For thoughtful, insightful answers—or at least discussions with some funny comments—about these and other pressing consumer issues, here’s a roundup of recent posts and stories. The list even includes a special bonus question: What’s the difference between a collection and junk?
Planning
Shout Out: ‘How to Go to College for Free’
What can you learn by watching college courses online, without paying a dime?
The Recession’s Big Impact on Marriage and … College Student Drinking Habits?
Seeing as money is often cited as a prime reason couples break up, it’s no surprise that the economic downturn has had a big impact—sometimes positive, often negative—on many marriages. The tough economy may also be causing the nation’s college students to hit the bottle less too.
The Secret to Saving $80K on College Tuition
The trick, which is probably much easier than getting a scholarship, is convincing someone to marry you.
119 Money Tips: How to Avoid Investment Scams, Fake Consumer Reviews, Supermarket Rip-offs, Horribly Lame Valentine’s Gifts, and More
Also: the best-ever personal finance books, and tips for saving on everything from weddings to the latest gadgets.
125 Tips for Saving Money, Shopping Smarter, Finding Jobs, and Just Getting Through a Bad Day
This week’s tip roundup includes things you must do (find a checking account that doesn’t charge fees), products that come with less “product” than they used to (like Häagen-Dazs), and coupons you probably don’t use but should.
Pay-As-You-Drive Auto Insurance: Coming to a Highway Near You?
If you drive infrequently, you could save a bundle from paying by the mile, rather than a flat amount for coverage over a specified time period. One study, in fact, says that the average driver would save $270 per car with a mileage-based insurance policy.
A Full Year of College for $999?
A Baltimore-based for-profit company is offering online core 101-style college courses—English, statistics, algebra—for $138 per month, or at the infomercial-esque price of $999 for a full year.
Cheapskate Wisdom … About For-Profit Colleges
“Education should lead students out of poverty, not into it.”
How Private College Is Like a New Car
In both cases, few people ever pay the sticker price.
News That’s Good and Bad for Consumers, the Economy, and the World
Sometimes, news and notable trends aren’t entirely good or altogether bad. They’re a bit of both. For example, should we be happy that unemployed support groups are flourishing online? I suppose we should—though we’d all be happier if there was no reason for such groups to exist.
242 Money-Saving Tips From Around the Web
Here’s a roundup of links with advice for dropping your monthly cable bill, evaluating diet programs (extra tip: plain old water may be a genuine miracle product in this department), consistently getting discounts at major retailers like Target and Sam’s Club, figuring out ways to pamper your pets on the cheap and the easiest ways to get …