and have no further record of it. I contacted TransUnion and they stated even though those accounts are closed, they will continue to be reported negatively for 7 years, so I have another 3 years of it bringing down my score. Is that true? I am currently paying my student loan now with the U.S. Dept. of Education, but it appears it was shuffled around with them for a bit in the past. That is why they are reporting it 3 times as a negative account. Since I am paying it now (and have been for the past year) I don't get why those other 3 reports must stay there for 7 years. Also, my credit union says there is nothing I can really do to help build credit except wait 3 years for those negative accounts to fall off. I am currently in good standing with my car loan and my student loan, so those are the only positive credit I am building. What else can I do? I can't get a credit card (I currently have none) as my score is too low and get denied. I tried for what is called a Visa Pledge card, which is a credit card that I put the money down on, but again I got denied for that. I really don't want to just sit and wait 3 more years until I can do anything. Please advise, what can I do now to help build my score back up so when those negative reports fall off in 3 years I can be in a better position to purchase a new car or refinance.

U.S. mortgage rates jump to their highest level since July 2011, following comments from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke.

My 23-year-old son is planning to begin graduate school. He will have been done with his undergrad degree for two years. I would like to buy a book to give him that addresses finances and would like suggestions as to what to purchase. Any tips? Thanks.

What was your last fight over money about? This weekend, the gloves come off: we’re tackling your financial feuds! In round 1: A fight over wasting too much energy. In round 2: fighting about food costs. And in round 3: arguing over whether your spouse should go back to work. We have some helpful advice for all these fights. But what do you do when you can’t resolve your financial disputes? You might have to head to court. Listen to find out ways you can succeed in small claims cases.  Speaking of court, we look at what the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act means for your personal finances.

Britain is spending $75 million on next year's commemoration of the outbreak of World War I. Some historians insist that for the money to be well spent, the commemoration must get the tone right.

The U.S. government is set to begin calculating GDP in a way that factors in the economic value of entertainment, such as Beyonce, Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez and Angelina Jolie.

Small claims court is a system designed to help people resolve their disputes over money. Here's what you should know to win your case.

I recently found out that the company I work for is going out of business and my job will be ending in a little over a month. I work as a IT Analyst and have have been looking for a job that is a step up a little while but have not had any success yet. I can afford to go with out a job for a short while, and have some connections that may be able to get me a job at a much lower level then I am at currently. What would the least damaging in the long term — an unemployment gap in my resume or being underemployed for a period of time, and is it unrealistic to look for a job that is a step up after losing a job?

The Supreme Court's landmark rulings on same-sex marriage this week mean gay couples have new legal territory to consider when it comes to merging their financial lives.

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Now that President Obama has suggested publicly that Ben Bernanke might not stay on at the Federal Reserve past January, the quest is on for replacements.

Who's afraid of a 5 percent mortgage rate? A fourth-grader takes an undercover look at school lunches. And a 650,000 person sequester furlough.

Listener Kurt Deutscher, a 49-year-old web developer who grew up in a low-income family in Portland, Oregon, discusses his economic safety net, which came in the form of a unique graduation gift.

Netflix introduces a new virtual assistant to help you pick what to watch next. It's just the latest effort to help you pick your next movie.

The U.S. is suspending its trade benefits for Bangladesh. The Obama administration said the country has not moved quickly enough to address workplace safety following an eight-story factory collapse that killed over 1,000 workers.

Tawny Crazy Ants love to swarm inside electronic devices and can short them. That's causing quite a headache in southern states.

Amazon is rolling out a new online platform for fan fiction, that is, original stories that use famous characters from TV and movies.

The online security firm ESET runs a camp for young hackers that encourages them to use their skills for good, not evil.

The New England Patriots organization is offering a free exchange for another player's jersey this weekend only.

Do fast-rising interest rates threaten the growing recovery in housing? Experts say prices are still low enough to attract buyers.

The Pentagon starts furloughing 650,000 civilian employees next week.

In the fall of 2011, fourth-grader Zachary Maxwell set out to show his parents and the world his less-than-appetizing lunch tray reality.

School’s out, which means millions of American kids are off at camp, pitching tents, roasting marshmallows — or, hacking. The online security firm ESET runs a camp for young hackers that encourages them to use their skills for good, not evil. And Amazon rolls out a new platform for fan fiction.

