Roderick Kelly

Many people have heard of CDs or certificates of deposit. But not many will say the same for market-linked CDs, also known as equity CDs or market or indexed CDs.

Though they've been around since the 1980s, renewed interest in market-linked CDs is a product of our current interest rate environment.

Interest rates are low. Really low. So it's understandable that people are looking for some risk-free or lower-risk ways to earn the consumer price index (CPI) rate on their savings. They're not asking for double-digit yields, just a measly 1.5 to 2 percent.

A little-known tax credit can help you save for retirement, even if you feel you don't have the money to do so.

The formal name is the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit. Most people, however, know it simply as the Saver's Credit, a two-timing savings strategy that reduces taxes and increases retirement.

By the numbers, here is how the Saver's Credit works: Let's say you pay yourself $2,000 in a qualified retirement plan, such as an IRA or 401(k). If your adjusted gross income is within a certain range (see chart below), the IRS allows you to receive a tax credit up to 50 percent of that contribution or, in this example, $1,000.

Sometimes you need extra income in order to meet unexpected expenses or to save for a major purchase or goal. With the rise of the sharing economy it is easier than ever to latch onto short-term gigs, especially if you have a strong Internet connection and some idle time.

If this sounds like something you've done or are considering -- you have plenty of company. A new study by the Brookings Institution showed a "surge" -- as they described it -- in such jobs after analyzing Census Bureau information on non-employer businesses of one, in other words, self-employed, unincorporated sole proprietors.

Investing can be intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. The key is to get a few basic concepts down first and then set clear goals for your money. Then it's a matter of determining which tools will be best for the job at hand -- do you want to be risk-averse, passive investor? Are you focusing on retirement and college savings at the same time?

To the end, we've gathered all the basics in one place so anyone can quickly get a sense of the mechanics of the market and what it means to their future.

The graduation parties are over, and it's time to get down to business. Armed with a sense of maturity and independence, you are ready to conquer your coursework in order to snare your first dream job. But if you're like most college students, your pocketbook has nary a dollar to its name.

Whether you're a rising freshman, a dorm veteran or a parent of either, here are 21 commonsense money-saving strategies that can stretch your dollar and ease your financial strain while in college.

1. Drop the latte habit

This one is a no-brainer. Skip the white-chocolate-cinnamon-chai-latte* with extra pumps and learn to love ... plain old coffee. And, of course, brew it yourself in your room (single-serve coffeemakers are quick and easy) or get your coffee as part of your meal plan. Consider this: According to a report by CBS News, the average cost for a single trip to a nationally recognized coffeehouse is $3.25. Not bad for a quick pick-me-up, right? But three trips a week add up to $42.25 a month. Even cutting back on one trip a week puts $126 back into your pocket over a typical school year of nine months. Other ideas: Instead of ordering a latte, ask for an Americano and add your own half-and-half. Or ask for a medium-size specialty drink with a large-size cup full of ice for a larger iced coffee drink at a lesser price. (*real drink!)

I spend days psyching myself up to make the calls. My targets include the very companies that make dialing the number possible: communications providers. Why am I connecting with these connectors who give us access to wireless phone, email, entertainment and internet? To cut that very expensive cord.

This is no trivial matter. According to a survey by eMarketer, the average U.S. adult is expected to spend 5 hours and 45 minutes each day on devices in 2016, including mobile, laptop, desktop and tablet. Add television on top of that and we sit in front of multiple devices throughout each day. As “The Internet of Things” matures, the cost of communications will command a bigger portion of our household budgets. On the horizon: advancements in home and health monitoring, wearable tech and mobile-everything.

It also costs a ton. Cable, internet and phone can easily top out at $250/month. Here's how I tackled the problem: