The Federal Trade Commission announced this month that it has settled charges with three debt collectors accused of various types of abusive debt collection. The settlement, which reportedly includes the largest civil penalty ever levied on a debt collection agency, comes in conjunction with future restrictions for the defendants.

Fair Debt Collection Practices Violated

According to the case, the defendants violated terms of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which outlines acceptable behavior for agencies responsible for collecting on debts.

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With tax season coming up, everyone is looking for new ways to save, either to get a larger refund or to afford paying taxes owed. Thanks to a new ruling, some graduate students may find extra breathing room come tax time.

The Wall Street Journal reports that, thanks to the persistence of Lori Singleton-Clarke, a Maryland woman, students pursuing a Masters in Business Administration degrees (MBAs) may now find their tuition is tax deductible.

Several aspects of the case could be important to MBA students and others looking to save money this tax season.

• Know the code. The Internal Revenue Service’s tax code is complex and detailed, so knowing where to look for potential deductions can help. T

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The U.S. Labor Department released its monthly Consumer Price Index data, and the numbers confirm what most Americans can already sense: the recession continues to exact its toll. Here’s a look at the numbers for the whole of 2009.

Overall: Consumer Prices Up 2.7 Percent

During 2009, consumer prices rose a collective 2.7 percent, a jump that, according to the Labor Department, was led largely by increased energy prices. In other areas, prices actually fell over the last 12 months:

• Food: In 2009, food prices dropped by 0.5 percent, with food consumed at home dropping 2.4 percent and food away from home actually rising 1.9 percent.
• Energy: Here’s where the biggest jump occurs. E

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High unemployment rates and sluggish recovery in the job market mean that many Americans are still budgeting carefully and watching every penny that leaves their wallets. It’s times like these when studies like the one conducted by researchers at San Francisco State University can help us make important spending decisions.

Memories Last Longer than Stuff

The new budget study examined recent purchases made by adults enrolled at SFSU. Here’s what the researchers discovered:

• Happiness from things fades. On average, researchers found, the thrill brought about by new objects faded in six weeks to three months. T

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