(Consumer Reports)
The Supermarket Tricks You Need To Avoid To Save While Shopping
By Paul Eng on April 13, 2012 4:15 PM
94 Comments
You might have a good set of tactics while shopping at your local supermarket. But are you savvy to the subtle ways food stores (and other retailers) get you to buy more? There might be a few tricks you've fallen prey to in the past. More »
An Example Of When Buying A Generic Drug Can Save You 72%
By Maggie Shader on April 13, 2012 3:15 PM
57 Comments
Yeah, buying generics drugs instead of their snazzy brand name versions could stifle an allergy, calm a nasty cough or banish that throb on the cheap. But at more than half the price? More »
(Tracy O)
For Cheap Toiletries, Don't Turn To Your Local Pharmacies
By Maggie Shader on April 13, 2012 1:30 PM
44 Comments
How many times has this happened to you? You're at your neighborhood drugstore, picking up meds, when you remember you need shampoo or maybe some other personal care product as well. You're at the store, they have the what you need... But are you gonna get hosed at the checkout? More »
(Scoboco)
Beware "Vanishing Deductibles" In Car Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on April 13, 2012 11:15 AM
65 Comments
Some insurance agencies are enticing customers by offering "vanishing deductibles" on car insurance policies. Purportedly meant to encourage safe driving, the plans take, say, $100 off customers' deductibles for each year they don't file a claim. For example, if a customer's deductible starts off at $500 and five years pass without a claim being filed, the deductible vanishes completely and the customer doesn't have to pay anything when he finally files a claim. More »
Making An Early Retirement Work
By Phil Villarreal on April 13, 2012 10:15 AM
36 Comments
Some people are so obsessed with their work that they can never envision chucking everything to begin a life of leisure, while others have spent most of their work lives counting the days until they no longer have to clock in. If you opt to jump the gun and call it a career before you hit your golden years, you're taking a calculated risk, hoping to make your savings stretch out longer rather than spending more time to build it up before you take the plunge. More »
(jpmarth)
Don't Be Tempted By Cash-Back Rewards At The Gas Pump
By Paul Eng on April 12, 2012 11:30 AM
43 Comments
National average gasoline prices are undoubtedly heading for the $4 per gallon mark. And the offers of cash back or other rewards at your local station — where gas prices are probably a lot higher — may look awfully tempting. But don't think you'll reap windfalls if you sign up for that new gas station credit card! More »
(bnilsen)
Guard Against An IRS Underpayment Penalty
By Phil Villarreal on April 12, 2012 11:15 AM
27 Comments
If you pulled in more money than you're used to making — especially if it came from untaxed work — you could be facing a higher-than-expected tax bill that will grow even higher due to a prepayment penalty of 3 or 4 percent if you owe more than $1,000. There's not much you can do to avoid the penalty for your 2011 taxes, but you can take steps to avoid it next time. More »
Scholarships For Moms Seeking Degrees
By Phil Villarreal on April 11, 2012 10:15 AM
16 Comments
Juggling parenthood and college classes is no easy feat, and even tougher when you consider the financial side of the equation. Any scholarships out there help, and it so happens that there are several out there earmarked for mothers attempting to better their career prospects by earning degrees. More »
Do Some Heavy Lifting, Save On Gym Memberships
By Phil Villarreal on April 10, 2012 10:15 AM
54 Comments
Some workout enthusiasts rationalize paying a lot of money for gym memberships by telling themselves that the financial commitment makes them work out more often to get their money's worth. That's just crazy talk. If you work at it, you can trim your monthly membership fees along with your waistline. More »
(mfeingol)
3 Ways To Fall Into Debt, 3 Ways To Climb Out
By Phil Villarreal on April 9, 2012 11:00 AM
34 Comments
There are countless ways to wind up in the red, and many of them start with the best of intentions. Seemingly smart investments, luxury purchases you thought you could afford and once-in-a-lifetime vacation deals can all place you in the chokehold of compound interest. More »
4 Ways To Slash Phone Expenses
By Phil Villarreal on April 5, 2012 11:15 AM
40 Comments
Your phone is not only a lifeline, entertainment device and communication portal to everyone you know, but it's also a siphon that sucks money out of you monthly. Phone companies are counting on you falling into complacency with paying for unneeded services. More »
Reasons To Save Up For A 20% Down Payment Before Buying A Home
By Phil Villarreal on April 4, 2012 10:30 AM
56 Comments
When it comes to buying homes, the larger the down payment you're able to plunk down the better. Finance experts advise you to aim for saving up at least 20 percent of the total purchase price, and the number isn't arbitrary. There are very real benefits to making a hefty initial payment. More »
Save Money While Spring Cleaning
By Phil Villarreal on April 4, 2012 10:15 AM
27 Comments
Perhaps the fresh Spring air has inspired you to strike back against the clutter and filth you might have allowed to accumulate around your living space in the bustle of the last several months. While looking to go on a cleaning rampage and make a fresh start, you can find ways to do the job more cheaply and efficiently. More »
Expenses That Mortgage Calculators Don't Tell You About
By Phil Villarreal on April 3, 2012 10:15 AM
72 Comments
When you're shopping for houses, you can get giddy when you plug your numbers into a mortgage calculator and discover your dream home has a surprisingly low monthly payment. It's lying to you. Mortgage payments are only part of the myriad costs home ownership heaps upon you. More »
Why You Don't Need To Be Ashamed Of Moving Back In With Your Parents
By Phil Villarreal on March 30, 2012 11:15 AM
74 Comments
Few are proud to carry the stigma of a "boomerang kid" — someone who moves back in with their parents after failing to make ends meet on their own. But the move makes a lot of financial sense, and could serve as a springboard that can get boomerang kids off to a flying start when they head back out into the cruel world. More »
(opacity)
Free WiFi Continues To Pop Up In Odd Places
By Phil Villarreal on March 30, 2012 9:45 AM
55 Comments
These are boom times for heavy WiFi users. Free WiFi is so ubiquitous that it's gotten to the point that it's almost shocking to sit down in public and not be able to pick up a signal. More »
Working Around The Drawbacks Of Line-Drying Your Clothes
By Phil Villarreal on March 28, 2012 1:15 PM
87 Comments
One way to cut down on gas and electricity use is to abandon your dryer in favor of a clothesline. That's easier said than done, however, because the old-fashioned method poses a bunch of negatives. More »
How To Save Money When Moving
By Phil Villarreal on March 28, 2012 10:45 AM
54 Comments
It takes a lot of time, effort and money to haul all your junk from your former residence to your future one. But there are ways to trim costs and make the nightmarish experience more tolerable. More »
3 Steps To Start Saving Up For A Down Payment
By Phil Villarreal on March 27, 2012 2:00 PM
39 Comments
Amassing a giant chunk of change is the best way to nail down a lower payment for a vehicle or home, but the process can be so long and arduous that it prevents you from proceeding. The key to following through with your goal is to set a reasonable plan in place and stick to it. The tough part is to find a way to get the ball rolling. More »
If You Value Cheap Gas, Move To The Middle Of The Country
By Phil Villarreal on March 27, 2012 9:45 AM
94 Comments
As gas prices continue to rise, it's easier to get jealous of locales that offer cheaper rates. Due to a variety of reasons, including demand, easier access to infrastructure and lower gas taxes, certain cities consistently sport lower pump prices. And most of those tend to be located in the central part of the U.S. More »
Foolish, Youthful Financial Decisions You'll Regret Later
By Phil Villarreal on March 26, 2012 11:15 AM
57 Comments
Some decisions you make in your youth seem bad at the time, while others don't reveal the true depths of their awfulness until years later. Behaving in a recklessly impulsive manner with finances can come back to cost you, making it important to correct your misbehavior before problems overwhelm you. More »
How To Save On Laundry Without Having To Steal Tide Detergent
By Meg Marco on March 17, 2012 8:00 AM
66 Comments
Tide has become a hot commodity lately. Law enforcement officials from around the nation say there has been an outbreak of thefts of the pricey-but-well-regarded detergent. One guy allegedly stole $25,000 worth of Tide before Minnesota police nabbed him. Why? Tide can be pricey (up to $20 a bottle), and, well, it's in high demand. But how can you save on detergent without resorting to buying black-market-Tide? More »
(jenzwick)
Build Your College Fund With Your Kid, Not Just For Him
By Phil Villarreal on March 14, 2012 10:15 AM
30 Comments
If you harbor a dream of your child graduating from college without being buried in student loan debt, you're probably going to have to save up a heck of a lot of money for the cause. The earlier you start saving, the more you'll be able to contribute. But it's important that you get your kid in on the effort. More »
Responsible Ways To Spend Your Tax Refund
By Phil Villarreal on March 13, 2012 10:30 AM
72 Comments
Every year around this time, people tend to engage in bragging contests about how big their tax refunds are. These folks are oblivious to the fact that savvier planning would have let them keep their money rather than giving it to the government in a tax-free loan. More »
Leave The Workforce Without Sacrificing Your Retirement
By Phil Villarreal on March 9, 2012 3:15 PM
9 Comments
If you need to step away from your career for a while to stay at home with your kids or care for an elderly or incapacitated loved one, your automatic systems for saving for retirement will probably shut down. In order to make sure you don't jeopardize your nest egg, you'll need to make adjustments to account for your decreased savings power. More »
(RickDrew)
Swerve Around The Costs Of Expensive Ski Vacations
By Phil Villarreal on March 8, 2012 11:15 AM
40 Comments
Paying for a ski trip can seem like a blind run down a rough slope, with formidable costs hard to avoid as you careen down the mountain. Veterans of the slopes know how to cut down on costs so they can focus on enjoying their time in the snow. More »
(Scoboco)
Movie Price Madness: How To Save Money On A Trip To The Theater
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 7, 2012 11:00 AM
73 Comments
Unless you've been living a hermit-like existence, you've likely stepped out to the movie theater at least once recently, and once there, perhaps the skyrocketing price of tickets and the exorbitant cost of snacks shocked you right back into staying home (or into suing theater chains). There are ways around shelling out $13 per ticket and emptying pockets on popcorn, however. More »
Learning To Save Money Is Like Learning To Lose Weight
By Phil Villarreal on March 6, 2012 10:30 AM
23 Comments
If you've never lost control of your budget or your weight, you can't truly appreciate how great it feels to take command of either, enact a pragmatic strategy and see results. If you become skilled at managing one aspect, it can lead to success in another. More »
How Savoring Translates To Savings
By Phil Villarreal on March 5, 2012 4:30 PM
6 Comments
New things seem like the most amazing things ever until you get tired of them and get the urge to replace them with newer stuff. The buy-boredom-replace cycle is natural and tough to avoid, but you can save money if you can figure out how to stretch it out longer. More »
5 Senior Discounts That Make You Wish You Were Old
By Phil Villarreal on March 5, 2012 9:30 AM
50 Comments
Your golden years come with a gold rush of discounts. Looking to cater to seniors eager to stretch out their funds, businesses offer sweet deals to the older set. More »
(afagen)
3 Things Dr. Seuss Books Can Teach You About Money
By Phil Villarreal on March 5, 2012 9:00 AM
19 Comments
Renowned children's author Dr. Seuss was great at instilling life lessons through resonant rhymes and artwork. His books also pack some poignant financial lessons. More »
Tips For Haggling With Credit Card Companies Over Debt Mountains
By Phil Villarreal on March 1, 2012 11:15 AM
15 Comments
If you've buried yourself in credit card debt and are strangled by your payments, you can try to work out a better deal by negotiating with the companies you owe. Some smooth talking might net you lower rates, more manageable payments and more time to pay up. More »
5 Creative Uses For Common Items
By Phil Villarreal on February 23, 2012 11:15 AM
64 Comments
It's empowering to discover alternate uses for regular household items. Explore these secrets and you can save yourself trips to the store to get things you thought you needed but actually can do without. More »
Hidden Costs Of Being A Bridesmaid
By Phil Villarreal on February 23, 2012 10:15 AM
103 Comments
Maybe the phrase "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" is less a lament of singledom and more of a complaint about being forced by a succession of friends to make unreasonable financial sacrifices in the name of their big day. Women who are asked to be bridesmaids are forced through a gauntlet of brutal financial and time commitments, and should bear those costs in mind before accepting a request from a bride-to-be. More »
Tips To Help New Investors Get Started
By Phil Villarreal on February 22, 2012 10:15 AM
11 Comments
If you've just started investing, you're bound to make a few mistakes as you find your footing. While there's no guaranteed formula for success, there are ways to put yourself in the best position possible to start off strong and stick around for the long haul. More »
Convince Your Spouse To Stop Being Such An Idiot With Money
By Phil Villarreal on February 22, 2012 9:15 AM
43 Comments
If your household is wallowing in a sea of debt and looking to paddle your way out, you'll need to get your live-in better/worse half on board with your plans, otherwise you'll just be rowing in circles. Since you can't berate loved ones into changing their ways, you'll have to find a method to convince them that change is necessary, and that rewards will come from taking the right course. More »
If You Really Need To Win The Lottery, You Probably Shouldn't Play
By Phil Villarreal on February 20, 2012 11:00 AM
81 Comments
You don't need to be a financial genius to realize that lottery tickets are a poor investment. Players plunk down a little bit of money in exchange for short-lived, long shot dreams of wealth. While indulging the urge to buy a ticket won't kill most budgets, the regular, compulsive act of gambling needed funds on all-but-unwinnable bets is something different. More »
Stretch Out The Life Of Your Disposable Razors
By Phil Villarreal on February 17, 2012 12:15 PM
65 Comments
You know an old razor blade is past its prime when a shave leaves you with a field of untouched stubble. A few quick maintenance steps can keep your razors lasting longer than usual, sparing you money and frustration. More »
(Ninja M.)
Protect Your Home From Water Leaks With A Sensor
By Phil Villarreal on February 17, 2012 11:15 AM
31 Comments
Unless you're in the habit of strolling through your basement hourly, you probably wouldn't be able to catch a water leak until it's already significantly damaged your flooring. A way to stay on top of any problems is to install a water sensor. More »
3 Reasons You Shouldn't Think Of Your Home As An Investment
By Phil Villarreal on February 14, 2012 10:30 AM
143 Comments
Homeowners tend to see their property as passive investments that will hopefully pay off at some point in the future. The housing market collapse has corrected much of that thought process, but there are still those who figure that buying in when prices are low will work out well decades from now. More »
3 Ways To Save Money On Your Car
By Phil Villarreal on February 13, 2012 11:30 AM
75 Comments
It can be depressing to calculate the amount of time you spend working to pay for your car. Your ride siphons money from you in an overwhelming amount of ways, including your monthly payment, gas, insurance, registration fees, maintenance and repair. If you want to start living more frugally, you can cast a stink eye at your car to look for ways to start cutting back. More »
Make Your Old Clothes Feel New
By Phil Villarreal on February 13, 2012 10:15 AM
34 Comments
If you've got a closet full of clothes yet still plan to buy a bunch of new stuff, you could stand to use your wardrobe more efficiently. A few adjustments can inject new life into clothing you already own and stifle your urge to make another shopping trip. More »
(cavale)
Save Money On Medical Bills By Questioning Charges
By Phil Villarreal on February 10, 2012 11:15 AM
60 Comments
When you open up a medical bill your'e usually not stunned by how little the doctor is charging you. Inflated charges, which seem to be the norm in the industry, would be laughable if their implications weren't so crushing. But an invoice doesn't have to be the amount you end up paying. More »
Ways You May Be Letting Money Slip Away
By Phil Villarreal on February 7, 2012 10:30 AM
97 Comments
It's easy to be lulled into regular expenditures that add little to your life. If you're looking for ways to cut spending, turn first to monthly bills and look for ways to trim or eliminate them. More »
Sh*& People Say About Money
By Phil Villarreal on January 31, 2012 10:15 AM
68 Comments
Financial advice delivered in the form of pithy maxims tends to stick in the mind more than long, flowery essays. Short sayings that are funny or well-reasoned deliver sharp advice that can serve as mantras for those seeking guidance with their money, or mock truths everyone takes for granted. More »
Don't Mistake Credit For An Emergency Fund
By Phil Villarreal on January 30, 2012 10:30 AM
22 Comments
If you're struggling to make ends meet, it's understandable to half-joke that your credit cards act as your emergency fund. But if you can save and choose not to, content that credit will rescue you from any trouble that arises, you're only tempting fate. More »
How To Save While Throwing A Super Bowl Party
By Phil Villarreal on January 30, 2012 10:15 AM
23 Comments
If your social circle converges on your house to watch the best commercials of the year and the obligatory football that plays out in between, the burden to host a Super Bowl party can ravage your budget like University of Arizona product Rob Gronkowski does hapless secondaries. But you can cut corners here and there to trim costs without letting your frugality show. More »
How To Decide Whether To Sock Funds Away Or Pay Off Debt
By Phil Villarreal on January 27, 2012 11:15 AM
48 Comments
When you get a hold of a large chunk of cash — say, from a bonus, tax refund or item sale — those with the self-control not to blow the funds have to decide whether to save it or pay off debt. While there are other options available, such as investing or donating the money, saving vs. debt reduction is one of the tougher quandaries to decipher. More »
Before You Get A Prepaid Debit Card, Consider These Alternatives
By Phil Villarreal on January 25, 2012 10:30 AM
31 Comments
If you're burned out on credit cards and considering trying a prepaid debit card to get a handle on your finances, you may want to think again. Shelling out regular fees to access your own money will get old and seem wasteful, so it pays to look out for other options. More »
3 Crazy Financial Stunts To Attempt
By Phil Villarreal on January 24, 2012 10:30 AM
32 Comments
Saving money and slashing spending aren't typically the most entertaining or intrinsically rewarding activities, but those who make a game of the act can entertain themselves and others with bold attempts at lofty financial goals. More »
(boeke)
3 Ways To Keep That Old, Embarrassing Car Chugging Along
By Phil Villarreal on January 23, 2012 11:30 AM
53 Comments
If you want to save as much money as possible on your vehicle expenditures, don't buy that next car until you absolutely have to. From the frugal perspective, you're always better off investing in your current car's well-being rather than dumping payments into its replacement. More »
(matneym)
A Peek Into The Scrambled Mind Of A First-Time Home Buyer
By Phil Villarreal on January 23, 2012 10:15 AM
103 Comments
Just about everyone who knows what they're doing when it comes to buying a house has bought a home before and learned from their mistakes the first time around. First-time buyers are in a tough position, with banks, real estate agents and sellers looking to exploit their naivete. More »
(kainr)
Recipes For Chipping Away At Various Types Of Debt
By Phil Villarreal on January 23, 2012 8:00 AM
20 Comments
Everyone with debt would like to eliminate it, but it's not always clear where or how to get started. There are many types of debt, and each is suited to a different payoff strategy. More »
How To Fix Those Darn Socks With Holes In Them
By Phil Villarreal on January 16, 2012 1:15 PM
82 Comments
When you find a sock that's holier than a game-winning touchdown drive by a Bronco quarterback, natural reactions include suffering with the added ventilation or throwing it away. The alternative is to resurrect the sock through the age-old tradition of darning it. More »
3 Ways To Keep The Heating Bill Down
By Phil Villarreal on January 16, 2012 9:30 AM
166 Comments
When the temperature drops, the heating bills surge. But there are more ways to stay warm than figuratively setting your money on fire. More »
What A Repo Men Reality Show Teaches You About Finances
By Phil Villarreal on January 16, 2012 9:00 AM
55 Comments
Reality TV isn't particularly known for its educational properties, but you can find some useful lessons if you look hard enough. For instance, a show about tow truck operators who repossess vehicles can teach a personal finance blogger how to handle her money. More »
Slow Down Spending By Playing "Choose Your Own Adventure"
By Phil Villarreal on January 12, 2012 12:00 PM
18 Comments
If you make too many purchases without second-guessing them, you'll burden yourself with more things than you can manage and less money than you'll need to feel comfortable. One way to curtail impulse spending is to pause and make sure you've got a reason for doing what you're about to do. More »
An Argument For Cloth Diapers
By Phil Villarreal on January 12, 2012 11:15 AM
108 Comments
Every time your baby heeds nature's call, he's costing you a quarter. Disposable diapers, which can cost 25 cents or so apiece, are among the first of the infinite ways in which kids siphon money from parents' wallets, but they're not a necessity. More »
Finally, You Can Get A Multi-Subscription Discount If You Have Both Sirius And XM
By Laura Northrup on January 12, 2012 9:30 AM
30 Comments
Satellite radio wonder-twins Sirius and XM have been together for three years now. Customers often whine to us: why can't we get multi-subscription discounts when they subscribe to both Sirius and XM. It's all the same company, isn't it? Offering discounts would have made too much sense, and was therefore impossible. Until now! More »
(cavale)
How To Soften The Blow Of An Awful Investment With A Tax Deduction
By Phil Villarreal on January 11, 2012 10:15 AM
18 Comments
If you jumped on a stock tip that sounded great at the time but only led to you losing your entire investment, now is the time to stop beating yourself up over the poor decision. You may be able to deduct your financial folly, lightening your tax load. More »
(afagen)
Rack Up Travel Rewards Without Going Crazy With Credit Cards
By Phil Villarreal on January 11, 2012 10:15 AM
14 Comments
Everyone who signs up for airlines' frequent flyer programs dreams of cashing in their miles for amazing vacations. Credit card companies are counting on you being so enamored with that vision that you'll relax your spending discipline in pursuit of the goal. More »
It's Not Too Late To Contribute To Last Year's Health Spending Account
By Phil Villarreal on January 10, 2012 11:15 AM
35 Comments
A few weeks from now, you should have all the forms and information you'll need to file your taxes. Most of the numbers you'll crunch have already been decided by your actions last year, but there are still some maneuvers you can make to tweak the numbers more in your favor. More »
Walmart Asks You To Come For The Free Tax Prep, Stay For The People-Watching
By Phil Villarreal on January 10, 2012 9:15 AM
45 Comments
In what seems to be an effort to lure customers, especially those in the mood to spend after procuring a sizable tax refund, Walmart is offering free tax preparation services for those whose finances aren't complicated. More »
(Scoboco)
A College Financial Aid Primer
By Phil Villarreal on January 9, 2012 12:15 PM
21 Comments
Students need to call upon several sources to cover the massive expenses college drops on them. Unless they're independently wealthy or have a large college fund set up for them, they'll scramble to come up with the funds to pay for tuition, fees, books and living expenses. More »
3 Things You Can Do To Make Sure You Get Your Tax Refund Quickly
By Phil Villarreal on January 6, 2012 11:15 AM
50 Comments
The news that you get two extra days to file your tax return this year means little to those who have big refunds coming and want to get their hands on their money as soon as possible. More »
If You Want To Spend Less, Here Are 5 Things To Stop Buying
By Phil Villarreal on January 5, 2012 11:15 AM
150 Comments
It's easy to list ways friends blow money, but tougher to turn a similar focus on yourself. If you step back and evaluate your spending with a fresh eye, you'll probably find several areas in which you can cut spending significantly. More »
Stop Yourself From Saving Too Much
By Phil Villarreal on January 4, 2012 11:15 AM
44 Comments
In our free-spending society, it's tough for some to fathom the concept of saving so much that it hurts, but it's possible to place frugality on such a pedestal that necessities are sacrificed. More »
(birdarts)
Punish And Reward Your Own Behavior To Save Money
By Phil Villarreal on January 4, 2012 10:15 AM
14 Comments
If you want to start saving but know you lack the discipline to stash money away, you'll need to come up with ways to trick yourself into getting into the mood. An ongoing game of mental solitaire could end up being quite profitable. More »
A List Of Lists To Help You Organize Your Money
By Phil Villarreal on January 3, 2012 9:30 AM
11 Comments
Those who are good with money are almost always organized. One way to get on top of your finances is to keep exhaustive lists of your funds, glimpse the ugly truth they reveal and set financial goals accordingly. More »
Solid Financial Goals To Swipe For Yourself
By Phil Villarreal on January 2, 2012 12:30 PM
21 Comments
It's easy to set financial goals for the new year, but harder to make them matter. Make them too vague, such as "take control of my finances" or "reduce wasteful spending" and there's nothing to gauge your success. More »
(jayRaz)
Advanced Degrees That Don't Pay Off
By Phil Villarreal on December 30, 2011 10:15 AM
100 Comments
Grad students are making heavy investments of time and money in their future income prospects, but in many areas of study the odds are stacked against the gambles paying off. A Georgetown University analysis identifies the advanced degrees that gave students the smallest pay bumps. More »
(kusine)
The Dollar Menu McDonald's And Taco Bell Don't Want You To Know About
By Phil Villarreal on December 29, 2011 12:15 PM
112 Comments
Some poor eaters justify their junk food diets with the claim that it's cheaper to eat bad. That's not necessarily the case. There are loads of overlooked foods out there that cost little. More »
(Keltose)
Keep It In Your Pants Until You Double-Check Your Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on December 29, 2011 11:15 AM
69 Comments
Maybe someday you'll sit your future child on your knee and reassure him he was created with budgetary responsibility in mind. Those who check out the quirks of their health insurance policies beforehand and babymake accordingly will be able to do just that. More »
End The Old Year With A Cheap Celebration
By Phil Villarreal on December 26, 2011 2:30 PM
34 Comments
New Year's Eve nights out are recipes for big spending with little to show for it. Costs of cover charges, outfits and drinks quickly add up, closing out the year with financial fireworks that burn you out before you try to make a fresh start. More »
(ashi)
Obsessing Over Debt Can Stop You From Getting Rich
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2011 4:15 PM
37 Comments
The credo preached by just about every personal finance writer is that debt is an enemy that must be eradicated before you can think about building wealth. But there's a reason many rich people have no problem with taking on more debt to finance new ventures. Those who think big and take manageable risks tend to be the biggest winners. More »
Use Your Flexible Spending Account To Whip Medical Bills And Taxes
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2011 3:15 PM
82 Comments
If you get heath insurance from your employer, you can probably take advantage of a flexible spending account (FSA) to cut your taxable income and lessen the impact of medical bills that sting you throughout the year. The way things usually work is to require you to commit a dollar figure to the account, then use the money to pay medical bills as they arise. Since the money comes out of your check, you're never taxed on the amount. More »
What You Need To Know If You're Looking For Your First House
By Phil Villarreal on December 23, 2011 11:15 AM
81 Comments
First-time home buyers are at a disadvantage. They typically lack experience with the real estate market and are eager to seal the deal and get into a house — any house — just to achieve the milestone. But behaving more like a someone who has already screwed up and learned from his mistakes will pay dividends. More »
How To Handle Lending Money To Loved Ones
By Phil Villarreal on December 22, 2011 3:00 PM
54 Comments
Lending money to a significant other, close friend or family member is an excellent way to hang a black cloud over your relationship, but sometimes it's the only financial maneuver that makes sense. Be smart by treating the transaction just as formally as you would one with a financial institution. More »
(schmegga)
Giving Gifts That Will Help Save Money
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 22, 2011 2:00 PM
59 Comments
Why give someone an expensive diamond? All it does is lie there and look pretty and it won't keep you warm in the winter months. While it might not seem as exciting or romantic, consider a few useful gifts that will help your loved ones save money this holiday season. More »
(Eva_Deht)
Don't Sacrifice Your Financial Future Underneath The Christmas Tree
By Phil Villarreal on December 21, 2011 11:15 AM
51 Comments
Retailers and their marketing arms are excellent at convincing parents to spend more and more each Christmas, and those who fall for the trap may be doing so at the expense of their future. Short-time financial impact aside, blowing big money on presents year after year eats away at savings potential for your kids' college funds, as well as your own retirement. More »
