Illustration by Kim Maxwell Vu, The Minnesota Star Tribune
Kim Vu
Illustration by Kim Maxwell Vu, The Minnesota Star Tribune

Avoid online scams this Cyber Monday to finish your holiday shopping fraud-free

December 2
From deals that are too good to be true to packages stolen off porches, there are many ways shoppers can lose money while buying gifts this holiday season.
Illustration by Kim Maxwell Vu, The Minnesota Star Tribune

How to shop Black Friday like a pro (and score Target's Taylor Swift merch)

November 25
Even as sales expand across November and December, there are bona fide deals awaiting early risers who brave the chill the day after Thanksgiving.
Surface parking at 1022 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN ] JOELKOYAMA•jkoyama@startribune Minneapolis, MN on March 28, 2014. One of th

How to park in downtown Minneapolis, whether you're commuting or having a night out

November 18
Parking operators say evening and weekend traffic is back to pre-pandemic levels, if not busier, while commuter traffic is about 70% of what it was.
Making a plan for your digital assets before you die can help your family and friends once you're gone. (Photo illustration by Spencer Platt/Getty Ima

When death planning, don't forget to account for your digital life

November 11
Unless you make plans for your digital afterlife — from photographs to cryptocurrency — accessing your online assets once you're gone can become a time-consuming, expensive and frustrating task for family and friends.
Now might be the best time to start your search for a lake house.

Why now might be the best time to shop for a Minnesota lake home

November 4
For buyers weary of competition, fall and winter are the best, and often cheapest, days to shop for lakeshore property.
After the recent National Association of Realtors settlement about commissions, many buyers, sellers and their agents are left wondering what this mea

How to negotiate with your real estate agent

October 28
Full-service agents in Minnesota have typically charged 5% to 6%. A settlement earlier this year aims to make it less expensive to buy and sell a home.
From stretches to new equipment to DIY, there are many ways to make your home office setup more ergonomic.

Here's how to update your home office to avoid costly pain

October 21
From carpal tunnel wrist injuries to "dead-butt" syndrome, desk workers are at greater risk of strain because of poor posture while telecommuting. There are ways to make your home office more ergonomic that are as simple as talking to your HR Department or buying a wireless mouse.
Illustration by Kim Maxwell Vu, The Minnesota Star Tribune, original images from Getty Images

How to shop for the best deal on Medicare health and drug plans in 2025

October 14
A $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug costs in Part D plans is one of the big new benefits consumers will see during open enrollment.
Carl Kaeding, president of Kaeding Development, gives a tour of a model townhouse as he talks about how his company's new investment program works on

You don't need to be a real estate mogul to start a property investment portfolio

October 7
Nonaccredited, everyday investors have options like real estate funds, crowdfunding websites and partnerships.
Belkis Valdivia's Casamia Build and Design Co. helps homeowners with their renovation projects and offers consulting to help with the design process.

Refresh your home on a budget with these simple projects

September 30
From professional help to free resources, how to refresh your house without spending a fortune.
Many executives, especially new to the ranks, turn to coaches to help them develop the skills needed to succeed at that level.

Moving up? An executive coach might be worth the cost

September 23
Coaches, many of whom have climbed the corporate ladder, can help with new leadership skills to help get over a hump or give you confidence.
Business
September 16
Make sure you pay attention if you get a letter that says your information was part of a data hack.

Hackers have stolen your personal information in a data breach. Now what?

A plague of data breaches, exposing Social Security numbers, drivers license information and much more, has left millions of consumers more vulnerable to identity theft.
Business
September 9
Medical bills are spread out on the kitchen table of a cancer patient in Salem, Va.

'This is not a bill': How to decipher explanations of benefits and pay for your medical care

From huge charges and enormous discounts to 'reason codes' for insurance coverage denials, perplexing paperwork is a common side effect with health care.
Business
September 2
This Feb. 20, 2015, photo shows an arrangement of peanuts in New York. For years, parents of babies who seem likely to develop a peanut allergy have g

How to pack allergen-free snacks as kids head back to school

Some classrooms require allergy-friendly fare as food allergies remain on the rise.
Business
August 26
Conner Hartwig helps his sister, Cassie, move into her new apartment Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Dinkytown, Minn.

