The 2008 Best List
Our complete picks for top consumer values, from stocks and mutual funds to credit cards, retirement-planning tools and tech equipment. Plus: 26 Web sites you'll want to bookmark.
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, December 2008
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We at Kiplinger's pooled our collective expertise to select our annual awards. We've sought out the top values in all the fields we cover: mutual funds, retirement-planning tools and credit cards -- even the best places to shop for insurance or find the best travel deals.
Take a look at the Best for 2008:
The Best Financial Services
Our picks for excellence from savings and checking accounts to services that help with college bills.
The Best Retirement Tools
Whether you're just getting started saving or you're nearing your target, we name the best tools and give recommendations to help you reach your financial goals, now.
The Best Stocks & Mutual Funds
Our investigation of market buys for today and beyond includes a great fund for low minimum investments, the best stock to buyand hold for the long term and a top-notch online broker.
The Best Credit Cards
Choose the card that fits your spending style. If you charge everything but pay your monthly statement in full, see our pick for a rewards card. For those who carry a balance, we've found a low-rate deal.
The Best in Travel, Cars, Home and Fun
From cars to the best airfare deals to low-cost prescription drugs, take a look where we found good prices on living expenses.
The Best Tech
Innovation in technology continues to offer clever, cool, user-friendly gadgets that enhance our lives. See the shortlist of our favorites that stand out for value and quality.
The Best Web Sites
We share our favorite sources for stock-market commentary, insurance quotes, prescription-drug prices, travel deals and more.
BONUS: Experts' Picks From Investing to Entertaining
We asked top-notch analysts and fund managers for their best investing ideas for the new year -- and rolled in a few fun picks to live well, too.
Reader Comments (6)
Posted by: j at 02/28/2009 12:32:05 PM
I need help. I need a good, safe and affordable software program that covers virus, hackers, etc. thanks!
Posted by: Debbie at 03/09/2009 08:00:31 AM
As the unemployment rates rise, more and more people are looking at "work from home" opportunities on the web. I'd like to see information on reputable at home businesses and work from home opportunities not requiring an investment but real work. Thanks,
Posted by: rjamesh at 04/07/2009 07:04:00 AM
Debbie, try virtualvocations.com
Posted by: Ms. Hardge at 04/20/2009 01:05:20 AM
Working from home is good but running your own business from home is even better. Not just for the income opportunity and convenience but for great tax advantages too....
Posted by: FJ at 08/27/2009 05:24:37 PM
I'd like to know of salary website(s) that take as input: city, state, educational qualification, years of work experience, and role/position to give min/max or average salary for the input parameters. Thx!
Posted by: L at 09/08/2009 02:16:36 PM
Warning: You recommend Gasprices.Mapquest as a reliable source....It only gives prices for selected gas brands and not all stations within a region. In my area, Arco is much less expensive but is not even considered as a possibility. They steer you to select stations with higher gas prices.