Reasons To Retire To A Foreign Country
By Phil Villarreal on December 21, 2011 10:30 AM
84 Comments
Maybe you've always seen yourself running out the clock in Scottsdale or Miami, but if you want to make your retirement dollar stretch, you may want to expand your horizons. Some foreign countries cater to retirees with friendly tax rates and low cost of living, making them attractive alternatives to American retirement havens. More »
(Weffie)
Places At Home To Stash Your Cash
By Phil Villarreal on December 19, 2011 2:30 PM
80 Comments
Most financial experts don't recommend keeping large amounts of cash stashed at home, but that doesn't stop people from socking their savings in corners they believe to be safe. Those who do so leave themselves vulnerable to losing huge amounts of money due to burglaries or forgetfulness. More »
One Man Explains Why He Stopped Contributing To His 401(k)
By Phil Villarreal on December 19, 2011 10:15 AM
92 Comments
Just about every financial expert tells you not only to contribute to a company 401(k), but make sure you pay in enough to receive the company match. We can't argue any differently, but tough times and changing priorities can make compelling arguments for dropping contributions. More »
3 Things To Look For In An Online Savings Account
By Phil Villarreal on December 19, 2011 8:30 AM
26 Comments
Although brick-and-mortar banks are competitive, you can often find more attractive interest rates in online savings accounts. Making the leap from traditional banking comes with some risk, so you should be careful when choosing your bank. More »
Drive Through Hoops To Save Money On Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on December 16, 2011 9:45 AM
44 Comments
Of all the regular costs that dog car owners, liability insurance is among the cruelest. You only get the best rates if you never file claims, so careful drivers end up subsidizing the costs incurred by reckless ones. The best drivers can hope for is to find the lowest rate by shopping around and taking advantage of every discount. More »
Spend Less And Stay Thinner By Making Yourself Better Lunches
By Phil Villarreal on December 14, 2011 1:15 PM
67 Comments
"I need to pack my lunch more often" is a favorite phrase of those who spend more than they should on high-calorie lunches most workdays, and continue to do so despite their inner protests. Even if serial lunch-buyers make an effort to pack their lunch for a while, they soon revert to those old ways. More »
(Enokson)
3 Ways For Students To Save Money
By Phil Villarreal on December 14, 2011 10:30 AM
61 Comments
College is a minefield of financial disaster, but it also offers unique opportunities to save money. A combination of marketing forces and old-fashioned sympathy for starving students presents cost-cutting opportunities for those who keep their eyes open. More »
Gifts That Will End Up Costing The Recipient More Money
By Chris Morran on December 13, 2011 11:34 AM
121 Comments
Everyone loves getting free stuff. But not everyone is a fan of getting free stuff that requires them to then spend money just to use it. More »
(krodinjw)
Avoid These 3 Retirement Plan Mistakes
By Phil Villarreal on December 9, 2011 11:15 AM
34 Comments
You'll be excused for worrying more about your day-to-day financials than those of your future, 65-year-old self. But it's important not to let your 401(k) or other long-term investments become afterthoughts. One reason to think big-picture is that decisions you make in retirement investments now will have ripple effects that turn into tidal waves in your golden years. More »
Think Like A Pauper Rather Than A Prince To Get A Fairy Tale Ending
By Phil Villarreal on December 9, 2011 10:15 AM
39 Comments
When you're young, you probably don't dream of scraping by on a tiny paycheck and subsisting on Ramen and a threadbare wardrobe. Newly minted adults, as well as older people who should know better, can fall into the trap of sinking into debt to buy the trappings they think they deserve rather than living within their means. More »
(smcgee)
Wait Until The Holidays Are Over To Buy These Three Items
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 8, 2011 4:00 PM
24 Comments
Holiday deals may have you going after sales left and right, but there are a few items you should resist the urge to splurge on now, and grab during post-seasonal deals later. More »
Yes, It Is Possible To Score A Deal On Last-Minute Holiday Travel
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 7, 2011 3:00 PM
16 Comments
So you haven't booked your flights for Christmas or New Year's, and maybe you're freaking out a little bit over traditionally high prices over the holidays. Don't fret, there are still a few ways to nab some travel deals even at this late date. More »
4 Ideas For Cheap Dates
By Phil Villarreal on December 6, 2011 2:15 PM
84 Comments
One of the many brilliant scenes in the 1998 comedy Half Baked features Dave Chappelle taking Rachel True on a date with only a few dollars in his pocket. He gently steers the outing in directions that will cost him less money, starting with suggesting a walk over a cab ride under the guise that hoofing it is more romantic. The scene encapsulates the problems couples face when trying to entertain themselves without breaking their budgets. More »
3 Financial Dealbreakers That Could Screw Up A Relationship
By Phil Villarreal on December 6, 2011 10:15 AM
66 Comments
For a relationship to endure over the long haul, a couple has to be financially compatible. The subject of money is a personal and extremely touchy one, even for two people in love. But those on the verge of making a major commitment, such as moving in together or marrying, would be wise to crunch some numbers and compare philosophies to see how well they mesh. More »
A Simple Money-Saving Step For Online Purchases
By Phil Villarreal on December 5, 2011 11:15 AM
32 Comments
No matter how great a price you find for whatever you're buying online, there's a chance you can make it even cheaper before you complete the order. A quick search for discount codes can provide blanket discounts or eliminate shipping charges. Such codes are the not-so-secret handshakes of online commerce. More »
How Personal Finance Is Similar To Home Building
By Phil Villarreal on December 5, 2011 10:15 AM
13 Comments
When you're developing a financial plan, it helps to put a structure in place that will help it stand up over time. One metaphor that can help you is to parallel putting together your financial house with building an actual house. More »
(mzamb03)
5 Tips To Cut Christmas Tree Costs
By Mary Beth Quirk on December 5, 2011 10:00 AM
54 Comments
Many of you may have already snagged your Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving, but for those still searching for the perfect fit in a fir, there are ways to find a good tree for right price, so you can spend more on presents and eggnog. More »
(cavale)
How To Make Sure Your "Free" Shipping Doesn't Cost Too Much
By Phil Villarreal on November 30, 2011 9:00 AM
18 Comments
Online sellers don't offer free shipping with minimum spending amounts just to be nice. They're trying to squeeze enough extra purchases out of customers to justify the expense of eating their shipping costs. Savvy shoppers can use such offers to their advantage, but they'll have to out-smart the rigged system. More »
(Enokson)
Where To Get Free Books For Your E-Reader
By Phil Villarreal on November 29, 2011 11:30 AM
40 Comments
If you went out on Black Friday and snagged a cheap e-reader, it's time to load it up with as many free e-books as it can hold. The amount of free stuff out there is astounding, ranging from public domain classics to new releases you can borrow from libraries. More »
If You Want The Best Electronics Deals, Wait A Few Days
By Phil Villarreal on November 28, 2011 8:30 AM
43 Comments
Although Black Friday and Cyber Monday grab the headlines, those who wait until the first week of December to buy electronics may score the best deals. According to research by a University of Washington computer science professor, gadgets hit their lowest price levels after the deal-hunting crowds have thinned out a bit. More »
(TLFagan)
Online Tools That Show You The Benefits Of Paying Off Debt
By Phil Villarreal on November 25, 2011 3:30 PM
25 Comments
The longer debt hangs over you, the easier it is to become used to it and disregard the damage it's causing. In particular, credit card debt can nail you the hardest if you ignore high interest rates while paying the minimum balance every month. More »
Stay In Bed: Black Friday May Not Be The Best Time To Buy That TV You Want
By Chris Morran on November 21, 2011 3:45 PM
35 Comments
As we mentioned last week, just because retailers are offering deep discounts on some electronics doesn't mean there will be savings on the particular item you're after. Now there is some science to back that up. More »
(Kimaroo)
Make Your Money Go Farther By Stretching Out Spending Intervals
By Phil Villarreal on November 21, 2011 12:15 PM
62 Comments
When you're looking to cut back on spending, it's natural to look for money-sucking activities to cut out of your life entirely. But that's not the only way to trim a budget. Rather than eliminating what you do, you can just do those things less often. More »
Your 20s Aren't Too Early To Worry About Retirement
By Phil Villarreal on November 21, 2011 10:15 AM
77 Comments
Although it's tough to plan nearly half a century ahead, the moves you make now can greatly affect your outlook when it comes time to retire. Small sacrifices today can potentially pay off exponentially as the decades roll by. More »
(Enokson)
Ban A Bad Shopping Habit To Save Money
By Phil Villarreal on November 21, 2011 9:30 AM
68 Comments
It's easy to become addicted to a daily coffee shop run, eating out for lunch or other regular buys of non-essential stuff that you've turned into habits. Regular splurges can worm their way into your budget and undermine your ability to save, reduce debt or spend your money in other, more worthwhile ways. More »
5 Things You Should Know About Black Friday
By Chris Morran on November 18, 2011 2:30 PM
70 Comments
As we mentioned earlier this week, some people have already begun camping out to get in line for this year's Black Friday sales. But are these people going to actually see any big savings or have they just given in to the annual hype machine surrounding the super shopping day? More »
(Lindacat)
Make The Most Out Of Coupon Books You Buy In Fundraisers
By Phil Villarreal on November 18, 2011 10:00 AM
23 Comments
If you buy one of those coupon books often peddled by kids who are raising money for their schools or clubs, you're most likely doing so just to help out rather than make a savvy investment. But dedicated coupon-users can make the books pay for themselves and then some. More »
Do You Know People Who Throw Away Change Instead Of Saving It?
By Meg Marco on November 16, 2011 1:15 PM
186 Comments
A (presumably) sarcastic comment on Vanguard's Facebook page about throwing away change instead of saving it has started something of a debate over on reddit. The question? Are there, in fact, people who really throw away their change rather than save it in a jar? Could this be true? Or is everyone being sarcastic and messing with us? More »
(eric731)
Layaway Can End Up Costing More Than A Credit Card, Senator Schumer Warns
By Ben Popken on November 14, 2011 11:00 AM
60 Comments
Retailers are trying to push layaway this holiday season as a way to buy stuff you don't immediately have the money for. For people without available credit, this can be a way to eventually get what they can't afford now. But NY Sen. Chuck Schumer is warning that layaway fees can add up to be a much higher interest rate than any credit card would be allowed to charge. More »
Ways To Save Money At The Grocery Store
By Phil Villarreal on November 14, 2011 9:00 AM
91 Comments
I you're looking for ways to trim your budget, you might want to take a hard look at your grocery shopping habits. Sloppy shopping routines repeated throughout the year can make you waste a frightening amount of money. More »
(ckilgore)
Turn Household Junk Into Do-It-Yourself Gifts
By Phil Villarreal on November 11, 2011 11:15 AM
52 Comments
There's no need for Black Friday when you've got a closet full of odds and ends just waiting for you to shape into homemade gifts for your friends and loved ones. With luck and skill, you can turn gift-giving into an expression of your artistry rather than just another entry on your credit card receipt. More »
How To Stop Wasting So Much Money On Food
By Phil Villarreal on November 7, 2011 10:30 AM
157 Comments
Every time you throw out spoiled food, you're retroactively tossing out misspent money. Add waste to overspending at restaurants and poor choices at the supermarket and you could find that food is taking more of a sizable bite out of your budget. More »
How Lower Credit Scores Cost You More Money
By Ben Popken on November 3, 2011 2:00 PM
54 Comments
People talk a lot about credit scores. Bands play songs about them in TV ads that try to sell you credit reports. It's generally known that a higher score is better than a lower score. But what really is the difference between a person with a 820 and one with a 620? Is one a better person than the other? Not necessarily, but the person with the 620 score can expect to pay $227 more a month on a $216,000 30-year fixed rate mortgage. Here's the breakdown. More »
5 Bad Deals In Extended Warranties For Holiday Shoppers
By Ben Popken on November 1, 2011 12:00 PM
69 Comments
Extended warranty plans are generally known as being bad deals for consumers. But how specifically are they bad? An insider who works, begrudgingly, for an extended service plan company lays out some of the worst extended warranty deals to watch out for when shopping this holiday season. More »
What You Need To Know When Transferring Credit Card Balances
By Phil Villarreal on October 28, 2011 3:15 PM
28 Comments
Credit card companies like to lure in new customers with impressive-sounding balance transfer officers, but they don't just do that to be nice. There are usually fine-print catches associated with the deals, and they'll bite you if you overlook them. More »
If You Want A Giftless Holiday Season, Now Is The Time To Start The Legwork
By Phil Villarreal on October 24, 2011 10:30 AM
91 Comments
If you've had a rough financial year, or are simply sick of running the stress-inducing hamster wheel of gift exchanges, perhaps you'd like a present-free holiday season. More »
Stuff You Can Do To Save Money Today
By Phil Villarreal on October 17, 2011 11:15 AM
86 Comments
If you find yourself in tight financial times, your instinct will probably be to hunt around for ways to cut spending. While it's tough to make sweeping changes that will result in major savings, you can feel better about yourself by culling together little ways to save here and there. More »
What Broke Sports Stars Can Teach You About Personal Finances
By Phil Villarreal on October 17, 2011 10:15 AM
50 Comments
Athletic skill and financial acumen don't always come in the same package, which is why many successful pro athletes run out of money once their fat paychecks stop rolling in. More »
Non-Credit Union Alternatives To Banks With Monthly Debit Card Fees
By Ben Popken on October 12, 2011 3:00 PM
51 Comments
While often the default response online to people looking for something other than a big retail bank to stash their cash is to shout, "Credit union! Credit union!", they're not the only game in town. More »
(OiMax)
Japan Proposes Offering 10,000 Free Round-Trip Tickets To Boost Tourism
By Ben Popken on October 11, 2011 5:00 PM
77 Comments
In order to boost flagging tourism after the nuclear disaster, earthquakes and tsunami, the Japan Tourism Agency has proposed a bold plan. They're going to give away 10,000 free round-trip tickets. More »
Negotiate Before You Sign To Get A Better Deal On Your Credit Card
By Ben Popken on October 11, 2011 11:00 AM
17 Comments
Just like some people don't kiss on the first date, it can be wise to hold out on a potential credit card company. Don't give it all up, by which I mean your signature, without playing a little hard to get. Instead of replying to the credit card offer immediately or sending in that online application, call them up and negotiate and get a better deal before you hop into bed with them. More »
4 Debt Traps And How To Avoid Them
By Chris Morran on September 28, 2011 3:30 PM
104 Comments
One of the best ways to keep out of debt is to be mindful of the many pitfalls that are waiting to swallow you up, and how best to avoid them. The problem is, some of these debt traps don't look so deadly until you consider the consequences. More »
How I Cut $120 From My Annual DirecTV Bill
By Paul Eng on September 27, 2011 11:15 AM
44 Comments
Digital entertainment costs, like most other things, are steadily rising. So how did I cut back on expenses without scrimping on service? All I had to do was ask. More »
3 Expenses You Can Deduct From Your Taxes, Even If You Didn't Pay Them
By Chris Morran on September 21, 2011 12:00 PM
42 Comments
Just because someone else helps you with paying an expense doesn't necessarily mean you can't legally itemize that expense on your 1040 come tax time. More »
The Pros And Cons Of Egg Donation
By Phil Villarreal on September 16, 2011 3:30 PM
79 Comments
Some women have the opportunity to "donate" eggs and receive hefty compensation in exchange. The decision of whether or not to go through with the endeavor is an intensely personal one, filled with both positives and negatives. More »
(kainr)
Lies You Tell Yourself That Keep You In Debt
By Phil Villarreal on September 16, 2011 1:30 PM
78 Comments
Debt is like a blanket — You bury yourself in it, get comfortable and eventually stop noticing it's even there. That's because it's easy to convince yourself that you're powerless to rid yourself of your financial burdens. But becoming aware of the mentality that keeps you buried in debt is a way to start emerging from it. More »
How A Travel Hacker Buys An Airplane Ticket
By Ben Popken on September 14, 2011 11:00 AM
80 Comments
Nomadic Matt is essentially a professional world traveler, having quit his job in 2006 to pursue his love of trekking all around the globe. He shares his tips and the pricematching steps he takes before he books any ticket. More »
Knocked $30 Off My Cable Bill Just By Asking
By Ben Popken on September 9, 2011 5:00 PM
44 Comments
I've been hearing how the ol' "threaten to cancel to get your cable bill reduced" ploy is "dead" but I decided to give negotiating with the cable company a shot. I got my monthly bill reduced by $30, and, indirectly related to my conversation with them, somehow also got free HBO. Schweet. More »
3 Steps To Take To Plan Your Retirement
By Phil Villarreal on September 9, 2011 2:30 PM
42 Comments
Conventional wisdom advises you to keep your money in indexed investments and rest assured that market forces will grow your nest egg with double-digit returns, allowing you to coast into retirement with ease. But the recession and current volatile stock market can make you re-think your retirement strategy. More »
(Enokson)
8 Ways To Save Money Using Student Discounts
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 24, 2011 3:30 PM
36 Comments
For those heading back to school with dread in their hearts and a lightness in their wallets, chins up! Your status as a studier entitles you to a plethora of delightful student discounts, so you can at least spend less while you cram more. More »
Even 12-Year-Olds Are Obsessed With Extreme Couponing
By Mary Beth Quirk on August 23, 2011 10:30 AM
60 Comments
Why start a babysitting club to save money when you can just turn to extreme couponing? Good Morning America met Jessica, 12, whose love of couponing has led to $4,000 in savings for her family over the last three years. Which means... she started at nine. More »
Sometimes, It's Cheaper To Pay Shipping Than To Drive To The Store
By Laura Northrup on August 19, 2011 3:05 PM
77 Comments
It may seem like you're saving money when you climb in your car to pick something up at the store, or use free site-to-store shipping. But when you take into account the total cost of owning and driving a car, sometimes ordering the item at home without leaving the couch is more economical, even if you do have to pay shipping. How does that work? More »
How To Cool Down Costs Despite The Heat
By Phil Villarreal on August 15, 2011 11:30 AM
62 Comments
High temperatures don't have to overheat budgets. Take care to watch your spending in the hot months, and in some cases use the heat to your advantage, and you make it to the cooler months without burning too much paper. More »
(scbr)
The Benefits Of Hanging On To An Older Car
By Phil Villarreal on August 15, 2011 11:15 AM
227 Comments
Although it's tempting to want to buy a flashy new ride to keep pace with neighbors, friends and coworkers, there's a significant financial incentive to run an older vehicle into the ground. More »
Don't Get Ripped Off By Your Cellphone When Overseas
By Ben Popken on August 9, 2011 12:00 PM
34 Comments
Tales abound of cellphone bills in the double-digit thousands from customers who got snagged when traveling overseas. But there's a bunch of easy ways to make sure that your cellphone bill doesn't outpace your airplane ticket when gallivanting internationally. More »
Stupid Things People Do With Credit Cards
By Phil Villarreal on August 8, 2011 2:30 PM
77 Comments
Credit cards are rectangular Pandora's boxes, unleashing the potential for torment in your financial life, as well as possible salvation. Undisciplined or desperate credit card users often get themselves into ludicrous jams. More »
Are You "Baller" Enough To Get Secret No-Contract Cell Service?
By Ben Popken on August 3, 2011 11:00 AM
88 Comments
It's buried on the websites but you could be saving on your cellphone service every month if you signed up for one of their no contract plans. Not only are you not locked into contract, the actual per-monthly bill is cheaper, for exactly the same plan. More »
Mark Your Calendar For Back-To-School Sales Tax Holidays In Your State
By Chris Morran on August 2, 2011 2:30 PM
43 Comments
While it may be too early for some to be doing your back-to-school shopping, it's the perfect time to look ahead at upcoming sales tax holidays in various states that are targeted at those looking to stock up before it's back to drooling on the desk during trigonometry. More »
(Photo: Wrap Media Group)
Need Cheap Wheels? Rent A Rolling Ad From Budget In Atlanta
By Paul Eng on August 1, 2011 3:30 PM
36 Comments
If you want cheap car rentals this summer, Budget Rent a Car in Atlanta might have a deal for you. That is, as long as you don't mind driving a rented car that seems more like a rolling billboard. More »
2 Tips For Better Dumpster Diving
By Ben Popken on July 29, 2011 3:00 PM
83 Comments
To turn a phrase, "walk softly and carry a long stick" is a good maxim for better dumpster diving - what it's called when you look through other people's trash and dumpsters for goodies. More »
(sussmanb)
Is There Any Good Software For Writing My Own Will?
By Chris Morran on July 26, 2011 3:15 PM
31 Comments
We should all have some sort of document that details who gets what after we die, but should we be paying big bucks to some lawyer to write said document when there are websites and applications that can help you do it yourself for significantly less money? More »
(bredgur)
How Do You Wrap Your Pennies?
By Ben Popken on July 26, 2011 11:00 AM
142 Comments
Now that TD Bank won't let non-customers use their Penny Arcade for free, I've had to go out and buy a whole bunch of coins wraps to take care of my coin jar. The process is oddly fun and meditative, and I got to wondering, how do you wrap your coins? There's several techniques out there and mine is pretty basic. More »
Extreme Couponers Offer Up Some Tips On Scoring Mega Deals
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 25, 2011 12:15 PM
111 Comments
Extreme couponers — normal people who go to extreme cutting and clipping lengths to score huge savings at the supermarket — are known to be crafty beyond the realm of belief. These deal hunters can combine store coupons with outside deals and have clipped themselves to thousands in savings. And now they're offering up a tip or two for you to save as well. More »
Are You Spending Too Much Money On These Household Products?
By Mary Beth Quirk on July 20, 2011 4:15 PM
98 Comments
Look at you! You're practically leaking money from your pockets, spending all that dough on name-brand medications, paper towels and toothbrushes. Check out a few common household items you could be paying too much for and stop that cash leakage. More »
(SA_Steve)
7 Ways To Keep Your House Extra Hot This Summer
By Laura Northrup on July 18, 2011 4:00 PM
88 Comments
If there's anything that makes a summer heatwave even better, it's finding ways to capture that stifling heat and keep it in your home for as long as possible. Our toasty friends at Freeshipping.org compiled this useful list of ways to defeat your air conditioner and make sure your house stays as hot as possible all summer long. If you run an air conditioner, imagine all the money you can waste! More »
Tips For Spending Less At The Pharmacy
By Phil Villarreal on July 15, 2011 4:15 PM
72 Comments
When you're in the market for crucial, life-improving medication, saving money may not be your top priority. But keep a level head, know what to look out for and you can avoid being gouged when you're at your weakest. More »
(odoketa)
How To Save Money For A House
By Phil Villarreal on July 15, 2011 3:30 PM
91 Comments
If you want to scrape together as much money as possible for a down payment on a home, you'll have to cut your usual expenses. The trick is deciding exactly what you can and can't do without. More »
6 Reasons To Live A Cash-Only Life
By Chris Morran on July 8, 2011 1:30 PM
116 Comments
With every story we write about increased credit card fees, slashed rewards programs or hacked bank databases, a growing number of readers have expressed a growing interest in ditching their plastic and going cash-only. More »
Get Supermarket Club Discounts With "Jenny's" Phone Number
By Ben Popken on July 7, 2011 12:00 PM
113 Comments
Just because you're buying groceries out of town doesn't mean that you can't get a shopper's club discount at the supermarket, or have to go through the process of signing up for a member card. Instead, when they ask for your phone number, give them "Jenny's." More »
Five Things To Buy In July
By Ben Popken on July 6, 2011 10:00 AM
59 Comments
Here's five things to pick up in July because they're cheaper right now: butter, paint, suits, furniture, and big appliances. Here's why: More »
6 Ways To Tame The Costs Of Having A Pet
By Chris Morran on July 5, 2011 12:27 PM
232 Comments
As nice as it is to have a furry, feathered or fishy companion around the house, between food, medicine, the vet and other expenses, it can sometimes add up to a lot of red ink in your checkbook. More »
Cable Boxes Slurp More Electricity Than Refrigerators
By Ben Popken on June 27, 2011 11:00 AM
94 Comments
The biggest energy hog in your house is probably sitting right under your TV. That little ol' set-top box could be using up more electricity in your house than your refrigerator or central air conditioning, according to a new study by the National Resource Defense Council. More »
Free Stuff You Can Find At The Library
By Phil Villarreal on June 24, 2011 10:45 AM
81 Comments
When you think of libraries, you think of book shelves. Well, book shelves and creepy dudes on computer terminals. But there is also a whole bunch of publicly-funded free stuff you can use and borrow if you know what to look for. More »
Money Mistakes And How To Rebound From Them
By Phil Villarreal on June 24, 2011 10:15 AM
50 Comments
Unless you've got unlimited resources, you've probably made a major mistake with your money at some point that you've come to regret and learn from. But no matter how poor you are with money, there's pretty much always a way to recover and become financially stronger than before. More »
(ajruck)
Hit Up Big Attractions On Your Road Trip And Still Save Cash
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 20, 2011 4:45 PM
90 Comments
Taking a vacation via your vehicle is already one way to save some money, instead of flying your entire family to a destination that will add even more costs. But just because you're saving by driving, there are even more ways you can stretch a buck on a roadtrip and still see the big attractions. More »
Resourceful Woman Shares Tips On How To Make 46 Meals for $95
By Mary Beth Quirk on June 20, 2011 4:15 PM
119 Comments
In case you haven't been feeling inadequate lately, just check out this resourceful blogger: Natalie of "A Turtle's Life For Me" has gotten down the practice of finding good deals on food and turning the process of making freezer meals for her family of four into an artform. More »
How To Swerve Away From Extra Car Rental Fees
By Paul Eng on June 17, 2011 3:45 PM
75 Comments
Sure, maybe you're smart enough not to fall for the optional insurance car rental companies like to shill when you borrow one of their fine vehicles. And of course, you're wise to the astronomical final bill you might get if you opt for their pricey fuel options. But do you know what other gotchas lay in store? More »
(zoetnet)
Avoid Credit Card Problems When Traveling Overseas
By Ben Popken on June 13, 2011 11:00 AM
77 Comments
Most credit cards in Europe have an embedded PIN chip in them, called an EMV card. Almost no American credit cards do. This causes big problems for Americans traveling in Europe but there are a few ways to minimize the hassle. More »
Easy Couponing For Beginners
By Phil Villarreal on June 10, 2011 12:00 PM
99 Comments
Couponing is a potentially lucrative hobby, but it's also a complicated one. Varying store policies, myriad sources, agonizing busywork and difficult-to-digest rules and restrictions tend to muck things up. More »
New Search Tool Helps You Find Credit Unions With Decent Credit Cards
By Chris Morran on June 8, 2011 12:30 PM
16 Comments
As many of the bigger banks have reacted to credit card regulation by nickel-and-diming their customers, a number of people have begun looking to not-for-profit credit unions as a lower-cost alternative. Unfortunately, since most unions don't advertise and there often isn't one on every corner, they can be difficult to locate. But a new search tool from the folks at Nerd Wallet can help point you in the right direction. More »
More People Using 401(K) Funds As Piggy Banks
By Chris Morran on June 7, 2011 5:05 PM
61 Comments
Even though the economy has begun to demonstrate occasional signs of life, many Americans are still feeling the sting of those darkest days. Millions of homeowners are struggling to pay mortgages they can't afford and those that have walked away from underwater loans now have battle-scarred credit reports. So in order to stay afloat, more consumers are taking loans from their own retirement savings. More »
Make Your Own Peanut Butter At Home
By Ben Popken on June 6, 2011 11:00 AM
68 Comments
You can save $1.37 a jar making your own peanut butter at home. It's actually really easy, fun, and it won't contain a bunch of that extra nonsense you find from big name brands. More »
Get A Refund After An Airfare Pricedrop
By Ben Popken on June 3, 2011 4:00 PM
15 Comments
It is possible to get a refund for the difference if the airfare drops after you buy your ticket, but you'll usually have to fly one of these three airlines to make it worth your while. More »
(Ninja M.)
