Personal Finance Daily: Tips for saving on remodeling projects

	Personal Finance Daily MAY 08, 2012 Tuesday's Personal Finance Stories By MarketWatch Don't miss these top stories: 5 secrets for saving on a home remodel 19 solar, wind and biofuel stocks to watch Some states get 'F' on supporting working families College: 'best investment' or big risk? Economists and those in the housing industry think that while Americans are not ready to leap back into the real-estate market, they may be willing to dust off their remodeling plans this year. Today, Amy Hoak writes about five negotiating strategies homeowners should know about when they begin working with a contractor on a remodeling project. They might help you save money, aggravation and time. Also on MarketWatch today, Paul Farrell takes a look at some renewable-energy stocks with powerful potential. — Anne Stanley , Managing Editor, Personal Finance Some states get 'F' on supporting working families Alabama has earned an "F" for weak policies on supporting working families, along with 17 other delinquents. Read more: Some states get 'F' on supporting working families. College: 'best investment' or big risk? Students and their families still lack sufficient data to estimate long-term returns for specific college degrees the way investors do with stocks and bonds. Read more: College: 'best investment' or big risk? 5 secrets for saving on a home remodel Home-improvement spending is expected to rise this year, but consumers remain cautious with their finances. They may be more willing to remodel, but still want a heck of a deal. Read more: 5 secrets for saving on a home remodel. INVESTING 19 solar, wind and biofuel stocks to watch There are lots of deals in alternative-energy technology stocks. Your research just has to dig deeper. Read more: 19 solar, wind and biofuel stocks to watch. How not to pick a high-yielding stock Picking high-dividend stocks is not as simple or straightforward as it initially appears. Read more: How not to pick a high-yielding stock. ECONOMY & POLITICS Funding fight hamstrings student loan bill The Senate on Tuesday is moving toward a vote on a bill that would halt a doubling of student loan interest rates on July 1. But the bill is unlikely to pass in its current form, falling victim to an election-year clash over spending. Read more: Funding fight hamstrings student loan bill. Online transparency is best consumer protection Consumers want to maintain their privacy, but also like the convenience that comes from having their preferences shared online. Ultimately, the best protection would come from greater transparency. Read more: Online transparency is best consumer protection. Get the latest news on our mobile site: http://www.marketwatch.com/m MarketWatch has sent you this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. To ensure you receive this newsletter in the future, please add marketwatchmail.com to your list of approved senders. Sent to: kumaresan.selva.blogger@gmail.com Unsubscribe | Subscribe Copyright 2012 MarketWatch, Inc. All rights reserved. MarketWatch, the MarketWatch logo, and BigCharts are registered trademarks of MarketWatch, Inc. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy (updated 6/26/07). MarketWatch - Attn: Customer Service, 201 California St., San Francisco, CA 94111