The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau officially opens its doors today. Conceived in the wake of the subprime meltdown and the subsequent financial market crash, the CFPB was envisioned as a financial services version of something like the Consumer Product Safety Commission, except that instead of pulling lead-tainted toys or …
Extreme Couponing: Never Hotter, Yet Never More Pointless
Spending a good chunk of the work week hunting and gathering coupons, then strategically shopping at the supermarket for hours, all to save $50, $75, even $100 on groceries, is a dubious use of time. Now that supermarkets, …
Want Happiness? Don’t Buy More Stuff — Go on Vacation
When it comes to spending money on things or experiences, the research is clear: Doing brings more happiness than owning.
5 Money-Saving Credit Card Tricks for Travelers
Everybody knows about reward credit cards that let you accrue points or miles toward your next getaway. But there are other ways your credit cards — and how you use them — can save you money. You can stretch your summer …
How Much Will Students Really Save Using Amazon’s E-Textbooks?
It’s a very frustrating part of the college experience. You pay more than $100 for a textbook, haul it home and then never open it. You turn it in at the end of the semester and get a pittance back. Heck, even if you read the …
Does Costco Cause Inflation?
The Federal Reserve has gotten a lot of flack from critics who claim that its efforts to boost the economy has caused prices to rise, and could lead to massive inflation. But a new study suggests that at least some of the nation’s rise in food prices is not the fault of the Fed. It’s Costco.
The bulk retailer, which generally charges …
Why Harley-Davidson’s Earnings Are (Finally) Roaring
Amidst all the economic anxiety gripping Washington and the rest of the nation, more new Hogs are hitting the road.
Dodd-Frank Anniversary: Has Anything Changed?
Thursday marks the one-year anniversary of the Dodd-Frank financial overhaul. The new law, which came on the heels of financial catastrophe, was supposed to usher in sweeping change by tightening the reins on the unwieldy financial industry. Now is a good time to ask: Is the financial system any safer?
Not likely. And here are a few …
What the Latest Apple Earnings Report Means
I’ve recently had to upgrade my five-year-old computer equipment, so I’ve been hanging out a lot at the local Apple store. And I’ve been struck once again by just how well designed Apple’s products are. Admittedly, the iPad seems like a solution in search of a problem – I’m still not quite sure what to do with the one I …
Guess What? Join a Car-Sharing Service and You’ll Drive Less, Walk and Bike More
One year after car-sharing service Zipcar was introduced in Baltimore, the company conducted a survey to find out what life on the road has been like since members joined the program. The results are probably what you’d expect—folks are in cars less, much less likely to buy cars, and more likely to walk, bike, and use public …
6 New Developments in the World of Electric Cars
American drivers will soon be able to buy—or share—a wider variety of cars that require little or no gasoline to operate. Here, a half-dozen noteworthy developments for everyone curious about the rise of electric vehicles.
College Revenues From Credit Card Companies Hit the Skids
A new Federal Reserve report shows that in 2010, credit card issuers paid $73 million to colleges as part of marketing deals — down 14% from $85 million in 2009.