Poor Attendance And Online Ticket Sales Are A Baseball Fan's Dream
By Phil Villarreal on May 29, 2011 12:30 PM
101 Comments
Major League Baseball teams can try to raise their ticket prices to increase revenue, but supply and demand ultimately determine their prices. Seas of empty seats at baseball games and stockpiles of marked-down tickets available on sites such as StubHub can make for ridiculously cheap tickets, especially in cities with bad teams. More »
Haggle Like A Rockstar
By Ben Popken on May 27, 2011 2:00 PM
11 Comments
Earlier this week we brought you some tips on haggling from The Brooklyn Flea Market. In typical fashion, Consumerist readers replied with their own great tips on haggling, hard-won info tempered in the flames of many a flea market battle. Here's the best of your best on how to haggle like a rockstar, Consumerist-reader style: More »
Serve Up A Memorial Day Feast Without Busting The Budget
By Ben Popken on May 25, 2011 4:00 PM
46 Comments
Throwing a Memorial Day get-together in a recession doesn't have to mean just putting out a box of store-brand Ritz crackers. Over at CNBC, Celebrity chef Guy Fieri shares a few simple tweaks for serving up a feast this weekend without having to go into hock. More »
Tips On Haggling From The Particular People At The Brooklyn Flea Market
By Ben Popken on May 24, 2011 1:00 PM
80 Comments
The Brooklyn Flea Market at Fort Greene is full of curios and hidden treasures curated by a heterogeneous band of impassioned vendors. You can, and should, get money off the asking price but you'll have to muster up the courage and convince the person working the table you're worthy of a bargain. Ying Ying Li made a beautiful video interviewing both the sellers and buyers in this bazaar to glean some tips: More »
Avoid These Money-Wasters To Keep Your Pocketbooks Plumper
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 23, 2011 2:15 PM
55 Comments
Just admit it. You waste money every day without realizing it. We all do, from shelling out $4+ for a non-fat extra foam mochafrappacaramelccino or ducking into the corner store to use the ATM. Identifying money-wasting behavior is the first step to correcting it, so pay attention! More »
(cpeck485)
Trick Yourself Into Socking Money Away
By Phil Villarreal on May 22, 2011 12:30 PM
55 Comments
It's one thing to realize you should be saving money in order to strive for a particular financial goal or solidify your long-term future, but it's another to generate the discipline to actually leave yourself with enough funds left over to put away. More »
Apps Help You Save On Gas
By Phil Villarreal on May 21, 2011 12:30 PM
37 Comments
If you spend a lot of time driving around a large city, you pass countless gas stations and probably find it's tough to be certain that you're stopping at the right one. It helps to have a smartphone app that keeps tabs of the ever-changing pump prices. More »
Bill Aims To Stop People From Using 401(K) As A Piggy Bank
By Chris Morran on May 19, 2011 4:30 PM
134 Comments
A recent study found that a record number of people (around 28%) with 401(k) retirement funds had loans (averaging $7,860) outstanding on them in 2010, meaning that these same folks will not have as much money set aside when it does come time to retire. That's why a pair of Senators have introduced legislation that would make it more difficult for people to tap their 401(k)s. More »
5 Tips For Saving On Your Wedding Without Looking Cheap
By Chris Morran on May 18, 2011 1:15 PM
224 Comments
Wedding season is upon us, and while it may be too late for this summer's brides and grooms to trim their wedding budgets too severely, there is still time for next year's couples to start thinking about ways to spend less while still having a storybook ceremony. More »
4 Magical Words Debt Collectors Use To Open Your Pockets
By Ben Popken on May 18, 2011 12:00 PM
66 Comments
Debt collection is all about mind games. NotSoDeepSouth blogged about the four magical words that he used to use as a debt collector that acted like a crowbar on people's wallets, getting formerly relcacitrant people to empty out their pockets. More »
(lindacat)
Before You Shop, Check Out The Best Printable Coupon Sites
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 12, 2011 10:30 AM
55 Comments
Whether you're into saving a little money or a whole lot (have you seen extreme couponers at work? It is nuts!) it's helpful when collecting printable coupons to make sure you're getting the real deal. For all the various sites out there offering a deal, many offer counterfeit coupons or are otherwise hard to redeem. More »
Beat High Airfares With The Old "Hidden City" Trick
By Ben Popken on May 9, 2011 5:00 PM
153 Comments
Here's a little secret to saving big on airfare, courtesy of the New York Times Magazine. When you fly into an airport that is mainly controlled by one airline, like Memphis, Newark, or Dallas, it can be pretty pricey. For instance, Des Moines to Dallas is $375. But if you booked it to LA with a stopover in Dallas, the price drops to $186. All you have to do is just not get on the connecting flight. This is the "hidden city" trick. More »
Luxuries That Aren't Worth Giving Up
By Phil Villarreal on May 8, 2011 10:30 AM
243 Comments
Highly frugal people can fall into the trap of sacrificing quality of life in exchange for saving money for no definable purpose. On the other hand, it's also easy to slip into self-destructive spending routines that harm you while providing diminishing returns in pleasure. Everyone has financial lines they won't cross. More »
Weighing The Pros And Cons Of Rewards Checking
By Phil Villarreal on May 7, 2011 12:30 PM
42 Comments
Banks try to lure customers with rewards checking accounts the offer promises of bonuses for certain spending benchmarks and other behavior. A ComplexSearch post helps you sort out whether or not such accounts are the right fit for you. More »
Tricking Yourself Into Saving By Rounding Up Every Check In Ledger?
By Ben Popken on May 4, 2011 12:00 PM
94 Comments
While trying to find an article in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press archive, I found a letter from one of their readers who had a unique way of tricking herself into saving money. Whenever she writes a check, she rounds it up in the check register. When she deposits a check, she rounds it down. At the end of the year she finds she has a cache of "ghost money" that she uses to buy new shoes, go to the movies, make donations and do home improvement projects. Depending on how you look at it, this is either the dumbest savings method ever, or an incredibly smart one. More »
6 Ways To Be A Savvier Traveler And Save
A: This is fun. You can start your own miniature bidding ware by calling up several hotel desk clerks and ask them for "the cheapest non-refundable rate." Play them against each other. Using this method, you can save upwards of $20 off the online rate, even though they insist that that's their cheapest available rate. More »
By Ben Popken on May 2, 2011 5:00 PM
70 Comments
Q: I'm taking a vacation, room rates are ridiculous. Any way you can save me some money?A: This is fun. You can start your own miniature bidding ware by calling up several hotel desk clerks and ask them for "the cheapest non-refundable rate." Play them against each other. Using this method, you can save upwards of $20 off the online rate, even though they insist that that's their cheapest available rate. More »
How To Save On Medical Care For Your Pet
By Laura Northrup on April 30, 2011 3:15 PM
100 Comments
There have been amazing advances in veterinary care in the last few decades, and amazing advances in cost along with them. An animal's serious illness can cost thousands of dollars, more out of pocket than their owner's medical treatment. (Well, assuming that the owner has health insurance.) Routine vaccinations and preventive care aren't cheap, either. The New York Times recently offered some advice for people who love their pets, but don't have a fortune to spend. More »
Why You Need A Reserve Fund
By Phil Villarreal on April 29, 2011 3:00 PM
68 Comments
Every nagging, Jiminy Cricket-like personal finance voice harps on you about how you need to build up a reserve fund or else the world will end in 2012 and the Cubs will never win the World Series. But the advise hardly stands on it's own, because it's boring just to sit on a large sum of money without investing or spending it. More »
How One Couple Dug Out From $83,000 In Credit Card Debt
By Chris Morran on April 26, 2011 3:30 PM
129 Comments
It's pretty easy to amass a mountain of credit card debt, especially if you're a married couple with nine credit cards on which you only pay the minimum. But there's no simple way to bulldoze that mountain once it's reached Everest-like heights. As one couple in Atlanta learned, erasing $83,000 in debt requires time, determination and humility. More »
(squirll)
Car Seats Fly Free, So Pack Other Stuff In There To Avoid Bag Fees
By Ben Popken on April 25, 2011 2:00 PM
58 Comments
It's sort of sneaky, but you can take advantage of the fact that a few items, like strollers, car seats and some medical items, never get a fee for getting checked in order to avoid checked bag fees on your other stuff, writes the Money Crashers blog. More »
(RLHyde)
Switch To Old-School Safety Razors And Save $160 A Year
By Ben Popken on April 25, 2011 11:00 AM
192 Comments
Like a drug dealer giving out free samples, Gillette has been getting men hooked on Fusion razors by handing out free Fusion razors. You go along and you think, mm, this is a pretty good shave, and eventually you need to buy replacement cartridges, and it turns out they cost $40! Reader Jim got sick of spending $250 a year on cartridges for a shave that wasn't stellar so he decided to kick it like a grandpa and switch to old-school double-edged safety razors. Jim says the blades on these just cost pennies a piece and the shave is cleaner and closer. Here's how he made the switch: More »
Scrub Glassware With Aluminum Foil
By Ben Popken on April 18, 2011 11:00 AM
33 Comments
Don't just toss out that perfectly lovely piece of aluminum foil. Save it, and use it to scrub your glassware, says Real Simple. A bit of dishwashing liquid and a small piece of foil can do the work of a steel-wool soap pad when getting stubborn stickies and food stains from glassware and oven racks. Plus it's cheaper! More »
Extreme Couponing: Fraud Edition
By Laura Northrup on April 15, 2011 8:45 AM
224 Comments
A lot of people find TLC's new reality show "Extreme Couponing" horrifying due to the at times obnoxious behavior and extremely organized hoarding of the show's subjects. But fellow (less extreme) couponers are upset for a different reason: they think that one woman featured on the show got some of her fantastic deals by using coupons fraudulently. More »
(dotpolka)
Check Out International Grocery Stores To Find Savings
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 11, 2011 1:30 PM
91 Comments
The only things as great as saving money is getting stuff for free, and since that is frowned upon at most grocery stores, it's best to stick with finding deals. One way to possibly score some lower prices on foods you love: Check out the shelves at your local international grocery stores. More »
These Piggy Banks Are Really Excited To Accept Your Change
By Mary Beth Quirk on April 11, 2011 11:30 AM
48 Comments
Back when we were kids, piggy banks were demure, rather stoic beasts, who humbly accepted our change through the traditional slot in the back. But times, they are a-changin'. Lady Gaga rules the airwaves, Britney Spears has kids and these little piggies, submitted by a reader, are a new breed of bank. More »
Help, The Price Of My Life-Saving Drug Went Up 2000%!
By Laura Northrup on April 1, 2011 8:00 AM
151 Comments
Colchicine, a drug primarily used to treat gout, is an old drug. Very old. Extracts from the plant it comes from, colchicum, have been used in gout treatment for thousands of years. In pill form as colchicine, it's been on the market in the United States since the 19th century and predates the Food and Drug Administration. A few years ago, the company that makes one brand of the drug, Colcrys, obtained FDA approval for their version, and the exclusive rights to sell it in the United States for three years. Who cares? Reader Nick does. He works in retail, isn't wealthy, and the colchicine he takes twice a day for a serious medical condition shot up in cost from about $20 per month to closer to $400. More »
Beware The Many Pitfalls Of Daily Deal Sites
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 31, 2011 1:30 PM
79 Comments
In the latest craze of daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial, we're already learning pretty darn fast that not all is what it seems when it comes to the offered discounts. Caveat emptor and all that, right? Let's take a look at some of the things you should consider before you plunk down $17 for $34 worth of bacon-flavored lollipops at that place you never would've gone to otherwise, shall we? More »
College Students Turn To Some Interesting Methods To Pay For School
By Mary Beth Quirk on March 30, 2011 8:00 AM
101 Comments
Back in my day, paying for college meant babysitting or working as a waitress, and yes, applying to every scholarship/grant in existence. But kids these days, boy, are they getting creative when it comes to saving up funds to pay for education! More »
(Ninja M.)
Rich Don't Feel Wealthy Unless They Have $7.5 Million
By Phil Villarreal on March 15, 2011 9:15 AM
208 Comments
While anyone with $1 million in the bank is technically a millionaire, it apparently takes a lot more money than that for the merely rich to feel truly wealthy. According to a survey of the ultra-rich by Fidelity Investments, the real benchmark for being wealthy is $7.5 million. More »
You Don't Have To Buy An E-ZPass From The State Where You Live
By Laura Northrup on March 2, 2011 4:15 PM
151 Comments
The zone of state toll systems that are part of E-ZPass now stretches far beyond the New York metropolitan area where it began. Now you can use your E-ZPass in toll-zapping booths in 14 states, a vast road-trip zone stretching from Virginia to Illinois to Maine. It's all a compatible system, but different states set their own fees to issue the transponders and maintain your account.
What not all consumers know is that you don't have to buy your pass from the state where you live, and you can save money by ordering from across the border. Whether this is a good idea or not depends on where you live, and on where you drive. More »
Roaming Charges Are Just Silly; Here's How To Avoid Them Abroad
By Mary Beth Quirk on February 25, 2011 2:15 PM
19 Comments
Some people don't like getting huge roaming charges on cell phone bills when they travel abroad, and some other people might have mothers who also don't like getting emergency collect calls from Italy that cost way too much money. There are ways to stay connected in foreign lands with the monetary bummers. More »
Billshrink Helpfully Suggests How I Can Spend More Money
By Laura Northrup on February 15, 2011 8:00 AM
18 Comments
Billshrink is an incredibly helpful service that lets you know when you could be spending less on a service that you use. But when things go wrong, it's a little silly and not helpful at all. Ben reports that he keeps receiving these notices about how he could spend more money on his Verizon Wireless bill.
10 Meals You Can Make In A Coffeemaker
By Ben Popken on February 14, 2011 12:00 PM
48 Comments
As this winter has taught us, the snowpocalypse can hit at any moment, potentially leaving you snowed in at the office, stranded in a coffee break room without access to vital food heating appliances. But armed with a coffee maker, you can make several different delicious dishes to keep you going until help arrives, or at least make being attacked by the snow zombies less painful. Because nothing sucks more than getting mauled by a snow zombie on an empty stomach. Of course, ramen is a no-brainer and so are rice and soft-boiled eggs, but how about lemon pepper chicken? More »
10 Thrifty Ways To Deliver Big On Valentine's Day
By Ben Popken on February 11, 2011 11:38 AM
88 Comments
Just because the economy is in the dumps doesn't mean your spirits have to be on V-Day. There's lots of great ways to celebrate your relationship without buying into all the myths of conspicuous consumption. At the same time, classic romantic gestures can be nice and sweet, as long as there's more feeling than Franklins behind them. Here's a guide to some last-minute, creative, frugal and even free ways to say "I love you." (Spoiler alert: the best day to celebrate February 14... is February 15! It's like getting Valentine's Day half-off!) More »
Tuesday And Wednesday Are Best Days To Buy Airfare, Smart Guys Say
By Ben Popken on February 1, 2011 3:00 PM
10 Comments
The best day to buy airfare is often Tuesday, but Wednesday also offers good deals, which are sometimes even better. How come? More »
Deduct The Costs Of Your Job Search
By Ben Popken on January 31, 2011 10:00 AM
26 Comments
It's hard to get a break when you're out of work, but there are a few tax breaks you do qualify for. Did you know that you can deduct travel expenses for job interviews? The fees you pay to an outplacement firm? And the cost of printing your resume on ostrich ebony paper? A survey of 1,000 adults found that only 1% of them did. While you're trying to snag a job, might as well catch a few tax breaks along the way.
(Trulia)
Pretty Circles Tell You Whether To Rent Or Buy
By Ben Popken on January 27, 2011 2:00 PM
66 Comments
For those who don't like math but do like colored circles, here's a graphic visualizing which cities it's cheaper to buy in and which it's cheaper to rent in. The redder the circler, the better it is to rent. The greener, the better it is to buy. More »
Avoid The Dread Eye Of The IRS Auditor
By Ben Popken on January 27, 2011 1:00 PM
53 Comments
After The Reaper, second in the line of "those to fear" is the IRS tax auditor. What with his scales and poison fangs and all. But you can dodge his fell gaze if you know the red flags he's looking for. More »
(skampy)
Build Your Own Home Gym For Cheap With Craigslist
By Ben Popken on January 25, 2011 12:00 PM
34 Comments
Getting in shape this year needn't require a gym membership. A reader over at the New York Times Bucks Blog sent in info and pictures about the home gym he built almost entirely from equipment scavenged off Craigslist. More »
Know The Jargon To Get A Great Hotel Rate
By Ben Popken on January 24, 2011 10:00 AM
27 Comments
To get into speakeasies of yore, you had to knock and the door, waiting for the big guy to slide back the eye slot, and say the secret password. Likewise, in order to get into a hotel room at a great price, you gotta know the lingo to sling. More »
Save Money On Postage By Buying Old Stamps At Discount
By Phil Villarreal on January 21, 2011 3:30 PM
49 Comments
If you send out a lot of physical mail, you probably won't mind stumbling upon a way to shave 10 percent off your postal expenses. One labor-intensive yet effective method to trim your stamp expenses is to hook up with a stamp and coin collector shop and buy old postage at a discount. More »
Save Money: Get Married In A Funeral Home
By Laura Northrup on January 19, 2011 9:00 AM
86 Comments
Superficially, weddings and funerals have a lot in common: everyone's dressed up, families get together, some people are crying, and the guests of honor ride off in fancy vehicle to an uncertain future. Funeral homes, though, are large and beautiful spaces that provide a cheaper alternative site for wedding receptions and/or ceremonies. More »
(8one6)
Slash Your Restaurant Bill By Keeping An Eye Out For Upsells
By Phil Villarreal on January 12, 2011 4:20 PM
136 Comments
If restaurant checks always seem to be a bit higher than you envision, it's because the industry thrives on ways to trick you into giving up extra cash at every turn. Waiters can be upsell-happy con artists, and you are the mark. More »
Apocryphal And Hilarious "Letter A 98-Year Old Woman Wrote To Her Bank" Makes The Rounds Again
By Ben Popken on January 10, 2011 12:00 PM
20 Comments
An amazing letter that a 98-year old woman wrote to her bank to protest a bounced check is making the rounds. She complains about a check getting bounced from her account because it occurred "three nanoseconds" before her pension got direct-deposited. She then says that going forward the bank will have to appoint a special rep to open her mortgage and loan payments, he has to use a 28-digit PIN to talk to her, and will have to go through a lengthy phone tree. It's quite clever, but it's not real. Not exactly. More »
(Kevin)
Know Your Bank's New Checking Fees To Avoid Getting Slammed
By Mary Beth Quirk on January 10, 2011 11:15 AM
57 Comments
The first reaction to your bank instituting new fees on your "free checking" account in 2011 might be sheer, overwhelming panic, or maybe rage, indignation, or some combination thereof. But don't be afraid, fee-haters, there are ways around extra charges to your account. More »
First Step To Reducing Credit Card Debt Is To Stop Using Your Card
By Ben Popken on December 30, 2010 2:00 PM
72 Comments
It sounds obvious but judging how many people (ab)use their credit cards they seem to forget it: to get out of debt you need to stop getting into more debt. That means putting your credit card on lockdown. More »
Save Money On Magazine Subscriptions By Complaining About N00bs
By Laura Northrup on December 30, 2010 11:30 AM
52 Comments
Are you annoyed at the great introductory prices new subscribers to a magazine get, while old-timers' subscription prices climb higher? Yeah, it's the nature of subscriptions, but Gabe found a simple way around it: he called up the magazine and complained about the discrepancy. More »
Are SmartPhones Making Us Smarter Shoppers?
By Chris Morran on December 16, 2010 3:00 PM
52 Comments
Not so long ago, comparison shopping required actually going to several stores or sifting through every circular in the Sunday paper. And even as at-home internet access became commonplace, that didn't really help if you'd gone to the store without doing the legwork in advance. But the rapid growth of web-enabled phones could be leading to better retail prices and more informed consumers. More »
Keep Getting Those Student Discounts Long After You Drop Out
By Phil Villarreal on December 6, 2010 2:30 PM
103 Comments
Glory be to grad students, whose existence allows geezers in their 30s and beyond to be able to ask for student discounts with a straight face. More »
(rcohen89)
How To Save Up Money For The Apocalypse
By Laura Northrup on December 3, 2010 9:00 AM
36 Comments
Once you've taken advantage of the Second Coming Jewelry Sale, you may be wondering: how can I make sure that I have a nest egg ready for the End Times? Reader loquaciousmusic came up with this great idea to take advantage of two proposed "expiration dates" for the Earth. If the world ends—oh, well, you probably won't have missed that $10 per week. If it does—hey, use the money to buy yourself something cool to celebrate still being alive. More »
Put A Lid On Shipping & Handling Charges
November 16, 2010 12:40 PM
28 Comments
The price of a clock radio we found at Target.com: $9.99. The cost of shipping and handling said clock: $6.13. That's reasonable, based on what UPS or the post office would have charged, but who wants to pay two-thirds of a product's price to have it sent? Especially at holiday time, you'll want to avoid S&H gotchas. Here's how: More »
Halfway To Paying Off $70,000 In Debt
By Ben Popken on November 3, 2010 5:00 PM
90 Comments
A debt blogger is midway through paying off $70,000 in credit card debt using the "debt snowball" method. Great stuff! More »
6 Painless Ways To Cut Your Grocery Bill
October 22, 2010 1:15 PM
119 Comments
Grocery shopping takes a big bite out of most budgets. The average family of four spends nearly $6,000 a year at the supermarket. But you don't have to. It's easier to trim your grocery bill than to cut back on most other household expenses. Here's how: More »
Get Debt Free With One Manila Folder
By Ben Popken on October 21, 2010 5:00 PM
49 Comments
When you're facing a pile of debt and unpaid bills, the task before you can seem overwhelming. You'd much rather be pounding Olde English and watching old Daily Show episodes. The key is to get it all organized and in one place, and it all starts with one manila folder. More »
(_Dinkel_)
Eat Healthier By Leaving Your Credit Cards At Home
By Laura Northrup on October 21, 2010 8:00 AM
35 Comments
In the last few decades, Americans use credit (or debit) cards for more and more of our everyday spending. We're also, collectively, becoming more and more obese. A group of researchers wondered: is there a correlation here? They conducted four experiments looking at what types of food people purchase when using a credit card, and what they purchase when using cash. They published their findings in the Journal of Consumer Research. The result is not surprising: people are more likely to buy junk food, on impulse, when paying with plastic. More »
Pick A Bank That Won't Screw You
By Ben Popken on October 18, 2010 5:00 PM
43 Comments
Shopping for a bank but don't want to get dinged with fees or unfair practices, but not totally sure you know what they all are? Those banks can be darn creative, after all. Here's a great online guide that takes you step by step through all the practices you should watch out for. Complete the worksheet and you'll have a good idea of whether you should stash your cash there or not. More »
B&Bs Offering Free Rooms To Veterans On Nov. 10
By Chris Morran on October 7, 2010 3:45 PM
53 Comments
As a special thank you to members of our armed forces, more than 500 bed and breakfasts in the U.S. and Canada are offering free rooms to veterans on Nov. 10, the night before Veterans Day. More »
Deduct Costs Of Stinky Chinese Drywall From Your Taxes
By Ben Popken on October 1, 2010 1:00 PM
19 Comments
You can get some money if your home was ruined by defective Chinese drywall that emitted nasty-ass sulfuric fumes. The IRS yesterday said that homeowners could treat the damages to both their homes and appliances as a casualty loss and deduct it from their taxes. More »
Avoid The Lottery: Play This Deeply Depressing Lottery Simulator Instead
By Laura Northrup on September 29, 2010 9:30 AM
62 Comments
There are lots of things that you would probably do if you won the lottery. Pay off your family members' mortgages, fill a Jacuzzi with hot chocolate, buy a water park, or donate to your favorite blog. However, a basic understanding of math will force you to admit that there are much better places for your dollar than the lottery's coffers. You can, however, simulate the experience of playing the lottery for decades at a time without ever spending money on a ticket. This handy web app simulates the experience of playing the same numbers in the multi-state MegaMillions game for as long as ten years. More »
IAMS Sends Coupons, Free Food When Your Mom Can't Afford Cat Food
By Laura Northrup on September 29, 2010 9:00 AM
137 Comments
Suzanne writes that when her mother was short on money but needed high-quality food for her sick cats, Iams was a reasonable choice but still outside her budget. So she called the company's customer service, explained her situation, and was rewarded. She not only received coupons, but she cultivated a friendly relationship with the customer service reps. More »
How Do Airlines Compare On Fees?
By Chris Walters on September 27, 2010 9:00 AM
7 Comments
It's hard to keep track of all the extra fees airlines have invented to pad a ticket purchase, especially since they keep introducing new ones; USA TODAY says revenue from added fees have jumped nearly 16% from a year ago. The newspaper reviewed fees from 13 airlines in the U.S. and compiled this handy reference chart of current fee schedules, to make comparison shopping a little bit easier. As expected, Southwest continues to be one of the best values. More »
How To Remodel A Kitchen That's Not Supposed To Fund Your Retirement
By Meg Marco on September 25, 2010 2:30 PM
59 Comments
Remember the days when your kitchen was an investment? Yeah, those days are over. Now you need a reasonably priced kitchen where you can actually cook! More »
How To Get The Best Deals At 10 Major Retail Chains
September 22, 2010 12:15 PM
35 Comments
Everyone wants a bargain, which is why more Americans shop at discount chains like Target and Walmart than at any other type of big store. But a new survey of more than 30,000 subscribers by the Consumer Reports National Research Center reveals that folks are also finding low prices at department stores, warehouse clubs, and general-merchandise retailers. We recently reported on why consumers shop where they do. More »
Advice For Holiday Travelers This Year: Buy Your Tickets Now
By Chris Walters on September 20, 2010 12:30 PM
23 Comments
CNN's Travel Companion suggests you start looking for Thanksgiving and Christmas tickets now, because airlines have cut capacity over last year, and the peak travel times for those two holidays are shorter this year than usual. The article also provide some tips for getting a good price: shop for single seats; aim for Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday flights; and if you can, try to fly on an actual holiday. More »
Saved $99.48 With Coupons, Bought 51 Items For $45.46
By Ben Popken on September 15, 2010 4:00 PM
278 Comments
Consumerist reader LadySiren, married with 5 kids, is a coupon ninja by necessity. "My kids go through a box and a half of Pop-Tarts each time they eat them for breakfast," she writes by way of explanation. Here's how, in exhaustive detail, she bought 51 items at the supermarket this week using coupons, super double coupons, and catalinas, for only $45.56, saving $99.48. Her haul is pictured. More »
Tips On Getting Less Fat & Less Poor When You Dine Out
By Chris Morran on September 13, 2010 1:15 PM
59 Comments
We'll admit that we tend to focus on the more outrageous end of the restaurant menu, both because it's fun and it's what we (well, at least I) eat. But leave it to our more sensible cousins at Consumer Reports Health to come up with a list of ways to eat out at a restaurant while saving money and watching your waist. More »
How Not To Save Money On Life Insurance
By Phil Villarreal on August 30, 2010 12:15 PM
31 Comments
In Bizarro World, most of us with life insurance feel guilty for paying so little to insurance companies. Budget Life checks in with several ways to allay those feelings of inadequacy by offering some things you can do to fatten up those premiums: More »
Transfer Calls To Your Gmail Chat To Save Minutes
By Ben Popken on August 26, 2010 5:00 PM
20 Comments
One cool way to use the new Google Voice integrated with Gmail is to transfer cellphone calls to your computer and save on minutes. More »
(dano)
Changing Your Washer's Settings Saves More Energy Than Line Drying
By Ben Popken on August 24, 2010 2:00 PM
88 Comments
Quick, what uses more energy, room air conditioners or central air? What saves more energy, turning off the lights, or switching to CFLs? If you picked the first answer to these questions, you're like most Americans: totally wrong. More »
How To Trick Verizon's Website Into Cutting $30 Off Phone Cost
By Phil Villarreal on August 23, 2010 3:30 PM
27 Comments
Rob stumbled onto a secret maneuver that could save potential Verizon customers $30 on a phone upgrade. You just need to go through the motions of setting up a plan and selecting a phone then try to close the browser. More »
Use Toshl To Manually Track Your Expenses
By Ben Popken on August 20, 2010 4:00 PM
17 Comments
The Toshl app lets you swiftly input and track your spending. Just enter a price, tap a tag, and tap save. Blamo, done. More »
(ashi)
5 Reasons Why Every Single College Ranking Is a Pile of Crap
August 20, 2010 12:30 PM
130 Comments
It's almost back-to-school time, which means now is the season to be inundated once again with the annual lists ranking colleges and universities. But in this guest post from Zac Bissonnette, author of the upcoming Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding Education Without Loans, Scholarships, or Mooching off My Parents, he explains why these lists are all a complete crock. More »
Use "Remember The Milk" To Organize Your Bills
By Ben Popken on August 19, 2010 11:00 AM
65 Comments
Keeping track of what bills need to be paid when and how much can be a hassle. Here's how you can use the long-time fave productivity and to-do list management tool "Remember The Milk" to simplify it. More »
How To Make Your Own Frappuccino On A Stick
By Laura Northrup on August 19, 2010 9:30 AM
17 Comments
The Starbucks Frappuccino is a refreshing, wonderful, caffeine-filled, and calorieriffic treat, but it has two major flaws. First, it's quite expensive. Second, it doesn't come on a stick. Fortunately, a contributor to Instructables has devised a Frappuccino-ish frozen espresso treat on a stick. Now it's summer. More »
(sfxeric)
Save Money By Emailing Phones Rather Than Texting
By Phil Villarreal on August 18, 2010 1:15 PM
52 Comments
If you've got a smart phone it doesn't make much sense to pay $5, $10 or more a month for text messaging plans once you realize you can send free messages to friends' phones via email. All you need to pull off the trick is your text-ees' phone numbers and service providers. More »
Is Buying A Discount Movie Ticket At Costco Worth Standing In 5 Different Lines?
