Putting a human face on the dollar bill, a bit later than I was supposed to

Reporting on the economy

Just a short podcast documenting what it was like to report on the economy and how I grew to love the topic, I once dreaded, in the end.

Surviving the minimum wage crisis

http://tinyurl.com/2ffeug5

With only $20 in her bank account, every week poses new, daunting, challenges for Mary Carmody, 20, of Milton, as she tries to balance a job, class, and her finances while attending UMass Amherst.

Carmody is just one of thousands of college students struggling to pay their way through the higher education system. With college costs on the rise and a tighter job market, many students are forced to barely scrape by or avoid college all together.

Lessening the burden: tips to save cash in college

http://tinyurl.com/66qv9fn

For future graduate students like Laura Bennett, 21, of Coram, NY, paying for college “is a daunting challenge.” Many of today’s college students are forced to discover new ways to save money and ensure a successful college career.

With average college costs rising by thousands each year, previous means of affording school, such as having a job, or relying on parents, is no longer enough for many students. According to CNN.com, many colleges across the US are increasing tuition prices rapidly.  The University of California, for example “estimates a 30% increase in the 2010-2011 year” and according to College Board, the average price of public 4-year schools tuition fees are as high as $20,000 per year in some parts of the country and can get as high as $50,000 at private schools.

At these prices, many students are forced to find ways to reduce the burden. By reducing costs, an average college student can open up many new opportunities for the future.

Port Jefferson banks experience recession aftershock firsthand

http://tinyurl.com/y9s6glz

Port Jefferson has always been considered one of the more financially successful towns on Long Island but one local bank has witnessed, first hand, the financial distress faced by many local small business owners.

Ever since the economic distress, most recently faced by America in September of 2008, the term "Main street" has come to refer to the small town economies across the U.S. Many of these towns have been hard hit by the recession and are still struggling to recover.

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