Some consumers are so annoyed by the new chip-enabled credit cards that they’ve begun avoiding stores that require them, a survey from Mercator Advisory Group, a payment industry research firm, claims. That’s an unwanted headache for small business owners, especially those fighting for shoppers during the busy holiday season. The “avoiders” group is small but [Keep reading]
Not long ago, Cara was sharing a $3,200 rental payment with roommates. Today, she makes a $770 monthly mortgage payment to own a home that’s about the same size. What happened? She moved, of course. From Washington D.C. to Buffalo, N.Y. Recently, Credit.com shared a list of America’s least expensive [Keep reading]
Ryan Will was shopping at a Loews near his Washington State home recently and got one of those calls from his credit card issuer, USAA. The operator was trying to verify if a pending credit card change was legitimate. In this case, it was $800 at a plastic surgeon’s office somewhere in [Keep reading]
American families are stressed and squeezed by economic math that works against them. For example, as I wrote recently, homes in zip codes with at least one above-average school cost twice as much as homes in zips without a good school. I’ll repeat this message because it’s so important: the [Keep reading]
The idea of a “Second Act” has captured America’s imagination for several reasons. People are living longer, and careers are getting shorter, leading many to search for new meaning as life changes. But if you really want to learn something about second acts, check out Laura Coffey’s new book, My [Keep reading]
While you were busy digesting turkey and playing with your smartphone, a remarkable thing happened to American culture. More people shopped online than in stores on Black Friday this year, according to Adobe Systems, a remarkable digital milestone. And, as you might imagine, a disaster for old-fashioned stores. It’s time to [Keep reading]
The following is excerpted from the new book The Debt-Free Degree by John F. Wasik. The ebook is available on Amazon.com and other sites. You can conquer the student debt beast by saving early and often – if you’re in a position to do so. We opened up Section 529 [Keep reading]
Reports of Black Friday’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, and if you doubt that, show up at a big box retailer at 3 a.m. this Friday. But it’s undeniable that the shine around shopping’s biggest day has dulled a little, and that shows up in the data. Last year, 134 [Keep reading]
Nearly one-third of U.S. workers describe themselves as “free agents,” and talk of the “gig economy” has grown so loud that it’s an issue in the presidential campaign. As more people look online for work that supplements —or replaces — their old-fashioned paycheck and helps pay down debts, it seems [Keep reading]
If you want to know why home prices are out of whack in America, look at our lousy schools. One oft-overlooked element of home pricing is the scarcity of good public schools in America. Overlooked by everyone except young families, of course, who know quite well how much good “free” schools cost. [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan