Shopping for Money

The Web has given new meaning to the phrase comparison shopping. But don't limit yourself to books, CDs, and Furbies. If you're interested in stretching your banking and investment dollars, visit Bankrate.com. Many other financial sites, including Quicken.com, get some of their data from this valuable resource.

Bankrate.com presents you with regularly updated information on the accounts and services offered by various financial institutions. You can find the best rates and national and local averages for big-ticket items such as mortgages, auto loans, and home equity loans. You'll be clued in on who's offering the best rates on interest-bearing accounts (certificates of deposit, money-market accounts, and the like). You'll also find a lot of interesting reading on how best to protect your dollars. And it's all free.