Consider this how infomericals work, part II. If you missed part I, click here, then come back. When infomercials sell products, the director’s goal is to make the thing look bigger, stronger, brighter, or otherwise more appealing than it really is. When they sell programs, like weight loss or strengthening [Keep reading]
Doing some research for a story about the psychology of Black Friday, I found this nugget on the National Retail Federation’s website. “NRF offices will be closed Friday, November 29.” It goes on to say that reporters can still get in touch with media relations folks, but only between 9 [Keep reading]
It can feel like the ultimate Gotcha. You give a bank your money for safe keeping, and seemingly just because it’s sitting there, your bank helps itself to a handful of your cash. Your balance dips below $5,000 for one day? That’ll cost $25. You buy a hamburger at the [Keep reading]
You can’t buy happiness, but you can save for it, according to a new survey. I think it’s obvious that people enjoy getting free things. People always take part in online surveys and giveaways in a way to win gift cards and free things. But a new survey has suggested [Keep reading]
A small but sizable minority of employers in the most conservative regions of the country use online search tools to screen out job applicants based on religion, a practice that is likely illegal, according to a study published Wednesday by Carnegie Mellon University. The study also found no evidence of [Keep reading]
I’m a big believer in knowing the enemy. It’s the only way to mount a proper challenge when conflict arises. So one of my favorite guilty pleasures is to meander through the world of those who conspire to take our money. There’s no better place to meander than late-night TV. [Keep reading]
It’s stunning that just as Microsoft is emerging from a decades-long mistake in how it manages employees, Yahoo is voluntarily diving into the same rat hole. When, oh when, will U.S. corporations stop using 18th Century techniques for managing workers? And when with HR departments stop getting fooled into paying [Keep reading]
Angry about that $3,500 “fine” levied against a woman who wrote a negative review against a company? You should really be angry at America’s credit bureaus. Here’s why. You probably saw the story last week about a couple that was hit with a $3,500 “fine” for writing a negative review about [Keep reading]
Do you find credit card rewards programs confusing? Are your points easy to spend? Or are they like airline miles, so laden with restrictions that they seem, well, pointless? Federal regulators say they are looking into the issue, which is making card issuers nervous. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief Rich [Keep reading]
What happens to student loan debt when the borrower dies? The answer: It depends, based on the type of loan. Federal student loan debt can be discharged through a relatively simple process; private loan debt, however, can shift to parents or other co-signers. As the families of many deceased borrowers [Keep reading]
Bob Sullivan