Et tu, Netflix? Besides offering a great product with enormous selection, Netflix has gained legions of loyal customers over the years because of the perception this company was different. It was fair. It didn’t nickel and dime customers with late fees or hidden charges. It addressed problems quickly when customers complained. It wasn’t …
Smart Spending
Why Free Things Can Cost A Lot (And Make Your Brain Freeze)
News that Slurpee sales spike on days when 7-Eleven gives Slurpees away got us wondering why — well, it got our editors wondering why — and we think we have an answer. So, in this Mind Over Money post, we’ll explain how …
3 Changes to Look For at the Checkout Line
For a while, it looked like cashiers would keep disappearing and self-checkout would become ubiquitous. But retailers—supermarkets especially—are falling out love with self-checkout. They still love trying to tempt shoppers …
Olive Garden Admits Making Up ‘Authentic’ Italian Dishes Like Pastachetti
Menu items such as pastachetti and soffatelli “are rooted in the Italian inspiration our chefs draw from when developing these dishes,” says an Olive Garden spokesperson. But will you find them in Italy, or a Little Italy, or any Italian cookbook? Not a chance.
It’s a Deal: 35% Off at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic
A special promotion granting 35% off online purchases at The Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic is set to expire today, July 12. Make your purchase by midnight tonight, and use the coupon code BRONGAP35 to get the discount.
Why Consumers Will Pay a Premium to Get Less Product
With the super-sizing of meals, restaurants found easy profits from consumers willing to pay a little extra to get what seemed like a lot more. Now, to appeal to health-conscious consumers who’d happily pass along the …
Front Yard Garden Controversy Revelation: Lawns Are Useless
The fact that so many people are up in arms about a Michigan woman facing jail time for planting a garden in her front yard is an obvious indictment of meddling local code officials gone off the deep end. The case also serves as …
Odd Consumer Behavior Files: When Stuff Is Free, We’re More Likely to Buy
Slurpees are free today at 7-Eleven. And, oddly enough, if consumers act like they have on previous Free Slurpee Days, the number of customers paying for Slurpees will soar today.
Ugh! Back-to-School Shopping Started Already. Double Ugh! So Has Christmas Shopping
You’ve barely gotten used to the kids being off from school, and you probably haven’t even taken a summer vacation yet. So the fact that back-to-school shopping season has begun may seem annoying. And the idea that stores are …
How Much Do Your Choices Cost You?
To save money recently, I’ve been walking and biking for short trips in my neighborhood instead of driving. Suddenly I have a lot more time to think. And because I make my living by writing about personal finance, it turns out I …
60 Money Tips: Cheap Dates She’ll Love, Spending Sins, Smart Tips for Saving at the Mall
One suggestion that may make financial sense, but that’ll probably make for a seriously uncomfortable conversation around the dinner table, will begin with you asking: “Hey dad, I was thinking of taking a life insurance policy on …
A Weak Argument: Why Some Jeans Cost $300
Why do some jeans retail for hundreds of dollars more than, well, what a typical pair of jeans should cost? The consumer opting for the “premium” product is paying extra for American materials and labor, fancy embroidery on the …