In a nation as big as the U.S., travel is often a big part of people's lives. Whether trekking to visit family or friends or simply to enjoy a national landmark, Americans frequently hit the road or fly the friendly skies.Read Full Article
Once you're away from home, however, one of the biggest financial challenges is food. Without the contents of your cupboard and the convenient tools of your kitchen, how exactly can you avoid spending a fortune on sustenance?
There are still some days left in July—find out what you should be buying! Hitha Herzog, Chief Research Officer of H Squared Research, lecturer at Parsons School of Design and author of “Black Market Billions,” shares with us What You Should Buy in July: a Shopper's Guide.If there were a modern-day bloodsport, summer shopping could be it.Read Full Article
Last year, Americans spent $83 billion on purchases and travel during the summer months, according to the National Retail Federation. That's up from $78 billion in the previous year. Lower gas prices and higher consumer sentiment has fueled the spend fest, but there is something more: the so-called "reputation economy."
"Ninety-two percent of consumers look at review and ratings online before making a purchase decision," says Naveen Gupta, CEO of BirdEye, a reputation-management and customer-experience company. "Retailers realize how fierce the competition is to acquire customers. One way to make them stick and gain customer love is by having competitive prices. The idea is simple: If retailers want to win, they must have [the] best prices, customer experience and reputation."
With so many retailers vying for those customer dollars, it's hard to figure out what you should buy now versus later in the summer. Here's a breakdown of five things you should leap on and wait for.
To all you working dads out there: It's time to break away from your busy days to focus on investing in an important asset: yourself! With Father's Day around the corner, you're bound to receive a variety of gifts from your loved ones, but don't be afraid to treat yourself, too. Whether it be tending to your personal finances or enjoying a vacation, now is the time to start investing in yourself for your future.Read Full Article
Investing in yourself might be the most important financial decision you make. Not only will you see a future return, but it's a surefire way to improve your quality of life and become the best dad you can be. This Father's Day, consider these five ways to invest in yourself – and save a bit of cash while you're at it.
If your kids are already playing games on their smartphones or tablets, consider sneaking in an app that will teach them some valuable money skills. Educating your kids about money matters may not be at the top of your priority list, but they may be more inclined to learn about budgeting and money management when they're playing a game. Whether you want to teach kids how to save money or show them how to better manage their allowance, you can turn to a handful of money apps that make the whole process into a fun game.Read Full Article
Here are seven of the best fun money apps for kids.
Do you find yourself wondering how much money you should save for retirement or if you are behind in saving? Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all answer. How much you should save depends on what kind of retirement lifestyle you want to live as well as other factors such as debt load, income streams and retirement goal date. Mary Beth Storjohann, certified financial planner and contributor to U.S. News & World Report shares with us How to Know if You're Saving Enough for Retirement.As a financial planner, one of the most common questions I am asked is "How much money should I have saved?" or "How far behind am I in saving for retirement?" My answer? It depends.Read Full Article
There's no one size fits all solution when it comes to how much you should have stashed away for your retirement. What you need will differ from those around you. Here's how to track your progress toward saving for retirement:
It's graduation party season! Let the planning begin, but don't break the bank! Sabah Karimi, contributor to U.S. News & World Report, shares with us How to Throw a Graduation Party on a Budget.As graduation season approaches, many proud families will plan parties to celebrate their high school or college senior’s accomplishments. Larry Fredlund, a Minnesota dad whose blended family includes seven kids, is a graduation party veteran, having celebrated four already. This June, he and his wife will celebrate their daughter’s high school graduation with a budget-friendly bash in their eldest son’s yard and garage.Read Full Article
Here’s a look at money-saving strategies from Fredlund and several party-planning pros.
Finally have a day off but not sure what to do? Maria Lalonde, contributor to U.S. News & World Report and blogger on Offers.com, shares with us 10 Fun, Free Ways to Spend Your Day Off.Your kids are in school. Your errands are complete. You've taken the day off work. The world is your oyster.Read Full Article
But when you're used to jam-packed workdays and busy weekends, you may feel uneasy or even daunted by the prospect of a day with absolutely nothing to do.
To help you relax, recharge and rejuvenate your passion for life, we've included a list of 10 inspired things to do with your day off. The best part? They don't cost a dime.
