families & children
It’s Not You, Honey, It’s the GDP: Why a Bad Economy Is Good for Marriages
We’ve written before about the upside of down economies: people grow closer. Now comes word of yet another silver lining in the barrage of depressing economic news in recent years: it might be good for marriages. That’s one of …
Protect Yourself Against Harmful Rip-offs
Just in time for summer, a nonprofit environmental watchdog group announces the 2011 Sunscreen Hall of Shame—and that only about one in five sunscreens passes muster for safety and efficacy.
Oh, the Humanities! College Grads with ‘Fluffy’ Majors Make Way Less Money
A new study indicates that—shocker!—college students majoring in subjects such as social work, visual and performing arts, and theology can expect to make far less money than workers who majored in engineering, computer …
Which Came First: Cheap Fast Food, or the Desire for Cheap Fast Food?
“People don’t like cheap, tasty, high-calorie fare because McDonald’s offers it. McDonald’s offers it because people like it.”
98 Money Tips: Quirky Credit Card Perks, ‘Happy Accident’ Deals, Home-Decorating Ideas Under $5, and More
Also, this week’s link roundup features everything you need to know about navigating this summer’s bargain real estate market—including arguments that, even with the relatively low prices of homes today, it’s still smarter to rent.
Insane Clown Controversy: Deep Thoughts on the Movement to Retire Ronald McDonald
Firing a clown isn’t going to end the childhood obesity problem. I actually sorta think that kids are scared of clowns, so the presence of that creepy white-faced clown face may keep them away from McDonald’s. But obviously, based on the recent outcry to get the Golden Arches to stop marketing to kids, there are plenty of people who want …
Are Fast Food Chains Turning Kids into Fat Gamblers?
Chuck E. Cheese and McDonald’s have come under fire not only for marketing heavily to kids, but for causing obesity and encouraging gambling.
Survey: College Is Unaffordable, and a Poor Value. But It’s Still a Good Investment?
Is this a mixed message? Of course. It’s also a formula for college to keep getting more and more expensive.
Everything You Need to Know About Consumers, Part II
In Part I of this consumer factoid extravaganza, we learned all sorts of weird info about spending habits, housing costs, and family expenditures. For the sequel, we’re dealing with moms, Mexicans, McDonald’s, men’s dwindling DIY skills, the earning power of maiden names, how using a cell phone can be a sign of poverty, grandparents …
Quick Money Tip: Make Your Kids Pay the Bills
They don’t have to pay with their own money (though that’d be nice, wouldn’t it?). But one expert heartily endorses sitting down as a family to physically pay the bills—with kids doing the math, stuffing envelopes, balancing the checkbook, and all.
The Big List of Consumer Curiosities
Here’s a compendium of interesting, sometimes weird, sometimes surprising factoids about consumer spending, housing, modern family life, and more.