Marketplace Money Stories

I'm 29, finishing a Master's program in Rangeland Ecology and Management. I'm down to thesis writing, so I haven't been a full time student for a bit and my student loan grace period is up.  I have about $40,000 in student loans, APR 6.8%.  I have no income at the moment, but I'm optimistic that I will be finished with school and have a job by May.  So I'm not worried about making minimum payments, possibly making big payments depending on the quality of the job. Thing is, I happen to have about $17,000 just sitting in a Roth IRA.  Does it make economic sense to be sitting on this when I have a sizable debt? The student loans are the only debt I have. -Chris

L.A. Times consumer columnist David Lazarus answers listener questions about health care cost-shifting, whether account monitoring services are worth their costs, and what to do when you don't trust the bank you've got a home loan through.

Whenever debates over the budget rage in Washington, leaders can't help but say the government should balance their budget as well as a household. But that analogy might not always hold water.

The new health care exchanges will create even more options for consumers in an already crowded market. One group likely to shop around: self-employed workers.

The housing market is showing positive signs with prices climbing back up. But is now the time to buy?

What do you think of when you hear the phrase — The American Dream? Explore our special site for resources and stories from our series.

The U.S. Census released a report on the national median income and poverty rate this week. And Marketplace released a data tool on incomes to tell a bigger story about how we live at any income.

You've heard of the Federal Reserve. You've heard of Ben Bernanke. You know that they're important. But do you know how the Fed's decisions directly affect your wallet?

What resources are available for people who take care of sick or elderly loved ones?

Is gifting a retirement account a good idea? Not always, says CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger, who answers listeners questions about retirement this week.