The continued uncertainty and overall dreariness of the economy doesn’t seem to be dampening consumers’ holiday spirits. Nor is it stopping shoppers from stocking up on LED holiday light displays, inflatable lawn decorations, and …
Curious CapitalistEurope
Why the Euro Crisis Proves Stocks Are The New Bonds
Woe to the unfortunate souls still exposed to European debt. The smart money (read: people like Warren Buffett and the world’s more successful hedge funders) got out of it a year and a half ago. It almost doesn’t matter …
40% or More Off! Cyber Monday’s Over, But Huge Online Discounts Keep Coming
The Monday after Thanksgiving is renowned for site-wide discounts from e-retailers. Combined with nearly universal free shipping promotions, sites knocked 30% or more off all merchandise purchased online, helping to make for the biggest Cyber Monday sales numbers ever. While Cyber Monday is gone, the deals aren’t. Actually, in some ways, …
Impatient? Then Your Credit Probably Stinks
Were you sitting and drumming your fingers while waiting for this page to load? Do you think instant coffee takes too long? If you’re impatient, more than just your blood pressure will suffer: You’re also liable to have poor …
Holiday Store Window Design: Designed to Make You Stop (and Spend)
The holiday window displays in stores like Lord & Taylor and Macy’s range from traditional (Santa, Christmas trees, gifts) to whimsical (ice-skating puppets) to just plain weird (Lady Gaga as half-woman, half-motorcycle). All of …
How the U.S. Can Avoid a Lost Decade
Today’s global problems could paralyze the U.S. economy and stock markets for the next 10 years – but that can be prevented.
Is Facebook Really Worth $100 Billion?
That’s the question many people are asking amid rising chatter that the booming social network plans to go public in 2012 and raise up to $10 billion in a deal that could value the company at more than $100 billion.
The Eurozone’s Moment: Why S&P is Turning Up the Heat
Standard and Poor’s decision to threaten eurozone countries with ratings downgrades may seem like bad timing. But if it keeps markets on edge, European leaders might be scared enough to crank out some real solutions, rather than …
4 Best Credit Card Offers for Holiday Spending
New data indicates that Americans are hitting the plastic with increasing frequency when it comes to their holiday spending. This can be a trap for the unwary or undisciplined: Those credit card marketers know exactly what …
Why the Postal Service is Slowing First-Class Mail Delivery
It’s another move by the United States Postal Service to get a handle on its growing financial difficulties. But it could make things even worse.
Holiday Spending: Just How Important Is Free Shipping to Online Shoppers?
Increasingly, online shoppers won’t complete their orders unless free shipping is part of the deal. Nearly two-thirds of online purchases last week were shipped for free.
‘Cyber Week’ Holiday Spending Hits an All-Time High
Cyber Monday was the heaviest online spending day ever. Cyber Week brought in $6 billion — a record. And there were three days that week that eclipsed a billion dollars in spending. Bottom line: The online holiday shopping …