Financial Infidelity
Financial unfaithfulness is widespread. That’s the apparent conclusion of a new survey conducted by Yahoo and research firm Decipher. It found that about half of all people in a serious relationship have committed some kind of financial indiscretion. According to an article about the survey on Yahoo Finance, the deceptions include lying about he cost […]
Savings Momentum
A hot topic among “consumer behavior” researchers is “shopping momentum.” The idea is that once a shopper makes a purchase they cross an important threshold making it much more likely that they’ll make other purchases on the same trip. While marketers work at spurring faster first purchases, I wonder if the same concept might apply […]
Free Tech Support
Since leaving corporate America two and a half years ago, there’s a lot that I don’t miss: the commute, the meetings. But among the things I do miss is tech support. That’s why an article on MSNBC caught my eye. It pointed to a free online tech support service called Protonic. After creating a user […]
You Can Pay Me Now or…
Spending money on vehicle maintenance is like flossing our teeth. A little bit of unpleasantness on a regular basis can ward off a whole lot of unpleasantness down the road. According to a Bankrate.com article, $1,000 of vehicle maintenance can prevent $8,000 of repairs. The article highlighted the need for regular oil changes, tire rotations […]
Getting Used to Saving Money
It’s car show season, the time of year when people pay to see the latest versions of one of the fastest-depreciating items known to man (can you tell I’m not a “car guy?”). A recent article by Yahoo Finance columnist Laura Rowley encouraged readers to save their oohs and ahs for the savings they’ll generate […]
It All Comes Down to This
“No matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:3 (MSG) If February had a theme, it would be, of course, love. Sure, Valentine’s Day has become a bit commercial, with everything from cakes to multi-carat diamonds available in the shape of a heart, but […]
Motivation for Getting Out of Debt
If you carry a balance on a credit card, you probably know the helpless feeling of dutifully making the minimum payment, only to get your next statement and see how little your balance has budged. A better approach is fixing the amount that you pay each month (instead of paying the minimum amount required by […]
Taxing Questions
Wondering if the cost of your pet pot-bellied pig qualifies as a medical deduction because having it around is so therapeutic? As reported by FiLife.com, until the end of this month, the folks at Turbo Tax are standing by to answer your tax questions–no matter how ordinary or odd–for free. Just submit the question via […]
A Rebate That Sparkles
If you bought a diamond between 1994 and early 2006 (come on guys, you can remember the year you got engaged, can’t you?) you may be able to get back a portion of what you paid in the form of a rebate. As reported by the Chicago Tribune, it’s the result of a class-action lawsuit […]
Where the Rebates Are
Complaints about rebates are skyrocketing, according to a story in U.S. News & World Report, with more shoppers growing frustrated over confusing redemption rules, tight deadlines, and other roadblocks to cashing in on the promised money back. Still, they’re a popular marketing tool, a way for manufacturers and retailers to promote discounts, all the while […]