Retailers have been promoting back-to-school deals since, well, since before many kids were even out of school. But the annoyance of endless seasonal promotions is only one reason to hold off a little while longer on back-to-school purchases.
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Falling Electric Car Prices Are Saving — Or Destroying — the EV Market
Ford is the latest automaker to drop prices on its electric cars, slicing $4,000 off the 2014 Focus EV. The move will undoubtedly succeed in getting more drivers to take a second look at the car. But how long can Ford—and other automakers slashing EV prices—keep on losing money with each electric car sold?
A Disloyalty Movement? Supermarkets and Customers Drop Loyalty Card Programs
7-Eleven’s Free Slurpee Day: This Year With Bigger Slurpees!
It’s July 11, or 7/11, the day each year that a certain convenience store chain celebrates as 7-Eleven Day. That’s the official name anyway. Most customers know July 11 simply as Free Slurpee Day.
Supersizing Strikes Back: Homes and TVs Get Bigger, Sales of Yachts, RVs, Trucks Rise
After years of downsizing and making do, American consumers are going big once again.
Why Saving Money and Cutting Debt Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
Consumer savings are up, and credit card debt is down. But experts say the economic current is running against us, so even those who think they are swimming are probably just treading water.
Hertz Drives to Be King of Anytime, Anyplace, Any Duration Rental Cars
In the near future, when you swing by the drugstore or home improvement center, renting a car could be as easy as picking up shampoo or a new ratchet set.
Rideshare Battle Shifts to L.A.: City Tells Uber, Lyft, SideCar to Stop Picking Up Riders
Sharing may seem harmless—a helpful, good thing for society, even. But for months, “sharing economy” businesses like Airbnb, FlightCar, and Lyft have come under legal fire in cities such as San Francisco, New York, and Austin. This week, ridesharing companies, which match nonprofessional drivers up with paying passengers, received …
Workers Revolt: Forget Stocks, Give Me Lifetime Income!
The do-it-yourself retirement has largely failed. Swapping traditional pensions for 401(k) plans sounded good while markets were roaring. But 15 years of choppy returns has brought us full circle: Most workers now say no benefit would be more valuable than guaranteed retirement income.
Four in five employees would forfeit at least 5% …
5 Ways Companies Win by Giving Stuff Away
Consumers love freebies. But the companies handing out complimentary donuts, comic books, ice cream, pancakes, and Slurpees love giveaways even more. On the surface, freebies look like obvious money losers. But when handled wisely, giveaways are all but guaranteed to boost sales.
Last week, Procter & Gamble hosted an enormous giveaway …
Dorm, Shmorm: Meet the Guy Who Lived in a Van for Two Years During Grad School
Many grad school students are poor, and pride themselves on living frugally while working on their degrees. One post-graduate student—and now, the author of a new book—took cheap living to the extreme, living in a van while …
Let’s Hope You’re Not Trying to Sell an Electric Car Anytime Soon
In May 2012, the average trade-in value for a 2011 Nissan Leaf was around $25,000. A year later, that same car’s value had fallen to roughly $15,000.