Will new U.S. penalties on Bangladesh hurt more than they help? In the fall of 2011, fourth-grader Zachary Maxwell set out to show his parents and the world his less-than-appetizing lunch tray reality. And is Time Warner Cable for sale?

A list of garden advice from the Marketplace Washington bureau reporter who's been dissecting the sequester.

The tech community finds out it takes more than good intentions and a novel idea to improve the lives of people in developing nations.

Studios rely more and more on teams of heroes and dynamic duos in action films. Is the lone action man a thing of the past?

Kyle wants to quit her job so she can stay home with her daughter and stop paying for daycare. Her husband says they need her paycheck to pay the bills. Whose side are you on?

The National Institutes of Health just announced that it's going to drastically reduce the number of chimpanzees it keeps in captivity for medical research.

The Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform legislation. The bill includes a proposal to spend nearly $50 billion to beef up security at the U.S.-Mexico border. Also, both sides of the gay marriage fight are using yesterday’s DOMA decision to raise more money.

High school students in New York City are tackling the problem of kids skipping school.

Local artist Regina Holliday has recruited a walking gallery of story tellers to make sure patients get as much attention as profits

Men’s Wearhouse explained why it fired iconic founder and pitchman George Zimmer. Zimmer responds.

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PayPal wants to get into space payments. Space tourism is possibly a thing of the near future — the company Virgin has scheduled its first consumer space flight for the end of this year.

Upbeat data don't add up to a strong economy. The New York Times is set to the sell the Boston Globe for one-tenth the price it paid. And how will injuries impact today's NBA draft?

The Supreme Court’s gay marriage decision launches major fundraising efforts from both sides.

New federal rules limit vending-machine snacks in schools to 200 calories.

Diane Swonk, chief economist with Mesirow Financial, discusses why she thinks the latest upbeat data don't add up to a strong economy.

It's called the "Border Surge," and it includes more fencing, drones, cameras, and nearly double the number of border patrol agents along the U.S. Mexico frontier.

After hours of high stakes negotiations, European finance ministers have struck a deal to help shield taxpayers from bank failures.

Based on U.S. Census data, hundreds of thousands of gay and lesbian couples are living together in the U.S. but not yet married — a big market opportunity for wedding planners and vendors.

Firefox moved forward with a plan last week to automatically block third party cookies. As you might guess, advertisers, who rely on those little crumbs of code, aren't happy.

Square, which makes little plastic blocks that plug into phones and tablets for credit card swiping, is launching Square Market, a new online space for retailers to set up digital storefronts.

After yesterday's Supreme Court decision, the same sex marriage ban in California, Prop 8, is effectively no more. So what's the future of referenda in the wake of the high court decision?

What do you think of airline credit cards: a great way to earn miles or a pain in the neck? Our experts help a listener named Debbie resolve the financial feud she's been having with her husband. See what they say and weigh in.

John and his partner have gotten competitive over energy costs. His partner wants him to cut back his consumption. John's unwilling to give up basic amenities — like using warm water to rinse the dishes. Whose side are you on?

Basketball teams pick athletes to go pro at the NBA draft, but injuries among the top picks complicate the process of evaluating a player's worth.

Marketplace Money listener Qian is in a fight with his roommates. He wants to save money by sharing food and splitting costs. They want to buy their own groceries. Who's right? Hear from our experts.

Matt and his wife constantly argue over lunch. He likes to eat out with coworkers. She wants him to brown bag it and save money. Who's right? See what our experts say and weigh in.

Brice and his wife keep their finances separate but constantly argue when it comes to paying bills. She wants to keep things split. He wants to budget better for joint expenses. Our experts offer advice.

This fall, a "humanoid communication robot" called Kirobo will travel to the International Space Station to keep astronauts company.

Have you ever received a gift from someone but wished the person had just saved their money instead? Our experts help Cristeta resolve the financial feud she's been having with her mother. See what they say and weigh in.

There are a lot of dopey things summer interns get asked to do, but sometimes the assignment is exalted.

Glen and his bride-to-be once fought over what to do with a $10,000 insurance windfall. He wanted to blow the money on a $10,000 bike, she wanted to invest it. Whose side are you on?

Have you ever stiffed a waiter for bad service, or do you think they deserve a tip no matter what? Weigh in and help a listener named Briana resolve the spat she had with her husband.