How to find affordable college housing in the Twin Cities

Starting early and going off campus can help university students find cheaper rents while pursuing their degrees at metro-area schools.
Business
August 19
Jeff Loesch waters carrot plants in his plot at Dowling Community Gardens in Minneapolis on Wednesday. Loesch has been gardening at Dowling Community

How to join a Twin Cities community garden and save grocery money

Applications to join a community garden often open in September for future growing seasons, though some have waitlists of a few years.
Business
August 12
The Foo Fighters performed at Target Field on July 28, 2024 in Minneapolis.

How to avoid costly concerts with these tips for affordable live music

From finding the perfect time to buy tickets to exploring free options, there are many ways to keep entertainment costs from consuming your whole budget.
Business
August 5
Accounting planning budget report file concept : Business woman offices check working for arranging documents unfinished stack of document paperwork w

Adulting means paperwork: What to keep and what to shred

From passports to loan documents to credit card bills and more, here's how to manage important documents whether online or in real life.
Business
July 29
Sarah Auna answers phones as she works at Sunu Wellness in Minnetonka. Auna is 42 and newly enrolled in her first 401(k) plan.

More time = more money: Whether on your own or through employer, save for retirement now

Employees are increasingly left to themselves to fund their retirements, and Social Security will only provide a fraction of the income you will need to live on once you retire. So use your resources to start planning for your old age as soon as possible.
Business
July 22
A runner looks over her data displayed on a treadmill as people work out over the noon hour at Orangetheory Fitness in Edina.

Willpower aside, exercising requires budgeting time and money

Working out can cost you thousands of dollars in gym memberships and equipment, but the expensive route isn't the only way to achieve your fitness goals.
Business
July 15
Magnifying glass over health insurance policy and piggy bank

How to shop for a health insurance plan in Minnesota

Insurance options can vary considerably depending on age, income, geography, employment status and the market. So don't be afraid to seek help when confronting this complicated decision.
Business
July 8
Give special care to composing a resume, and make sure you check it over thoroughly.

How to get your resume past tech filters to a real person

Like most everything else, applications, cover letters and résumés are now online. But computers can be an ally in your job hunt, not a barrier.
Business
July 1
Image of envelopes stuffed with cash.

In the age of digital dollars, there's value to cashing in

"Cash stuffing," or using cash-filled envelopes as a budgeting tool, is having a social media-fueled resurgence as a way to save money for people accustomed to swiping credit cards.
Business
June 24
Protect yourself by not corresponding directly with an email or text from a company. Find the correct customer service number and see if there really

I was scammed. Here's how you can avoid what I went through.

Xfinity, Best Buy and its Geek Squad at top of federal list of companies most impersonated.
Business
June 17
If you're ready for a new career path, there are steps you can take.

Looking for a second career? 'Take it a step at a time.'

Networking is job No. 1 for those changing their professional trajectory.
Business
June 10
A first floor cubicle space in the new Millwright office building by Ryan Company. It will be the latest part of Ryan's transformation of Downtown Eas

Bye-bye cubicles and corner offices: Reserving a desk for the day is new work trend

Here's tips on how to successfully deploy and work within the "hoteling" concept, which eliminates permanent desks in favor of flexible, shared spaces.
Business
June 3
Typically, people invest their 401(k) dollars into funds, pooled investments that spread money across hundreds (if not thousands) of different stocks

Have a say in how your 401(k) account is invested

Most accounts go into funds, which contain hundreds or thousands of individual securities. But with a little effort, you can have more control of where your savings go.
Business
May 27
Between tickets, parking, concessions and souvenirs, going to a sporting event can be expensive. The average American family can spend more the $250 t

Are you going to the game? Make sure you bring your wallet

Enjoying a sporting event in person can become expensive fast. Here's tips on how to keep the fun outing affordable.
Business
May 20
Shopping around for insurance is essential to finding the best deal and having the right coverage.

No one likes shopping for home or auto insurance. Here are tips to make saving less onerous.

Shopping around for insurance has always been essential to finding the best deal and having the right coverage for unexpected emergencies. But as the costs to repair and replace possessions continue to rise — and the prevalence of extreme weather also increases — choosing an insurance carrier and coverage has become an even more important decision.
Business
May 13
Rachel Hopper and her son Espen Hopper-Willams filled out the FAFSA form together on a laptop during the financial aid workshop at South High School i

How to make sense of a college financial aid package

With FAFSA woes delaying aid offers, these tips can help families make comparisons on a tight deadline.