By Chris Morran on August 13, 2010 3:15 PM
122 Comments
Some movie theater chains sell discount passes at Costco that can save you over $2 per person. Not a bad deal... if you don't mind waiting in five different lines before you sit down in your seat at the theater. More »
(vndrl)
Last Chance To Take Advantage Of Tax-Free Back-To-School Shopping In 6 States
By Chris Morran on August 12, 2010 4:45 PM
32 Comments
While most states' summer sales-tax holidays have come and gone, shoppers in six states — Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Texas — still have a chance to take advantage of tax-exempt shopping on a variety of things from clothing to school supplies. More »
How To Avoid Letting Car Dealerships Con You
By Phil Villarreal on August 11, 2010 9:15 AM
150 Comments
Buying a car is like playing a long, exhausting chess game that in the best-case scenario ends with you sinking deeper into debt as you drive off the lot in buyer's remorse. In the worst-case scenario, you drive off as the salesmen high-five each other while chuckling about your idiocy. The least you can do is prevent this from happening by peeking into the enemy's playbook. More »
(KitanaOR)
Budget-Boosting iPhone Apps
By Phil Villarreal on August 10, 2010 9:45 AM
8 Comments
Money Highway paved a road to savings by rounding up 75 money-saving iPhone apps. More »
It's Never Too Late To Haggle, Even At Target
By Chris Walters on August 9, 2010 7:00 PM
48 Comments
Kyle just emailed us a recap of his successful haggling adventure at Target this past weekend. If you're afraid to try haggling at a big chain store, check out his story for an example of how to make it pleasant for all parties involved; the goal is to approach it as a negotiation where everyone wins, not as a zero-sum competition. More »
Why Even Stay-At-Home Parents Need A Part-Time Job
By Laura Northrup on August 5, 2010 11:30 AM
66 Comments
The question of whether a parent should stay at home full time or work is a delicate one, and depends on the resources and needs of each individual family. Tracy at personal finance blog MoneyNing makes a solid financial case for having the stay-at-home parent work outside of the home at least part-time. More »
(emrank)
Rotten Economy Might Mean Big Savings On Airfare This Fall, If You Can Afford To Travel
By Chris Walters on August 2, 2010 12:30 PM
21 Comments
Travel guru Christopher Elliott thinks that airfare prices could drop significantly this fall, thanks to a double-dip recession and general economic misery. So far prices for car rentals and cruise packages are going up, but Elliott says he's hearing from travelers and travel companies about "dramatic, unexpected bargains" and "rates ... on par with last year's record-low prices" when it comes to flights. More »
Tips For Saving Money On Textbooks
By Chris Walters on August 2, 2010 9:30 AM
75 Comments
The second half of summer is "complain about textbook prices" season, and last week the New York Times put together a special section on the topic and asked experts to weigh in. Too many of the contributors just provide an overview of the situation but no solutions; a publishing industry representative actually defends textbook prices as trivial compared to other educational costs. Fortunately Anya Kamenetz, who writes for Fast Company, suggests Flat World Knowledge. And to be fair, the guy who defended textbooks prices suggests CourseSmart for ebook rentals. The Times also asked students, professors and parents to weigh in with advice. More »
(tillwe)
Colleges Are Now Required To List Textbooks During Class Registration
By Carey Alexander on July 31, 2010 12:30 PM
120 Comments
Finding the best textbooks prices just got a whole lot easier now that colleges are required to provide students with a list of required textbooks when they register for classes. The requirement was mandated back in the 2008 as part of the Higher Education Opportunity Act, but only took effect this year. More »
Don't Do These Things If You Want To Save Dough
By Phil Villarreal on July 28, 2010 9:15 AM
62 Comments
Tips on how to save money are well and good, but advice on what not to do is at least as valuable. Time's It's Your Money blog takes the negative approach to keep you from making financial mistakes. More »
Don't Give Greyhound Tickets As Gifts
By Chris Walters on July 27, 2010 11:30 AM
48 Comments
If you buy a Greyhound bus ticket for someone else, Greyhound will charge you a flat $18 "gift ticket fee," which must be the worst named fee in the history of transportation. On short rides, like a one-way trip from Cambridge, MA to Hartford, CT, it bumps the price up from $22 to $40. More »
(itsedsy)
How To Talk Yourself Out Of Unnecessary Buys
By Phil Villarreal on July 26, 2010 3:30 PM
107 Comments
The moment before you make the final decision on whether or not to make a questionable purchase, your money makes one last plea to stay in your wallet rather than be traded for something superfluous. More »
(name)
Deflate Puffed-Up Medical Bills With A Phone Call
By Phil Villarreal on July 26, 2010 9:15 AM
41 Comments
The New York Times Bucks blog talks up a medical bill negotiation tactic that saves people who are in the know thousands of dollars. The secret: Pick up the phone and ask the billing department guy how much he'll take off your bill if you pay in full immediately. More »
Man Who Hates Clipping Coupons Uses Coupons To Spend $1 Per Day On Food
By Laura Northrup on July 23, 2010 10:30 AM
85 Comments
Sure, the exploits of the coupon ninjas are interesting, but we live, shop, and eat in the real world. Who has time to make a job—or at least a time-consuming hobby—out of couponing? Jeffrey doesn't. Yet he began a challenge to feed himself on $1 per day in April...and is still at it. Using sales, coupons, and (ugh) rebates, he's managed to survive, without a huge time investment in couponing. What are his secrets? More »
5 Poor Deals In Grocery Aisles
By Phil Villarreal on July 23, 2010 9:15 AM
114 Comments
Ever-helpful scam watchdog Omie over at LiveCheap has scanned the grocery aisles and unearthed five tricks grocery manufacturers use to get you to pay more to buy less. More »
It's A Buyer's Market For Burial Plots
By Chris Morran on July 22, 2010 1:15 PM
45 Comments
Sure, it's maybe a bit morbid to think about buying your cemetery plot now, when you're so young and healthy and, you know, breathing. But burial expenses are, well, expensive; that's why you see all those ads for "life insurance" advertised to old people on daytime TV. So if you're looking now to save a bit of cash for you or your loved ones' eternal resting places, you might want to consider snapping up your patch of ground now. More »
Score Free Coffee Grounds At Starbucks For Your Compost Heap
By Chris Morran on July 19, 2010 1:30 PM
42 Comments
Living in the big city and not having access to any sort of garden of my own, composting is the last thing on my mind when I step into a Starbucks. But for those of you who could use some material for your compost heap, the coffee giant will apparently hand over their used grounds free of charge. Just ask the 94-year-old man in Texas, who does this every single day. More »
6 Reasons Why Designer Sunglasses Are A Rip-Off
By Chris Morran on July 15, 2010 2:30 PM
212 Comments
I don't know about you, but when I go out in the sun, I'll only wear a pair of hugely oversized $500 Dolce & Gabbana shades so that I'm easily recognized by the paparazzi. But apparently, says the Wall Street Journal, I need not have spent my entire month's paycheck on my designer specs. More »
Free Award Wallet Upgrades
By Ben Popken on July 14, 2010 1:00 PM
13 Comments
Last week we told you about Award Wallet, a site that helps keep track of your airline frequent flyer miles. While a basic account is free, they're giving away free account upgrades to the first 30 people who jump on this coupon code. More »
Save By Starting Your Shopping Trip From The Back Of Store
By Ben Popken on July 12, 2010 5:00 PM
33 Comments
If you want to find the best deals and sale items, it's wise to head directly to the back of the store and work your way up to the front. More »
(ioerror)
Prepaid Funeral Trust Money Used For Conventions And Lobbying, Say Auditors
By Chris Walters on July 12, 2010 9:00 AM
17 Comments
We've said repeatedly that prepaid funeral plans are bunk—the industry is too unregulated to be trustworthy, and it's far too easy to lose money when you could just as easily set up a savings plan for a funeral on your own. Now there's news from California that the state's second-largest prepaid funeral trust was spending money "improperly" on everything from political lobbying to conventions, blowing $12.6 million from the $70 million paid in advance by customers. More »
(uconn)
4 Things You Should Rent Rather Than Buy
By Phil Villarreal on July 9, 2010 9:45 AM
212 Comments
Budgets Are Sexy argues that people throw their money away on many items they'd normally buy without a thought. Here are four "buys" that you should should highly consider switching to "rents." More »
(jb0)
4 Ways You Pay To Be Lazy
By Phil Villarreal on July 8, 2010 1:30 PM
197 Comments
Debt Ninja reasons that many of day-to-die life's seemingly built-in-costs are just the price of sitting on the couch and doing as little as possible. He meditated in his money-saving samurai way and came up with four things he could do himself that he routinely pays for. More »
(eva101)
Save Money On Dental Care: Go To Mexico
By Chris Morran on July 7, 2010 1:15 PM
88 Comments
It costs a lot of money to go to the dentist. And with many Americans lacking dental coverage, getting your teeth taken care of is often cost-prohibitive. But a handful of entrepreneurial dentists in Mexico have stepped up to the plate, offering discount dentistry to a growing U.S. customer base. More »
(Ingorrr)
27 Of The Sickest Things You've Done To Save Money
By Ben Popken on July 6, 2010 12:00 PM
133 Comments
We asked Consumerist readers to share the sickest, grossest, and sketchiest things they've ever done to save money. Over 250 comments poured in and most of them had to do with things that people have reduced themselves to eating at one point in the past. More »
(u2acro)
Barter, Slum It, Go Rustic To Save On Living Costs
By Phil Villarreal on July 6, 2010 9:15 AM
27 Comments
There is more than one way to skin a lease. Not only can you negotiate to bring costs down, but there are other ways to slash your rent budget. Well-Heeled Blog digs up a few that might not have occurred to you. More »
Banks Must Now Ask You To Opt In To Debit Card Overdraft Plans
By Marc Perton on July 1, 2010 6:40 PM
42 Comments
If you're opening a new bank account today, don't be surprised if you're asked to enroll in an overdraft plan for debit-card purchases. And don't be afraid to say no, either. Today's the first day that banks have to ask your permission to enroll you in such plans; yesterday, they could have just signed you up automatically. If they did, though, you can still back out. Existing bank customers must opt in no later than August 15th if they want to keep their overdraft "protection." More »
Amazon Coupon Codes For July 2010
By Ben Popken on July 1, 2010 4:00 PM
28 Comments
Amazon.com has uncaged their new July coupon codes. Here's some of the deeper discounts: More »
Make A DIY Meat Smoker Out Of Some Flower Pots
By Meg Marco on June 30, 2010 3:45 PM
43 Comments
Meat smokers are expensive, but apparently you can make one that works just fine out of some unglazed terra cotta flower pots and various other cheap and readily available supplies. When you're done, remember 5 out of 7 Consumerist editors love BBQ. More »
Mint Makes Saving More Fun With New "Goals" Dashboard
By Chris Walters on June 30, 2010 11:30 AM
38 Comments
Mint was the cool kid on the financial website block until it cut its hair and went corporate, but the Intuit-owned service can still roll out some nifty features now and then. The latest is a "goals" dashboard, which takes advantage of our natural tendency to try harder if there's some way to see immediate feedback. Under your account there's now a goals tab, where you can activate any of the default choices ("get out of debt," "take a trip," "buy a home") or create your own ("laser hair removal," "pvc bodysuit"). Then you can link your accounts to that goal, and have a quick visual metric you can use to stay focused. More »
(bradipo)
Savings Rate Goes Up, But Spending Doesn't
By Chris Walters on June 29, 2010 8:05 AM
45 Comments
As a nation, we saved more of our paychecks last month than any time since last September—nearly 4% of income went unspent. That worries economists, because it means we're not spending at a high enough rate to support an economic recovery. But as the Washington Post notes, since unemployment remains high and most of the recent wage growth came from the government, consumers aren't exactly comfortable with buying something shiny and new just because it's on sale. More »
Pay Less Rent
By Ben Popken on June 24, 2010 2:00 PM
68 Comments
In life, everything is negotiable, including your rent. Many renters might tremble at confronting the dark landlord ogre, but with a little research, some tips on negotiating, and a little moxie, you can stand a fighting chance at trimming your monthly rent check: More »
(evansent)
Up-To-The-Minute Coupon Codes For Hot Sales
By Ben Popken on June 23, 2010 2:00 PM
8 Comments
The deal aficionados on the FatWallet message boards have various discussion threads devoted to providing the most current coupons for a slew of stores. Rather then dig for them, here's a master list of their official store coupons and clearance threads. Members routinely get rid of dead coupons and post new ones, so this is definitely one to bookmark: More »
Book On Tuesdays, Fly On Wednesdays
By Ben Popken on June 23, 2010 12:00 PM
11 Comments
Looking to save money on airfare for that fun summer getaway? The best time to buy an airline ticket is Tuesday around 3pm, and the best time to fly is a Wednesday. Why? More »
Save On Cellphone Bills When Traveling To Mexico And Canada
By Ben Popken on June 22, 2010 1:13 PM
11 Comments
Rather than futz with local SIM cards or Skype, a NYT reporter found that when going south of the border, you can just temporarily switch your coverage plan to a "Nationwide plus Mexico" plan. It's only about $30 more, so, compared to the $.99 per minute you would otherwise pay, it's worth it if you make more than a half-hour of phonecalls to the states. More »
Freeload At Your Library Like A Champ
By Phil Villarreal on June 22, 2010 9:15 AM
91 Comments
Any self-respecting cheapskate knows the library is your one-stop shopping for free access to the internet, magazines, DVDs and drinking fountains. More »
(dooley)
Verizon To Reprimand, Fire Employees Who Try To Save Customers Money
By Carey Alexander on June 19, 2010 5:10 PM
88 Comments
Internal Verizon memos reveal that the wireless ogre is eager to reprimand or fire customer service representatives who proactively recommend blocking access to the company's overpriced data services. The company is also going to be stingier about issuing back credits to customers who spot unnecessary and unwanted services littering their monthly bills. The New York Times asked Verizon to explain itself, and the answer wasn't all that surprising. More »
10 Tips For Extending The Life Of Your Washer & Dryer
By Chris Morran on June 15, 2010 4:00 PM
114 Comments
Buying a washing machine or a dryer is a huge annoyance and expenditure; something you want to do as few times in your life as possible. That's why the folks at FreeShipping.org have come up with a list of 10 things you can do to help keep your washer washing and dryer drying for years to come. More »
Want A Good, Cheap Chardonnay This Summer? Try 7-Eleven
By Chris Walters on June 14, 2010 5:23 PM
36 Comments
No, seriously. According to taste tests performed by wine experts at Consumer Reports, Yosemite Road chardonnay—which is sold by 7-Eleven for around $5 a bottle—is among the top four "very good" recommendations by the magazine in its July issue. More »
Watch The World Cup Online Live (Sometimes Free!)
By Ben Popken on June 11, 2010 9:21 AM
30 Comments
The World Cup has started and there's several places you can watch the beautiful game, aka soccer, aka association football, streaming live online and free. There's restriction depending on your geographical location and internet service provider, but with a little effort and know-how you should be catching all the excitement of the awesomest sport in the world in no time. [Lifehacker]
Town Prints Its Own Money To Get Locals Shopping
By Chris Walters on June 7, 2010 11:49 AM
51 Comments
Last month, a business improvement group in Ardmore, PA issued $15,000 in local currency, which citizens bought at half the face value and which can be spent like real money in stores and restaurants in the downtown area. Strangely, despite the 50% savings promised only $2,900 of it has been spent so far, with thrift stores receiving more than any other type of business. The group is going to launch another money printing campaign in November to try to boost holiday sales, preferably of new things. More »
Enjoy Every National Park This Weekend For Free
By Chris Morran on June 5, 2010 1:10 PM
16 Comments
Have you been wanting to get out and see the beauty at a national park, but didn't have the scratch to pay the entry fees? Then you're in luck this weekend, because they've all opened up their doors and gates to all visitors — for free. More »
Video: If A Pop Starlet Used Drunken Whore Powers For Penny Pinching
By Phil Villarreal on June 4, 2010 10:00 AM
42 Comments
Frugaliciousdef parodies Kesha's Tik Tok in this half-awful, half-genius, totally mesmerizing music video about clipping coupons and shopping for deals. More »
(qwrrty)
Save Money On Head Lice Removal
By Chris Walters on June 2, 2010 5:11 PM
64 Comments
You're a good Consumerist. You make your own kids at home. You grow your own lice in a coffee can you found on the street. You dump the lice on the kids' heads before you send them off to school. After all that, the last thing you want to do is spend a fortune on lice removal treatments, right? You're in luck: the New York Times says you don't have to spend a lot of money de-lousing your itchy little child. More »
Save On Drugs By Making Your Pharmacy Price-Match
By Ben Popken on June 2, 2010 3:44 PM
29 Comments
What made Jules sicker than her strep throat was the price Kroger wanted to charge her for a 6-pack of generic Azithromycin. $38.72! "That's highway robbery!" she told the them. Then Jules stumbled onto something most people don't know that could save them serious money on prescription medication: you can price-match your pills. More »
(robertdx)
Amazon Coupon Codes For June 2010
By Ben Popken on June 2, 2010 11:39 AM
9 Comments
ProBargainhunter has got all the new Amazon Coupon codes for June, fresh off the griddle. Here's some of the choicer cuts: More »
(frippy)
10 Tips For More Fuel-Efficient Summer Driving
By Chris Morran on June 1, 2010 3:34 PM
112 Comments
It's the summer holiday season, which for many people means long hours on the road headed to the beach, the countryside, the mountains, the lake, amusement parks... and of course back home again. With gas prices still putting a crimp in many drivers' wallets, the grease monkeys at AutoMD.com have come up 10 things you can do to enjoy your warm-weather ride with a few less worries. More »
(Bonard)
Prepare For The Unexpected With A "Stupid Mistakes" Savings Account
By Ben Popken on June 1, 2010 11:00 AM
61 Comments
One thing that can derail people digging themselves out of debt are the random unexpected setbacks life likes to throw at us to keep us on our toes. The accidental parking ticket, the bike that breaks down, the illness that requires pricey pills. Any of these can be enough to upset even the most carefully orchestrated budgeting and debt payment schedule, unless, you are smart like Ramit Sethi, and set up a "stupid mistakes" sub-savings account. Here's how it works. More »
(SashaW)
28 Of The Worst Money-Saving Ideas Ever
(pictured: some folks who don't like the cheap haircuts they got from beauty-school students) More »
By Ben Popken on May 28, 2010 2:47 PM
165 Comments
Earlier this week we asked you for the worst things you've ever tried to do in order to save money that really didn't work out, and you bowled us over with your responses! Over 190 comments poured in, some utilitarian, some hilarious, others, poignant. My favorite is the grandma who bought two caskets and used them to store linens because she didn't like the idea of buying something so expensive only to use it once. So here they are, the 28 best of the worst money-saving ideas you've ever had:(pictured: some folks who don't like the cheap haircuts they got from beauty-school students) More »
Travel: Is That Online Deal For Real?
By Ben Popken on May 27, 2010 3:41 PM
10 Comments
Our inboxes and search results are filled with great-sounding travel deals, $35 airline tickets, $399 three-day all-inclusives and the like, but have you ever actually tried to snag one? Oftentimes it seems a low "landing prices" shoots up after all the fees are added, or if you try to get a date other than a very narrow set, or you want to do something crazy like return home afterwards. NYT took a look and found that while that's true, there are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting a price close to the advertised one. More »
Track Down A Water Leak In Your Home
How to Find a Water Leak in Your House [WikiHow] More »
By Ben Popken on May 27, 2010 12:00 PM
7 Comments
A water leak on your line can run up your utility bills, plus it wastes water. But before you spend money on a plumber, there's a few things you can do yourself to try to locate and stop the leak. Wikihow has a good DIY guide, from listening to toilets to checking hose bibs. Even if all you can do is find the leak, you can save money if you're able to tell the plumber where it is and he doesn't have to go looking for it.How to Find a Water Leak in Your House [WikiHow] More »
(Libelul)
What's The Worst Money-Saving Idea You've Ever Had?
By Ben Popken on May 27, 2010 11:00 AM
202 Comments
Some money-saving hacks you think up are awesome, but others can be categorized under "foolish frugality." While they sound good at first, these hassle of these pyrites of personal finance can just end up not being worth the small savings. They can even cost you more in the long run, or even be hazardous. Here's a few bad ideas gleaned from FatWallet: More »
Get 20% Off At Coldstone Creamery
By Ben Popken on May 26, 2010 7:05 PM
34 Comments
It's been blazin' in New York all day. I've got two Vornados on me, a minimal amount of clothing, and I'm wearing a coldpack on my head. So, in the spirit of temperature abatement, I am delighted to share this printable 20% off anything coupon for Cold Stone Creamery, which I would totally use if everything on their menu didn't have a gazillion calories. [via Dealnews]
BillShrink Shows You How To Save On Cable Bills
By Ben Popken on May 26, 2010 11:35 AM
54 Comments
This morning, BillShrink delivered a karate chop to the cable cabal with a new service, currently in beta, that shows you how to get the best cable/tv/satellite/dish package for the best price. More »
In The Military? Museum Admission Is Free This Summer
By Chris Walters on May 25, 2010 5:13 PM
32 Comments
Starting Memorial Day, May 31, and lasting until Labor Day, September 6, more than 600 museums around the country are waiving admission fees for active members of the military and members of their immediate family. The Blue Star Museum program is a joint effort that's being launched by the National Endowment for the Arts and a nonprofit group called Blue Star Families. The NEA has a map showing which museums are participating around the country. More »
Keep PayPal From Using The Default ATM Debit Setting
By Chris Walters on May 25, 2010 10:08 AM
52 Comments
PayPal exists to make money, not to help you. That's why the unregulated money broker likes to ensure that when you pay with a linked account, you pay via the ATM debit card setting, because it's cheaper for PayPal. Of course, that "savings" is sometimes deducted from you in the form of a transaction fee by your bank, but PayPal doesn't care. If you want to change that payment method the next time you use PayPal, be prepared to jump through a lot of hoops. More »
(Foto43)
Cut Debt Faster By Sending In Your Payments Sooner
By Ben Popken on May 24, 2010 4:30 PM
32 Comments
One little trick you can do to get out of debt faster is to send in your credit card payments as soon as you can, says No Credit Needed. More »
Sweet-Sounding Deals That Are Actually Awful
By Phil Villarreal on May 24, 2010 8:00 AM
37 Comments
Just because a deal sounds appealing at first glance doesn't mean it will hold up to scrutiny. Yahoo digs up eight pieces of fool's gold that don't pan out if you're looking to save money. Tops among these is unlimited long distance: More »
Wait Until You're Dead To Pay For Your Funeral
By Marc Perton on May 23, 2010 12:42 PM
71 Comments
You're gonna die. Why make your family suffer even more by burdening them with the cost of your funeral? That's the pitch made by companies that try to get you to pay for your funeral years in advance. But, in most cases, you're better off putting your money into normal savings accounts or life insurance instead. More »
7 Ways DVDs Still Dominate Blu-ray
By Phil Villarreal on May 20, 2010 10:40 AM
152 Comments
I'm an admitted Blu-ray whore and adore the format for its glorious picture and sound, but there are nagging shortcomings of the newfangled HD format that prevent me from prosthelytizing its virtues to all who will listen. More »
(eschipul)
Amazon Coupon Codes For May
By Ben Popken on May 19, 2010 5:39 PM
24 Comments
ProBargainHunter has got the entire list of Amazon's official coupon codes for May. Here's some of the deepest discounts: More »
Save $100/Year By Retrofitting Your Toilet To Dual-Flush
By Ben Popken on May 19, 2010 5:08 PM
125 Comments
You know, not everything that goes into your toilet requires the same amount of water to push it down the pipes. Wouldn't it be better to use more water on the denser stuff, and vice versa? More »
Skip College, Suggest Some Economists
By Chris Walters on May 18, 2010 11:06 AM
189 Comments
In a country where the mantra "you can be anything you want" is practically a national prayer, it's still kind of shocking to see someone suggest that a high school student should skip college. Some economists and professors, however, argue that college has become too expensive to throw money at if the odds are high that either you won't finish, or you'll go into an industry that doesn't require a degree. More »
(Amir K)
Family Of Six Ditches Satellite TV, Gets All Shows Online
By Ben Popken on May 17, 2010 12:00 PM
110 Comments
Three months ago, Larry made a bold move. An avid sports fan with a wife and four kids, he unplugged the satellite TV. Larry loves TV, so much that he once worked in a TV station for six years. But his wife made him do it. That $50/month fee had to go, so he learned how to hook up his TV to the internet. "We've had our challenges," he writes, but, "even with March Madnes I've managed to save a ton of money and with a few small adjustments, not miss out on any of our entertainment." Here's what he did and how it worked out. There's nothing super fancy here but for someone just trying to get their feet wet, it has some good ideas: More »
Paper Company Plans Campaign To Encourage Kids To Print Things Out
By Chris Walters on May 12, 2010 2:52 PM
71 Comments
If John Williams, the CEO of Domtar Corp., has his way, kids all across North America will be asking for printers this holiday season. Somehow I doubt he'll have his way, but here's his plan: his company is about to launch a "Put It On Paper" campaign via print, Facebook and YouTube that will encourage people to print out things like emails and web pages. More »
How Predatory Lending Works, From Payday Loans To Rent-To-Own
By Ben Popken on May 12, 2010 12:02 PM
186 Comments
You're a savvy, savvy consumer. You pay your credit card bills in full every month, auto-deduct a generous portion of your paycheck into savings, invest in index funds, and always make sure you're getting the best deal from your cable and wireless providers. Unfortunately, some of your brethren do not read Consumerist and can get caught up in the jaws of predatory lenders, wasting limited cash on things like payday loans, bad credit cards, and using rent-to-own stores. So let's take a walk down the wild side and see how each of these bad choices work, in a giant infographic, courtesy of Mint and WallStats, after the jump.
