The word ephemeral means “lasting for a very short time.” It’s often used to describe things that are fleeting, temporary or short-lived. It can describe a moment, a feeling or something natural and ...

Matt Richardson is the senior managing editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com. He writes and edits content about personal finance ranging from savings to investing to insurance.

A government shutdown happens when Congress fails to pass funding bills or a stopgap measure to keep federal agencies ...