Even when buyers are cutting back on costs, the odd splurge a haircut at a favorite salon still manages to squeak by.
“Consumers are in the procedure of moving to a different lifestyle,” says Kit Yarrow, a Golden Gate University business professor specializing in buyer psychology. “That does not [...]

Nothing quite takes the stress out of crackling the numbers on a Form 1040 like a soothing massage, a martini or many chocolate raspberry ice cream.
From national retail chains to local mom and pops, many businesses are offering freebies and special sales to taxpayers this week. National boutique hotel chain Kimpton Hotels, as an example, [...]

There are two things new parents can count on: a lack of sleep and a mailbox full of solicitations. While many adverts could come in useful —, After all, who could sneer at a coupon for Huggies? —, others should be approached with caution.
Consider life insurance for a newborn. Here is the pitch: purchase a [...]

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The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression has investors everywhere wondering if to purchase, hold or bail. Though there is no telling if the current world recession will turn into a sepia toned, soup lined sequel to that historic calamity, it did get us thinking: If the whole [...]

How’s the economy treating you? Chances are, your answer is colored mainly by three things: if you are working if you want to, how much you are making and how quickly your costs are increasing. Economists rely heavily on the same factors to judge the nation’s health. At last count, 9.4 [...]

Even with glimmers of hope for the recuperation, buyers are cutting back &mdash, particularly when it comes to dining out. But turning to many of fast food’s biggest bargains to stretch your dollar in the recession can be one belt tightening measure that could end up forcing you to [...]

Where can you get the best terms on a new loan? Frequently, it is the family bank, meaning Mom and Dad, your successful big brother or your great aunt Doris. You may be able to typically get away with a low interest rate, or possibly no interest at all. Trouble is, loans among family [...]

1. “Like it or not, you may need help with your taxes.”
When Cindy Hockenberry and her husband sent in a tax penalty payment in 2007, they knew there was a chance their math may not jibe with the IRS’s. When that turned out to be true and the total was much higher than projected, they [...]

Chances are it is the price of gas, not auto insurance, that is driving you to the poor house.
But if you want to cut your auto insurance premiums to the bone, avoid small, fast cars.
“It’s a common denominator among vehicles that have the highest losses many [...]

1. “We’ll do it our way.”
You’ve been planning your wedding for months if not years and the tiniest detail is taken into account. Too bad that all too frequently, the people you hire to help carry
out the plans are oblivious to what you want. When Mary Jane Shroyer of [...]