This post comes from Jason Steele at partner site Money Talks News.

They cut in line, get bags checked for free, and then get upgraded to first class. Who are these lucky elites? They're savvy fliers who have obtained what's called status in their airline's frequent-flier program.

The traditional way to obtain status in a frequent-flier program is simple: Just fly every week and wait until your new status card arrives in the mail. Yet, as companies cut travel budgets, many have lost their elite status, and now must pay baggage fees and wait in lines with everyone else.

If you're on the verge of losing your elite status or have never enjoyed it in the first place, don't give up hope. Here's how to reach and maintain elite status with your airline's frequent-flier program:

This post comes from Kelly Kehoe at partner blog Wise Bread.

They say that money can't buy happiness, but Disney seems to prove that statement false. As the self-proclaimed "Happiest Place on Earth," Disneyland (along with California Adventure) is indeed a lot of fun for the whole family.

But with exorbitant prices on everything from tickets to food, it could make your available funding fall faster than the Tower of Terror. Luckily, there are some ways to get around these inflated costs.

This post comes from Jeanine Skowronski at partner site MainStreet.

While thousands of bank customers have found better deals on checking accounts and all of their associated fees by moving their money from big banks to smaller community banks and credit unions since Bank Transfer Day, do the smaller institutions offer the same benefits for credit accounts?

Credit cards issued by credit unions generally offer lower interest rates than cards from major issuers, but not all of these products are created equal.

When I was in college, the generic no-name beer with its plain white label and black lettering was a favorite at dorm parties, where we wrote our own names on the blank labels. My tastes have changed since then, but so have generic products.

I may not buy no-name beer anymore, but I still reach for private-label grocery brands to stretch my food dollars, and I'm not alone. During the recession, a lot of people turned to store brands to save money -- and many grew to actually prefer those products.

In fact, people are sometimes willing to pay more for store brands than their name-brand equivalents, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Unlike the man who claimed a pricey Dallas home for $16, squatters in Detroit houses that failed to sell at a tax auction may be able to keep their new digs -- for a mere 500 bucks.

The Detroit News reports:  

In a stark sign that paying property taxes is optional for some in Detroit, Wayne County Treasury officials decided last week its workers will go door-to-door to some of the 6,500 city properties unsold at last fall's tax auctions and offer to make a deal with whoever is living inside. That could include renters, squatters or the owners who defaulted on their taxes.

This post comes from Barbara Marquand at partner site Insurance.com.

While lovebirds are nesting in honor of Valentine's Day, the less lucky in love may be planning a hasty -- or not so hasty -- exit. Sadly, when good lovin' goes bad, there's more to the fallout than emotional baggage and bickering over who gets the dog.

Insurance plays a role, too. Here's how in five heartbreaking scenarios:

This post comes from Glenn Ruffenach at partner site SmartMoney.

So you've put the finishing touches on your retirement plan, and you're set to withdraw 4% from savings each year, because that's what financial planners (and columnists) have long advised.

Can you guess what's coming?

This guest post comes from J. Money at Budgets are Sexy.

Can you imagine if you lived off only 50% of your income -- how much less stress and more freedom that would open up for you? I know it's not possible for everyone to do since we're all in different phases of our financial lives, but it's at least worth a few minutes of your consideration -- even to just formulate a plan on how to actually make that happen.