Z94 - The Rock Station » dollars and sense

Would You Do Your Christmas Shopping in January to Save Money? — Survey of the Day

Chris Chaberski — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 21:01:53 +0000

We all know some of the best sales of the year come right after Christmas. So here's an interesting thought: Why not do your holiday shopping in early January and get more bang for your gift-giving buck?

What Will Thanksgiving Dinner Cost This Year? — Dollars and Sense

Mike Adams — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 16:07:50 +0000

The price of Thanksgiving is going up this year, but not as much as you might think. According to the latest statistics from the American Farm Bureau Federation, the majority of households can expect to spend about 30 cents more this year to cover the cost of serving up Thanksgiving dinner—just under $50 to feed [...]

Good News for the Economy: Consumers Ready to Spend This Holiday Season — Dollars and Sense

Mike Adams — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 16:26:15 +0000

Holiday spending is expected to increase this year, as a new report indicates that more Americans are finally seeing a little reprieve from the last four years of economic anxiety. The latest Consumer Reports index reveals that the number of people experiencing financial hardships entering this holiday season is down nearly 12 points, the lowest [...]

Who's Struggling the Most With the Recovering Economy? – Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:08:49 +0000

Just about everyone was hit hard by the bad economy and had to change their lifestyles in at least some small way. Now that we’re all attempting to regain our footing, there’s actually one group of people having a harder time doing so than everyone else. A new study from the Pew Research Center, based [...]

Poor People Pay More for Auto Insurance — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:13:20 +0000

As if it wasn’t tough enough for low-income people to make ends meet, a new study indicates they may be paying more for car insurance than wealthier folks, too. The research, conducted by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), says insurers analyze many factors to determine risk and resultant premiums. And while it’s supposedly illegal [...]

Wanna Make Money? Write Positive Reviews for Products You Buy Online — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:33:01 +0000

When people are shopping online, many rely on reviews written by previous buyers to help steer them in the right direction. But it seems some of those reviews may not be as honest as we think.

In fact, some product manufacturers are actually paying shoppers to write them — albeit in a roundabout way.

Want to Spend Less Money? Try This Secret — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:09:56 +0000

You might have a pocketful of cash — but the size of those bills matters when it comes to how much of it you’re likely to spend. A new paper set to be published in the Journal of Consumer Research by marketing professors Priya Raghubir and Joydeep Srivastava indicates people tend to spend less when [...]

JC Penney Gets Rid of Sales in Favor of Permanent Discounts — Dollars and Sense [VIDEO]

Shauna Wright — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 19:39:31 +0000

For a die-hard shopper, there’s little more frustrating than buying something at full-price, only to see it go on sale shortly thereafter.

To ward that off, retailing giant JC Penney has announced that starting Feb. 1, it’s discounting all merchandise by at least 40 percent — permanently.

When Is The Cheapest Time to Book a Flight? — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:31:51 +0000

If you’re starting to plan your summer vacation, you may think buying your plane tickets months ahead of time is a cost-saving move. But according to a new study, that may not necessarily be true.

Do Americans Use Cash or Credit More? — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:55:20 +0000

Credit card debt may have jumped during the holiday shopping season, but a new report indicates good old cash is still our first choice when we pay for smaller, everyday items.

Mild Winter Means Amazing Prices on Cold Weather Gear — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:39:58 +0000

NASA scientists recently announced the earth’s surface temperature is slowly rising — and now it seems that phenomena is affecting the prices you’ll pay for winter clothes and gear.

Americans Are Optimistic About Economic Recovery — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:47:24 +0000

According to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index, we’re all feeling a bit more optimistic about the economy these days. In fact, the group’s December survey shows consumer sentiment is up for the fifth month in a row. “More frequent mentions of rising employment lessened income uncertainty and prompted more favorable buying attitudes as well,” [...]

Credit Card Debt Soars After Black Friday — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:35:44 +0000

Retailers reported robust numbers on Black Friday last year, which surprised some analysts because the economy is still struggling and unemployment is high. But new data from the Federal Reserve shows where much of that money came from: credit cards.

Pennies, Nickels and Dimes, Oh My! Coins on the Rise in the US — Dollars and Sense

Shauna Wright — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 18:41:18 +0000

Officials at the US Mint have spotted a sign they say is indicative of an improving economy — coin shipments are increasing. US Mint Deputy Director Richard Peterson said that when the economy crashed, “People went into their piggy banks and their coin jars and spent those coins. [They] flowed back into the banks and [...]