Last year, a federal program paid out $1.6 billion to cover free cell phones and the monthly bills of 12.5 million wireless accounts. The program, overseen by the FCC and intended to help low-income Americans, is popular for …
Smart Spending
Even Counterfeiters Are Trading Down These Days
Faux luxury goods have been a scourge of high-end manufacturers for years. Consumers who want the look but not the price tag of designer names like Gucci or Louis Vuitton would fork over a fraction of the price and get an …
All Signs Point to a Big Year for Car Sales: New Cars, Used Cars, You Name It
After years in which tons of dealerships closed, auto brands disappeared, natural disasters caused vehicle production disruptions, and consumers just didn’t have the money or desire to drop big bucks on cars, 2012 looks to be a …
One College Slashes Tuition by 22%, Promises No More Silly Financial-Aid Games
Shopping around for a college education can feel a lot like shopping for a new car — in that very few people wind up paying the sticker price. Many colleges set tuition prices with the assumption that, on average, students will pay 33% less, thanks to financial aid and scholarships. But one university has decided its pricing strategies …
Going to the 2012 London Olympics? Better Be Preparing
Britain may end up being the most popular vacation destination this summer, and there’s no bigger event happening in the U.K. this year than the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. While it’s still months away, if you’re not actively …
Gas Price Hike: Expect $4 a Gallon—or Perhaps $6—By Spring
The national average for a gallon of regular is about $3.50 right now. That’s significantly below the highest ever (yet) price of $4.11, hit during the summer of 2008. Nonetheless, 2011 was the overall priciest year ever for …
As Netflix Becomes More Like Pay TV, a Pay TV Giant Looks More Like Netflix
A just-announced joint venture between Verizon and Redbox will soon offer a service combining video streaming and physical DVD rentals. Now wait just a sec. Isn’t there some company that already does both of those things?
Big Mall Makeover: Using Empty Malls for Farms, Housing, Wedding Receptions
In recent years, consumers have been buying more and more goods from outlet malls, dollar stores and online retailers. By no small coincidence, over the same time period traditional shopping malls have suffered, and now have the highest vacancy rates in 20 years. All those empty stores—and sometimes, entirely empty malls—have …
How Computer Geeks Aim to Put a Stop to Fake Online Reviews
A collection of five-star ratings can do amazing things for a business. It’s not all that surprising, then, that hotels, restaurants, local services, product manufacturers and even doctors and dentists are known to plant glowing …
Krispy Kreme Valentine’s Day Deal: Nothing More Romantic Than Free Donuts
Now through February 14, when you buy a dozen donuts at Krispy Kreme, you’ll get a dozen free Valentine’s cards—and each card is good for a free donut.
Super Bowl Viewers Expected to Use Facebook, Twitter at Record Levels This Year
9 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Trust Online Reviews
You shouldn’t believe everything you read. And if you’re reading online reviews of products, hotels, restaurants, or local businesses or services? Then you should believe even less.