Work + Money

By Cari Wira Dineen

Hitting the books again can help you learn skills for a new career or increase your earning potential. But in this economy, is it worth your time and tuition? Five things to think through before enrolling. Photo by: Getty

1. PINPOINT YOUR GOALS

Knowing exactly why you want to return to school may determine whether it will pay off in the long run. Earning your GED if you don't have a high school diploma is always wise: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, that diploma alone can be expected to net you an additional $200,000 in wages over your lifetime. If you need a graduate degree to change careers, look carefully at the field to find out if you'll see enough of a salary boost to cover your investment. Use Kiplinger's calculator tool to estimate the likelihood of recouping your costs.
Related: Break these 10 bad money habits now.

2. RESEARCH THE JOB MARKET

Look for opportunity-rich fields to ensure you stand a good chance of finding work

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By Nici Perreault, GalTime.com

Smart tips for back-to-school savings!

smart tips for back to school savings

Every year, it seems like summer gets shorter and shorter. You're receiving your child's back to school supply list in the mail before you have even emptied out last year's backpack.

According to the National Retail Federation, the average family of K through 12 students will spend $688 on supplies this year. This doesn't have to be you. Whether your child is entering school for the first time, or they are a seasoned pro, heading into their senior year of college, school supplies are a necessity. Andrea Woroch, a nationally recognized Consumer and Money Saving Expert, is sharing some money saving tips to help us keep the back to school shopping in check.

1. Shop at home: Go through drawers around the house with your list and take inventory of what you have including last year's backpacks. While your child may want a new box of crayons with 5,000 different colors, you likely have many of those shade

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By Javier E. David, CNBC.com

German Chancellor Angela Merkel tops Forbes' list of the world's 100 most powerful women for the second-consecutive year, and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is No. 2.

In a world where politics and economics have become increasingly intertwined, it may come as no surprise that seven of the top 10 slots on Forbes' ninth-annual list are occupied by government officials.

Still, the roster of marquee names released Wednesday runs across a range of industries including business, media, non-profits and finance. According to Forbes, the 25 chief executives on the list oversee companies with nearly $1 trillion in revenues.

Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff, leader of Latin America's largest economy, comes in at No. 3. Rounding out the top five are philanthropist Melinda Gates, wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Jill Abramson, executive editor of The New York Times.

Merkel, charged with the Sisyphean task of preventing Europe from fractu

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If you haven't already heard, we've launched our BIGGEST prize pool ever in the history of the Great TOH Giveaway. In 2010 we gave away $31,149 worth of amazing home-improvement must-haves and luxury remodeling goods, then in 2011 we got the grand total up to $178,000. As we've touted on the August 2012 cover of the magazine, our giveaway sponsors have outdone themselves, providing nearly half a million dollars worth of prizes to help YOU turn the the house you have into the home of your dreams! Here are some of the amazing prizes that you can enter daily ('til August 31) for a chance to win, PLUS the related how-to content you'll need if you take home the prize(s)! See contest rules.

DaVinci Roofscapes' Bellaforte Shake Polymer Roofing Tiles

Two (2) winners will each receive $25,000 worth of handsome new roofing. (Yeah, you read that correctly. $25,000).

RELATED: TOH Roofing Feature Package

Simonton Vinyl Replacement Windows and Patio Doors

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By Lynn Andriani

Mayonnaise: Olive Oil vs. Regular

Our choice: Olive oil

Why: Even though mayo made with olive oil (such as Hellmann's Mayonnaise Dressing with Olive Oil) still contains some soybean oil, which is the primary oil in most regular mayos, it has about 40 percent less fat and calories than the standard spread. It's a nice compromise between full-fat and light mayo, which has about half the fat and calories of the olive oil version-but tastes like it.

The only drawback: Some may notice a difference in taste (the olive oil adds a slight tang).

RELATED: The Best Non-Diet Diet Tip We've Ever Heard

Lobster vs. Monkfish

Our choice: Lobster

Why: Once upon a time, lobster was a luxury item, something you'd eat on a special occasion at the height of summer. Monkfish, often dubbed the poor man's lobster, was considered a middling alternative. These days, though, the Maine lobster population has exploded, with lobster

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