A comprehensive, borderline-obsessive list of strategies for saving money and avoiding wasted time at your friendly neighborhood government-run establishment.
New High School Class Schedule: Algebra, Bio, Phys. Ed., English, 401(k)
More states are requiring high school students to take personal finance classes in order to graduate—which seems like a pretty good idea, considering that based on what’s happened lately in the world of real estate and consumer debt, kids aren’t likely to be absorbing good financial lessons at home.
College Applications for Dummies—and Cheapskates
A growing number of colleges are allowing would-be students to use fast-track applications, and in some cases that means that all a high school senior needs to do put a signature on the page. Application done. No forms to fill in, no recommendations to gather, no application fee, no essay. Just sign here.
Can banks be too big?
Each year TIME co-hosts the opening panel at Davos. And each year some schmuck like me has to immediately write up a story about the discussion to make the deadline of our European magazine edition. Since I’ll be working on that for a good chunk of the day, I thought I’d leave you with some early thoughts from one of our …
Get This: You Don’t Have to Pay Money to Exercise
I’ve always been puzzled by the variety of ways people will pay to exercise, from gym memberships to personal trainers and beyond. Added to that are all of the exercise paraphernalia—designer yoga outfits, pulse monitors, skin-tight cycling shirts and shorts, all manner of tiny digital entertainment devices. To get some exercise, …
Oddities of the Blackrock-AIG report
So far it appears the most noteworthy document of the 250,000 pages obtained by the House Committee on Government Oversight and Reform, which is holding a hearing on Wednesday on AIG’s government bailout, is a 44-page powerpoint presentation put together by bond firm Blackrock analyzing the insurer’s ability to negotiate haircuts on its …
Cheapskate Wisdom from … David Brooks
“Over the past few years, many investment bankers behaved like idiots, but so did average Americans, racking up unprecedented levels of personal debt.”
It’s a Deal: $10 Off $30 Purchase at Party City
With a coupon (thanks Techdeals), you can save $10 on a purchase of $30 or more at Party City. Valid for purchases through February 1.
Double Standard: Of Morals and Mortgages
You’ve probably heard that a high-profile realty group that had agreed to pay $5.4 billion for a New York City housing complex just announced it was not going to make good on its loans. You might describe the (former) owners as misguided, stupid, or unfortunate. You probably wouldn’t think of calling them immoral. So why is the average …
Don’t Want to Pay for a Web-Enabled Cell-Phone? Too Bad
To many customers, the recent cell-phone plan price cut heralded by AT&T and Verizon actually amounts to an upsell.
Who’s not at Davos
So far a big topic of conversation here in Davos is who decided not to attend this year’s World Economic Forum. Now, maybe that has something to do with the fact that the festivities don’t officially kick off until tonight and the panel discussions don’t begin until tomorrow, and so all people are left with is checking in at their …
Saving Money: It’s All in Your Head
Silly games can equal serious savings. Here are a handful of psychological money tricks that work.