The familiar jingle emanating from the ice cream truck might seem like little more than a tease this summer. Ask for a Chocolate Éclair, Toasted Almond, Snow Cone, or many other frozen treats at an ice cream truck, and there’s a …
kids
Appreciating Fathers on Father’s Day 2012, by the Numbers
Dads today are probably more like Homer Simpson than Ward Cleaver. But fathers do more around the house and are far more involved with their children than their fathers were. So show a little respect and appreciation, huh?
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 …
Odd Angry Birds Merchandising: Angry Birds-Themed Soda, Jewelry, Debit Cards & More
Sure, Angry Birds is popular. More than 1 billion Angry Birds games have been downloaded around the world. But somewhere between the arrival of Angry Birds toys and T-shirts and Angry Birds’ debit cards, the craze over the silly, …
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 …
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 …
Study: Parents Are Terrible Financial Role Models
Talking to your kids about money shouldn’t be so difficult. They are generally eager to understand what it takes to earn and save, and how to set and achieve money goals. Yet parents are more comfortable discussing bullying and …
Real Winners with Apple’s New iPad: Kids Who Will Inherit Their Parents’ Old iPads
The Economic Argument for Having More Kids
It’s been estimated that raising a child from birth through age 18 costs just under $227,000, or slightly more than the current median price of a home in the U.S. That figure doesn’t include college. Once a four-year degree is …
Money Milestones: What Kids Should Know About Money and When
President Obama and his top financial advisers in November were handed a blueprint for what kids at certain ages should be expected to know about money. The document is still a work in progress. But it’s far enough along to …
10 New Year’s Resolutions For Your Budget
So you’re going to lose 15 pounds, organize your closets and stop biting your fingernails. Great — now how are you going to improve your personal finances in 2012? Having a budget for your personal or household expenses is a great place to start, but New Year’s resolutions are about improving on the good habits you’ve already …
