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Unemployed Young People Are Costing Americans Billions of Tax Dollars. “Whether the rhetoric is coming from the left or the right, politicians and journalists love to pity recession-era youth. ‘Think of the children!’ Republicans crowed during the deficit debacle. ‘Are we condemning our children to downward mobility?’ wrote a concerned Newsweek reporter in 2009.” GOOD

Stop the Cycle of Financial Debt and Future Mistakes. “One day I woke up and realized I was $150,000 in debt and was constantly worried about money. I didn’t envision my life to be like that at only 23 years old, but that’s what happened. Now that I’ve started getting my debt under control, I found I have another financial worry.” ReadyForZero Blog

Use Google Alerts as an Identity Theft Watchdog. “Google Alerts can be a great tool for monitoring any search term you care about—including your own name and other personal information. This means you can use Google Alerts to regularly check if a thief is using your info anywhere online.” lifehacker

Tax Return Preparation Options: Calculator, Computer, or CPA? “As you gather necessary tax documents and prepare to start your tax return, it’s time to decide how you are going to file. And these days, you have several choices.” Money Under 30

11 Things You May Not Know About Retirement Accounts. “I don’t know you personally (yet), but my guess is that you own an IRA or employer-sponsored retirement account such as a 401(k) or 403(b). Such accounts are where the majority of Americans hold their longterm savings. However, like anything governed by the Congress and the IRS, there are plenty of rules, exceptions, and quirks. Here are some lesser-known facts about retirement accounts.” Get Rich Slowly