The recent collapse of gold prices is stirring a lot of conspiracy theories. Are the bars in Ft. Knox just painted bricks?
Psychology of Money
Was Bank of America Hacked?
Seven days after Bank of America instituted a hugely unpopular $5 fee for debit card use and six days into widespread reports from customers about error messages, slow service and other problems accessing the home page or other …
Now That’s Creepy: Americans Will Blow $7 Billion on Halloween
Our financial state is pretty scary right now, and we’re all watching our spending pretty closely. So what’s the one thing Americans are willing to shell out for in this economy? Costumes, decorations and entertainment designed …
Hot New Marketing Target: Infants
Want to Stop Spending? Try Thinking About Cash
Almost all of us have walked out of a store having spent more than we planned thanks to a salesperson who helpfully suggested that your kids would love the accessories not included with a toy, or that the shirt you’re trying on …
More Banks Hop on Debit-Fee Bandwagon: Will It Last?
Last month, megabanks Wells Fargo and Chase both announced pilot programs in which they will charge some customers a $3 monthly fee to use their debit cards. Additional banks, including SunTrust and Regions, have followed suit with plans for similar fees. Cue outrage. “A lot of it goes back to the history. Debit cards were supposed to …
Why You Shouldn’t Buy Winter Clothes in Winter
In our first Moneyland post we advocated a “Wait and C” strategy for big financial moves, especially spending ones. Our basic idea was that many decisions, to the extent that they’re affected by hidden biases or impulses, would …
4 Home Buying Lessons We Should Never Forget Again
Reasonably enough, Americans hate almost everything about the real estate recession. Underwater owners hate that they can neither sell nor refinance, distressed homeowners and consumer advocates hate robo-signing, and just about
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Downgrading the American Dream
The American Dream has been downgraded, too.
Got the Post-Vacation Blues? Don’t Worry—You’ll Get Used to Them!
As vacation season ends for many of us — bringing, for some, a sense of dread about the return to workday (if not actual employment) routines — we thought we’d offer a bit of encouragement, which might also help you make the …
Lessons of the Crash: 4 Homeowner Trends We Hope Will Continue
While buyers take the bulk of the heat for ballooning up home prices at the peak of the market, homeowners were not entirely innocent, either. During the sub-prime era, the owner/seller-side bad behavior included fatal missteps …
Why Some Lowball Real Estate Offers Work — And Others Don’t
In the more than four years of the real estate recession, many wanna-be homeowners have been hunting for houses way above their realistic price range, banking on the hope that they can make a lowball offer and get it accepted.
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