Well 2017, it’s been nice to know you. What a year it’s been for consumers, and I don’t mean that in a good way. Looking back at my most clicked-on stories, it’s obvious which headline captured the most attention: The Equifax hack, and all its fallout. At a time like this, [Keep reading]
People rushing to pay their 2018 taxes early to avoid adverse changes in the just-passed Republican tax plan should hit the brakes. It’s very possible that at least some of those early payments will have been made in vain, according to an announcement made Wednesday by the IRS. The payments [Keep reading]
Every year I make a calendar for my family and friends — been doing it 20 years. It’s my way of saying, “Here’s what I’ve been up to for the past 12 months when I probably should have been spending more time with you.” The 12 months, and the cover, are [Keep reading]
If you have any doubts that the companies you trust with your data are indeed watching you closely, a few new creepy ads should disavow you of that notion. In fact, it seems digital firms are starting to lean in to the creepy. The ad above, and the ads below, [Keep reading]
You’ve probably heard that residents in “rich,” high-tax coastal states like New York and California are getting badly screwed by the Republican tax bill that’s about to pass. What you haven’t heard is that plenty of people in decidedly not-rich places like Ohio, Arkansas, Nebraska, and even West Virginia will [Keep reading]
Buy or rent? It’s an eternal question made even harder lately by a) the crazy increases in real estate prices and b) the crazy increases in rents. Sometimes, it feels like you can’t win. But you can lose if you put blinders on and are unwilling to consider both possibilities. [Keep reading]
“Passengers still have to go searching for airfares with a calculator in one hand, and that’s how the airlines like it.” — Chrisopher Elliot of consumer travel site Elliot.org. The Trump administration just helped kill some price tags. That’s bad for consumers, but good for huge, monopolistic airlines. The main [Keep reading]
Merry Christmas! Another day, another story of America shamefully and needlessly wrecking families. All in the name of upholding the letter of the law. This time, it’s a Mexican couple from New Jersey who’ve lived in the U.S. for 30 years; their 16-year old son will now be in custodial [Keep reading]
Move over, resort fees. There’s a new enemy in your quest to get a good deal on a hotel room: The “urban destination charge.” Travelers cramming into New York City to catch a glimpse of the famous Christmas tree outside Rockefeller Center are now getting hit with a relatively new [Keep reading]
Gift cards will be America’s second most popular present to give this holiday season, trailing only clothing. Six in 10 givers will buy someone spendable plastic, according to the National Retail Federation. But if gift recipients had their way, gift cards would be No. 1. (Clothing came in second, 61% [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan