For years we’ve been hearing about the advantages of retiring abroad: low taxes, low cost of living, great climate and exciting cultural attractions. It’s all true in certain countries. Yet there hasn’t exactly been a mass exodus of retirees from the U.S.
Smart Spending
7 Smart Bargains from People Who Know Best
For the Best Fast Food Bargain, Don’t Look to the Drive-Thru
A mammoth quarter-pound hot dog and a 20-oz. fountain soda for a grand total of $1.50? It’s hard to beat a bargain like that, unless you’re preparing meals at home. You won’t find this deal at McDonald's, Taco Bell, or Nathan’s …
Gas Prices Are Actually Cheaper Than They Were a Year Ago
Gas prices certainly don’t seem cheap. The majority of drivers around the country are paying close to or above $4 a gallon, and the story for nearly all of 2012 so far has been that prices at the pump will just keep on rising …
Dying Is Expensive: The FTC Funeral Home Abuses
Consumers are at a big disadvantage when conducting business in unfamiliar venues. For most of us, happily, that includes shopping for funerals. As a result, the funeral home business is rife with exploitative practices, despite …
The Automaker with a Problem Most Businesses Would Envy
Not long ago, Hyundai had a less-than-stellar reputation for quality and had to resort to gimmicks to sell cars. During the Great Recession, the South Korean automaker’s fleet included the cheapest car sold in the U.S., and it …
Why We’re Eating Fewer Happy Meals
Kids are less likely to order kids meals now. For the past five years, there has been an annual decline in the number of fast-food child meals that come with toys. In 2011, Happy Meal and other child meal sales were down 6%, from …
Size Matters: Now Automakers Brag About How Small Their Engines Are
Is all that classic macho car chatter about V8s, horsepower, and “muscle” disappearing? Now, amid $4 gas and government requirements for cars with better mileage, car manufacturers are pumping their own tires regarding how …
Get an Edge on Razor Manufacturers: 8 Strategies to Save on Shaving
Most men take little joy in shaving. Keeping a clean-shaven face is an obligation — a chore that’s necessary for maintaining a professional appearance on the job, and perhaps to maintain some semblance of attractiveness to …
Poll: Consumers Care Less About the Environment Now. Happy Earth Day!
So much for saving the planet. A recent survey reveals that over the past few years, Americans have become less likely to say they care a great deal about the current and future state of the environment. Similarly, we’re also …
What’s Hot, New, Weird, Delicious, Refreshing, and Exciting in Pizza and Beer
Two classic staples for Friday night, or any night really, are getting makeovers. Among the newest options for consumers are beer that doesn’t taste like beer, frozen pizza that doesn’t taste like cardboard, and gas stations that …
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.