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, …
Personal Finance
Self-Serve Revolution: How Touchscreens Are Replacing Human Customer Service
Back in the day, screens allowed you to do one thing: Sit down with popcorn and watch Blade Runner. Today, they can do things that even go beyond what last generation’s science fiction could imagine. Those old sci-fi writers did …
Customer Service Via Twitter? Some Companies Are On It, Others Not So Much
With retailers working hard to grow the ranks of their Twitter followers, consumers are increasingly using the service to get basic customer service and even to try to resolve disputes. But a new study, released Wednesday by STELLAService, shows their success rates vary widely.
It’s No Coincidence That Changing Banks Is a Huge Pain in the Butt
Planning to switch banks? Hope you have a bottle of aspirin handy because, odds are, the bank is going to do everything it can to keep you around, and that adds up to a major migraine for you. A new report documents all the roadblocks banks throw up to keep their customers from leaving, from charging you money to generating as much …
6 Steps for Building a Financial Plan for Aging Parents
In this week’s TIME Magazine cover story, columnist Joe Klein tells his story of caring for, and eventually losing, his elderly parents. The article is powerful in part because it deals with an issue that — if we’re lucky — most of us will face.
Forget Black Friday — Here Comes ‘Back-to-School Saturday’
We already have Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Presidents Day Sales, July 4th Promotions and about every “car sales event” you can think of. So it only makes sense that someone finally came up with the idea of Back-to-School Saturday.
Where to Get Free Doughnuts on National Doughnut Day
Today is National Doughnut Day. What, you didn’t know the first Friday in June was National Doughnut Day? Now you do. More importantly, now you can find out which doughnut chains around the country are doling out freebies all day …
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?
As Gas Prices Go, So Go Prices for Used Cars
What do prices at the pump have to do with prices at the used car lot? They actually tend to mimic each other. Higher gas prices tend to cause drivers to want to spend less out of pocket on their automobiles. That means rising …
What’s the Point of High-Powered ‘Green’ Sports Cars?
The best argument for going green is that it’ll help conserve natural resources and money at the same time. The new breed of “green” supercars led by Ferrari and Porsche doesn’t really do either.
Students Lose When Financial Aid Goes Onto Fee-Laden Debit Cards
Thought the student loan crisis was bad as it is? Now add hefty fees into that mix. Providers say students can avoid the fees that pile up when they elect to receive their financial aid on a debit card, but new research from a consumer advocacy group finds that these companies throw up roadblocks to keep the fee revenue rolling in, even …
Hey Airlines, Do You Really Want to Split Families Up on Planes?
In a purely business sense, it’s easy to understand why airlines are more or less forcing passengers to pay fees for seat reservations on planes: more fees equal more profits. But the scheme is hated by families — and is likely …