In terms of value, a fancy $100 dinner at a restaurant just can’t compete with a good $30 brunch.
A small portion of Bank of America credit card customers will soon be hit with all-new $59 annual fees. Who, exactly, will be assessed the fees? For the most part, it’s the customers who will find it the most difficult to walk away from their accounts.
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.
A long time ago—way back in 2009—frugality was cool, and showing off luxury items and high-end brands in conspicuous fashion was, well, unfashionable at the very least. There was talk of an entire “recession generation,” whose consumer behavior would always be affected by the era’s dramatic financial collapse. Yet in recent surveys, more people agree [...]
A still-struggling, still-uncertain economy has increased the chances that you can’t help dreaming about the recession, your workspace is shrinking, your roommate could be a millionaire (on paper anyway), and you’re so sick of neighborhood potholes you’re considering filling them in yourself.
Federal, state, and local taxes and fees now account for 16.3% of the average wireless customer’s bill. In four states, wireless taxes are north of 20%. And what’s the most taxed state of all? That dubious achievement goes to Nebraska, where wireless users are taxed to the tune of 23.7%.
And here’s another hint as to why the national savings rate has decreased: According to a recent survey-two-thirds of Americans are suffering from “frugal fatigue.” In other words, they’re sick of maintaining careful budgets, abstaining from fun splurges, restricting spending, and all that business about responsibility and living below one’s means.
Seeing as money is often cited as a prime reason couples break up, it’s no surprise that the economic downturn has had a big impact—sometimes positive, often negative—on many marriages. The tough economy may also be causing the nation’s college students to hit the bottle less too.
There are plenty of paying gigs to be found in online marketplaces, where employers hire freelancers to complete quick mini-tasks like transcribing interviews, verifying info listed on websites, and committing quasi-plagiarism. The only problem with this system—well, the only problem besides the plagiarism—is that even the most diligent and productive workers shouldn’t expect to earn [...]
Judging by the recent sharp rise in coupon usage, it’s clear that consumers understand coupons can save them money. If you’re willing to partake in less-than-legal activities, coupons can also help you make money—as the case of a Long Island mailman who earned $35K by selling stolen coupons can attest. Talk about “extreme couponing,” right?
One of the leading proponents of strategic default—a.k.a. walking away, even when you have the money to keep up with mortgage payments—says there are three situations in which it’s actually a good idea to keep paying the mortgage.
