At the Masters, a well-meaning fan gave back a valuable golf ball when asked. He joins a handful of other spectators who have similarly forfeited easy money, illustrating the pitfalls of a common money miscue known as mental accounting. Are you guilty?
By most conventional metrics, it appears the U.S. economy is improving: jobless claims are down, consumer confidence is up and the stock market appears stable. But if you find some of that economic data baffling or are just looking for reasons to feel good about the economy, maybe some different measurements are in order. Here are six unorthodox ways of judging how the economic recovery is doing.
Also, learn from the mistakes of others: Check out lists of foolish (and wasteful) assumptions consumers make all the time, the dumbest money moves during one’s college days, and incredibly stupid things people do when shopping online.
Also, one series of insights has it that you should manage your money similarly to the way you golf—or rather, the way a good golfer golfs.
How’s this for a sign of the times: Clubs with 18-hole golf courses in overdeveloped central Florida are on the market for under $1 million.
There are financial lessons to be learned from a single mom on food stamps who finagles Caribbean vacations, an Oscar-winning actor who is too cheap to play golf at private clubs, and a man who tricked himself into saving money by pretending he was going to be a father.
In honor the upcoming holiday weekend honoring work, here’s a roundup with a heaping share of tips celebrating the concept of working less and relaxing more.
Even a cheapskate has to spend money sometimes. I’ve asked various frugal folks—bloggers, writers, money-saving and consumer experts—to compile personal, totally subjective lists of the products, services, experiences, and other “things” they’re willing to shell out good money on. Because if a cheapskate is willing to drop cash on something, you know it’s worthwhile.
