Calculate Your Financial Comeback
If you’re like most people, your investment accounts took a beating in 2008. Wondering when you might recover from those losses? The New York Times has a free online calculator that’ll help you estimate an answer to that question. Of course, no one knows what future market returns will be. And a wise person once […]
What’s On Your “To-Be” List?
“My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.” – Proverbs 7:1-3 The start of a new year always gets me thinking of […]
Who Cares What People Think?
How do you feel about a person ahead of you in a store checkout line who is using coupons? Do you think to yourself, “Now there’s a smart shopper”? Or do you think, “What a cheapskate”? The New York Times reported on a study in which people using low-value coupons (50 cents off on a […]
Living Well on $44k
How did you do on finding holiday gift deals this year? Can you beat this: 27 gifts for $90? As reported on TODAY, that’s just the latest in a long list of amazing money moves executed by Steve and Annette Economides, who have turned smart shopping into an extreme sport. The Arizona couple, along with […]
Irrational Money Moves
Some of the most interesting (and odd!) research about money comes from behavioral economists and psychologists. As noted in a recent Economist article, one study found that diners tend to spend more in a restaurant named “Cafe 97” than one named “Cafe 17.” Another study looked the behavior of people who carry a balance on […]
A Fresh Start
Money matters usually rank among people’s top New Year’s resolutions and this year is no different. MarketWatch reported on one of the many resolution surveys in which “Get out of debt or save money” came in as the number one New Year’s commitment. In fact, 90 percent of survey respondents had a money-related goal on […]
Overdraft Protection For Less
More than three-quarters of all banks automatically enroll their customers in the most expensive form of overdraft protection. That’s a key finding from a new FDIC survey, as reported by MarketWatch. If you are among the 25 percent of people who spend more than is in your checking account at some point in a given […]
Gift Card Watch-Outs
Despite a raft of bad publicity, gift cards continue to be a popular choice among holiday shoppers. If you give or receive a gift card this year, Consumer Reports offers some helpful advice. For givers, the magazine suggests steering clear of retailers that are known to be struggling (it’s tough to redeem a card from […]
Gifts That Last
When shopping for gifts this year remember that the least expensive items are not always the best deals. Be sure to also consider how long a gift may last. As we considered what to buy our kids this year we were mindful of all the broken toys that fill our toy bins. So, we’re giving […]
Deals That Delight
One upside to a down economy is that lots of products are on deep discount before Christmas. But which deals will truly satisfy? According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, behavioral economists and psychologists have found that products that enrich your relationship with friends or family members rate the highest on the satisfaction scale. […]