It’s almost enough to make you want to move to Canada — if you can afford it.
Psychology of Money
Consumers Prefer to Get More Rather than Pay Less – Because They’re Bad at Math
Is it better to get more or pay less? If you think they’re basically the same, you’re like most consumers. And, like most consumers, you’re wrong.
There’s One Upside For Unemployed Older Workers: Happiness
A recent study suggests that there’s at least one upside for the millions of beleaguered older Americans among the nation’s long-term unemployed: Unlike their working peers, retirement — officially calling it quits –actually …
Wine Drinkers Will Pay More for Bottles with Hard-to-Pronounce Names
What’s in a name? One study shows that in terms of wine, the name on the label can have a big impact on how much drinkers enjoy the taste—as well as how much they’re willing to pay. Wine enthusiasts report higher levels in both …
Orbitz Shows Higher Prices to Mac Users
Imagine going for an oil change and finding out that the auto shop charged you a higher price just because you had a luxury car, so they figured you could afford it. You’d probably get ticked off and find another mechanic, right? …
Take My Wife … Please: Why We Charge Less for the Things We Love
Conventional economic wisdom holds that the more emotionally attached we are to something — our home, a cool car, a treasured item of clothing, a beloved piece of furniture — the higher the price we seek when selling it. In …
Could That Facebook ‘Like’ Hurt Your Credit Score?
A plan to study data mining of social-networking sites bankrolled by Germany‘s largest credit-reporting agency provoked outrage after internal documents about the project were leaked to German media outlets.
Even the Economy Can’t Escape the ‘Zombie Apocalypse’
Braaains — as in, have we collectively lost ours? Yes, the recent instances of drug- or psychosis-fueled cannibalism are horrific, but suddenly everyone seems to be obsessed with the reanimated dead. The buzz got so loud that …
More Americans ‘Flunk’ Themselves in Personal Finance
Financial advisers have a saying: When the stock market is going up, everyone looks like a genius. These days, folks aren’t feeling so smart—and not just about their investments, but about many aspects of their personal finances.
Why $50,000 May Be the (New) Happiness Tipping Point
A landmark 2010 Princeton University study showed that money really can buy happiness — up to a very specific point. The researchers (including Nobelist Daniel Kahneman) found that up to about $75,000, annual income closely …
Should We Stop Referring to People as ‘Consumers’?
The term “consumers” is routinely used in place of “people” and “citizens.” While most people (consumers?) don’t notice or care much about the terms being used interchangeably, there are those who resent being labeled as …
24 Hours Until Tax Day: 7 Reasons We Procrastinate (and How It Costs Us)
While it’s possible to file your taxes months in advance, it’s commonplace to procrastinate and not get to the task until the last minute—increasing the chances of making mistakes and overpaying while you’re at it. According to …