Thanks to cheap home prices and mortgage rates at historic lows, it’s easy to argue that now is the ideal time to buy a home. But many would-be buyers are worried the market hasn’t yet reached bottom, and years of plunging home …
family
How to Go to the Movies for $1 This Summer
The average movie ticket sold for around $8 last year, and that figure is expected to rise to $8.15 by the end of 2012. But all summer long, it’s possible to go the movies—yes, to the movies, not only watch a Redbox DVD rental …
Summer Jobs Market Bounces Back — But Most Teens Won’t Work Anyway
Hey teenagers, your chances of landing a summer job appear to have vastly improved. A new report shows that the number of teenagers hired in May 2012 was more than double the figure from May 2011, indicating that the jobs market …
Disney World Regains Title of Priciest Theme Park, $100 Admissions Not Far Off
I’ll see your theme park admission price hike and raise you a buck. Disney always aims to be at the forefront of film and theme park innovation. Apparently, it feels the need to be the leader in charging the most for theme park tickets as well. Less than a week after Universal Studios Orlando raised its basic ticket to $88, Disney World …
Death of a Minivan: Sign of the Impending Doom of All Minivans?
Chrysler, which more or less invented the minivan and regularly accounts for half of all minivans sold in the U.S. annually, is killing off one of its best-selling family automobiles, the Town & Country. Why?
Restaurants at Car Dealerships? Jungle Gyms and Water Parks at Malls? New Reasons to Go Shopping
Businesses will go to great, and sometimes unusual, lengths in order to entice customers into going shopping. With the goal of becoming a “destination,” rather than just another place to shop, malls and car dealerships are getting creative. They’re installing new features and additions in order to woo consumers and set themselves apart …
A Mom’s Work Is Worth $113K Annually. Or Maybe About Half That
How much is a mom worth? The answer, of course, is — everybody altogether now — “priceless.” While that’s the safest response (and I swear it’s the truth, Mom!), it’s also boring and vague.
It’s Yard Sale Season! 5 Rules for Smart Shopping
There’s a good argument to be made that many, if not most, things can and should be purchased used. In the interests of minimizing environmental impact and/or just saving a few bucks, all sorts of consumers swear by the wisdom of …
Why We’re Eating Fewer Happy Meals
Kids are less likely to order kids meals now. For the past five years, there has been an annual decline in the number of fast-food child meals that come with toys. In 2011, Happy Meal and other child meal sales were down 6%, from …
Prom Arms Race: Typical Teen—Or Rather, Her Parents—Drops Over $1,000 on Prom Now
Last year, we lamented how costly proms were: According to a Visa survey, the average prom attendee wound up dropping $807 on photos, limos, hair and makeup styling, tickets, and of course, a dress or tuxedo. Fast-forward to this …
Being 30 and Living With Your Parents Isn’t Lame — It’s Awesome
Just how much of a bummer is it to be well past the age of adulthood and still living under your parent’s roof? As this living arrangement grows increasingly common, the perception is that it’s not so bad after all. In fact, …
The Declining Economic Might of the Once Coveted 18-to-34 Demographic
For years, retailers, marketers and businesses of all shapes and sizes have gone out of their way to try to win over that “all-important” 18-to-34-year-old demographic. Now that this age group is broke and facing huge student …
