personal finance

Wouldn't it be great if the Internal Revenue Service were looking for you to give you money?

For nearly 108,000 taxpayers nationwide, that's exactly the case.

The agency is holding federal income tax refunds totaling about $124 million that it tried to distribute this tax season but were returned as undeliverable.

Your nest egg is looking healthier these days, but it could still use a makeover.

A leaking roof, a burst pipe or a skyrocketing electric bill are headaches no matter when they happen, but when you're on a fixed income and unprepared, they can become a financial crisis.

Like many people considering a mortgage modification, David L. of Oakland, Calif., wonders how it will affect his credit score.

Early returns indicate the recession is causing more people to take withdrawals from their retirement plans for reasons other than rolling them over to other plans or because they've retired.

Foreclosure. It seems like half the country is in it and the other half is trying to make a killing on it.

The number of foreclosed homes staggers the imagination and with more adjustable-rate loans about to reset, the end is nowhere in sight. The crisis, however, provides the opportunity to purchase a house that was all but impossible for many to afford in the boom years.

If you missed out on the $8,000 federal tax credit for first-time homebuyers, which is set to expire after Nov. 30, don't despair.

One of two things will probably happen: Congress will extend the credit into next year or, if not, home prices will fall as demand falls off, perhaps by as much as $8,000.

Nothing like a Wall Street rally to pump up investors. Eager to recoup losses from last year's market plunge, many recession-battered consumers could be eyeing the Dow's recent recovery as a chance to dive back in.

But don't take the leap with your eyes closed.

Is it too late for first-time homebuyers to snag the federal government's $8,000 tax credit?

The credit -- intended to boost flagging home sales -- is set to expire Nov. 30. Congress is weighing several proposals to extend the tax break into 2010, but passage remains uncertain.

As lenders cancel or cut limits on credit cards and home equity lines of credit, many consumers are wondering how this affects their credit score.

The short answer: It's never good.