“Focus more on friends and family, less on material goods.”
For the Good of the Economy, You Should Spend Money You Don’t Have
Oh, and one more thing. You know, the money you don’t have? Ideally, you should be spending it on stuff you don’t really need.
Think Bank Fees Are Bad? Try Living Without a Bank
One writer recently spent a month avoiding banks: She paid bills with money orders, used prepaid cash cards for everyday expenses, and cashed her paychecks at check-cashing stores. Oh, and she paid a total of $93 in fees during her bank-free experiment.
Why Oh Why: Why You Should Care About These 8 Consumer Questions Asking ‘Why’
For instance: Why in the world would you have to pay a fee just to pay your bill?
Cheapskate Wisdom About … Products Saying They’ll Help You Avoid Catching a Cold
“The supplements, remedies and cereals that claim to strengthen immunity (and thereby protect you from colds) do no such thing. It would be one thing if by some magic they made your body produce antibodies to any particular virus. But they don’t.”
Japan’s Bank Cuts: Are Low Interest Rates Really the Answer?
Low rates in Japan and US have yet to boost economies (Toru Hanai/REUTERS)
If you can count on any central bank to cut interest rates at the drop of a hat, it’s the Bank of Japan. On Tuesday morning, Bank of Japan surprised the world by cutting it’s already low-interest rates to effectively zero. The Japanese central bank is trying …
It’s a Deal: One-Day Only Sale with Flights from $29
During JetBlue’s Pop-Up Sale, flights between Boston and New York City (JFK) are being sold for just $29 each way. Plenty of other routes are also on sale, including flights from the Northeast to the Caribbean starting at $59, and cross-country trips from $109.
Cheapskate Wisdom from … Frank Zappa
“If you want to get laid, go to college. If you want an education, go to the library.”
When Nobody Pays Full Price, How Much Are You Really Saving?
In the first half of 2010, consumers used online and downloadable coupons to save $57.4 million on purchases. That sounds like a lot of money, especially because the number doesn’t even factor in the use of traditional coupons found in newspapers and Sunday circulars. But in a world where the only people paying full price are an …
It’s a Deal: 30% Off at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic
Use the coupon code SAVEBIG and you’ll get an instant 30% off orders at Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic. The discount is available for orders placed by October 5.
College Kids: No Escaping the Clutches of Consumer Culture
We’ve passed laws to protect college students from foolishly compiling a mass of credit card debt. They also protect themselves by seeing through old-school advertisements that try to manipulate their spending habits. So does that mean today’s generation of college kids has figured out a new way to “drop out”? Not a chance.
Why every government should be like Hong Kong’s
A few days ago, I became a permanent resident of Hong Kong. That means I can reside in the city without an employment visa. You need to live in Hong Kong at least seven years to qualify – I’ve been here more than eight. When I first arrived I expected to be here for two or three years, but Hong Kong is that kind of place, where …