Budgeting
Who Wants to Play ‘Food Stamp Challenge’?
Come on down! This week, all comers are welcomed to be “contestants” in a challenge simulating what it’s like to live on food stamps, or SNAP benefits as they’re now called. Elected officials and everyday citizens in one U.S. city are trying to get by with a food budget of just $5 daily, which is the average individual benefit.
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.
Prepaid Debit Cards: The Lesser of Two Evils?
“I’d take the $3.95 any day over the $35 overdrafting or for some other fees.”
This statement, from a focus group participant, neatly sums up America’s evolving attitude prepaid debit cards. We don’t like the fees, but we like banks even less — and trust providers of prepaid cards more than we trust mainstream banks, according to …
Maybe the Slackers Who Never Set a Budget Know Something
A new study questions the long-accepted wisdom of setting a budget and sticking to it. The purpose of establishing a budget is to rein in one’s spending, but under certain circumstances, setting a budget does the opposite — and …
What Teens Worry About: Drugs, Sex and … Future Salaries?
A bunch of new surveys about teens and money all point one direction: The kids are learning less and feeling terrible about it. Where is the adult supervision?
Why This Time Around, Drivers Aren’t Flipping Out About Rising Gas Prices
When gas prices soared in 2008, protests erupted around the world, and automakers in Detroit had to beg the federal government to bail them out lest they go out of business. Gas prices are soaring again in 2012, yet the auto …
First Job? 6 Critical Steps to Long-Term Security
The Class of 2012 may be surprised to hear that they need to start saving…right now. Here are 6 ways to make saving for retirement both painless and bulletproof.
Will High Gas Prices Bring On Another Summer of the ‘Staycation’?
Record-high gas prices have already hit certain parts of the country. The national average is creeping closer and closer to $4 per gallon, with steady increases expected for the months ahead. Soaring fuel costs and consolidation …
A Step Backwards in Spreading Financial Literacy
A new report shows the that financial education movement is losing momentum. Fewer states are requiring coursework. In some, they’ve stopped teaching economics at a time when economics is on the front page almost daily.
The Meatless (and Less Meat) Revolution
This year, the average American will eat 165.5 lbs. of beef and poultry. That may sound like a lot, but it’s actually a 12% decline compared to 2007, when an annual intake of 189 lbs. of meat per person was standard. This week, …
Consumers Are Upset About High Gas Prices—But Not Enough to Stop Shopping
Plenty of drivers are worked up about the cost of gasoline. In a recent survey, 85% of Americans said that the government should take “immediate actions” to rein in fuel prices. But while there’s no denying people are agitated …