It's bad news for retailers, but good for financial health. Cash is making a comeback as the preferred method of payment. Online retailers are particularly troubled by consumers shying away from their credit cards, and according to the founder of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services Howard Dvorkin, "With credit cards, consumers spend 30 percent more (on purchases) than with cash."
Americans have usually gone back to ol' reliable cash when the economy is troubled, like after the Sept. 11 attacks. Dvorkin thinks consumers will return to their credit-spending ways when the economy gets on its feet, saying, "It's hard to to teach an old dog new tricks. Consumers have short memories. When the economy turns around, they'll return to the same old ways."
Do you think consumers will learn their lesson this time around, or will most resume reliance on credit cards when the economy turns around?
Maybe the person you spend all day with at the office has become close to you simply because you're forced to be around the person all day, but according to a recent Careerbuilder survey, there is a 20 percent chance your significant other is jealous. The survey discovered that out of more than 6,000 respondents, 10 percent said they have a work spouse, and of those people who feel they might as well be married to their co-worker, 20 percent said their actual significant other is jealous of that person. Workers were asked to rank platonic couples we see working together on TV, and below is the final ranked list. Do you feel like you have a work spouse?
Regis and Kelly
David Letterman and Paul Shaffer
Jay Leno and Kevin Eubanks
Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer
Howard Stern and Robin Quivers
Judge Judy and Petri Byrd
See the other six platonic couples when you read more
The tradition of participating in Secret Santa gift exchanges has existed in every office I've worked, and it can be a fun way to bring employees together for holiday cheer. There's always a price limit set for the gift (the most I've heard is $25), but I'm wondering if companies should skip the gift-giving games this year.
Most people are cutting down on their gift budgets, and I'm not sure workers would be excited to allocate some of their whittled down holiday money for a co-worker's Secret Santa gift.
10 Jobs That Could Cause You Pain We all know that work can be a pain, but some jobs actually cause physical pain due to the nature of what's required to get the job done. ABC News put together a list of the ten jobs that could cause harm, and while some are expected others might just surprise you.
The most confusing part of getting my first job out of college wasn't getting used to the structured days, it was deciphering the health care plan options that were offered in my benefits package. Years later, the choices make a little more sense but they still aren't 100 percent clear, and one thing is for sure: health care is more expensive. Hewitt Associates estimates that total health care spending will cost eight percent more than it was last year, and not paying attention to whether or not your plan is best for you could mean you are spending more than necessary. CNN Money broke down how to evaluate the situation so you can make changes to your plan for 2009 if needed.
Separate the apples from the oranges. More companies are offering the option of high-deductible plans with an HSA. This type of plan will likely save you money while you're healthy, but could end up costing you more when you are sick. Make sure you can afford the deductible before opting for this plan.
Narrow the oranges. Are your doctors in-network? And would you ever want to go out of network? If you want to keep your current provider, call your doctors to see if they'll accept the plans you're considering. Note that HMO and POS plans usually require a recommendation to see a specialist, so if you're too busy to fit in an extra appointment just to get the referral, a PPO might be a better choice.
What started out as a small government initiative for working women is now an event attended by thousands and draws only the most inspirational voices to speak. The 2008 Women's Conference was held in Long Beach, CA yesterday, hosted by Maria Shriver and Arnold Schwarzenegger. The all-day conference drew a crowd of 14,000 international women from various professional walks of life and 60 speakers aiming to "empower and inspire women to become architects of change." The agenda covered all the bases with discussions about how to live an authentic life, how to step forward with confidence, starting your own business, managing your financial life, and many, many, more. Check out who was on stage — hit start slideshow to begin.