How To Treat Your Mom For Free This Mother's Day
By Mary Beth Quirk on May 8, 2010 2:36 PM
21 Comments
Want to show your mom you love her this Mother's Day (tomorrow, by the way) but can't spend tons of money on a gift? Take her out for a freebie meal or tasty treat — while you might not be flashing the big bucks around, it's the quality time together that counts, right? More »
Outsource Used Car Haggling To Pros At Carsala
By Ben Popken on May 7, 2010 3:41 PM
26 Comments
For those without the temperament or time to engage in the scrum that is negotiating with a used car dealer, Carsala will do it for you. The site boasts a team of professional negotiators who will contact an average of twenty dealers and work to get you the best price possible. No more getting befuddled by the Four-Square or "Oh, I'm sorry, I really want to make this work but my manager in the back will only agree to..." The pros at Carsala charge a commission of 20% of the difference between Blue Book value and the final price. And, unlike some other car shopping sites, they don't take kickbacks. Handy! Or you can just use their free tools to check out how a price you're quoted compares to others in the area, and whether the car you want really fits your budget. More »
Test Your Credit Card IQ
10 questions to test your credit card I.Q. [Philly.com via LowCards.com] More »
By Ben Popken on May 7, 2010 12:00 PM
21 Comments
So you think you're pretty smart with your credit know-how? Got a good credit score and line of credit? Well here's another number to watch, your credit card I.Q. Take this 10 question test and see how you stack up. Even I got a few of these wrong. For instance, "The typical American carries a balance of about $5,500 in credit card debt. If you make no more charges and pay only the minimum payment each month, how long will it take to pay that debt off at 19 percent interest?"10 questions to test your credit card I.Q. [Philly.com via LowCards.com] More »
(lejoe)
Watch Out For Balance Billing With Your Medical Expenses
By Chris Walters on May 4, 2010 11:28 AM
62 Comments
If you receive a medical bill dunning you for whatever your insurer didn't pay, take a closer look before writing your check. The New York Times writes that although balance billing is a common practice, it's not always legal, and you may be able to ignore it. More »
(Hugo90)
Tips For Buying A Used Car This Year
By Chris Walters on May 4, 2010 8:35 AM
30 Comments
The sorry state of the economy the past couple of years has actually led to higher prices for used cars, writes Kiplinger. That's because more people started buying used cars, which tightened the supply while also reducing the number of fresh trade-ins. It may be a couple of years before prices drop again, but Kiplinger has some suggestions for saving money if you plan on buying a used car this year. More »
(Benimoto)
How To Live Out Of Your Car
By Chris Walters on May 3, 2010 3:11 PM
45 Comments
A few days ago, someone posted on reddit that he was divorced, unemployed, and now living out of his car. This prompted someone who'd already had the experience to post a list of tips for the (hopefully temporarily) homeless, including safe/legal places to park, strategies for staying clean, and how to maintain social connections. How does he know all this stuff? He lived out of his truck for over a year and saved his money to pay off $17k in debt. More »
Which Hotels Have Decent Wi-Fi?
By Chris Walters on May 3, 2010 10:41 AM
47 Comments
If you want to pay out the nose for Wi-Fi, stay in a W hotel, says HotelChatter. The site has released its 6th annual report on Wi-Fi in U.S. hotels, and the W Hotel chain is named as the worst with no free lobby access and $15/day room rates. Other hotels that suck when it comes to wireless: DoubleTree, Four Seasons, Marriott, and Mandarin Oriental. More »
What's The Best Card For International Travel?
By Ben Popken on April 27, 2010 3:00 PM
80 Comments
When hitting the shops overseas, many credit cards will charge you additional international transaction fees. The savvy traveler needs to equip themselves with a credit card that charges low or no fees at all. Here's the current rates for the seven credit cards with the lowest international transaction fees: More »
Cellphone: Go Prepaid Or Contract?
How to Decide Between a Prepaid or Contract Wireless Plan [Lifehacker] More »
By Ben Popken on April 26, 2010 2:00 PM
48 Comments
When shopping around for a new cellphone plan, or simply a cheaper one, consumers have more choices besides the standard 2-year contract wireless companies try to cram down your throat. But do you go prepaid or with a contract? Which company delivers the best value? It all depends on your usage and what you're looking for. To help you decide, Lifehacker has put together a bangin' guide on picking a new wireless plan. Check it.How to Decide Between a Prepaid or Contract Wireless Plan [Lifehacker] More »
Save Money On Haircuts
By Chris Walters on April 26, 2010 11:05 AM
88 Comments
Personally I can't imagine a haircut costing much money, so MainStreet's list of 18 ways to get a cheap haircut seems like frugal overkill to me. But then again I'm a guy and I'm going bald, so I just use clippers to avoid the sadness of listening to scissors snip away at nothing, and consequently I don't really know much about the world of hair salons. Apparently a good haircut for a woman can cost a lot of money, unless you know how to find a bargain. More »
How To Get The Best Car Lease Deal
By Phil Villarreal on April 26, 2010 10:00 AM
75 Comments
An L.A. Times story has extensive advice about how to score the best lease deal. First you nail down exactly how much you plan on driving the vehicle, as well as which one you want, then it's time not to hit the showroom, but to do the bulk of your negotiating from afar. More »
Calculator Tells You Whether to Rent Or Buy
By Meg Marco on April 24, 2010 2:14 PM
38 Comments
The New York Times has a soul-soothing calculator that lets you know whether you'd be better off renting or buying. More »
Pay Your Doctor In Chickens
By Chris Walters on April 21, 2010 2:01 PM
103 Comments
Sue Lowden, a senate candidate in Nevada, says if you want to combat health care costs you should consider bartering with your doctor. In an appearance on a local political talk show yesterday, she clarified her proposal: More »
$.31 Ice Cream Scoops At Baskin Robbins Next Wednesday
Tonight Next Wednesday, April 28, from 5 to 10pm at participating Baskin Robbins, small scoops of ice cream are 31 cents each plus tax (limit three 2.5 oz scoops per person). In return for your business, Baskin Robbins will also be donating $100,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. At some locations, you will also have a chance to donate to your local fire department. Here's a store-finder. One guy I know won't be there is the guy from the Worst Company in America street video who said "they never have enough flavors." More »
By Ben Popken on April 21, 2010 12:00 PM
26 Comments
(zieak)
How Far Can You Get On $10?
By Chris Walters on April 19, 2010 5:17 PM
67 Comments
Earlier this month, CNN asked readers to see how far they could stretch $10. A lot of people chose unusual purchases or silly things, but there were some good ideas for tightwads too. More »
Eat Organic For Cheap
pesticide-free free of unorganic pesticides and saves baby unicorns from exploitation, but darnit if Whole Foods ain't a pricey pack of provisioners. But there are ways to buy organic and still be frugal. More »
By Ben Popken on April 19, 2010 4:30 PM
43 Comments
Organic food is 
(goingslo)
Loud Restaurants Make You Eat And Drink More
By Chris Walters on April 19, 2010 10:18 AM
50 Comments
It turns out that, at least for smart restaurateurs, making the dining experience ridiculously noisy is good for business: people buy more drinks per hour, and they finish eating and leave sooner. More »
Facts And Myths About Cutting Gas Costs
By Phil Villarreal on April 19, 2010 8:00 AM
177 Comments
BillShrink writes in with some tips on how to cut the costs of fueling your car. Just as valuable as the tips to cut costs are the way the email shoots down myths about gas-saving methods that don't really work. More »
Actual Children Taste-Test Generic Cereals, Declare Them Delicious
By Laura Northrup on April 15, 2010 10:00 AM
97 Comments
Personal finance blogger Len Penzo doesn't have a minivan full of highly trained tasters at his disposal like our siblings at Consumer Reports. When he set out to compare generic and name-brand cereals, he found something even better. He rounded up the small children of his neighborhood, and subjected them to a blind cereal taste-test. More »
Correction: No Free Dunkin' Donuts For Tax Day
More »
By Chris Morran on April 14, 2010 4:00 PM
44 Comments
CORRECTION: We sadly admit that we made a grievous error yesterday in announcing that Dunkin' Donuts would be giving away free donuts nationwide on April 15. We were in possession of an old press release that was no longer valid. According to DD's publicists, the free donut deal is only available in Las Vegas today. This is a huge mistake and we apologize to those who were misled.More »
Shopper Successfully Haggles Macy's Clerk
By Chris Walters on April 14, 2010 9:11 AM
54 Comments
You never know when an opportunity to haggle might present itself when you're out shopping, as our reader Marty demonstrates. He was able to get a 10% discount on a blazer at Macy's just by asking the clerk at the register. More »
Don't Buy An iPhone Right Now
By Chris Walters on April 13, 2010 9:48 AM
64 Comments
If all this iPad iPad iPad Apple Apple Apple gyrating has got you hot and bothered for an iPhone, take a deep breath and calm down. Now is probably the worst time to take the plunge, notes The Unofficial Apple Weblog. Historically, mid-summer is when Apple ugprades the hardware, so if you wait a couple of months you might be able to get a faster or more feature-rich iPhone for the same cash you'd be shelling out today. More »
How To Find A Good Local Bank
By Chris Walters on April 12, 2010 9:35 AM
20 Comments
So you're tired of banking at one of the big, faceless national chains and want to keep your money local? You can try one of the recent sites devoted to the local bank movement, like anewwayforward.org or moveyourmoney.info, or you can follow this Kiplinger columnist's lead and do it yourself with a little online research. More »
If You Were Broke, You Don't Need To Pay Taxes On Forgiven Debt
By Ben Popken on April 8, 2010 11:00 AM
19 Comments
Here's an important caveat to our "You Need To Pay Taxes On Forgiven Credit Card Debt," post: you don't need to pay the taxes if you were insolvent at the time the debt was discharged. More »
(spevman)
5 Digital Fees To Avoid
By Phil Villarreal on April 8, 2010 8:01 AM
27 Comments
LiveCheap posts 5 fees you might pay without realizing and offers ways to eliminate them. Sorry, divorced dads, the story does not show you a way to get out of paying child support. More »
Watch Out For Drugstore Price Traps
By Chris Walters on April 7, 2010 1:13 PM
79 Comments
I was at a Rite-Aid a couple of weeks back and went to pick up some cheap dish detergent, and the bottles that I remembered being less than $1.50 were all in the $3-4 range. I left and found sanely-priced soap at another store a few blocks away. Our reader Stan just wrote in with a similar example, where he caught his local CVS charging him three times as much as a nearby competitor. More »
Study: More Breastfeeding Could Save Billions Every Year
By Chris Morran on April 5, 2010 12:00 PM
99 Comments
While breastfeeding in public continues to be a topic of much debate, a new study may convince some opponents to think twice about their opionion. Researchers now say that over 900 lives and $13 billion could be saved each year if all moms in the U.S. were to ditch the formula for their child's first six months. More »
(mrbill)
How Do You Keep Track Of Your Money?
By Chris Morran on April 3, 2010 12:46 PM
79 Comments
Considering the number of stories we write about overdrafts, Consumerist reader Adam wanted to know if he was one of the few people left that still keep track of their cash with their checkbook. More »
Score Free Breakfast At Ikea This Weekend
By Chris Morran on April 2, 2010 12:51 PM
18 Comments
Now through Sunday, April 4, Ikea is giving away free small breakfasts at most of its locations nationwide. More »
Pregnant? Get Your Folic Acid For Free At Kmart
By Chris Morran on April 2, 2010 10:11 AM
45 Comments
Kmart has teamed up with March of Dimes for a pretty unique giveaway program. Through May 1, the retailer will be giving away a free month's supply of folic acid to pregnant mothers. More »
5 Ways To Save Money On Your Cell Phone Bill
By Phil Villarreal on April 2, 2010 8:45 AM
73 Comments
Taryn from BillShrink writes in with some helpful tips that can cut your cellular costs: More »
(leafy)
How To Ensure You're Never Stuck With Overdraft Fees
By Phil Villarreal on April 2, 2010 8:00 AM
82 Comments
Robb wrote in with a suggestion on how to bank without ever getting stuck with an overdraft fee — make sure as many plastic purchases as possible come from prepaid cards. His method seems like a hassle but may be worth the effort for those who can't keep tabs on their checking account balances. More »
(KFreon)
Amtrak Decides To Continue Discounted Fares In Northeast
By Chris Morran on April 1, 2010 10:00 AM
24 Comments
Over a year ago, Amtrak began offering discount fares of around 25% on several of its Northeast Regional lines. And after extending them last November they've decided to keep them indefinitely. More »
Watch Out For Phone Companies Cramming Charges Onto Your Bill
By Phil Villarreal on April 1, 2010 9:30 AM
40 Comments
Some phone companies will take every opportunity to sneak ludicrous, unjustified charges onto your bill. The Boston Globe highlights the "cramming" practice in this story: More »
Never Pay More Than $10 For HDMI Cables
By Ben Popken on March 31, 2010 11:38 AM
107 Comments
You already know that coat hangers sound just as good as those pricey Monster cables, but this infographic really lays out the full argument on why you should never pay more than $10 for HDMI cables. Whether it's gold-plated connectors, EM RF interefence shileding, or "gas injected" cables, it's all the same thing: goldbricking. There's no reason to drop $250 on a four-foot cable. More »
VIDEO: Why You Should Never Pay Full Price For A Mattress
By Chris Morran on March 30, 2010 3:00 PM
59 Comments
Of all the high-ticket prices available for your home, one that our bookish cousin Consumer Reports won't rate is your mattress, because everyone's particular mattress needs are subjective. But that doesn't mean CR won't investigate whether or not customers are getting their money's worth when they spring for their mattresses. More »
Not Signing Your Name & 9 Other Common Tax-Filing Mistakes
By Chris Morran on March 29, 2010 11:58 AM
15 Comments
It would be generous to describe tax forms as daunting. Even the 1040-EZ looks significantly more complicated than it actually is. And, while you're worrying about exemptions and deductions, you might forget to do something as simple as sign your name. That's why the folks at USA Today put together this list of 10 common mistakes you should be aware of when filing. More »
(saaby)
Always Keep Your Boarding Pass
By Chris Walters on March 29, 2010 6:13 AM
16 Comments
Over on his travel blog, Christopher Elliott writes that if you want to ensure you'll get the reward program miles you deserve, you should hold on to your boarding pass. In his example, a frequent flyer with Air France couldn't get his Delta miles credited even though the airlines codeshare, because Air France demanded the original Delta boarding pass, which the customer had thrown away. Elliot managed to get the airline to cave on this instance, but he points out that it's easier (and better in case of an IRS audit) to hold on to them "just in case." More »
31 Steps To Unlocking Cash In Your Life
By Ben Popken on March 26, 2010 12:29 PM
8 Comments
With just a few hours work, you could unlock hundreds of dollars. It's called a financial tuneup, and if you set aside some time to tackle some of those nagging to-dos, and wrassle with some customer service departments, you could end up with serious coin in your pocket. To get you started, NYT Your Money's Ron Lieber has put together a killer interactive 31-point interactive checklist. He shows you how to save money, and how much money you can save. More »
Make Your Disposable Razor Blade Last For 20 Months
By Ben Popken on March 26, 2010 11:50 AM
108 Comments
Disposable razor blades can cost $4 a pop and last only a few weeks, but Terry has been going for 20 months on the same cartridge. And yes, he still has a face. How does he do it? More »
(Omad)
Panel: Get A Financial Tuneup Tonight
By Ben Popken on March 25, 2010 1:38 PM
1 Comment
Join me tonight at 6:30 pm at 620 8th ave, 15th floor for a New York Times hosted panel on "Your Money: A Financial Tuneup." The whole idea behind the "Financial Tuneup" is that once a year you should set aside 10 hours to just tackle every niggling item on your personal finance todo list. Here are some tips on doing that. RSVP for tonight's event at financialtuneup.net.
(dimsis)
How To Find Affordable Therapy
The problem is that therapy sounds expensive, but there are actually affordable options out there if you know where to look. Here are some tips. More »
By Chris Walters on March 24, 2010 10:02 AM
40 Comments
I know of two great ways to deal with issues in one's life: drinking heavily, or seeing a therapist. I've tried both, and I have to say that the therapy route is more efficient, because if done correctly it can help you figure out why you do what you do, so that you can properly enjoy your liquor without all the tears. The problem is that therapy sounds expensive, but there are actually affordable options out there if you know where to look. Here are some tips. More »
JetBlue Throws 2-Day Sample Sale
By Chris Morran on March 23, 2010 4:58 PM
21 Comments
Through tomorrow night, JetBlue is offering deep discounts on dozens of flights as part of their 2-Day Sample Sale, with some flights starting as low as $29 each way. More »
50 Things To Do With Your Money In Your 50s
By Phil Villarreal on March 23, 2010 9:30 AM
8 Comments
Hank at Own the Dollar lists 50 financial moves to make in your 50s. More »
Sued By Chase For $7k, In Debt For $40k+, I Think I'll Declare Bankruptcy
By Ben Popken on March 23, 2010 7:30 AM
65 Comments
Justin's friend who was being sued by Chase Bank for $7,500 has an update for us after he and his friend read our advice and your comments on his situation. Turns out he's not just in debt for $7,500, but for over $40,000: More »
To Save On Car Repairs, Ask Dealership For Referrals
By Phil Villarreal on March 22, 2010 8:00 AM
28 Comments
Peter has stumbled on a way to save big money on car repairs: ask the dealer to refer you to their go-to mechanics, schedule an appointment with the source and tell 'em who sentcha. He says the technique has slashed his car repair bills: More »
Reader Pays Off $14,330 In 20 Months
By Ben Popken on March 19, 2010 10:00 AM
119 Comments
Stuck in a $14,300 debt hole, reader Trixare4kids was dug herself out using tips she learned about on Consumerist. Let's learn how she went on a personal finance rampage, learned to live frugally, did it all in 20 months, and how you can do it too! More »
(hectorir)
Young, Dumb, Full Of Risk For ID Theft
By Ben Popken on March 17, 2010 11:32 AM
36 Comments
A new study finds that the young and the feckless are the most at risk for identity theft. 18-24 year olds are more likely to be victimized because they don't check their accounts frequently or thoroughly enough. You can beat the statistics, though, if 1 in 20 times you're tempted to check your friend's Facebook updates you instead scrutinize your account statements. [WashingtonPost] (Thanks to Timothy!)
7 Ways To Dominate Negotiations
By Phil Villarreal on March 17, 2010 9:30 AM
28 Comments
Kentin Waits doles out some effective-sounding negotiation tips on Wise Bread. Part common sense, part Sun Tzu, the advice can serve you well in any number of situations, be it working on a deal for a house or car or asking the boss for a raise. More »
(hyku)
Publix Giving Away Free Diabetes Drug
By Chris Walters on March 16, 2010 10:58 AM
44 Comments
Publix wants people with diabetes to become their longterm customers, so they're giving away 30-day supplies of generic metformin in 500 mg, 800 mg, and 1000 mg dosages, with unlimited refills. Although Publix would love it if you subsequently get all your prescriptions filled there, it's not a requirement for the free drug. More »
Track Free And Cheap Games For Your iPhone Or Touch
By Chris Walters on March 15, 2010 11:14 AM
8 Comments
There are several apps on the Apple app store that help consumers track sales and free offers from developers, but you have to launch them and check in regularly. The website App Spy offers an automated price tracker for games (just games, unfortunately) that will send you an email whenever a price threshhold is reached. If you tend to be an app junkie, it can help save you money by letting you get your fix on the cheap good stuff. More »
(avlxyz)
Stay On Top Of New And Overlooked Deductions
By Ben Popken on March 15, 2010 10:37 AM
20 Comments
Are you up-to-date with all the tax code changes this year? The TurboTax blog rounds up some of the newest tax credits and highlights deductions that people sometimes sleep on, like the long-term resident credit and unemployment and job search deductions. More coin in your coinpurse means you can buy all the churros you want this year! Update: Looks like we broke their blog. Here's a cached copy of the post in question.
Consumer Reports Quantifies Waste Due To Stupid Packaging
By Laura Northrup on March 13, 2010 9:30 AM
83 Comments
Do you squeeze every last bit of toothpaste out of the tube, and remove the spout to get every last drop of detergent out of the bottle? You're reading Consumerist, so you very well might. But sometimes extreme measures are needed to get everything out. Our sister publication Consumer Reports noticed this, and applied some mad science to see exactly how much product people are paying for, but leaving behind. More »
(Ingorrr)
Premium Organic Wines Are A Good Deal Right Now
By Chris Walters on March 8, 2010 4:27 PM
18 Comments
If you want a good deal on a high-end bottle of wine, a new study suggests you should look for wines that clearly indicate they're made from organic grapes. An economics professor and an environmental science Ph.D. candidate compared wines made with certified organically grown grapes to conventional wines, looking at both price and taste rankings, and found that the organic ones scored on average one point higher on Wine Spectator's rankings. For some reason, telling that to consumers seems to devalue the wine: high-scoring bottles that advertised their organic nature sold for less at retail, while bottles that withheld this info scored just as high on taste but also were priced higher than average. More »
What's The Best Airline For Bringing My Bike?
By Chris Morran on March 5, 2010 4:18 PM
19 Comments
After yesterday's story about cyclists being unhappy with United's exorbitant fee to check bikes on their planes, the folks over at Bicycling wrote to share their breakdown of the best and worst airlines for when you're taking your wheels with you. More »
(adulau)
What Do You Do When Your Credit Card Has Been Armed With An Interest Rate Trap?
By Chris Walters on March 2, 2010 12:00 PM
57 Comments
Harry's got a problem: the Bank of America card he's had for years is paid off, but now it's been set to explode in Harry's wallet if he ever uses it again because the variable APR will jump to 29.99 percent. What's worse, his other card has been canceled. Now Harry doesn't know if he should start using the BofA card or back away quietly from it. More »
(debaird™)
Cut The Cable And Watch All Your TV And Movies Online
By Ben Popken on March 2, 2010 12:00 PM
57 Comments
Cutting cable can save you upwards of $500 a year, and Lifehacker shows you how to do it while still getting to watch all your favorite shows and movies online. More »
Chicago Is Worst Place To Get Your Car Repaired, Memphis Is Best
By Chris Walters on February 25, 2010 2:31 PM
35 Comments
The website AutoMD.com sent mystery shoppers to 600 auto repair shops in 50 different market areas to ask how much it would cost to replace the front brakes on a Ford Focus. They found that on average, repair shops in Memphis were among the most affordable shops tested, and they tended to consistently quote their prices to customers. The worst was the Chicago area, where shops quoted anywhere from $425 to $150, and where every shop tested changed its quote depending on what information the mystery shopper presented. More »
10 Ways To Save Money In Spite Of Yourself
By Phil Villarreal on February 24, 2010 8:46 AM
70 Comments
If you'd like to save more money but find yourself unable to set anything aside after you pay your bills and buy such necessities such as MAD Magazine and lottery tickets, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance editor Janet Bodnar is out to help you. She put together 10 ways to trick yourself into saving. More »
(oskay)
Save Money With These 4 iPhone Apps
By Chris Morran on February 23, 2010 11:39 AM
30 Comments
Want to update your Facebook status? There's an app for that. Looking to placate your baby with a dancing Teddy bear? There's an app for that too. And believe it or not, there are some iPhone apps that will actually help you save a few bucks. More »
NYC Woman Exploits Gyms For Year Of Free Workouts
By Chris Morran on February 23, 2010 10:04 AM
115 Comments
With the exception of parking and affordable homes, there's a lot of everything in New York City... especially gyms. With this surplus of workout spots, they are all fighting to get a sweaty, muscled grip on your wallet. A 24-year-old law student in the Big Apple not only saw an opportunity to exploit this competition and score some free workouts, she's also blogging about her attempt to make it through the entire year without paying for the gym. More »
Let's Ask BillShrink About Credit Cards Under The CARD Act
I spoke with Samir Kothari, the co-founder and vice president of products at BillShrink.com, to see what he thinks about the CARD Act and how it will change the credit card marketplace. More »
By Chris Walters on February 22, 2010 3:58 PM
22 Comments
Greg wrote to us and said that he's in the market for a new credit card: "I canceled my Chase card because they raised my interest rate to 29.99% + prime. What credit card companies should I be looking at for a replacement card? What are their perks, their drawbacks?" I spoke with Samir Kothari, the co-founder and vice president of products at BillShrink.com, to see what he thinks about the CARD Act and how it will change the credit card marketplace. More »
Are Muscle Relaxers The Best Choice For Muscle Pain?
By Ben Popken on February 19, 2010 5:02 PM
49 Comments
Have you ever used a muscle relaxer to treat muscle pain? In this video from our sister publication, Consumer Reports Health shows how that might not be the best first choice. More »
How To File Your Taxes For Free
By Phil Villarreal on February 12, 2010 8:45 AM
42 Comments
Generation X Finance tells you how to avoid paying to file your taxes, starting with the method that's been passed down since the days of caveman accountants — do your taxes yourself with pen and paper. More »
Save Money And Energy By Insulating Your Hot Water Pipes
By Laura Northrup on February 11, 2010 4:54 PM
28 Comments
Are you looking something exciting to do this weekend? Why not roll up your sleeves and insulate your hot water pipes? It might not be as entertaining as throwing your cat in the snow, but it does provide more energy savings and significantly fewer wet, angry cats. [Consumer Reports Home]
Is That Credit Score FICO Or FAKEO?
By Ben Popken on February 10, 2010 10:56 AM
43 Comments
Donny just bought a bunch of credit scores. But they're all from different companies and none of them are the same. What gives? More »
Buying Tix For Overbooked Flights Got Me Bumped, Well-Rewarded
By Phil Villarreal on February 10, 2010 10:15 AM
38 Comments
A clever testimonial on Money Crashers explains how the writer procured four free flights by buying tickets for potentially overbooked flights, then getting bumped and paid off in travel vouchers. More »
Bundle Lets You Spy On What Your Neighbors Buy
By Ben Popken on February 8, 2010 11:46 AM
10 Comments
Why should banks have all the fun monitoring consumers' purchases? Bundle is a nifty service that lets you drill down and see what people are buying in your hood. More »
(esparta)
Save Serious Money On Your Cell Phone Bill By Making One Phone Call
By Laura Northrup on February 4, 2010 11:47 AM
28 Comments
Theresa had a contract with Helio/Virgin Mobile that ended this month, putting her in a position to negotiate. She writes that by comparison shopping and politely asking for the customer retention department, she and her girlfriend were able to knock $35 per month off the bill for their family plan. Here's how she did it. More »
Denny's Is Giving Out Free Grand Slams Again Tuesday
By Phil Villarreal on February 4, 2010 8:00 AM
16 Comments
Just like last year, Denny's is hopping on the crazy train and giving out free Grand Slams Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. More »
"Move Your Money" Profiled On NPR
By Chris Walters on February 2, 2010 10:38 AM
81 Comments
Last month, the Huffington Post launched a campaign called Move Your Money that urged people to support community banks. The idea is that by moving your money to a community bank, you can help put the "too big to fail" banks on a diet so that they get smaller, while at the same time help a local bank remain competitive. The NPR program All Things Considered took a look at the campaign over the weekend, and talked to some experts about whether it's worth making the switch. More »
Why Aren't You Haggling Yet?
