Investing in your retirement has never been more important than it is now. With the current state of the economy, there’s not much of a reason to have faith that you’re social security payments will provide much stability to you in your golden years. With the rising costs of living and pretty much everything else, social security contributions can’t and won’t keep up with inflation, and what may barely pay your bills now certainly won’t pay them when you’re 65.

Capcom, a video game distribution company, is now promoting a new VISA debit card designed to promote Capcom-Unity points for their Accelerated Rewards program to be used for auctions, raffles, and to take advantage of company promotions (like access to Beta tests and priority entrance at Capcom events).

Featuring popular Street fighter IV, Bionic Commando and Resident Evil 5 characters and scenes (in collector fashion), they’re targeting the hardcore gamer crowd — known for frequently purchasing novelty items. But video game fans should take a long second look before signing off on this card.

So, New Yorkers…how are your finances? If you’re like the majority of Americans riding out the recession wave, penny pinching, saving, and being financial responsible is more vital now than in any other time in our lives. Still, you can have plenty of smile without opening your wallet, purse, or murse. It’s Recession-Proof Activities III, the follow up to follow up to Recession-Proof Activities I and II. Consider this a sequel that doesn’t suck.

Looking to make banking a little more “funner”? Thanks to Redneck Bank, that’s now a possibility. We found out about this new addition to the finance world from Tricia over at Blogging Away Debt. And even though it’s name sounds more like a harebrained scheme than a legitimate business, that’s exactly what they are.

Before paying off my debt, I had always been one of those people who make the mistake of increasing their expenses each and every time I received a raise. Instead of being able to enjoy (and notice) the extra money coming my way, I’d throw it into a more expensive apartment, a subscription to cable – something to suck my money away before I even had a chance to notice it was there.

Getting your debt under control isn’t something that comes easily or quickly. It’s a long, arduous process, not unlike a diet, that requires constant attention and focus. For many, it’s the same process that starts and stops each year, a declining goal once the initial excitement has worn off. But if there’s ever been a year to shore up your finances, 2009 is it. So to make sure there’s no backsliding, we’ve mixed some time honored morals into the process to help you stay abreast of your financial objectives this year. Keep reading for four fundamental values and how they should tie directly into your debt management goals.

With all of the bank mergers and acquisitions taking place right now, many people are getting loads of updates from their banking and credit card companies about transitioning to other companies and new policies and procedures. What many of you may not be aware of, however, is that credit card and bank account scams are at an all time high.

The recession continues. In these tough financial times, penny-pinching is essential, but that doesn’t mean you can’t live it up. We’ve once again rounded up some of our favorite low-cost activities (you can find our original recession-proof list here) that are sure to bring a few smiles while keeping the debit card in pocket.

I was checking out the blog Full-Grown Single when I came across a link they had to a free download of Suze Orman’s latest book, 2009 Action Plan: Keeping Your Money Safe and Sound. The new book, which debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times Bestseller list, gives readers a heads up on how to take care of their money during 2009 and how to navigate financial pitfalls in the upcoming year. Being a huge Suze fan, myself, I followed the link over to Oprah’s website where she apparently is giving away free ebook downloads until January 15.

I’ve been reading more and more stories lately on how the high interest loans are putting an extraordinary burden on recent graduates paying off what they thought were federally controlled student loans. These loans were extended via private companies, but carried variable interest rates that, like a lot of mortgages, fluctuate with current interest rates. The ending result? Sky rocketing interest rates on loans for tens of thousands of dollars and none of the benefits you get with federal student loans like deferment and locked-in rates.