Ever since my wife, Jude, found out that Target regularly drops off brand new items at our local Goodwill Store, she has gotten in the habit of shopping there. On a recent visit, she was surprised to find new LEGO sets for 60 percent off the original retail price, so she stocked up on what […]
A big part of wise money management is buying stuff that lasts. I thought about that recently while replacing the batteries on one of our kids’ toys and realized that somehow we had gotten out of the habit of using rechargeable batteries. It prompted me to do some research into which batteries are best, and […]
With Amazon reporting that it now sells more ebooks than paperbacks, it’s clear that lots of people have gotten comfortable reading books on a screen. In part, it reflects the rapid acceptance of ebook reading devices like Amazon’s Kindle, Barnes & Noble’s Nook, and the Sony Reader. It may also be because each company offers […]
We recently needed to buy a new garbage disposal. The process we used to get the best product for the best price can be applied to all sorts of purchases. Save Money With the Right Reaction Many years ago I remember hearing a negotiation expert talk about one simple technique that’s virtually guaranteed to save […]
I used to be strictly a tap water guy. It’s inexpensive and everything I read about the water in Chicago, where I live, told me it’s among the safest in the country. Reading an article entitled “Message in a Bottle” in Fast Company only furthered my commitment to avoid bottled water. Troubling News About Water […]
I’m excited about the start of a New Year, the opportunity to pursue some important new goals, and the opportunity to share ideas with you on how to live with the freedom and joy that come from getting the money thing right. As we reset the calendar, this seems like an appropriate time to explain […]
The personal finance blog Watson Inc asked a great question recently: what do you wish you had done differently financially? The author named four of his own financial regrets: financing a car, taking out too much in student loans, not getting started with investing earlier, and not delaying grad school until he could better afford […]
As we move into the retail industry’s most important season of the year, Consumer Reports is out with some helpful guidance on what to watch out for. The biggest trap, according to the magazine, is purchasing an extended warranty. These are significant profit generators for the stores that sell them, but are rarely a good […]
Navigating the many temptations of the holidays can be a challenge. It’s a time when a lot of people overspend, overeat, and miss out on all that makes this time of year so meaningful. When I teamed up with the Market Research firm Synovate a couple of years ago to conduct a Holiday Regrets survey […]
Gift cards are this year’s most requested holiday gift, topping the wish lists of nearly 60 percent of adults, according to the National Retail Federation. The good news, as reported by Walletpop, is that recent laws have made gift cards more user-friendly than ever. For example, all cards must now be valid for five years […]