By Chris Walters on February 1, 2010 2:00 PM
90 Comments
Michael S. Rosenwald saved $15 on a pair of shoes at Macy's, $3 on a steak at Giant, $6 on a DVD set at Best Buy, and $100 off his next Verizon bill (plus a 10% discount on future bills) during one week spent haggling. In this Washington Post article, he describes how it felt to switch from the habit of paying full retail to looking at a price tag as a "suggestion," in the words of one expert he met with. The executives Rosenwald spoke with repeatedly said that bargaining is not standard practice, but that didn't stop employees and managers from making deals in order to close the sale. More »
When Buying Cleaning Supplies, Don't Pay For Water
By Laura Northrup on January 30, 2010 10:00 AM
44 Comments
In order to save money and the total number of heavy bottles you need to haul home from the store, try buying ultra-concentrated cleaning supplies and adding your own water at home. Reader M. discovered these products at Big Lots, and shares his secrets. More »
(Photo: gordonflood.com)
Low-Flow Toilets Provide Water Savings, Entertainment
By Laura Northrup on January 29, 2010 4:00 PM
76 Comments
If you were unfortunate enough to have one of the early low-flow toilets installed in your home, you probably remember it as an ... unpleasant experience. Fortunately, the newer models have enough power to get their job done using surprisingly little water—as little as 1.28 gallons. Consumer Reports proves this by flushing what look like brightly colored toys down the toilet. This is very entertaining to watch. More »
(Photo: BenFrantzDale)
Rent Out Your Household Items For Fun And Profit
By Laura Northrup on January 28, 2010 3:43 PM
54 Comments
What items do you keep around your house, but don't use very often? A shovel? A laundry drying rack? A food processor? What if you could rent these items out to people in your area, and in turn rent seldom-used items from them for a few dollars? Rentalic.com is trying to make these exchanges happen nationwide. More »
(Photo: simondhweller)
Tell Car Insurance Company You're Driving Less, Save On Premiums
By Phil Villarreal on January 26, 2010 10:38 AM
44 Comments
It almost seems like a bad joke from a Geico commercial: I lost my job, but the good news is I just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance! More »
The Debtor Debt Collectors Hate To Call
By Ben Popken on January 26, 2010 9:35 AM
138 Comments
Craig Cunningham has made $20,000 from 18 lawsuits he's filed against debt collectors for violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). In fact, it's something a part-time job/hobby for him. To ensnare his first FDCPA-violating collector, with voice recorder running, he called back the number they left on his answering machine, and asked: More »
(Photo: frankieleon)
Watch Out For These Tricks After The CARD Act Kicks In Next Month
By Chris Walters on January 25, 2010 3:36 PM
24 Comments
The credit card reform bill will go into effect at the end of February, but that doesn't mean you should stop paying attention to what your credit card company does with your account. There are lots and lots of loopholes, notes WalletPop. For example, your card issuer can still raise rates on future purchases any time and for any reason. In addition, there's no limit to the number of fees that can be invented and applied to your account. The only way to make sure you don't get screwed by a profit-hungry card issuer is to read every single thing that's mailed to you, and closely review your statement for evidence of any changes that you may have missed. More »
(Photo: sidewalk flying)
Family Cuts Grocery Bill In Half By Planning Meals Ahead
By Laura Northrup on January 24, 2010 5:00 PM
77 Comments
Meal plans may not be very exciting or sexy, but they keep you from staring blankly at the refrigerator before padding off to order pizza. One family in Texas cut their grocery expenses in half by planning their dinnersa year in advance. That's pretty extreme, but their example is still useful for the less insanely organized. More »
(Photo: Consumerist)
See If You Qualify For One Of These 2009 Tax Deductions
By Phil Villarreal on January 21, 2010 8:45 AM
32 Comments
Personal finance blogger Mrs. Micah unleashed a mammoth list of 2009 tax deductions on her blog, Finance for a Freelance Life. More »
(Photo: Photos8.com)
Experts Answer Credit Questions From Average Americans
By Chris Walters on January 20, 2010 2:27 PM
22 Comments
Henry Unger at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has put together a multi-part series of questions and answers from readers. The detailed answers are provided by Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Atlanta, and the questions—which I've listed below—cover a broad spectrum of personal finance issues, including credit cards, mortgages, and credit reports. More »
(Photo: Blyzz)
Paypal Rewards Dollars: Use 'Em In One Go Or Lose 'Em
By Ben Popken on January 20, 2010 1:00 PM
8 Comments
The PayPal plus rewards card earns points which can be traded for vouchers which can be used like cash to buy stuff. You have to be careful, though, and make sure that the price is the same or greater than the voucher amount. Any unused dollars on the voucher get forfeited after the purchase. Tricky! Reads those terms and conditions close, folks. More »
(Photo: Deal Seeking Mom)
Learn To Play The Drugstore Game From The Very Beginning
By Laura Northrup on January 20, 2010 11:08 AM
34 Comments
Are you curious about what dedicated bargain-hunters call the Drugstore Game, taking advantage of drugstores' reward programs in order to acquire more toothbrushes and shampoo than your family could ever possibly use? What frugal person isn't? Yet the forums where people discuss the tricks of this game can be intimidating, and it's hard to know where to start. What if you're not ready for major-league Drugstore Game? Is there maybe Drugstore Game T-Ball? Yes, there is! More »
Prosper.com May Be Riskier Than You Thought
By Chris Walters on January 19, 2010 12:20 PM
41 Comments
The person-to-person loan website Prosper.com has been talked about in mostly positive ways since it launched a few years ago. Mark Gimein at Slate's The Big Money says it's a lot less awesome than you've been led to believe. In fact, he says it's just a microcosm of what happened in the real financial world: "Loans to unqualified borrowers; reliance on mathematical models that turn out to be a lot less useful than they seemed; failed hopes that high interest rates could make subprime loans profitable; sky high default rates [of 39%]—Prosper has it all." More »
(Photo: iwantamonkey)
11 Ways To Save Money Grocery Shopping
By Phil Villarreal on January 19, 2010 8:30 AM
108 Comments
Personal finance blogger Girl with the Red Balloon put together a list of 11 ways she saves money at grocery stores. More »
(Photo: frankieleon)
5 Financial Tasks For Baby Boomers
By Phil Villarreal on January 18, 2010 10:00 AM
2 Comments
MSN Money offers financial goal-setting advice for Baby Boomers that can just as easily be applied to any other stage of life. More »
Free Tacos!
By Ben Popken on January 15, 2010 9:17 AM
34 Comments
Taco Bell is giving away printable coupons for free Fresco Tacos. Valid until a million taco coupons are printed. The rules say the manager's decision is final on whether or not to accept the coupon so if there's a mad free taco rush and Mr. Stanley doesn't feel like comping another Fresco Taco, don't come crying to mama. More »
(Photo: bubble dumpster)
Secret Credit Card Backdoor Numbers To Get Your Credit Increased, APR Changed, Etc!
By Ben Popken on January 14, 2010 12:00 PM
28 Comments
Want your credit line increased, APR lowered, or your declined credit card application approved? Begging and pleading with customer service not getting you anywhere except front row seats to your personal puddle of shame? Then give some of the "backdoor numbers" a shot.
(Photo: Wm Jas)
How To Turn Crap Lying Around Your House Into Money
By Laura Northrup on January 14, 2010 11:02 AM
68 Comments
Most people could use more money. Most people also have crap lying around their house that they no longer use. What they may not realize is that useless crap lying around the house can be transformed into cash, thus solving both problems. Unfortunately, there is no Cash4Clutter, but there are other ways to cash in on stuff you don't use. More »
(Photo: Reznicek111)
Simple Ways To Slash Your Budget
By Phil Villarreal on January 14, 2010 8:45 AM
114 Comments
Bargain Babe shares 10 easy ways you can cut your budget. Forward the link to anyone who still clings to their land line, which the blogger insists — correctly, in my eyes — nobody with a cell phone needs. More »
(Photo: frankieleon)
4 Reasons You're Dumb With Money
By Ben Popken on January 13, 2010 11:51 AM
63 Comments
Science has proven that you are stupid with money. Four recent experiments give insight into the irrational ways you use your money that could be chopping down your bank account. My favorite one involves how credit cards make you end up spending more than they normally would: More »
(Photo: Mike McCaffrey)
Here's A Possible Way To Avoid Citibank's New Account Fees
By Chris Walters on January 12, 2010 5:31 PM
74 Comments
Next month, Citibank will implement its new $7.50 fee on what were formerly free checking and savings accounts. The only way to avoid the fee is to keep a total of $1500 minimum in your linked accounts. John wrote in to tell us that when he went to his branch and asked about the new fee, they found a way to get around it. It may not work for anyone else, but it's worth sharing. More »
(Photo: Kevin Dean)
Time Your Purchases To Make Them Count
By Phil Villarreal on January 8, 2010 10:15 AM
36 Comments
Writing on Get Rich Slowly, April Dykman cobbled together of a list of the best times to buy everything. More »
(Photo: Incase Design)
Save Money By Using Up Old Groceries
By Chris Walters on January 6, 2010 7:48 PM
67 Comments
Chances are you've got forgotten food supplies in your pantry, writes Herb Weisbaum, so why not feed your family some old food for a week and ban yourself from the grocery store? The woman in Weisbaum's article tried it out, and found that there were enough unused items that when she was forced to make do, she figured out a way. More »
(Photo: wmliu)
5 Reasons Not To Go For A Mortgage Modification
By Phil Villarreal on January 6, 2010 8:00 AM
20 Comments
A Wise Bread story gives five reasons a government-backed Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) More »
(Photo: dmuth)
5 Lies You Tell Yourself To Justify Dumb Spending
By Phil Villarreal on January 4, 2010 10:38 AM
75 Comments
Blogger Fabulously Broke lists five lies you use to trick yourself into overspending. More »
(Photo: Karamellzucker)
Thank You, Consumerist, For Easing Chase's Credit Strangehold On Me
By Laura Northrup on January 1, 2010 4:30 PM
15 Comments
Is reducing your credit card debt one of your goals for 2010? You're in the right place. Josh used information that he found on Consumerist to significantly reduce his credit card interest rates and help him and his wife on their way to freedom from debt. More »
(Photo: joelogon)
30-Day Window To Cancel Sprint Without Penalty Starts Tomorrow
By Ben Popken on December 31, 2009 10:34 AM
73 Comments
Starting tomorrow, Jan 1, 2010, you can cancel your Sprint cellphone contract without early termination fee. They are increasing monthly regulatory fees from $.20 to $.40. This constitutes what is known as a "materially adverse change of contract" and means you can break the contract without penalty. An official Sprint spokesperson officially confirmed this for us. A few things to know: More »
(Photo: Great Beyond)
83 Ways To Be Smarter With Money While You're Still Young
By Phil Villarreal on December 31, 2009 8:00 AM
42 Comments
Hank from Own the Dollar has put together a common-sense guide of 83 money moves to make while you're in your 20s. More »
(Photo: moriza)
Program Yourself To Be A Better Consumer With SaveEveryWay's Free Money-Saving Reminders
By Ben Popken on December 30, 2009 12:58 PM
11 Comments
Research has shown that signing up for text message reminders to save money can increase your savings balance by 16%. SaveEveryWay makes the experimental a reality. You can sign up there for free to get reminders sent to you via text message, email, RSS, or Twitter that encourage better consumer behaviors. Some samples: More »
(Photo: Ben Popken)
How To Save Money Using A "Clean" Credit Card
By Ben Popken on December 29, 2009 2:22 PM
37 Comments
If you're the type of person who carries debt on your credit card from month to month, you should always have one "clean" credit card in your wallet, says Bob Sullivan of Red Tape Chronicles in his new book, Stop Getting Ripped Off: Why Consumers Get Screwed, and How You Can Always Get a Fair Deal. A "clean" credit card is one that you know can always get paid off in full if you use it, and you only whip it out for emergencies. For some consumers, this results in paying less interest and fewer penalties. In an excerpt he's sharing with Consumerist readers, Bob explains how it works:
(Photo: Scurzuzu)
Is It Ever Okay To Buy Gifts At A Thrift Store?
By Laura Northrup on December 24, 2009 9:45 AM
104 Comments
Tacky, incompetent regifting is one thing, but Mrs. Money over at the Ultimate Money Blog raises another question: when is it appropriate to give people gifts that you've purchased at a thrift or consignment store? More »
(Photo: stirwise)
In Praise Of Old Cars
By Phil Villarreal on December 22, 2009 8:45 AM
149 Comments
Maybe someday when frugality takes over, beat-up 1988 Honda Accords will trump fresh-off-the-lot Porsches as four-wheeled sex symbols. Blogger Well-Heeled can envision such a future, hyping the money-saving virtues of hoopties. More »
Care4Less Makes Giving Fake Donations Easy
care4less.org (Thanks to jpropaganda!) More »
By Ben Popken on December 15, 2009 9:11 AM
34 Comments
There's no better way to save on presents this holiday season than to pretend to give money in people's names to fake charities. Care4Less.org simplifies this process by putting together eight, worthy, fictitious causes for you to choose from, like the Make-A-Sandwich Foundation, and Fathers4Mosquitos.care4less.org (Thanks to jpropaganda!) More »
(Photo: krodinjw)
An Argument For 401(k) Minimizing
By Phil Villarreal on December 14, 2009 8:30 AM
41 Comments
Just about every financial adviser demands you max out your 401(k) contributions, at least to the percentage your employer matches, which is why it's refreshing to see a rare counter-argument. More »
(Photo: catastrophegirl)
Radio Shack Nearly Livestronged Me
By Phil Villarreal on December 11, 2009 8:45 AM
51 Comments
Even though Radio Shack has promised to tell its employees to manage its Livestrong donations "carefully and correctly," people are still complaining that sneaky clerks are tricking them into donating. More »
(Photo: residentskitz)
Buy A New Printer When You Run Out Of Ink
By Marc Perton on December 10, 2009 5:01 PM
171 Comments
If you're sick of the high cost of toner, and don't want to deal with messy refill kits or off-brand versions, here's a great way to save cash and help struggling manufacturers at the same time: Just buy a new printer every time you run low on ink. Sure, you'll have a house full of printers in no time, but you can always donate those to Goodwill, or to the local landfill. More »
(Photo: frankieleon)
Sprint Fee Increase Is Your Chance To Escape Without Early Termination Fee
By Ben Popken on December 9, 2009 4:06 PM
58 Comments
Sprint has confirmed they will increase monthly regulatory fees from $.20 to $.40 on January 1st, creating an opportunity for customers to drop their contracts without incurring an early termination fee, which could save you up to $200. More »
(Image: Scott Meyer)
Let This Comic Strip Show You How To Save Money At The Movies
By Chris Walters on December 8, 2009 9:30 AM
74 Comments
Scott Meyer frequently makes brilliant observations in his "Basic Instructions" comic, and by brilliant I mean nutjob. In the most recent one, "How to Save Money," the comic version of Meyer realizes how expensive movie concessions are. Considering how many people commented on this the last time I posted about it, I thought you might find his ideas useful. Now I'm off to buy a stovepipe hat! More »
(Photo:Morton Fox)
My Bloomin' Onion Coupon Vanished
By Phil Villarreal on December 8, 2009 9:30 AM
47 Comments
Aaron was so close to a free Outback Steakhouse Bloomin' Onion appetizer he could practically feel the fried batter clogging up his arteries. More »
Ooh Shiny: Sears Card Gives Free Credit Scores
By Ben Popken on December 8, 2009 9:18 AM
13 Comments
How would you like a free credit score with not very much baloney? The Sears Card from Citibank gives you just that, with no annual fees.
(Photo: Ed McCulloch)
Pay Off $50k In Debt On A $20k Salary In 10 Steps And 5 Years
By Ben Popken on December 4, 2009 9:30 AM
111 Comments
This 30-year old receptionist and single mother of 3 climbed out of a $50,000 debt hole in 5 years using these 10 steps.
(Photo: Scarleth White)
AMC Theater Chain Bans All Outside Snacks
By Chris Walters on December 3, 2009 2:02 PM
259 Comments
After reporting a loss in the 2nd quarter of this year, AMC is doing what it can to increase revenue. Since the business model of movie theaters is to give all the ticket sales to the studios and scrape out a living on concessions, that means forcing more patrons to buy snacks—so it's officially banning any outside food and drink. More »
(Photo:Paxton Holley)
Save Money On Your Home Office
By Phil Villarreal on December 3, 2009 11:50 AM
26 Comments
Sure, when you're at the office you think nothing of printing out 50-page forwards or swiping entire cases of staples and pens, but if you work at home it's time to get conservative. More »
Watch Out For Cyber Monday Non-Deals
By Phil Villarreal on November 30, 2009 10:30 AM
38 Comments
Just as Black Friday has its sleazy underside meant to make you pay more than you should to buy stuff you don't need, so does Cyber Monday. More »
Check Luggage Limits Online And Dodge Baggage Fees
By Ben Popken on November 30, 2009 10:22 AM
11 Comments
How fat a bag can I bring? The ad-supported LuggageLimits compiles the carry-on and checked baggage rules for 90 airlines. Just enter your airline, ticket type, departure and arrival city and it will tell you if you're likely to hit any fee turbulence with your luggage. [LuggageLimits via Lifehacker]
(Photo: amanjo)
Use The Internet To Subvert Bogus Best Buy Optimization Fees
By Phil Villarreal on November 30, 2009 10:00 AM
109 Comments
Patrick discovered a clever way of avoiding Best Buy's silly optimization fees as he shopped for a laptop: Shop online and opt for in-store pickup. More »
Image: Dryicons.com
Black Friday Picks From A Tightwad
By Marc Perton on November 26, 2009 9:18 PM
27 Comments
We still think that shopping on Black Friday is a really, really bad idea, but apparently we're in the minority. According to one recent poll, 54% of American consumers are planning on shopping at some point this weekend. We're hoping that at least some of them are just going to pick up some Zantac to help deal with today's excesses. For the rest, there are a few deals worth considering, if you know where to look. More »
Amazon Offering Three Free MP3s
By Phil Villarreal on November 26, 2009 9:45 AM
24 Comments
Jeff forwarded us an email with this link good for $3 worth in MP3s from Amazon. Here are some instructions, terms and conditions cut and pasted from the site: More »
20 Tips To Ready You For Black Friday
By Phil Villarreal on November 26, 2009 9:15 AM
16 Comments
Budgets Are Sexy's J. Money put together a list of 20 ways to prep yourself for Friday's shopping frenzy. Here's a taste of the post: More »
Black Friday Deals To X Out With A Red Pen
By Phil Villarreal on November 26, 2009 9:00 AM
11 Comments
Gizmodo has sifted through all the Black Friday deals and found the ones to avoid. More »
Gas Prices Have Jumped $0.20 In The Past Two Weeks
By Meg Marco on October 26, 2009 5:56 PM
59 Comments
—>Gas prices have spiked in the last two weeks, reaching levels last seen during the peak of the summer driving season, says the AP. The increase in gas prices has retailers worried that consumers who are putting more money in their gas tanks will buy fewer gifts during the upcoming holiday season. More »
Citi Mysteriously Closes Scads Of Mastercard Accounts Nationwide
By Ben Popken on October 20, 2009 8:55 PM
104 Comments
—>Without warning, Citi decided to close a swath of gas-station co-branded Mastercard accounts nationwide. The trouble seems to have started October 15. Quan was one of the affected customers and the credit card company was pretty disingenuous about it when called. More »
How To Save Money On Gas
By Phil Villarreal on October 5, 2009 1:50 PM
76 Comments
—>Thanks to insurance, auto loan payments and especially gas, it's your car that owns you and not the other way around. Gas Buddy checks in with some tips on how to cut down on fuel costs. More »
Can You Save Money By Motorcycle Commuting? Not Really
By Laura Northrup on September 11, 2009 1:36 AM
288 Comments
—>Sure, switching to a motorcycle or scooter for your highway commute might seem like a good idea, especially if you want to save gasoline and fantasize about gridlock-defying, illegal traffic maneuvers. But while motorcycle commuting has some good points, it probably isn't going to save you much money over commuting by car. More »
WaPo Devotes Five Pages To Wawa/Sheetz Epic
By Alex Chasick on August 27, 2009 9:16 PM
117 Comments
—>We thought our love for Wawa was deep and true, then we read this lengthy column in the Washington Post about people getting married at a Wawa or flocking to the stores on 9/11 to regain a sense of community and normalcy. More »
10 Things You Should Know About Gas Stations
By Chris Walters on July 7, 2009 5:06 PM
91 Comments
—>MSN Money has a list of 10 secrets about gas stations that could cost you money if you don't know about them. The best ones are about why you shouldn't use a debit card. For example, some stations will ask banks to place a hold on some of the cash in your account to cover your purchase, and won't report the real purchase amount for a few days, leaving your cash in limbo. More »
Trade Your Clunker For These Sweet Fuel-Sipping Rides
By Laura Northrup on June 25, 2009 11:19 PM
64 Comments
—>The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS), popularly known as the "cash for clunkers" program, starts next month. Need help picking a suitably fuel-efficient car? More »
Watered-Down Gasoline Damages Cars Near Baltimore
By Laura Northrup on June 18, 2009 11:40 PM
41 Comments
—>Rain water, not fraud or sabotage, is behind the bad gasoline sold at stations near Baltimore early this week. Hess, the supplier, is covering any damage to customers' cars caused by the diluted fuel. So, how does this happen? More »
If Gas Prices Fly As Expected, Busineses Need To Ground Themselves To Avoid Crashing
By Phil Villarreal on June 15, 2009 2:17 PM
73 Comments
—>Things that are headed up these days: unemployment, foreclosures, adorable Pixar characters whose houses are attached to helium ballons, Daisuke Matsuzaka's ERA and, argh, gas prices. A Russian energy group is predicting oil, which is currently just over $70 a barrel, will eventually pierce the stratosphere at $250, meaning it'll pretty much be Mad Max time for everyone. More »
Shell Introduces Ice Cream That You Can Grill With
By Chris Walters on June 12, 2009 11:44 PM
64 Comments
—>It looks like Shell has finally figured out a way to combine the awesomeness of ice cream with the grilling power of propane. It probably doesn't taste very good, though. (Thanks to swarrior216!) More »
BP Points Out Their Gas Same Price Whether Cash Or Credit
By Ben Popken on June 9, 2009 5:23 PM
87 Comments
—>Spotted this sign on a Brooklyn BP gas pump last night, taking pains to point out that they are charging customers the same price whether they use cash or credit. Interesting, because last year around this time we ran a few stories about gas stations who doing the opposite. The thing is, credit card companies charge merchants various transaction fees to process the cards. If retailers can't assess those fees to the customers who actually incur them, the business has to raise prices on everything for everyone. More »
Grocery Shrink Ray Extends To Propane Refills
By Chris Walters on May 25, 2009 12:11 PM
65 Comments
—>When the cost of propane shot up to $1.70 or more per gallon last year, propane dealers quietly cut the amount they were putting into refilled tanks without telling customers. Now the cost of propane is under a dollar per gallon, but retailers aren't increasing the amount back to previous levels. More »
Costco Might Fix Hot Fuel Ripoff
By Ben Popken on April 28, 2009 2:48 AM
63 Comments
—>Vermonters get a better deal on gas than Texans. Fuel expands in the heat and shrinks in the cold, so 5 gallons of "hot fuel" won't get your car as far as 5 gallons of regular. Oilmen know this, and that's why at various points in the supply chain volume gets adjusted for the industry standard temperature of 60 F. The retail pump isn't one of them. That might start to change if a proposed class-action lawsuit settlement with Costco as a defendant goes through. Under the terms, Costco would fix its pumps in the bottom half of the country so that they dispense fuel at 60 F. If it goes through, it would be a precedent-setting consumer victory. After all, you want a Tiger in your tank, not a Heat Miser, don't you? More »
Baseball Team Offers Flatulence Filters To Go With All You Can Eat Games
By Alex Chasick on March 27, 2009 3:30 PM
22 Comments
—>We love Minor League Baseball. Cheap tickets, sloppy play, and fun stadiums (our New Orleans Zephyrs boast a pool, a levee, and a "party shack") make for a great spring or summer day. Minor League games are also known for their ridiculous promos and giveaways, and the Lake Elsinore Storm have made a natural pairing: fans who come to their all-you-can-eat Fat Tuesday games will also receive Subtle Butt, a "flatulence filter" that attaches to one's underpants. More »
Why Does Diesel Cost So Much? In part two of a two-part series on diesel fuel, Consumer Reports finds that there are three main reasons diesel fuel costs so much, according to the petroleum experts they interviewed. The most obvious reason? Higher taxes. [CR] More »
Public Transit Ridership Highest In 52 Years
By Chris Walters on March 10, 2009 2:47 AM
75 Comments
—>See, here's some good news to the wallet-gouging gas prices of 2008: ridership of public transportation was up to 10.7 billion trips last year, "the highest level of ridership in 52 years" according to the American Public Transportation Association. It was the fifth consecutive year that ridership increased, but it may come to an end in 2009 because of skyrocketing unemployment. More »
PayPal Charges $81,400,836,908 For $26 Tank Of Gas
By Carey Alexander on February 28, 2009 9:00 PM
167 Comments
—>Juan Zamora fed his 1994 Chevy Camaro $26 worth of gas, a transaction for which PayPal charged his debit card $81,400,836,908. Unsurprisingly, PayPal saw nothing wrong with the charge and demanded that Juan prove that he didn't actually buy $81.4 billion worth of gas. More »
Obama Auto Task Force Team's Cars Fail CAFE Standards
By Alex Chasick on February 26, 2009 9:11 PM
92 Comments
—>After it was pointed out that most of the cars owned by members of President Obama's Task Force on the Auto Industry were imports, our friend Mark made another interesting discovery: nearly all of the cars fail current CAFE standards. More »
Is This Gas Company Lying About Reading Meters? Nope!
By Chris Walters on February 16, 2009 5:37 PM
73 Comments
—>Update: As several readers have pointed out, there's a simpler explanation for the confusion: both the OP and I were misreading the meter. The first digit should be rounded "down" to 9, so the meter in the photo actually reads 997.4 MCF—which is more in line with the previous bill. Thanks to everyone who caught this and wrote in or commented! We hope this helps you out, Michael. More »
President Obama has ordered the EPA to allow states set their own fuel-efficiency standards (fourteen states had begun the process when President Bush put a stop to it a couple of years ago.) He's also asked the DOT to "develop higher fuel-efficiency standards automakers would have to follow." [USA Today] More »
How Would You Feel About A New National Gas Tax?
By Chris Walters on January 14, 2009 1:12 AM
183 Comments
—>Don't worry, there's not one in the pipeline just yet, but Flexo at Consumerism Commentary asks whether now—with fuel prices relatively low again, at least compared to the recent past—is a good time to consider one. More »
Video: Oil Speculators To Blame For Record Gas Prices After All
By Ben Popken on January 12, 2009 9:28 PM
71 Comments
—>If you thought oil speculators as the reason behind the historic gas prices spikes of this summer was debunked, think again. From '07 to when the price of oil collapsed, supply increased and demand dropped. According to basic economic theory, this should've meant the price went down. But all of a sudden an influx of capital, an infusion that brought the total at play from $13 billion to $300 billion, brought to market by large investment bankers, exploiting de-regulation and trading in black box private exchanges made possible by Enron, drove the price of oil from $69 to almost $150. A new 60 Minutes report explores the issue. Video inside. More »
Make Your Driver's License A Debit Card And Save 3 Cents Per Gallon Of Gas
By Ben Popken on January 12, 2009 8:24 PM
73 Comments
—>If you live in or around Austin, Texas, you can save 3 cents or more per gallon by turning your driver's license into a debit card. More »
Utility Bill Surprisingly High? Check Whether It's 'Estimated'
By Chris Walters on January 12, 2009 3:28 PM
131 Comments
—>Paul wants to know how his gas company can get away with estimated meter readings instead of actual numbers, especially since they lead to much higher bills. "This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard of," he writes, "And we are hoping that The Consumerist will be able to help us out." It's pretty common practice, actually, and the solution is to call the company and request a real reading as soon as possible. More »
ExxonMobil Gift Card Results In Higher Prices At Pump
By Chris Walters on December 29, 2008 11:37 PM
55 Comments
—>ExxonMobil says their gift cards are "better than cash." They also say, "This cash card is not a credit card." But Rob in NY was hit with a credit card surcharge when he used his. More »
Now That Gas Prices Are Lower, You Have Money To Buy Stuff, Save
By Meg Marco on December 24, 2008 4:59 PM
46 Comments
—>Even though real incomes are dropping and people are worrying about their jobs — a drop in gas prices has lead to a push in retail spending, says the New York Times. More »
Despite OPEC's Best Efforts, Oil Prices Have Slipped Below $40 A Barrel
By Meg Marco on December 18, 2008 8:29 PM
132 Comments
—>Oil prices have fallen below $40 a barrel, a 4 year low, despite OPEC announcing that it would cut production by 2.2 million barrels a day. More »
What Would $40 A Barrel Oil Mean For Travelers?