Would you feel comfortable sharing your personal finances with a national news organization (like Marketplace Money, for example)? A listener named Jay did. His wife did not. Find out what happened.

What do you think of organic groceries? Worth paying more for or a waste of money? Our experts offer advice to a listener from Atlanta, Georgia. See what they say and tell us whose side you're on.

Sean and his wife can't agree on where to live. She wants to rent a single-family home. He wants to move into a smaller place and spend as little as possible. Who has the stronger argument? Hear from our experts.

Tech companies are reacting in myriad ways to government surveillance of online data. Some are calling for more transparency from the government, and some are building new things to give people a better sense of security online. Mozilla’s Internet browser Firefox is in that last category. Firefox recently moved forward with a plan to automatically block third party cookies — and advertisers aren’t happy.

Europe moves to protect taxpayers when banks fail. After yesterday’s Supreme Court decision, the same sex marriage ban in California, Prop 8, is effectively no more. So what’s the future of referenda in the wake of the high court decision? And loans remain cheap for wealthy borrowers with good credit scores, but if you’re poor or don’t have great credit, it’s a very different story.

A music video to remind you of the importance of default settings.

A listener from Seattle, Wash. recently argued with his wife over a Jacuzzi. She wants one. He thinks it's a bad investment. Who's right? Find out what our experts say.

Interest rates banks pay the Fed, and middle- and upper-income consumers pay the banks, are incredibly low. But that's not trickling down to borrowers at the bottom.

Can websites like eHarmony really help form the perfect union — even when it comes to money?

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Will the president's stop in Senegal signal new business relationships with West Africa?

In the age of multiplexes, hundreds of small American towns have historic theaters that sit empty. But one of the country's largest old-time theaters hopes to reverse that trend.

Edward Snowden's supposed location, Russia's Sheremetyevo airport, is one of a growing number of airports that offers capsule hotels.

Now that the DOMA has been ruled unconstitutional, legally married same-sex couples will be eligible for over 1,000 federal programs and benefits, including the Unlimited Marital Deduction. Plus, the financial and economic battle of same sex marriage has a long and expensive history.

The man who revolutionized oil trading was infamously pardoned by President Bill Clinton.

At a Big Data industry conference in London, many industry experts find Edward Snowden's information dump unsurprising.

The FTC has told two dozen Internet search engines to make sure online consumers can tell the difference between advertising and the 'natural' results of an Internet search.

Many corporations, from Marriott to Pfizer to Viacom, signed an amicus brief in opposition to DOMA.

Cod fishermen off Massachusetts catch few cod these days. Their allowed limits have been slashed because cod are fished out. What does take their hooks is dogfish — lots of dogfish.

In a letter today to Google, Bing and other search engines, the Federal Trade Commission warned of a need to "clearly and prominently" distinguish ads from natural search results.

Would a Softbank-Sprint deal lower mobile phone costs in the U.S.? The 'start' button is back. And happy 40th to Broadway discounter TKTS.

Remember during the dark days of winter when you were feeling lethargic. Same with the economy, turns out.

Shareholders of Sprint Nextel approved an offer from Softbank to acquire a bulk of the U.S. phone company. Now it's up to Washington regulators to approve the foreign purchase.

Microsoft holds its big developer conference and we get the 'start' button back.

Chinese markets have been on a roller coaster ride ever since the government froze lending between banks last week to combat so-called 'shadow banking'. Where does the world's second biggest economy go from here?

Digital consumption of news is rising worldwide, thanks to increasing usage of tablets and sharing on social media.

There’s a new gaming console in town, the Ouya. Its crowdfunded Kickstarter campaign had 60,000 backers — and the console only costs $100. While the Ouya won’t put Microsoft or Sony out of business, it will likely find an audience. And why did Edward Snowden ask his lawyers to store their phones in freezers?

President Obama is on his way to Africa for a week-long trip that will take him to Senegal, South Africa and Tanzania. The visit is, in part, aimed at increasing U.S. trade and investment on the continent. China’s markets are down as the country’s central bank cracks down on ‘shadow banking’ by tightening credit. And 401(k), 403(b) — which retirement plan is the best for you?

The console, which features indie video games, is already making waves online. Its Kickstarter campaign attracted over 60,000 backers and $8.5 million.