Marketplace Staff

April is National Poetry Month. So, on this week's "A Day In the Work Life" -- our regular look at how folks trade time for money -- we start a campfire with a poet of the prairie.

On this week's "Money Matters" - our regular look at how to improve your bottom line-- we've got some beverage tips just in time for your Labor Day celebration. If you are sick of picking up a six-pack when the invite says BYOB, why not choose a bottle of wine instead? Kai asks Randy Clement, the co-owner of Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles, for help in selecting wine.

About a million and a half college seniors got their diplomas this spring. Next comes the real world and a long, long list of things to do. Find a job...for one. Get a place to live...for another. But what about a trip back to the classroom? Several studies give college graduates an F when it comes to understanding personal finance. If it's just too early to think about course registration, we're happy to offer this crash course. Nancy Farghalli has it.

Are you spending too much on housing?

Chris Farrell offers up his opinion on how the government handles its books.