In today's society, time has become a rare commodity. It seems we are often looking for ways to free up our time such as convenience foods, online shopping, etc. But saving time can come with a hefty price tag! Hitha Herzog, Chief Research Officer of H Squared Research, lecturer at Parsons School of Design and author of “Black Market Billions,” shares with us the 5 Traps Consumers Fall Into When Trying to Save Time. Time. These days it's a commodity more precious than gold. Most of us could use more of it, and find that when an extra hour or two does come our way, it's devoured like a crave-worthy dessert.Read Full Article
Retailers have devised ways to "help us out" by providing shortcuts to shopping, cooking and bill-paying. The problem is, these shortcuts end up costing big bucks. To help suss out what drains your wallet faster than you can say "please charge that," here are five money wasting habits consumers get duped by, while trying to save time:
New grads often times are offered many tips and tricks for making it out in the "real world." It can beIf you have a son or daughter graduating from college this spring, or if you're the son or daughter in question reading this, it may have occurred to you that figuring out how to pay for college was the easy part. Your real financial education is about to start: that is, how to best manage the money you're going to make.Read Full Article
The weather is warming. Wildflowers are blooming. Trees are sprouting new leaves, and people are swapping coats and scarves for shorts and colorful dresses.
Establishing healthy savings and spending habits early on in life can help you steer clear of many financial woes and better prepare for financial success. Sabah
Karimi, contributor to U.S. News & World Report, shares with us The 6 Best Money Moves to Make in Your 20s.Whether you're just wrapping things up at college or are pushing forward with your career, you'll need a smart money strategy to count on during some of your biggest life changes.
Your 20s are the perfect time to adopt good money habits that will help you steer clear of credit card debt, help you build a savings account and make financial decisions that give you a high return on your investment.
Behold, the six best money moves you can make in your 20s.Read Full Article
Spring and warm temperatures or on their way! (We hope.) Again, this is a great time to think about spring cleaning.
Previously, we talked about spring cleaning your finances. Today, let's take a look at traditional spring cleaning. Sabah Karimi, contributor to U.S. News & World Report, shares with us 5 ways to cash in on clothes and electronics you don't want anymore.Outside of listing your items in the local classifieds, there are several ways to recover some of the costs of those purchases – an easy way to give your savings account a boost, pay off some credit card debt or splurge on something that you couldn't fit into your budget. Here are five ways to turn those spring cleaning tasks into a profitable venture.Read Full Article
Valentine's Day is this Sunday! Still in need of a gift for that special someone? Deacon Hayes, With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, it’s time to put on your creative hat and find gifts for your loved one that are both affordable and unique. From cozy to delicious, there’s a bounty of gifts to fit any style or personality.Read Full Article
If you want to give a gift that’s both special and affordable this Valentine’s Day, here are 20 great gifts with a variety of price tags, all under $50.
Super Bowl 50 is just around the corner! For many this means a gathering of friends, family and lots of food. Throwing a Super Bowl part can quickly become expensive. Trent Hamm, contributor to U.S. News and World Report and writer on his website, TheSimpleDollar.com, shares 5 tips for saving money on a Super Bowl party.It’s Super Bowl season, which means a lot of households are planning parties for this weekend. Of course, a big party can mean big expenses, but if you’re smart with your planning, you can save money and even increase the fun without detracting from your party. Here are five strategies to incorporate into your big party.Read Full Article
Does it seem like your paycheck is spent before you even get it? Perhaps it is time to take a look at your spending habits. Karen Cordaway, contributor to U.S. News and World Report and writer on her website, MoneySavingEnthusiast.com, shares with us 5 Tips for Better Spending Habits.While 2016 is in full swing, if you haven't thought about a resolution yet, don't give up. Maybe it's time to make one that has the potential to stick. If you're often wondering how money slips out of your wallet, consider becoming the crash test dummy for better spending habits. Test drive some of these ideas below to develop better ones.Read Full Article
You've probably noticed it, even if you weren't aware of its name. You see a shirt at a store. It's a little pricey, so you decide not to buy it yet. The next day you return, and the shirt's price has risen $20. Or maybe it's cheaper. That's the thing about dynamic pricing. It describes a price that is dynamic and doesn't remain fixed for very long.Read Full Article
