There is only one true Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), and one Cyber Monday (the Monday after that). But that hasn’t stopped retailers from using the terms—which have evolved into serving as catnip for shoppers—to apply to all sorts of other sales and promotions throughout the year. Often, though, the deals are a dime a dozen.
Smart Spending
Finally! After Months of Increases, Gas Prices Drop
In June, amid plummeting gas prices, the prospect of a $3-per-gallon national average seemed like it could become a reality by Halloween. After reaching the most expensive ever gas prices for September—which came on the heels …
Why the New Ford Fusion Is the Most Important Car, Like, Ever
The 2013 Ford Fusion is just a car. It’s got four doors, four wheels, seating capacity for five, and a starting price of $21,700. There are lots of cars like this on the road. So why is everyone saying the new Fusion is much more …
JCPenney Would Be Doing Great If the Stores Were Less Like JCPenney
In a meeting with analysts this week, JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson—the retail superstar famous for making the Apple Store a monster success—proudly showed off a model of the JCPenney store of the future, featuring an assortment …
Why Aren’t More Families Signing Up for Cheap Internet Service?
A little over a year ago, Comcast introduced Internet Essentials, in which low-income families are eligible for home Internet service for just $9.95 per month. While roughly 2.3 million families in the U.S. qualify for Internet …
Ouch! Majority of ‘Hot’ Holiday Toys Cost $50 or More
We may still have over a month until it’s Halloween, and another couple of months must pass before it’s Christmas, but Toys R Us just released its Holiday Hot Toy List. Perhaps more surprising than how early the list is being …
Fall Freebies! Free Donuts, Free Ice Cream, Free Coffee
In September, the stars align for consumers seeking sweet treats without having to open up their wallets.
6 Ways to Stay Out of Debt This Holiday Season
Every January, there’s a proliferation of financial advice about how to recover from holiday-related spending. How about trying something different this year? Start strategizing now for ways to avoid running up those bills and …
Highest Ever Prices at Pump for September: When’s the Gas-Price Plunge Coming?
Gas prices rarely rise after Labor Day. But they did this year, hitting a national average of $3.88 recently. That’s the highest ever average price for a gallon of regular in September, as GasBuddy noted. What’s more, in many …
Women and Money: Why You Need to Take Control Now
The good news: More than a third of American women are now the family breadwinner (look at that!). The bad news: We still tend to pass the buck on important money matters, such as investing and retirement. Ready to take charge of …
Happy Holidays for Gamers: Price Wars Expected for Video-Game Consoles
Gamers won’t be able to get their hands on the new Nintendo Wii U games system until November 18, but preorders from some major retailers for the $300 consoles have already sold out. Discounts for the Wii U are unlikely in the …
Hurray for Depreciation! Used-Car Prices Should Be Getting Cheaper
The Great Recession caused the usual marketplace for new and used cars to go a bit haywire. Normally, a new car depreciates substantially the moment it’s driven off the lot, with cars sometimes losing as much as 25% to 30% of …