Who’s afraid of the fiscal cliff? Well, everyone in Washington seems to be afraid of making a decision! We explore how the fiscal cliff might affect military spending and children living in poverty. Plus, did you buy a Powerball ticket this week? We talk with one lottery winner about what winning really gets you. And a look at co-working… with kids.

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, right? Not exactly. We bust the biggest Black Friday myths. Plus, how many Thanksgiving leftovers are in your fridge? Reporter Nancy Marshall-Genzer on the economics of wasted leftovers. And a look at why the fallout rate for signed mortgage contracts is the highest it’s been in more than two years, the reason why gas prices in Oklahoma are so low, and what a potential pilot shortage might mean for you.

Are you prepared for the worst? Do you know exactly what your insurance policy covers? Can your stock and bond portfolio withstand another financial crisis? Do you have a will in place? This week we present a special program in collaboration with The New York Times — Bulletproofing Your Finances. From natural disasters to man-made catastrophes like the financial crisis of 2008, we’ll talk about how to prepare yourself — and your finances — as fully as possible.

The country voted this past week. What does President Barack Obama’s re-election mean for health care and the fiscal cliff? We also look at the impact of local elections on your personal finance. Plus, America honors its veterans this week. Their biggest burdens aren’t just mental or physical — they’re also financial. And in a perfect world, you would only have to pay for the cable channels you actually watch, right? We’re exploring the future of TV.

With Election Day fast approaching, we’re looking at the financial issues that might impact who you’re going to vote for — from Social Security to retirement, Medicare to food stamps. Plus, in the aftermath of superstorm Sandy, we take a look at how disasters can pull communities together and offer some advice on how you can protect yourself from scams.

This week we’ve got a feast of food stories. Host Tess Vigeland takes a winding tour of cheap eats in Los Angeles with L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold. Our cheap food pursuit continues with a recipe tester from Cooking Light Magazine who was tasked with creating five dinners for a family of four — on just a $50 budget. We talk about a pair of books that deal with how we produce and consume food in the U.S. today. Plus, a little Halloween fun. And go virtual grocery shopping through the decades with our simulator.

How important are appearances to you? This week we’re focusing on how we present ourselves in the eyes of others and behave accordingly — from figuring out an algorithm for how bras fit to free haircuts for the unemployed, how to behave when you’re standing in line to how seniors present themselves. Plus, how are tattoos viewed in the workplace these days? And when it comes to appearances, who appears more capable, competent and savvy than a superhero? They fly through the air and leap buildings. But how do they handle their money?

This weekend, a full show dedicated to our listeners and any personal finance questions you might have. Liz Weston, personal finance columnist with MSN Money,  joins host Tess Vigeland to cover a diverse range of topics. From improving your credit score to managing student loan debt, short selling your underwater house to paying off all those credit cards — we’re answering your questions and offering up sound advice.

How do you decide what to do with your money when you have very little? In a special report from our Wealth and Poverty Desk and KPBS in San Diego, we look at the tough choices faced by families living in poverty. For poor people in the U.S., every single penny counts. Good choices about how to spend those pennies can lead to a path out of poverty. Bad choices can send them spiraling downward. We talk with a woman who’s worked and saved enough to buy her own house, a family that’s counting change picked up on the sidewalk, and a young man who will be the first in his family to go to college. Plus, stories on finding the funny in frugal, driving while poor, and poverty simulation.