Every dollar adds up – save enough of them and you’ve earned yourself a manicure.
Parents: Amazon May Owe You Money
Amazon is returning more than $70 million to parents whose children made in-app purchases without getting permission, says the Federal Trade Commission. Yes, if your child was using one of these apps, which asked whether he wanted to, say feed animals or buy ice cream -- questions no child has ever refused. What's more, the ice cream appears [...]
5 “Earth Friendly” Labels that Can Mean Nothing
Sometimes the sneakiest marketing is on a product's package, playing right into your earth-friendly focus when really, the words are distractions costing you more but helping much less. Here are the occasions when higher-priced products may be greener only when it comes to the money-making strategies of the companies selling them. Without oxygen, nothing is "biodegradable." [...]
Amazon Gift Cards Work Only One Place
Amazon gift cards work only one place. Ah, the post-holiday hangover – we’ve all got pounds to lose and a gift cards to spend. For the weight, you’re on your own (Personally, I can say only that eliminating vodka is a good start but not enough...) As for the gift cards, it’s important to [...]
6 Toys to Skip this Holiday Season
The Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood is not impressed with the way "Hello Barbie" spies on our kids. While kids get excited about the holiday gift-giving extravaganza, toy companies are salivating. Sure, store shelves are lined with hundreds of products designed for fun, but some game-makers managed to sneak in a few ways to spy on our families, [...]
Bad News about Online Reviews
Sometimes online reviews are anything but objective, the government found. Today we slide "online reviews" into the vast column titled, "Don't Believe Everything You Read on the Internet." An automobile shipment company called AmeriFreight offered discounts and other cash incentives to customers for writing glowing online reviews, says the Federal Trade Commission. Giving people cash is an excellent way to [...]
Disciplined say “What-the-Hell” to Debt
It's the strongest dieters and debtors who slip and say, "What the hell?"
February Shopping Tips: Buy Dresses, Not Eyeglasses
Economists may not dress well but they sure know a bit about dress prices: for example they're lowest from now until the end of February. Because just as strawberries are priced more sweetly in summer, this is the season when there are an abundance of sweet deals on dresses. In fact all big ticket items - cars, vacations [...]
Holiday Retail Sales Slow But it’s Not Our Problem, People
Sales in stores were slow and we didn't spend as much as anyone expected, but that might be a good thing. Christmas sales were low - we didn't spend as much in the stores as anyone had expected - and now it seems the news reports are blaming us for the bad economy. The nerve! They're screaming that [...]
4 Guilt-Free Chirstmas Splurges
Important holiday shopping fact: some things are cheaper in December -- and by "some" things we mean "expensive" things. Wait! Don't rush out and spend in response to holiday sales - that's for suckers. But if you've got the money to buy any of the following items, December might present the time take action. Prices for jewelry [...]
Apple Prices High for the Holiday
As apple pie season approaches, prices for the fruit are heading sky high. Thanks to the smallest apple crop since the Apple prices are sky high. 1980s - whether was cold in Michigan and on the East Coast last spring, when those apple buds are supposed to appear - prices for all varieties are [...]