Odd Spending
Bidding for Joe Paterno Memorial Service Tickets on eBay
Would you buy scalped tickets — to a funeral? Fans who want to bid final respects to legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno, who died on January 22, will have a chance to do so this afternoon at his public memorial …
Why (Bill) Size Really Does Matter
In some Big Apple circles there’s a concept referred to as “The New York City Street Tax.” This isn’t anything official. Rather, the idea is that the simple act of walking through the city—walking through any bustling city, …
Which Cities Spend the Most on Snack Foods?
Online retailer Alice.com crunched the numbers to figure out which cities in America spent the most on snack foods throughout 2011. While the national average was $3.79 per order on its site, residents of some cities are more …
The Super Bowl Has Morphed into an Entire Season—for Advertising
Now that the New England Patriots and the New York Giants are set to play in Super Bowl XLVI, the hype for the “Super rematch” of the championship from four years ago can begin. (Where is David Tyree these days anyway?) The hype …
How Much You Spend Each Year on Coffee, Gas, Christmas, Pets, Beer, and More
A new report estimates that the average American worker drops nearly $1,100 annually on coffee. That’s not much less than what the average worker spends to commute to the job.
The Economics of Everest
When Everest Base Camp opens for the spring climbing season in March, Prince Harry may be among the climbers hoping to conquer the world’s tallest mountain, according to The Telegraph. The 27-year-old prince trekked across the …
Mild Winter Could Mean Best-Ever Deals on Winter Coats and Cold-Weather Gear
There aren’t many people who are complaining that this winter has been too warm, too storm-free, and altogether too comfortable. But there is one group griping the weather just isn’t cold or snowy enough: retailers that sell …
Why Seniors Don’t Deserve the Senior Discount
On average, citizens who earn the most money and have the most net wealth are 50 and over. So why is it this group that’s entitled to discounts at the movies, supermarkets, hotels, and nearly everywhere else you turn, while the …
The Weird Ways Gender Ratios Affect Dating, Spending, Saving—and the Size of Your Engagement Ring
Men are known to go to great lengths—and great expense—to impress women. This is most obviously the case when the male population outnumbers that of females, and laws of supply and demand kick in.
8 Celebrity-Endorsed Financial Products We Wouldn’t Buy
Athletes, actors and other famous folks lend their recognizable faces to promote all sorts of products, from breakfast cereal to basketball sneakers to prepaid debit cards (see Suze Orman). But a celebrity endorsement is, of …
Tickets to New Batman Movie Go On Sale Six Months in Advance—And Sell Out
The new Batman sequel, The Dark Knight Rises, is easily one of the year’s most heavily anticipated movies. There aren’t that many films, after all, that could sell out shows six months before the movie debuts.