Membership in Amazon Prime—the online retail giant’s packaged service that includes free two-day shipping on all orders, free streaming of online movies and TV shows, and one free Kindle book to borrow monthly—costs $79 a …
Smart Spending
Starbucks Drops Undisclosed Bean Fee
A latte at Starbucks, however overpriced, doesn’t really qualify for the short list of American’s biggest rip-offs. Most Starbucks customers are well aware of the fact that the cost to make a coffee or mocha is a teeny-tiny …
Holiday Price Wars: Hot Market for e-Readers Under $100, Tablets Under $200
If there’s one thing that the mad rush on $99 HP TouchPad tablets proved in late summer, it’s that there are plenty of price-sensitive consumers in the marketplace. They’ll bite on tablets and e-readers, but only if the price is …
A New Study for Drivers Who Hate the Check Engine Light
Every driver dreads the appearance of the Check Engine light. The foreboding glow next to the odometer means that a visit to the auto repair shop is needed, and that money will soon be leaving your possession. So which automakers …
The Car Starting at $12,445—Available Only for $14K+
The low base price of the Hyundai Accent helped the car get named to lists such as U.S. News’ top 10 Most Affordable Cars. But while the car’s MSRP starts at $12,445, buyers will find it all but impossible to locate an Accent …
The Best Day to Buy Just About Anything Online
If you ask people their least favorite day of the week, the consensus is almost always Monday. Everybody hates Mondays. But now, there’s a reason to love them.
Why Retailers and Restaurants Love Giving Away Gift Cards
It’s that time of year again. To drum up holiday sales, retailers are once again taking creative license with the term “Black Friday”, and national chains are dishing out bonuses to fuel gift card purchases (think $5 bonus card when you buy a $25 card) that’ll wind up in stockings and awkward Secret Santa office parties. Why is putting …
Your Thanksgiving Dinner is Going to Cost 13% More This Year
Thanks to the rising commodity prices, a Thanksgiving meal with all the trimmings will cost about 13% more than last year. No word on the costs of a Turducken.
6 Percent of Us Are Still Paying Off Last Year’s Holiday Bills
Shoppers are more cautious and more pessimistic going into the holiday shopping season this year as compared with 2010, according to new research. Maybe that’s a good thing, given that the survey also found 6% of us — 14 …
Black Friday Starts on Thursday This Year at Walmart
Leave it to Walmart to one-up the competition. During the winter holiday season, the retail giant has a history of starting price wars over things like books and DVDs, and pushing the envelope with free shipping offers and …
Fewer Holiday Travelers This Year Will Mean Higher Ticket Prices
If you haven’t booked your flight for Thanksgiving, be prepared to pay up: Ticket prices around the holiday will be 6% to 12% higher than last year.
Is the Popularity of Gift Cards on the Decline?
In a recent survey, nearly half of adults said they received a gift card during the holidays last year. That’s a tremendous number of people. Nonetheless, there’s reason to believe that gift cards aren’t quite as hot as they once were.