By Meg Marco on December 4, 2008 7:05 PM
108 Comments
—>Oil is now nearing a 4-year low as the world's economic crisis keeps on truckin', says the Wall Street Journal. Light, sweet crude (don't you just love that term?) is now trading at 44.56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. "The price was the lowest since January 2005 and more than $100 below oil's record close July 3," says the WSJ. So, what does that mean for travelers? More »
Why Was Gas So Expensive?
By Carey Alexander on October 13, 2008 7:12 PM
106 Comments
—>Did you know that gas price gouging almost never occurs as prices rise? Rather, it's most often when dealers keep prices artificially high even as their costs fall. As gas costs were near $5 a gallon until falling and oil companies earn around $100 billion each year, it's a good time to question what really goes into the price of gas. The numbers on the gas station sign hide a complex set of transactions. Before gas can power your car, it must be discovered as crude oil, traverse three markets, and be refined from crude into gas. Inside, we'll explain the three markets, walk you through the role of refineries, and show how oil companies use creative tactics to manipulate gas prices... More »
Find Out Where Your Money Goes When You Buy Gas
By Chris Walters on October 7, 2008 9:01 PM
35 Comments
—>Want to know where your fifties go when you fill up your car with gas? GOOD's latest chart breaks down the assorted costs, and compares them with other places around the globe. You can grab a free printed copy at any Starbucks, or go here to check it out in bright RGB goodness. More »
Write Carmax Car Review, Get Chance To Win $250 Gas Card
By Ben Popken on October 7, 2008 2:40 PM
17 Comments
—>You can enter to win a chance for a $250 gas card by submitting a review of your car to CarMax, an online used-car retailer. 8 winners will be chosen over 8 weeks, and of those people submitting a review with a picture, an additional $300 gas card winner will be chosen. Even if it's a long shot, who couldn't use even just a possible free gas card? Plus, writing words is fun. [CarMax] More »
Gas Station Owner Accidentally Sells Gas For $0.35, But Is Glad To Have Made People Happy
By Meg Marco on October 2, 2008 4:12 PM
115 Comments
—>Mimi Zidan owns the Lucky Mart in Pekin, IL, where a pricing mistake resulted in a mob of gas thirsty customers, rushing to take advantage of pumps that were dispensing gas for only $0.35 per gallon. You'd think she'd be upset about losing so much money, but she's not. More »
Two More Weeks Of Gas Shortages In The South?
By Meg Marco on September 30, 2008 10:58 PM
78 Comments
—>The New York Times has quoted an expert from Rice University who thinks that the gas shortages in Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee could continue for two more weeks. More »
Desperate Atlantans Use Twitter To Find Gas
By Ben Popken on September 29, 2008 4:27 PM
41 Comments
—>There's a gas shortage in Atlanta, GA, so consumers are using Twitter to help each other find gas. They're tagging their posts #atlgas whenever they spot some and letting others know the price and location, as well as tossing out requests for information. The tag was created by Tessa Horehled who writes the DriveAFasterCar blog. More »
How To Get Utilities And Phone Service Without Giving Up Your SSN
By Chris Walters on September 23, 2008 6:35 PM
76 Comments
—>As several readers discussed in yesterday's post, utility, phone, and cable companies usually require your Social Security number in order to perform a credit check before activating service. You don't have to provide it, but they don't have to extend their services to you either. Here's one reader's explanation of how he was able to turn on water, electricity, gas, and an AT&T land line without turning over his SSN. More »
85% Of Gas Stations In Nashville, TN Are Without Gas Right Now
By Chris Walters on September 20, 2008 1:39 AM
87 Comments
East Tennessee and Middle Tennessee both primarily receive fuel supplies through spurs of the Colonial pipeline, which carries refined gasoline from the Texas Gulf Coast to the Northeast. [Hurricane] Ike damaged and knocked out power to many of those refineries, cutting the amount of gasoline fed into the pipeline. More »
Oil Prices Down But Airline Fees Remain
By Ben Popken on September 18, 2008 3:25 AM
48 Comments
—>Airlines have added all sorts of fees to compensate for their increased oil costs recently. Now that oil has dropped, the fees are gone, right? Nope. Now that we're all acclimated to a la carte pricing, which airlines have lusted to implement for ages, don't expect it to be going away anytime soon. $2 fee to have the window open, $4 to have it shut. More »
Minerals Management Service Take Pay-For-Offshore-Oil-Play Scandal "Extremely Seriously"
By Ben Popken on September 11, 2008 3:47 PM
21 Comments
THE QUOTE: In an interview, MMS Director Randall Luthi said the agency took the report "extremely seriously" More »
"King Of Cars" Closes Hummer Dealership, Will Start Selling Smart Cars
By Meg Marco on September 8, 2008 6:52 PM
38 Comments
—>The Wall Street Journal's "Deal Journal" blog says that the owner of the car dealership that serves as the backdrop to A&E's "King of Cars" will close his Hummer dealership and begin selling "Smart Cars." More »
Pricey Stove Recalled For Shooting Flames At Your Face
By Meg Marco on September 5, 2008 5:47 PM
31 Comments
—>Here's something you might want to get fixed. Wolf Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis. is recalling 24,000 of their gas ranges because the 18" oven has a tendency to shoot flames when the door is opened. This has resulted in 15 minor burns. More »
GM Extends Employee Pricing Through September
By Ben Popken on September 3, 2008 3:45 PM
21 Comments
—>GM has extended its employee-discount-pricing plan to the end of September on all 2008 and some 2009 models. Please buy our cars. Someone. Please. [GM Employee Discount Site via Kicking Tires] More »
Expensive Cars Are Cheap Right Now
By Ben Popken on August 28, 2008 3:55 PM
17 Comments
—>Consumer Reports analyzed late-summer car deals and the results are none too surprising. The biggest incentives are on gas-gourgers and big vehicles, the cars no one wants right now. More »
American Driving Declines By Steepest Amount In 100 Years
By Ben Popken on August 28, 2008 12:52 PM
75 Comments
From November to June, American driving dropped by 53.2 billion miles, according to the Department of Transportation. Billion. 53.2 billion fewer miles. That's insane, and kind of beautiful. [NYT] More »
10 Cheapest Cars To Drive
By Ben Popken on August 26, 2008 1:47 AM
107 Comments
—>Hybrids are all the rage right now but fuel costs aren't the only thing you should be thinking about. After taking into account repairs, maintenance, and financing, these 10 cars offer great deals. More »
Thieves Snatch Almost $20,000 Worth Of Fuel From Gas Station
By Meg Marco on August 20, 2008 7:10 PM
70 Comments
—>Gas thieves have stolen over 5,000 gallons of fuel from the Open Pantry Citgo in Wauwatosa, WI according to WauwatosaNow.com. More »
The 11 Least Fuel Efficient Hybrids
By Meg Marco on August 18, 2008 7:35 PM
74 Comments
—>A hybrid vehicle might be more fuel efficient than the non-hybrid version of the same car, but some hybrid vehicles can get as few as 19mpg. Check out this list of the least fuel efficient hybrid vehicles before you head out to the dealership. More »
Pump Gas In The Morning To Save Money? Nah.
By Meg Marco on August 12, 2008 3:25 PM
41 Comments
—>Consumer Reports wants you to know that it's OK to sleep in, because you're not going to save money by pumping gas in the early morning. Why not? More »
Always Print Your Gas Pump Receipt As Proof Of Purchase
By Chris Walters on August 11, 2008 1:40 PM
126 Comments
I pulled out of the lot, turned left, and I wasn't more than 200 yards away when a cop comes up behind me, lights flashing. I knew I couldn't have been speeding so I was genuinely confused. He said the woman at the United Dairy Farmers said I drove off without paying for gas. More »
Oil Prices Drop, Sadly
By Ben Popken on August 8, 2008 4:16 PM
126 Comments
—>The price of oil dropped $2.19 today, to $117.91, spurring a stock market and dollar rally. Sounds like good news. Except that it's dropping because the market thinks more people won't be able to afford to drive their cars as much. Who's up for a "staycation?" More »
Ditching Your Gas-Guzzling SUV Could Be More Expensive Than You Think
By Carey Alexander on August 3, 2008 4:00 PM
72 Comments
—>SUVs are worth so little that it could take 15 years for a more fuel efficient vehicle to pay for itself in gas savings. Before rushing to trade-in your gas-guzzler, do the math and make sure it isn't economical to hold onto your unfashionable behemoth. Here are three questions to consider... More »
Spirit Airlines Drops $10 Fee For Ordering Tickets Online
By Ben Popken on August 2, 2008 2:27 PM
11 Comments
—>As quietly as it came, the $10 "web convenience fee" Spirit levied for the favor they were doing you by letting you book online, has gone. The fee no longer appears in Spirit Airlines' contract of carriage. A small victory for common sense, though they'll probably just figure out a way to make it up somewhere else. How about $5 fee for takeoffs and landings? More »
4 Ways Gas Pumps Screw You
By Ben Popken on July 30, 2008 5:58 PM
59 Comments
—>There's 4 main ways a gas pump can screw you over: More »
GMAC Insurance: Drive Less, Pay Less
By Ben Popken on July 30, 2008 2:35 PM
37 Comments
—>People who drive fewer than 15,000 miles per year can save 13-54% on their GMAC insurance premiums under a GMAC Insurance's new Low-Mileage Discount. All you have to do is opt-in to let OnStar monitor your mileage. The average annual vehicle mileage is about 12,000 miles, according to the Department of Energy's Annual Energy Review '06, so it looks like most people with GMAC insurance and OnStar could save under OnStars Low-Mileage Discount Program. With the need to save every dollar on your car, this could be a good program for eligible drivers to check out by calling 1-800-GMAC-123 or going to gmacinsurance.com. More »
For Chrysler, A "Full Tank Of Fuel" Is An "Additional Feature"
By Meg Marco on July 25, 2008 7:37 PM
58 Comments
—>Reader inkjammer would like to let you know that Chrysler thinks of a full tank of gas as an "additional feature" — albeit a free one. More »
Expert Says Gasoline Prices Could Drop To $3.50 Per Gallon By Labor Day
By Jay Slatkin on July 24, 2008 11:29 AM
106 Comments
—>According to Phil Flynn, Vice President and Senior Market Analyst at Alaron Trading, gas prices nationwide have been recently reduced about $.05 per gallon and he says this is just the beginning. He predicts that gas prices could go down to $3.50 a gallon by Labor Day (Sept. 1st). More »
Spirit Airlines Charges $10 Fee For Ordering Tickets Online
By Ben Popken on July 21, 2008 7:13 PM
42 Comments
—>One of the major points of having your customers order online is supposed to be that it makes it a more efficient and convenient process for everyone. Not so at Spirit Airlines, which is now charging $10 roundtrip extra fee if you order your tickets online. They're calling this the "web convenience fee." More »
Sorry, We Don't Know Why Our Pump Is Overcharging You
By Meg Marco on July 21, 2008 3:34 PM
62 Comments
—>Reader Matt says he bought gas from a Sunoco station in New Jersey, but the price advertised didn't match the price he was actually charged. He even "double checked" to make sure there wasn't a separate price for cash vs credit. Matt says he tried to resolve the dispute with an employee, but that the employee "just kept saying he doesn't know why it's happening. So I just snapped a picture and left." What should Matt do? More »
Visine Would Cost $1,021 If You Bought By Gallon
By Ben Popken on July 17, 2008 6:34 PM
81 Comments
—>You cringe over the price of a gallon of gas, but what about a gallon of Visine? An article in the September issue of ShopSmart shows that if you bought the eye drops by the gallon, the price would be $1,021. Steak sauce? $48. Secret Platinum, $189. Obviously, no one buys Visine by the gallon, except for maybe Cyclops (hey, that stick still burns). Similiarly, except for hobbyists, no one buys a dropper of gasoline. And there are cost-savings by selling and buying items in bulk. Still, makes you think... More »
Is Your Milk Spoiling Faster?
By Ben Popken on July 17, 2008 5:25 PM
217 Comments
—>I hosted a shrinking product chat over at WashingtonPost.com this morning and an interesting comment from someone in New Orleans came up about milk going bad: More »
UPDATE: MyGallons Refunding Membership Fees?
By Meg Marco on July 15, 2008 7:21 PM
15 Comments
—>Consumerist commenter doireallyneedausername forwarded us an email he got from MyGallons.com, claiming that his membership fee will be refunded because MyGallons.com cannot find a credit card processor. The email, signed by CEO Steve Verona, says that current members will get a free year of MyGallons.com when (if?) they are ever able to process transactions. Read the email inside. More »
Federal Reserve Chairman Thinks High Gas Prices Are Here To Stay
By Meg Marco on July 15, 2008 6:42 PM
87 Comments
—>Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told congress today that he expects the economy to stay sluggish, and was extremely pessimistic about the price of oil in the future. Despite the the airline industry's open letter to consumers claiming that speculators are driving up the price of oil and causing a commodities bubble, Bernanke doesn't agree. More »
Is This $0.10 Credit/Debit Surcharge On Gasoline Allowed?
By Meg Marco on July 15, 2008 2:33 PM
62 Comments
—>Reader Brian wants to know how to tell a "surcharge" applied to a credit/debt card transaction vs a convenience charge? More »
BBB Says: "Anything With 'Gas' And 'Deal' Should Set Off Alarm Bells"
By Meg Marco on July 11, 2008 5:29 PM
16 Comments
—>The BBB says the consumers should be wary of advertisements claiming to offer cheap gas for visiting a website. Paying $2.49 a gallon just for "clicking" sounds too good to be true— and it probably is. More »
UPDATE: MyGallons.com Suspends Accepting Membership Fees
By Meg Marco on July 11, 2008 4:28 PM
15 Comments
—>After acknowledging that it did not have a contract in place to process transactions, gasoline-hedging service MyGallons.com has suspended accepting membership fees and placed the current fees in a non-interest bearing escrow account, says the BBB. Read the BBB's findings inside. More »
Can Prayer Lower Gas Prices? These People Think So
By Ben Popken on July 8, 2008 10:34 PM
124 Comments
—>Some people think we don't have a prayer of gas prices dipping below $3.00 for a good long haul. These parishioners holding hands around a Shell station beg to differ. They're part of a group called "Pray At The Pump," organizing prayer-circles at various DC area gas stations, hoping to goad divine intervention into lowering gas prices. I wonder if they carpooled to the rendezvous point. More »
BBB Says MyGallons.com "Omitted Fact" In Advertising, Has No Contract To Process Transactions
By Meg Marco on July 3, 2008 9:29 PM
46 Comments
—>The BBB says its concerned about gasoline-hedging company MyGallons.com and its ability to live up to the advertising claims on its website. A spokesperson for the BBB tells us that the biggest "red flag" they've discovered is that MyGallons claimed (in their press release) to have partnered with US Bank. However, when the BBB called US Bank to confirm this, they found out that it wasn't true. US Bank had discussed the opportunity with MyGallons, but had declined. According to the BBB, despite the fact that they have no contractual agreements in place to process transactions, MyGallons is still signing up new customers. More »
In case you were wondering, yes, it is illegal to trade sex for a $100 gas card. [The Smoking Gun] More »
American Airlines could be laying off 900 flight attendants. [Dallas News] More »
A Consumer Reports study finds that 79% of consumers surveyed say they plan on buying a car with better fuel economy. [Consumer Reports] More »
Now you can hedge fuel just like Southwest Airlines! A Miami company is offering gas-weary consumers the opportunity to "lock in" today's gas prices. For an annual fee, one can obtain a gas card that works as a debit card at a variety of gas stations. Does this idea appeal to you? [MyGallons.com] More »
Buy Super-Cheap Costco Gas Without Costco Membership
By Carey Alexander on June 28, 2008 10:15 PM
84 Comments
—>Costco sells gas for $0.10-0.15 less per gallon than retail stations, but only to members who pay annual dues. Blueprint For Financial Prosperity claims to have found a way for non-members to access the bargain gas... More »
American Airlines is cutting flights at most regional hubs. [South Florida Business Journal] More »
350 Of New Jersey's Gas Stations Are Violating State Regulations. Here's A Map Of Them.
By Alex Chasick on June 25, 2008 5:00 PM
48 Comments
—>A recent sweep of New Jersey gas stations by state and local inspectors resulted in over a third of them receiving citations for posting the wrong gas prices on road signs, changing the price of gas too often, and other other violations. The New Jersey Star Ledger made a very helpful map of the violator stations, available inside. More »
IRS Increases Business Mileage Deductible From 50.5 To 58.5 Cents
By Ben Popken on June 23, 2008 11:26 PM
43 Comments
—>To help ease the pain of higher gas costs, starting July 1st the IRS will increase the allowable business deductible for business vehicles from 50.5 to 58.5 cents per mile. The IRS is also going to raise the rate for calculating computing deductible medical or moving expenses from 19 cents to 27 cents a mile, also starting July 1st. The rate for charity services, requiring an act of law to change it, remains at 14 cents per mile. If you've been meaning to claim business mileage deductions, July 1st will be a great time to begin. Here's info on how to get started. More »
What Goes Into The Price Of Gas?
By Ben Popken on June 16, 2008 6:00 PM
88 Comments
—>When you fill up at the pump, how much of the wallet you're emptying goes towards the actual gas, and how much goes towards other stuff? Blogger FiveCentNickel crunched the Department of Energy numbers: More »
Exxon To Exit Retail Gas Station Business
By Meg Marco on June 13, 2008 7:52 PM
42 Comments
Exxon says the US retail gas station market is "too challenging" and they'll be selling the roughly 2,220 service stations the company owns. There are 12,000 Exxon/Mobil branded stations in the United States, but about 75 percent are already owned by others. More »
Help! The Gas Station Froze $100 For $12 Of Gas And My Rent Check Bounced!
By Meg Marco on June 12, 2008 6:28 PM
181 Comments
—>Reader WW is upset because a gas station froze $100 on a debit card transaction for $12 worth of gas. This caused his rent check to bounce. Now he's got overdraft fees and he's wondering why gas stations are doing this. More »
Energy Department Says $4 Gas Here To Stay Through Next Year
By Meg Marco on June 11, 2008 3:59 PM
135 Comments
—>Hope you're getting along OK with $4 gas because the energy department says its here to stay. More »
Gas Thieves Are Drilling Into Vehicle Tanks
By Jay Slatkin on June 11, 2008 1:07 PM
84 Comments
—>Perhaps you thought an old-fashioned siphon was the only way to steal gasoline from a vehicle, but thieves have other ways of accessing your gas tank. Heidi Perkins of Waxahachie, TX. spent $90 filling up her Dodge pickup. Yet, only a few days later her gauge was reading below empty, according to the Star-Telegram. She went to the gas station to refill and noticed the gasoline escaping from a freshly drilled hole in her gas tank. More, inside... More »
Gas Price Impact Map: Rural US Getting Slammed By $4 Gas
By Meg Marco on June 9, 2008 2:13 PM
189 Comments
—>Suburban commuters may not enjoy paying an average of $4 a gallon for gas, but the rural US, where income levels are low and dependence on large vehicles is high, is getting hit the hardest says the New York Times. More »
Please Don't Hoard Gas Because It Will Catch Fire And Burn Down Your Apartment
By Carey Alexander on June 9, 2008 3:00 AM
45 Comments
—>Listen, we know gas costs more than $4 a gallon, and may go even higher, but that doesn't mean you should start stockpiling gas. Two Dartmouth natives learned this the hard way when the 45-gallons of gas they were hoarding in nine plastic jugs ignited, nearly burning down their eight-unit apartment complex. More »
Woman Protests High Gas Prices By Setting Fire To Gas Stations, Starbucks
By Meg Marco on June 6, 2008 5:59 PM
44 Comments
—>Here's a bad idea. Please don't protest high gas prices by setting fire to a Chevron station, an Arco station, and a Starbucks. Meet Diane Craig, 64, of Danville, California. She's accused of using "fireplace logs" to try to start fires inside the restrooms of the two gas stations and a Starbucks. More »
Sixteen Sweet Fuel-Sipping Cars
By Jay Slatkin on June 6, 2008 12:49 PM
126 Comments
—>To help you fight the battle against high gasoline prices, Consumer Reports has put together a list of the 16 best used fuel-sipping cars. The list only contains cars under 10 years old and the criteria is based on fuel economy and reliability. It does not take into account driver comfort or fancy options. Check out CNN's full article for more detailed information on each car. The list, inside... More »
G.M. Will Close 4 Plants, May Sell "Hummer"
By Meg Marco on June 3, 2008 6:18 PM
126 Comments
Gas prices are changing consumer behavior says G.M., forcing the manufacturer to slash production and close 4 plants as they make the shift toward more fuel efficient vehicles. They also announced that they may sell the "Hummer" brand. More »
Some Gas Stations Resort To Half-Gallon Pricing
By Ben Popken on May 29, 2008 3:49 PM
38 Comments
To deal with pumps that don't have enough numbers on them to go above $3.99 per gallon, some gas station owners are selling gas by the half-gallon. Another problem is that pumps with dials on them are wearing out faster as the dials have to spin faster to keep up as the dollars per second coming out of the pump is greater. There is a seventeen-week backlog for replacement pumps that let the price show above $3.99. More »
POLL: Did $4 Gas Make You Drive Less On Memorial Day Weekend?
By Meg Marco on May 27, 2008 2:27 PM
109 Comments
—>AAA is claiming that Americans drove 4.3% fewer miles on public roads in March — the first year-over-year decline since 1979, and that for the first time since 2002, Americans said they planned to drive less this Memorial Day weekend. So, with the national average at $3.936 per gallon, did you actually drive less? More »
Well, Gas Is Still Cheaper Than The Champagne Of Beers...
By Meg Marco on May 22, 2008 7:59 PM
56 Comments
—>With gas prices topping $4.00 a gallon in Chicago, Chicagoist started wondering how much gallons of other liquids cost. Turns out gas is still cheaper than the Champagne of Beers... More »
Poll: Can You Drive 55? Should We Bring The National Speed Limit Back?
By Meg Marco on May 22, 2008 2:53 PM
255 Comments
—>Remember the 55 mph speed limit? Remember... ignoring it? Wired's Autopia blog is wondering if we should consider bringing it back. Back in 1974 Congress passed the National Maximum Speed Law, and threatened to cut funding to any state that didn't comply with the new 55 mph maximum speed limit. Theoretically, forcing everyone to drive slower increases fuel economy, and the oil embargo had people stressed. But did the lower speed limit work? Did we save gas? More »
What To Expect From Airlines Now That Oil Is $130 A Barrel
By Meg Marco on May 21, 2008 9:12 PM
91 Comments
—>Scott McCartney, who writes the Wall Street Journal's "Middle Seat" column, has some thoughts about what consumers can expect from airlines, now that oil has hit $130 a barrel. He says that "he change in oil prices from a year ago to today translates into $24.6 billion in added fuel costs for passengers and cargo airlines on an annualized basis," which is more than the airline industry has ever earned— its best year saw $5.3 billion in earnings. More »
High Gas Prices Transform Geo Metros From Weak To Chic
By Jay Slatkin on May 21, 2008 1:51 PM
103 Comments
—>The formerly mocked and neglected Geo Metro is finding new popularity amidst high gas prices. According to CNN, the Geo Metro is making a spectacular comeback, especially on eBay. You might be surprised to learn that the Geo Metro and Toyota Prius get nearly the same gas mileage. Now consider that a Metro can be found for about $7000 compared to a new Prius which costs $21,000+, it becomes easy to see the attraction. Details, inside... More »
Guy In Wisconsin Is Refusing To Buy Any More Damn Gasoline... For A Month
By Meg Marco on May 16, 2008 7:36 PM
131 Comments
—>Brian LaFave of Sheboygan, WI has had enough of high gas prices, so he's parking his truck and biking to work... for a month. Brian used to put 300 miles a week on his trusty pickup truck, but no longer. He's biking to work, not accepting free rides unless his friends are already in his neighborhood, and taking the money he saves and donating it to charity. More »
6 Gas Saving Myths... Debunked
By Meg Marco on May 15, 2008 1:48 PM
108 Comments
—>CNNMoney has compiled a list of gas saving myths and asked Consumer Reports and Edmunds.com to debunk them. Here's the list: More »
Discover Card And The Tale Of The $502.55 Tank Of Gas
By Meg Marco on May 14, 2008 6:35 PM
34 Comments
—>If a gas pump ever accidentally charges you $502.55 for 17 gallons of gas, you'd expect to be able to quickly and easily challenge that charge with your credit card. Unfortunately for James Maddux of Collinsville, OK, it wasn't that simple. More »
Help! My Gas Pump Doesn't Even Go To $4.00!
By Meg Marco on May 13, 2008 4:59 PM
159 Comments
—>It sucks to be a "Mom & Pop" gas station owner these days. Gas station owning isn't as profitable as you might think (the oil company gets most of the money) and now it seems that thousands of older pumps just don't have the ability to charge more than $3.99 per gallon — and also can't charge more than $99 for the total sale, preventing truck and SUV owners from filling their tanks up all the way. More »
Chrysler: Want $2.99 Gas For 3 Years? Guaranteed?
By Meg Marco on May 7, 2008 12:57 AM
49 Comments
—>Chrysler is betting that you're worried about volatile gas prices. So worried, in fact, that you'll leap at the opportunity to "lock in" a price of less than $2.99 a gallon for 3 years by buying a new Chrysler, Dodge or Jeep. More »
Record High Prices Drive Police Officer Into Stealing Gas
By Jay Slatkin on May 5, 2008 1:50 PM
43 Comments
—>This is ex-police officer, Craig Bucknor. KSLA reports that the Minden, Lousiana police officer has been arrested and is being charged with felony theft for stealing gasoline from the city. It seems no one is immune from the rising cost of gas. More details, inside... More »
Faulty Check Valve Sometimes Cheats You, Sometimes Gas Stations
By Jay Slatkin on April 28, 2008 12:07 PM
10 Comments
—>Meet the faulty check valve, a little gremlin that lives inside the gas pump. It could be pilfering your pennies. Or it could be pilfering the gas station's. It really doesn't care. According to an AP article, a faulty check valve inside a gas pump is difficult to diagnose and often goes ignored. The pricing errors it produces could either be in favor of the gas station or the consumer. How does this work? More »
The Legend Of The $1.549 Gas
By consumerist.com on April 25, 2008 9:58 PM
123 Comments
—>Tony was pumping gas at a Maryland convenience store when he noticed something awesome: the gas, advertised for $3.54, was only $1.54. He then did the right thing and told the store about it. "My friends are ridiculing me for informing the store clerk of the error," writes Tony, "but the way i figure it - I would be complaining if it had been ringing up at $4.54/gallon instead so how would it be any better if i tried to rip them off?" Good point Tony, and good consumering! Though, it sounds like not everyone was honest as Tony. He adds, "By the way, i noticed the place was unusually busy today. I imagine a few people informed their friends who told their friends..." What would you have done? Select your answer from our morality poll inside... More »
Delta & Northwest CEOs Say All Airlines Should Raise Fees 15-20%
By Chris Walters on April 22, 2008 9:24 PM
44 Comments
—>Delta's CEO, Richard Anderson, told reporters today that all airlines need to raise fees by as much as 20% "just to break even due to the rising price of fuel." His new bedmate, Northwest CEO Doug Steenland, piped in to say cost-cutting measures "have largely been exhausted"—and by "cost-cutting" we assume he means, "We can't find anything else to add surcharges to, except maybe the bathroom and the recycled oxygen, and we're not monsters." More »
Email Address For NICOR's CEO
By consumerist.com on March 27, 2008 7:21 PM
0 Comments
—>The email address for Chairman, President & CEO of NICOR Gas Company, Russ Strobel, is rstrobel@nicor.com. More »
Driving Over 60MPH Wastes Gas
By consumerist.com on March 27, 2008 3:43 PM
114 Comments
—>"In a typical family sedan, every 10 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like the price of gasoline going up about 54 cents a gallon," reports CNN Money. The faster you drive, the more air builds up in front of the car and the low pressure drag behind the car increases as well. Of course, you're also getting to your destination faster. So the question is, what's more important, time or money? More »
Man Blames Wife-Beating On High Gas Prices
By consumerist.com on March 3, 2008 1:00 PM
51 Comments
—>Economically tight times can increase the pressure on an already tense personal relationship, as in this absolutely despicable case of domestic abuse: WJXT reports that a 77-year-old man beat up his 74-year-old wife, "because he was upset about the high cost of gas for driving her to and from dialysis treatments." Signs of the times on the road to hell. More »
Top 10 Least Fuel Efficient Luxury Cars
By consumerist.com on February 27, 2008 7:47 PM
41 Comments
—>Luxury, excess, extravagance, low mpg, they all fit together like your hand on a golden stick shift embossed with your family crest. ForbesAutos rounds up the top ten least fuel efficient luxury cars. There are more than 10 as some cars tied for the same lack of fuel efficiency. More »
Traveling Gas Sellers Rip Off Homeowners In Michigan
By Chris Walters on February 27, 2008 2:23 PM
13 Comments
—> Universal Gas & Electric, a Canadian company, sends out door-to-door salesmen who lie to homeowners about the imaginary "savings" they'll enjoy if they switch gas suppliers, when in reality Universal is currently about 50% higher than the default supplier. One former Universal employee says, "I'd have people ask, 'What am I paying now?' and they'd look at the bill and it's right there in front of them and they don't know where to look and I would avoid telling them that." More »
$4 Gas By Spring?
