FSAs (Flexible Spending Accounts) often allow you to set aside up to $5,000 pretax for medical expenses. While this can be a great way to help reduce medical costs throughout out the year, most companies also require that you use those funds by December 31st.

Some companies may give you a grace period until March 15th, so check with your employer if you're not sure. However, if you simply forget about your FSA and fail to clear account your account by the deadline, it will reset in the new year and your hard-earned cash will be gone for good. Don't let that happen!

Think layaway was just something your grandma used to do? Wrong! Major retailers such as Walmart, Kmart and Sears are expecting huge growth in the popularity of their layaway programs this holiday season.

As consumers continue to struggle through tough economic times, many shoppers have no access to credit but still want the option to pay over time and have a payment schedule. Layaway programs fit this need, generally offering payment plans that range from just 4 to 12 weeks with no interest.

Black Friday ignites a sense of unbridled excitement in many holiday shopaholics. For the rest of us, it's cause for nothing more than another good reason to stay close to home, sit by the fire and enjoy an extra cup of hot chocolate while the masses fight it out on the busiest shopping day of the year.

These 3 types of plastic may look alike, but they have very different uses.

For example, ATM cards can generally only be used to withdraw cash from an ATM. Debit cards, on the other hand, double as both an ATM card and a way to make purchases directly from your checking account without having to write a check. When given a choice, most people prefer debit cards to ATM cards since they are more convenient.