Researchers have found that—get this—if you’re unlucky enought to carry a certain gene in your DNA, you’re a lot more likely to have credit card debt. The study prompts the question: Is buying $300 jeans in your genes?
Without Free Shipping, We’re Not Buying
Online shoppers really like free shipping—and apparently, stores are willing to oblige. The percentage of online purchases that include free shipping is way up.
New column: The dollar in danger
Survey: Restaurant Dessert Prices Up, App Prices Down, Oklahoma Has Cheapest Beer
A survey of national restaurant chains in 21 U.S. markets reveals that menu prices have gone up, by and large, though they haven’t risen as sharply as they have in the past.
Next Wal-Mart-Target-Amazon Showdown: DVD Price War
The price match-o-rama continues. Amazon, Wal-Mart, and Target, which are already engaged in a sub-$10 price war over new books from bestselling authors, have begun matching each other’s DVD prices discount for discount. The results are prices so cheap that the stores are guaranteed to lose money on the sales.
It’s a Deal: Up to 50% Off on Outerwear from Old Navy
Coats, vests, fleeces, and more for men, women, boys, girls, and babies are being discounted by up to 50% at Old Navy. The sale ends November 12. More details here.
Down With Traffic Cameras!
Thus far, in the battle of humans versus machines—a.k.a., drivers versus traffic cameras doling out speeding tickets—it’s the machines that are kicking our fleshy tushes. Because it’s hard to beat the “Terminator”-like efficiency of a traffic camera in court, voters are choosing another strategy: removing the cameras entirely.
Black Friday Shopping Tips
Here’s one sure-fire way to save during the holiday shopping blitz—but one that a lot of folks probably don’t want to hear: Don’t buy stuff for yourself.
Cheapskate Wisdom from … a Locksmith
“People assume that the locks sold to the general public are secure. A lot of times, when the label says ‘fortress’ or ‘faultless’ or ‘defiant,’ they’re easy to pick, and the strength of the bolt isn’t very strong. The bottom line is, you get what you pay for.”
It’s a Deal: Spirit Airlines Flights from $29 Each Way
Tickets all over the country (and in the Caribbean as well) are on sale from Spirit Airlines, starting at $29 one way based on a round-trip purchase. The sale is valid for travel dates in November and December, and tickets must be purchased by Thursday, November 5.
Who Is Truly the Coupon Queen?
Several women have been anointed with the title of Coupon Queen. But whose coupon-clipping, money-saving skills are so impressive that we should bow in awe of their majesty?
Are finance professors to blame for the financial crisis (Part 2)?
Titan of academic finance Gene Fama writes in his blog:
The premise of the Fox book is that our current economic problems are largely due to blind acceptance of the efficient markets hypothesis (EMH), which posits that market prices reflect all available information. The claim is that the world’s investors and their advisors in the
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