The government hasn't finalized the Car Allowance Rebate System -- known as cash for clunkers -- yet, but Kelley Blue Book launched a calculator July 2 to help you determine whether your car might be eligible.  We took the calculator for a test drive, so to speak.

The federal government's Income-Based Repayment program for student loans now is available to help borrowers struggling to pay off their debt. You probably qualify for the plan if your federal student-loan debt equals or exceeds your annual income.

Looking for a scholarship to help cover the college tuition bill this fall? If you can speak Klingon, are left handed or are willing to go to prom wearing nothing but duct tape, you're in luck. There are plenty wacky scholarships, and PersonalFinanceAnalyst highlights five of them.

By Mary Beth Franklin, from the July issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine

If you dread preparing your tax return every year, the thought of doing it again may be downright awful. But if you find a mistake or your circumstances have changes, filing an amended return could put extra money in your pocket.

From Kiplinger's Retirement Report

To replace money lost in a 401(k) account in 2008, Hewitt Associates says a typical 55-year-old employee with a current average 401(k) savings rate of 10% of pay will need to save an additional 12% each year until age 65 or work for two more years. 

Fire up the grill -- and save money! You can cut costs by dining at home rather than at a restaurant. And our Save Money on Food slide show can help you keep your grocery bill under control. Then check out these ten frugal grilling tips from The Simple Dollar.

The Consumerist reports that an Ally Bank customer signed up for a CD with a 2.6% rate, but when he logged onto his account online to make sure his funds had transferred, he discovered the rate was only 1.9%. After the customer complained, Ally Bank reinstated the 2.6% rate.

The next time your vehicle is in need of repair, check to see if there are any recalls for your auto's parts. This paid off for Kiplinger.com Business Development Associate Brian Stoughton. Brian took his 2002 Nissan Xterra to a Nissan dealership to get it fixed, and the mechanic told him it would cost $620 to repair the fuel system. Brian remembered seeing something about a recall for his one of his vehicle's parts, so he used InternetAutoGuide.com to search.

If you saw our 10 Quirky Economic Indicators story, you know that movie theaters have been packed because they're among the least expensive entertainment options. Now a movie and popcorn are even cheaper. The August issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine reports that Carmike Theaters is offering a show and snacks on Tuesdays for only $10, thanks to a "stimulus" deal that prices the popcorn and drink at a buck each.

A new report by ING DIRECT shows that nearly one-third of the parents surveyed say they are more prepared to talk to their kids about the birds and the bees than money. However, almost all responded that they are primarily responsible for teaching their children about finances. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather talk to my kids about money than romance.