Charitable giving is on the rise in the U.S., a sign of sound money management Giving and volunteering create a sense of meaning and fulfillment as individuals. This sense of purpose is why I believe giving should lie at the core of sound money management.

The tough job market for new college grads The job market for young college graduates is deteriorating. MPR News host Angela Davis takes calls to learn what it takes to get a job if you’re new to the workforce.

The challenges of opening and running a restaurant MPR News host Angela Davis and guests talk about what it takes to start and manage a restaurant — and keep it open. We also talk about the economy at the beginning of the hour.

Amid messiness at the Social Security Administration, more people are taking benefits early Doubts about the reliability of retirement benefits from Social Security are cropping up. Yet for those with resources, it still pays to wait to claim.

Social Network: Marketplace’s Chris Farrell via @tcbmag This was fun. I was asked to name how I use social media, including Substack. Here are a few of my favorites.

Episode 4 of the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute podcast, Office Hours: The trade war between the U.S. and China: What's at stake in the decoupling with HHEI Director Kjetil Storesletten. Listen: Watch:

Episode 3 of the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute podcast, Office Hours: Inflation, tariffs, and lessons learned (and relearned) from history with economist V.V. Chari. Listen: Watch:

Episode 2 of the Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute podcast, Office Hours. President of the Minneapolis Fed, Gary Stern, and former Director of Research, Art Rolnick, discuss Fed credibility and independence. Listen: Watch:

The Office Hours podcast from Heller-Hurwicz Economics Institute is back for Season Three. Episode 1: The end of the free trade era? Economists Chris Phelan and Tim Kehoe differ. Link to the audio version: Video link:

House Payments that Don’t Retire Older homeowners still carrying a mortgage and living on a fixed income are at financial risk. They're vulnerable to the money shock of unexpected expenses. The 10th in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

Despair Is Not an Option Gen Xers often take care of children and aging parents. Toss in recessions, unemployment, medical setbacks and Gen Xers have little savings and too much debt. The 9th in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

Credit Cards Crushing You? Here’s a Way Out There comes a moment when we realize we're financially unprepared for retirement. Little savings. Too much debt. Tackling debt becomes a priority. The 8th in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

Dealing with Decades of Debt There are various proposals to overhaul federal student loans. Unclear what changes will take effect. The uncertainty is unsettling for older student borrowers. The 7th in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

Student Loan Debt Haunts Many Retirees For a large number of older debtors, student loan obligations that didn't pay off in the job market is pushing them to the financial brink. The 6th in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

How to Escape Credit-Card Quicksand There is no magic formula for quickly eliminating debts. That said, there's no reason for despair. There are time-tested solutions that work. The fifth in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

Beware of Financial Reversals Many older adults of modest means rely on credit cards to pay for necessities. And, at any age, life can throw an unexpected curveball that upends finances. The fourth in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

The High Cost of Easy Credit Debts weigh heavily on older generations of modest means. They typically have little savings, retirement nest eggs and other resources to tap. The third in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

More Risk, Less Money Economic risks once absorbed by large institutions and government programs were shifted on to fragile household balance sheets. The second in a 12-part series for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

Borrowing Boom Imperils Retirement for Millions High debts and low savings are pushing more older adults into the ranks of financially precarious. The first of a 12-part series exploring the debt and older adults for Marketplace and PBS Next Avenue.

10 Ways to Fail at Retirement Thanks for including me in this terrific article. These 10 retirement land mines are well worth thinking about and figuring out how to avoid them.