Business & Economy, business and economy

As October nears and Windows 7 hits the retail shelves, most computer owners with Windows XP will face a daunting decision: Should they upgrade to the latest and greatest operating system from Microsoft or save their money.

After writing and proofreading your resume and cover letter, there's one more critical document to create: a reference list. While you shouldn't submit references with your application, you want to have the sheet on hand in case a hiring manager requests it.

It's about time. This week, Americans will finally start to benefit from the first wave of credit-card reforms enacted by the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009.

If you're saying "I do," you also need to say "I will" when it comes to talking about finances with your future spouse.

But the focus tends to be on big-day money matters (Who's paying for the wedding? The dress is how much?), not money matters that can affect a couple's happiness throughout life.

Electronic cigarettes don't contain tobacco or tar, but a Florida company is fighting for its high-tech substitutes to be identified as tobacco products, not drugs.

Why struggle to be grouped with a product vilified for killing millions of people each year? At least for Smoking Everywhere Inc., it would be a step up from having its product regulated as a drug.

Job search coaches practice what they teach -- we network with each other in order to keep you up to speed. Read what Revi Goldwasser says about job searching in today's workplace. Revi is the author of "Secrets from a Wall Street Recruiter."

If you quit your present job, Revi says:

Get ready for the sugar shock.

Raw sugar futures have almost doubled this year amid fears of a shortage, which could lead to slightly higher prices for candy but also a spike in the price of ethanol.

COVER LETTER: "I am a lover of big words that make me sound important."

We'll keep a dictionary nearby during the interview.

Dear Debt Adviser,

When Netflix hit the wall trying to improve the accuracy of its movie-recommendation software, a key way to get customers to keep renting movies, the company turned its challenge into a contest.