Throughout the worst of the economic crisis and a post-recession era bogged down by uncertainty and high unemployment, consumer spending on pets remained strong. In surveys, owners said they refused to spending on their dogs …
Saving
Free Pancakes Today at IHOP, and More Freebies (Pretzels, Ice Cream) Coming Soon
Tuesday, Feb. 28, is Free Pancake Day at IHOP, when each customer is welcome to a short stack of buttermilk pancakes on the house.
Living to 100: As It Becomes Common, Money Regrets Follow
We’re on track for a population with 600,000 folks over the age of 100 by 2050. Yet almost nobody is planning for it financially.
Drivers Upgrading to New Cars at Slowest Pace in Years
Buy a new car, and the odds are getting better and better that you’ll still have it when it’s an old car. Not long ago, after buying a car new, the average driver kept it for four years before selling it or trading it for another …
Why You’re Supposed to Be Extra Focused on Saving Money This Week
If you’re been splurging and throwing money around lately, perhaps you didn’t get the memo: February 19 to 26 is officially dubbed “America Saves Week.” Feel free to go back to your freespending ways starting February 27.
Don’t Look Now — But You’ve Already Been Enrolled in an IRA Savings Plan
Automatic enrollment in 401(k) plans has been such a success that a lot of people want to duplicate it with IRAs. Proposals that would require employers to establish automatic payroll deductions for IRAs have been kicking around …
Are the Money-Saving Strategies on ‘Extreme Couponing’ Bogus?
If you’ve ever watched the TLC show “Extreme Couponing,” at some point you probably thought something along the lines of: $500 worth of groceries for $6.79? There’s no way things could work this way in real life. At least in the …
Why Giving Your Kids an Allowance May Not Teach Them Anything
Parents have been paying their kids an allowance since the Industrial Revolution on the theory that it will help kids better understand budgets and spending choices as adults. Now a prominent academic says it’s all been a waste of time
Beans vs. Single-Serve Cup: Just How Much More Does K-Cup Coffee Cost?
We all know how much coffee costs at Starbucks—too much. But it’s hard to get a handle on exactly how much coffee made at home costs, and how the price of a cup from freshly-ground beans compares to a cup from a single-serve …
How to Get the Government to Cover Your Cell Phone Bill(s)
Last year, a federal program paid out $1.6 billion to cover free cell phones and the monthly bills of 12.5 million wireless accounts. The program, overseen by the FCC and intended to help low-income Americans, is popular for …
Personnel Finance: Productivity Down, Employers Target Debt Stress
Financial education advocates point to three primary places to reach those who need help with their money: in schools, the point of sale, and at work. A debate rages over the first two. But efforts to educate employees at the …
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, …