By Meg Marco on February 27, 2008 1:52 PM
150 Comments
Gasoline prices, which for months lagged the big run-up in the price of oil, are suddenly rising quickly, with some experts fearing they could hit $4 a gallon by spring. Diesel is hitting new records daily and oil closed at an all-time high on Tuesday of $100.88 a barrel. More »
Two Georgia Gas Stations Closed For Shorting Customers
By Chris Walters on February 19, 2008 1:28 PM
32 Comments
—> Georgia state inspectors closed two large Cisco gas stations just across the state line from Florida last week in what the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture described as "one of the worst cases of shorting gas customers he's seen since he took office back in 1969." (Why Ag? Why not?) An inspector found that a five gallon test pump turned up over a quart short at the Cisco Travel Plaza off Interstate 95's Exit 6, and a similar test revealed a suspiciously similar shortage at another Cisco Travel Plaza off Exit 1. More »
Gas Company Abandons Plan To Report Delinquent Customers To Credit Agencies
By Chris Walters on February 12, 2008 1:25 AM
30 Comments
Last fall, CenterPoint Energy—Minnesota's largest natural gas supplier—announced it was considering reporting the payment histories of its customers to credit reporting agencies in an effort to reduce delinquencies. More »
Fuel Surcharges Nearly Double Cost Of International Airfare
By consumerist.com on January 30, 2008 7:00 PM
20 Comments
—>Last week, a United Airlines flight from the US to Tokyo cost $400, plus $300 in fuel surcharges. Airlines say they're passing on higher fuel costs, but some see it as an excuse to jimmy a hidden fare hike. The Los Angeles Times writes, "You can argue forever about whether this is justified, but how they are doing it shows their worst nature," [Joesentme.com, a business traveler website] said, noting how, for instance, a surcharge is not eligible for a corporate discount." Companies love to stuff their operating costs into the fees, taxes and surcharges on your final bill. It means they get to advertise artificially low prices, lure deal hunters, then soak them later. More »
Dollar Rent A Car Charges $2.00 "Top Off Fee," Even If You Return With A Full Tank Of Gas
By Carey Alexander on January 13, 2008 10:05 PM
69 Comments
"I couldn't believe it," said Steven Dentali, who was charged the fee in October after renting a car from Dollar Rent A Car in Manchester, N.H. "I said to them, 'You're telling me I'm penalized no matter what? There's no way around me having to pay something?'" More »
Letter To Wisconsin Department Of Weights And Measures Results In Victory
By Meg Marco on January 8, 2008 8:34 PM
27 Comments
—> Reader Gabe writes in to tell us that he reported a gas station to the Wisconsin Department of Weights and Measures because he noticed that the pump started charging him before he ever pulled the trigger. More »
Royal Farms Gas Pump Charges You Even After The Gas Stops Flowing
By Carey Alexander on January 5, 2008 2:45 PM
87 Comments
—>Royal Farms refuses to fix a broken gas pump that charges customers even after the gas stops flowing. The pump in Abingdon, Maryland has overcharged Tom on five separate occasions, and Royal Farms refuses to issue a promised refund. More »
Top 12 Most Gas Saving Cars
By consumerist.com on January 3, 2008 8:49 PM
81 Comments
—>Consumer Reports tested some new compacts and a sporty car and found twelve cars with the most fuel efficiency. Some of them even bring in numbers close to what the best hybrids can offer. More »
SUV Sales Remain Strong In U.S. Despite Gas Prices
By Chris Walters on January 3, 2008 8:21 PM
109 Comments
—> We guess the sort of person who wants a luxury SUV isn't too concerned about the idea of gas approaching $3.50 a gallon in the coming months, because sales have only dropped 0.9% over the past year, reports BusinessWeek. "'For a high-dollar car, people with that level of discretionary income can absorb gas fluctuations,' says Brinley of AutoData." But it's not just the filthy rich who have SUV-fever: sales of small SUVs have increased by 22.7%. More »
Congress approved a bill mandating car makers improve fuel economy from 25 MPG to 35 MPG by 2020. Hopefully there will still be a planet left to drive on by that time. [Chicago Tribune] More »
Bush Fuel Economy Plan Rejected By The Courts
By Meg Marco on November 17, 2007 1:34 AM
72 Comments
The court ordered the White House to examine why it continues to consider light trucks differently than cars. Regulators made a distinction between cars and light trucks decades ago when most trucks were used for commercial purposes. More »
Gas Prices Could Rise By 20 Cents In The Coming Weeks
By Meg Marco on November 13, 2007 3:58 PM
41 Comments
—>USAToday is reporting that gas prices could jump by $0.20 in the coming weeks as retail prices catch up to the recent surge in oil costs. More »
How $100/Barrel Oil Will Affect You
By Chris Walters on November 13, 2007 1:32 AM
79 Comments
—> Oil is poised to break the century mark, and SmartMoney has a short article that examines the effects it will have on the average American's budget. A couple of reasons why we haven't felt more of these effects so far is that the rising cost has largely been eaten by oil refining companies and their gas stations, and because consumers have actually begun to reduce their gas consumption. However, if the price-per-barrel continues to rise, the U.S. faces a cold winter, and the dollar continues its anemic performance, you can look forward to the following consequences: More »
Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars
By consumerist.com on October 17, 2007 5:53 PM
78 Comments
—>Here's the top 10 most fuel efficient cars, according to the 2008 Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy's fuel economy guidebook, published this Saturday. Prius tops the charts. More »
Spurred By Consumer Email Campaign, Nebraska AG Smacks Down Bait-And-Switch Gas Stations
By consumerist.com on October 2, 2007 8:52 PM
6 Comments
—>The Nebraska Attorney General has told the Conoco that posted low prices on its signs but then charged 25-50 cents higher per gallon on most of the pumps to stop its deceptive advertising practices. More »
Are Manual Transmissions Still More Fuel Efficient Than Automatics?
By Meg Marco on September 29, 2007 11:38 PM
53 Comments
For drivers in everyday situations, a manual transmission is not likely to provide any difference in fuel economy over an automatic transmission. The reason is that to achieve the optimum fuel efficiency a driver has to execute shifts at precise engine rpms (revolutions per minute). Given the challenges of city driving conditions, most drivers won't be able to realize greater fuel economy with a manual gearbox. More »
10 Ways To Boost Your MPG
By consumerist.com on September 12, 2007 1:51 PM
82 Comments
—>ForbesAutos interviewed Wayne Gerdes, a "hypermiler" who can squeeze 84 miles per gallon out of a regular Ford Ranger pickup truck, or 180.1 mpg from a hybrid electric Honda Insight. Here are 10 of his techniques for achieving startling fuel economy: More »
FTC Says Gas Was Expensive Last Year Because Of Market Forces, Not Price Gouging
By Chris Walters on September 5, 2007 3:34 PM
37 Comments
—> You can stop worrying about whether or not you got screwed by the gas industry. The Federal Trade Commission announced late last week that they've found no evidence of price gouging during 2006, when the average price of gas rose above $3 per gallon. Or as one oil industry spokesman puts it (tactlessly, for a spokesman), "It's difficult for the average American to understand market forces, but that is what's ultimately in play with this industry." More »
Consumers promote boycott of Conoco and BP stations along I-80 that post low prices on their signs but then charge 25-50 cents higher on most of the actual pumps. Under state law, the practice is legal. [Lincoln Journal Star] More »
How Far Will Different Cars Go On One Tank Of Gas?
By Meg Marco on August 13, 2007 6:39 PM
29 Comments
—> Bankrate has an oddly fun interactive tool that easily calculates how far different types of cars will go on a single tank of gas. The tool also lets you imput the price of gas in your area, so you can easily see how much you'll be paying when its time to fill up. More »
Gas Prices Drop By 10 Cents, Chicago Has Nation's Most Expensive Gas
By Meg Marco on August 13, 2007 4:29 PM
53 Comments
—>Gas prices have dropped by about $0.10 this week according to a national survey quoted by CNN Money. More »
Gas Prices May Remain Stable Through The End Of The Year
By Carey Alexander on July 25, 2007 1:16 PM
31 Comments
—>Take out the keys, throw open the garage, gas prices may soon end their wallet-busting ascent. Analysts armed with charts and calculators think gas prices may camp for the rest of the year around the $3 mark. Of course, hurricanes or explosions can wreak havoc on estimates and refineries, but barring interference from terrorists, careless workers, or Mother Nature, the worst may be over. From the L.A. Times: More »
When Warmer Temperatures Throw Off Gas Pumps, Consumers Pay
By Meg Marco on July 9, 2007 10:59 PM
23 Comments
—>"In the summer time fuel gets hot and as the fuel gets hot the volume expands, but the energy does not," says a new report from NPR. The basic idea is that while the volume of fuel expands and contracts, the amount of potential energy within the gas stays the same. A gallon of gas at 80 degrees won't push a car as far as a gallon of gas at 60 degrees. More »
Wary of high gas prices, teens are changing their social patterns; sharing the cost of a tank of a gas is now common, while driving around aimlessly at night has become a thing of the past. More »
Senate Passes Energy Bill With New Fuel Economy Standards
By Meg Marco on June 22, 2007 4:49 PM
21 Comments
—>The Senate has passed an energy bill that establishes new fuel economy standards. More »
Credit Card Companies Limit Gas Station Purchases
By Carey Alexander on June 16, 2007 8:34 PM
64 Comments
—>Thanks to gas prices reaching $4 per gallon and credit card limits on the dollar amount that can be spent at gas stations, some consumers now need more than one credit card just to fill up their tank.
"When I go to the gas station, I now have to use two credit cards just for one tank of gasoline," said Paul Brisgone of Oxford, Pa. "Kind of defeats the convenience of pay-at-the-pump." Brisgone, a field operations manager for a telecommunications company, said that he alternates among three credit cards when filling up the 32-gallon tank in his Ford F-150 pickup.If you see a Hummer owner futzing with several credit cards at the pump, it's because they are hitting the $75 limit set by MasterCard, or the lower $50 limit used by Visa and Discover. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER More »
Gas Station Owners Hate High Gas Prices
By Meg Marco on June 15, 2007 6:34 PM
33 Comments
Lately, he says, he and his employees have been receiving a lot of complaints from customers. Although he tries to explain his situation, people don't want to hear it. More »
$4 Gas? So What? Sales of SUVs Up 25%
By Meg Marco on June 15, 2007 3:12 PM
73 Comments
—>According to Bankrate sales of SUVs are up 25% from this time last year. Wait, weren't we all buying Priuses because we can't afford $4 gas? Nope. More »
Ethanol Demand To Drive Milk to $4 A Gallon, With Other Prices To Follow?
By consumerist.com on June 11, 2007 8:08 PM
48 Comments
How can this be? Ethanol is made from corn and, of course, the demand for ethanol has increased the demand for corn. The demand for corn has out-stripped farmers' ability to supply more corn and thus has resulted in increased prices for corn... More »
AAA: The Number One Waste Of Gas Is...
By Carey Alexander on June 3, 2007 2:39 PM
33 Comments
—>Running the air conditioner on full blast, keeping the trunk full, and idling excessively are all great ways to waste gas; but, the number one waste of gas may surprise you:
The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the average driver can improve mileage by 3.3 percent simply by inflating their vehicle's tires regularly. In fact, according to the AAA, under-inflated tires are the No. 1 way we waste gas. One out of every four cars and one out of every three pickups, vans, and SUVs have at least one extremely low tire.Next time you pull into a gas station, whip out the old tire gauge and see if your tires need some air. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER More »
Why Is Gas So Freakin' Expensive?
May 29, 2007 6:46 PM
80 Comments
—>Did you know that gas price gouging almost never occurs as prices rise? Rather, it's most often when dealers keep prices artificially high even as their costs fall. More »
Only Two States Have Average Gas Prices Under $3
By Meg Marco on May 22, 2007 12:41 AM
63 Comments
—>Congratulations New Jersey and New Hampshire! Your average price per gallon for that life blood we call gasoline is still under $3. New Jersey has the cheapest gas at an average price of just $2.93! How do they do it? More importantly, how did we managed to write this post without cracking a New Jersey joke? Because we're above that, people. Yes, we are. —MEGHANN MARCO More »
Get 30 More Miles Per Tank: Turn Off Engine If Idling More Than 10 Seconds
By consumerist.com on March 29, 2007 4:21 PM
68 Comments
—>If you're going to be idling for more than 10 seconds, you can get 30 more miles per tank, according to the Canadian Office of Energy Efficiency and the Celias blog. More »
5 Ways To Find Cheap Gas
By consumerist.com on March 9, 2007 8:04 PM
10 Comments
—>Life Clever has five different ways to find cheap gas fast: Desktop widgets, websites, text-messaging services, mobile web browser and GPS. More »
Potentially Insane Ways To Increase Your Fuel Efficiency
By Meg Marco on March 6, 2007 12:52 AM
69 Comments
Wayne doesn't get high mpg marks by tinkering with engines or using funky fuels or even, most days, by driving a hybrid. He gets them by driving consciously - hyperconsciously.... More »
New EPA Fuel Economy Stickers To Use More Realistic Estimates
By consumerist.com on February 5, 2007 11:36 AM
10 Comments
—>Starting with the 2008 line, new cars will feature an improved fuel economy sticker with better estimates of gas usage. The stickers will show an increased range of expected mpg, depending on how one drives. More »
Exxon Mobil Posts Largest Annual Profit In US History
By Meg Marco on February 1, 2007 8:39 PM
29 Comments
Exxon Mobil's record annual earnings followed a year of extraordinarily high energy prices as crude oil topped $78 a barrel in the summer - driving up average gasoline prices in the United States to more than $3 a gallon. Prices retreated later in the year. Way to go, Exxon. —MEGHANN MARCO More »
Gas Price Election Conspiracy Press Coverage is Adorable
By Meg Marco on November 7, 2006 7:41 PM
11 Comments
We think it's cute the way that reporters try to compensate for the partisan nature of reporting on "election conspiracies" and go out of their way to find the most plain-spoken down-homey stereotypically right-leaning type dude they can. More »
HOWTO: Dispute a Utility Bill
By Meg Marco on October 26, 2006 3:34 PM
2 Comments
—>While it doesn't compare to Michelle's $27,933.55 bill, last year we received what can only be called a totally bullshit $170 electric bill for a month when everyone was out of town. The problem was—we had no idea how to dispute it. Call in our Uncle Mickey? Scream colorful metaphors into the telephone? More »
The $27,933.55 Gas Bill
By consumerist.com on October 25, 2006 9:52 PM
16 Comments
—>Michelle Stevens was shocked to open her mail and see People's Gas bill for $27,933.55 More »
WhiteFence.com's Tainted Ties
By consumerist.com on October 23, 2006 10:21 PM
13 Comments
A few weeks ago, we posted about WhiteFence.com, a site that lets you compare and contrast service providers, which could be especially good for when you're moving. More »
Questions To Ask Energy Resellers
By consumerist.com on October 10, 2006 11:44 PM
0 Comments
—>Many states offer a choice of energy suppliers. Some of these energy resellers actually can offer savings, but before you sign, be sure to ask a few questions, especially if they come to your door. More »
WhiteFence: Slash All Your Bills, Compare and Contrast
By consumerist.com on October 6, 2006 8:32 AM
9 Comments
UPDATE: WhiteFence is not an unbiased recommendation site. They form "partnerships" with certain providers, limiting consumer choice. Read more in this update. More »
A Cold Shower A Day Keeps The Gas Company Away
By consumerist.com on October 6, 2006 8:21 AM
17 Comments
Erstwhile Consumerist guest blogger and Upgrade Travel editor Mark Ashley has been taking a lot of cold showers lately. Heck, his nipples protrude like fleshy awls. Yet unlike most men who take to basking themselves in an icy deluge, Mark is not trying to extend his life or cut down on his sex drive: the situation's been thrust upon him by Chicago People's Energy (as Communist a name for a gas company as I've ever heard). More »
WalMart. Always Low Compassion, Always.
By Meg Marco on September 18, 2006 1:58 PM
23 Comments
Running low on gas and stuck with nothing but a gift card WalMart won't let you use? Far from home? Screwed? In your desperation, don't try to sell the card at a loss to another customer. Wal-Mart will call the cops on your soliciting ass. Then they'll throw you out of their parking lot and call you a "vagrant." More »
Giant Puddle of Oil Found Under Gulf of Mexico
By consumerist.com on September 6, 2006 11:56 AM
7 Comments
—>In one of the largest oil finds in several decades, Chevron successfully ran a test-well in the Gulf of Mexico into a reserve with the potential for 3-15 billion barrels. The drilling opened up new possibilities for ultra-deepwater offshore drilling, but don't expect it to affect pump price anytime soon. The first drop won't hit markets until 2012, experts say. More »
Check The Pump Button
By consumerist.com on August 30, 2006 4:48 AM
6 Comments
—>Gabe reports going to his local Sunoco and pressing the button for 87 Octane. When he checked his receipt, he found he was being charged $3.16/gallon instead of the expected $2.96/gallon More »
BP Oil Leak Maybe Not So Bad
By consumerist.com on August 9, 2006 3:05 PM
5 Comments
—>A 200 gallon British Petroleum oil spill discovered in Alaska's Prudhoe Bay caused price per gallon to rise past $76 Monday and threaten the shutdown of the nation's largest oil field. However, BP officials intimated they're looking into ways to conduct repairs and checks without disabling the entire operation. More »
BP Closes Major Alaskan Oil Field
By consumerist.com on August 7, 2006 1:03 PM
7 Comments
—>Due to a leak, British Petroleum announced an indefinite shutdown of the Prudhoe Bay field, which produces 8% of the US oil supply. Crude oil prices rocketed past $76. More »
The News; Bury My Lump of Coal Under the Old Apple Tree
By consumerist.com on July 5, 2006 3:43 PM
2 Comments
• BP oil contains black soylent green. [CT] "Jackson Leads Anti-BP March Near Refinery" More »
Bloody Oil Makes Blood Boil
By consumerist.com on June 30, 2006 4:59 PM
7 Comments
—>Eagle-eyed reader Billifer von Raptor spotted the following sign in a local Wahoo's Fish Taco in San Diego, CA and was disturbed by its promise, what with something in Afghanistan and Iraq going on. More »
The News; Dance Like Nobody's Buying
By consumerist.com on June 23, 2006 2:38 PM
1 Comment
• The Googleplex paid him off in lifetime supply of candy, hair combings. [LAT] "Lawmaker's Porn Suit Against Google Dropped" More »
San Fran Kills SUV Limos With Hills
By consumerist.com on June 16, 2006 10:15 PM
4 Comments
This is what happens when you take a stretch SUV limo through the hills and dales of San Francisco. More »
Arson To The Rescue When SUV Owners Can't Afford Gas
By consumerist.com on June 14, 2006 2:32 PM
4 Comments
—>Is the Charybdis of your SUV's gas tank getting you down? Why not purge it in cleansing fire? For $300 dollars, a weasel in a black trench coat will be more than happy to steal your SUV for you and light it on fire so you can reclaim the insurance money. And you'll even be in Rome: a spate of such arson crimes are sweeping California. More »
The News Loves Gentrification
By consumerist.com on June 12, 2006 3:16 PM
1 Comment
• You can't fight yuppies. [CT] More »
The News
By consumerist.com on June 8, 2006 3:42 PM
1 Comment
• Airlines fill up on freight to try to make a buck. Cargo crates complain of cramped quarters, having to buy own forklifts. [CT] More »
Pith & Vinegar: Awkward Simile Edition
By consumerist.com on June 1, 2006 10:47 PM
7 Comments
• Vonage offered shares to customers before the IPO. Now that the stock tanked, customers are balking at paying up, and Vonage may pursue payment, which is sorta like breaking the knuckles on your amputated arm. [NYT] More »
Shotgun Blast Settles $36.50 Gas Bill
By consumerist.com on May 29, 2006 4:18 PM
3 Comments
—>Now that prices of gas are skyrocketing, it's perhaps understandable that you'd underestimate the cost of a full tank. But watch out! Being short on bread for a tank of gas could cause you to look down the cobalt blue double barrels of a sawed-off shotgun. More »
Amazingly, Munsters' Magic Gas Pill is a Scam
By consumerist.com on May 22, 2006 11:05 AM
4 Comments
—>A Texas company that was capitalizing on high gas prices and consumer ignorance to market magic "gas pills" has been smacked down by the State for being, you know, a total scam. More »
Hawaiian Gas Cap Bleeds Customers Even Drier
By consumerist.com on May 15, 2006 9:30 AM
6 Comments
—>Now that we are all paying for gas not with money (who can afford it?) but priceless, non-inflationary currencies like our daughter's virginities and healthy human livers, you might start thinking that the government should get involved. "They should regulate, control and cap gasoline prices for our nation's motorists!" you might cry. More »
A Million Little Phone Records
By consumerist.com on May 12, 2006 4:19 PM
1 Comment
Finally! Something else to be mad about besides gas. More »
Find Cheap Gas
By consumerist.com on May 8, 2006 3:06 PM
14 Comments
—>Two tools for finding cheap gas teats nearby are Cheap Gas and MSN Autos. The first integrates Gas Buddy with Google Maps. Bill Gates' offering displays pricing info from over 90,000 gas stations nationwide using data from the OPIS Price Index. More »
Consumers Are Manic Depressive
By consumerist.com on May 5, 2006 3:48 PM
4 Comments
Unable to decide whether the economy is good or bad, the Chicago Tribune settles for a resounding, "Yes." More »
The Intentional Comedy, Uncanny Editorial, of NYT Photography
By consumerist.com on May 5, 2006 1:41 PM
1 Comment
As part of the growing awareness of The Consumerist that there are these things called cars and people put pricey gas in them, we were pleased as a plum in a pie to spy this choice pic in the New York Times this morning. More »
A Tale of Two Gas Stations
By consumerist.com on May 4, 2006 2:32 PM
2 Comments
—>It's like that scene in Steinbeck's The Pearl where the pearl buyers are all lined up in a row, giving the illusion of competitiveness but they're really in cahoots with one another. Except the pearl is your car and the peasant wins, temporarily. More »
Flying Cheaper Than Driving
By consumerist.com on May 4, 2006 3:54 AM
2 Comments
—>Oh to be a reporter, sporting a fedora at a jaunty slant (with that hat brim with which to stick our official reporter card in), glad-handing our sources, uncovering secrets at every turn... and getting paid to fly to Islip on an airplane and then drive back. More »
Sympathy For The Devil; Oil's Makeover
By consumerist.com on May 3, 2006 3:43 PM
12 Comments
—>As of late, the oil industry finds itself suffering an image malfunction. Petrol makers have hired Blue Worldwide, the advertising wing of PR giant Edelman. Another one of Edelman's clients is Wal-Mart. But is that enough? McCain attacked major oil companies last week over reckless profiteering: "Outside of satanic cults, these people have the worst P.R. of anybody in the world." More »
Gas Companies Profit During Consumer Plight
By consumerist.com on April 28, 2006 4:50 PM
6 Comments
—>As quarterly earnings rolled in yesterday, Exxon announced it earned $8 billion in profits. The oil company earned 9.5 cents per dollar of gas, "cashing in on skyrocketing prices at every stage of the process," reports MSNBC. More »
Gas by Dash Snow
By consumerist.com on April 28, 2006 1:42 PM
4 Comments
Your pain at the pump is palatable, but what ring of the underworld inferno should we consider this? More »
What's The Best Alternative Fuel For Your Buck?
By consumerist.com on April 27, 2006 2:29 PM
7 Comments
Will you be fueling your car on used french fry oils in a few years? Will you plunk a bushel of corn into your auto's Mr. Fusion? Or will you simply urinate into the tank — the trucker's dream technology? More »
Drivers Run Out of Gas to Save Monies
By consumerist.com on April 26, 2006 5:29 PM
7 Comments
—>From CNN.com: More »
UPDATE: A Long Con Doesn't Go Very Far
By consumerist.com on April 24, 2006 5:32 PM
0 Comments
—>Last week we reported on US Energy doing a little hit and run salesmanship of their natural gas delivery service. More »
A New Driving Partner
By consumerist.com on April 24, 2006 2:40 PM
5 Comments
—>Gas, gas, everywhere and not a drop to drink. More »
Democrats to Exploit Oil Anger in Upcoming Elections
By consumerist.com on April 21, 2006 1:33 PM
5 Comments
—>
- "Democrats running for Congress are moving quickly to use the most recent surge in oil and gasoline prices to bash Republicans over energy policy, and more broadly, the direction of the country. More »
Oil Companies Exploiting Gas Crisis?
By consumerist.com on April 20, 2006 2:45 PM
4 Comments
—>According to a study released Tuesday by the Foundation for Taxpayer & Consumer Rights, oil companies are using rising crude oil prices to smokescreen record profiteering. More »
Debit Cards at Gas Pump Splooge Your Bank Account
By consumerist.com on April 18, 2006 2:08 PM
9 Comments
—>Watch out when using the debit card at the gas pump. Some banks will "block out" $50-$75 on your card until the transaction clears. More »
Consumer-Made Ad Mocks Chevy
By consumerist.com on March 31, 2006 4:17 PM
6 Comments
—>With all the bloat and spasmodic jibbering about consumer-generated ads, it's nice to see one backfire. Chevy teamed up with The Apprentice to hold an online contest where you remix video and sound clips to make your own Chevy Tahoe ad. Winners receive their choice various expense paid trips. More »
Triple Indemnity: Keyspan Overestimates Gas Bills
By consumerist.com on March 1, 2006 7:22 PM
15 Comments
—>Got bi-monthly bill from Keyspan. Gas supplier. Opened. Read. More »
Around the Globe: Rough Week for Christmas Shopping
By consumerist.com on December 27, 2005 5:05 PM
0 Comments
Gunfire erupted on a busy Toronto street filled with holiday shoppers Monday evening, killing a young woman and wounding six other people, police said.Gunfire erupts in Canada shopping area [CNN] A gas attack in a home-supply store on one of the busiest shopping days of the year sickened scores of... More »
