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How People Are Spending and Where They're Cutting Back
We don't need surveys to tell us that Americans have cut back significantly on spending, but there are plenty of sources if anyone's looking for proof. A new survey by IBM found that more people have been shopping at a variety of stores to find the best deals, and shoppers are focusing on quality and value almost as much as price. Guy Blissett, consumer products leader for IBM Institute For Business Value, commented, "I think it's a much more sophisticated approach to shopping."
I'm Asking: Do You Make Return Trips to Certain Spots?
If you have a laundry list of places to visit, making a return trip to somewhere you've already seen might seem like a waste of precious vacation time.
Ed Hewitt of Independent Traveler makes an argument for the appealing elements of going back to favorite destinations, focusing on familiarity as a virtue. He points out commonly made mistakes the first time around, like losing out on a lot of money because you didn't know about the bus/ferry combination pass, or spending too much on food because you didn't know where to find good deals.
Watch: Marisa Tomei Is Wild About Emergency Funds
The stars came together to prove many points in ABC's UN-BROKE: What You Need to Know About Money, and host Mellody Hobson's intermittent interviews with random Americans on the street were evidence that most people need to learn those money lessons. This statistic really stood out: the average American family has $10,000 in credit card debt spread across five high interest cards. If only minimum payments are made, it would take 58 years to pay off the $10,000.
Celebrity Apprentice: Were the Right Candidates Fired?
With only four men left in the running to become The Celebrity Apprentice, Donald Trump opened last night's episode by mixing up the teams and creating new co-ed versions of Kotu and Athena. The teams are challenged to create viral online videos for All laundry detergent, and Perez Hilton makes a remote appearance to judge the projects on originality, buzzworthiness, and branding.
While the Athena team has high hopes for their video that was loved by Perez, the All executives found both videos offensive and ineffective to their target demographic.
Money Tip: A Cheaper Way to Clean Your Home
Many of you are turning over a new money-saving leaf in 2009, so why not begin your money makeover with the things under your sink? You might already have some of the products that can be used as various cleaners, and what you don't have can be purchased for little money. Mixing your own household cleaners is cheaper than buying name-brand products, and in its February issue Consumer Reports has made an easy to follow list for which products can be used for different areas of your home.
Restaurant Owner Eliminates Tipping to Ease Tension
Tipping was brought to the US from Europe after the Civil War and was met with opposition — six states even passed anti-tipping laws that prevented diners from having to tip. The laws were later repealed, but the angst toward the tradition of tipping lives on in the minds of many American customers. San Diego, CA, restaurant owner Jay Porter observed that tipping was not only a point of contention for his customers, but was also causing tension between his staff members and adding to the stressful environment.
Women Spend $1,500 on Dry Cleaning Each Year
The economic turmoil has produced some unexpected bedfellows, and the newest of these partnerships is between freshly scented laundry detergent and a well-known retail brand. Procter & Gamble has partnered with Ann Taylor Loft to launch its Tide Total Care and Downy Total Care detergents. Upon purchase of machine washable clothes, the stores will dispense samples and coupons for the detergents, which claim to help clothes looking new for up to 30 washes.
Putting a Salary on The Toughest Job in The World
Your mom would get upset with you when you were a kid when you didn't say thank you, and you probably scoffed a bit at her sensitivity. My dad was always reminding us kids to thank our mom, but the meaning of it all didn't come together until I was older. Not that we weren't polite or ungrateful children, but the act of saying thanks to your mom doesn't always come naturally when you're a kid.
How Much the Average Couple Spends on Their Big Day
The average price tag on weddings in the US is around $30,000 — yikes! Because the cost of living varies greatly from place to place, the cost of the average wedding in San Francisco varies from the average cost of a wedding in Charlotte, and everywhere in between. The one thing you can count on is that most venues and vendors make sticking to a budget very difficult — wedding bells are followed by dollar signs, but if you know what to expect it can make setting up a budget less of a frustrating process.
Is Talking About Sex Easier Than Talking About Money?
There are so many marriages that end over finances, which is kind of ironic if you really think about it. Divorce usually leads to even more financial disarray — does that mean love and money aren't meant to co-exist? I'm not exactly sure why money becomes such a strain for some couples, but I have a feeling it's because many don't talk about money matters before they're married and then keep things bottled up after they've said I do.
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