In one of the most significant reforms to global finance to emerge from the Great Recession, regulators from around the world agreed to new standards for banks on Sunday, called Basel III. The rules are aimed at making the world’s financial system safer and less susceptible to the sort of recession-inducing meltdown we endured in 2008 …
111 Frugal Tips for Smarter Buying and Serious Saving
This week’s link roundup covers fees no prudent consumer should ever pay, supermarkets that can save you big-time on grocery bills, reasons why you might want to splurge on a latte from time to time (OK, this isn’t just about saving money), and a no-excuses look at the real reasons you’re broke.
Investing In A Foggy World Economy
One of the hallmarks of a smoothly functioning ec0nomy is the efficient flow of capital to the most attractive opportunities. These can exist in stocks, bonds or direct investments. At other times nothing seems very attractive, either because it’s too risky or too pricey. That’s pretty much where we are today and it’s the mark of an …
Cheapskate Wisdom About … Hunger, Obesity, and School Lunches
“Hunger and obesity are the children of the same father. It is hard to eat healthy because it costs more. A gallon of milk is maybe $3.50, nearly $4.00, but a two-liter bottle of soda is only 99 cents.”
12 Signs of Continued Hard Times
Including more participation in food stamp programs and more people drinking beer at home, along with fewer people investing in stocks, buying videogames, going to the movies, and working at jobs that match their skill sets.
It’s a Deal: Extra $10 Off $25 Purchase at Macy’s
On Friday, September 10, and Saturday, September 11, you can get an extra $10 off when you spend at least $25 on sale and clearance apparel and select home items at Macy’s. This is a deal for early birds only, valid only for purchases made before 1 p.m. on either day, and a coupon is required.
So Is It a Good Idea to Give Gift Cards Now?
Not really, even with new federal rules ensuring that cards won’t expire for at least five years, and that “dormancy fees” can’t take away from a card’s monetary value unless you haven’t used the card in a year.
Now Here’s What a Smartphone Really Costs You
I was just reading a CNNMoney story about “What smartphones really cost.” The piece details how much smartphones cost to manufacture, and how much they’ll cost the consumer buying one with or without a contract. But there’s one key expense that’s left out of the equation.
It’s a Deal: Drugstore.com’s Great Penny Sale
During Drugstore.com’s Great Penny Sale (thanks Bargainist), customers can get select items (like hand cream, body wash, and liquid soap) for just 1¢. Orders must be placed by September 13, and there’s a limit of one 1¢ item per account. Free shipping is available for return customers ordering at least $49 worth of merchandise, and for …
Saving Just Ain’t What It Used To Be
What with the rates of interest-bearing accounts dropping to their lowest levels in more than half a century, it’s nearly as productive to shove your money under a mattress as it is to deposit it at a bank.
China’s yen for yen
One of the most important questions facing currency markets these days is: What’s China up to? How Chinese policymakers decide to invest their staggering $2.5 trillion in reserves can have a huge impact on currency values worldwide. Making matters more perplexing, Beijing usually doesn’t let us in on what those decisions are, and the …
Stock Market Abandonment: Is the Shift to Conservative Investing Wise or Shortsighted?
A CNNMoney story says that there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of young investors willing to take on risk—meaning putting money into the stock market. In 2001, 30% of Americans younger than 35 said they were game for investments with substantial risks, with the idea that with great risk came great possibility of a bigger …