While Black Friday and Cyber Monday saw huge increases in sales compared to 2010, another poll found that Americans planning to spend less this holiday season outnumber those who plan to spend more four to one. The November Financial Security Index poll found that 42 percent of Americans plan to spend … [Read more...]
Cyber Monday Shopping Explodes
November 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Something really clicked with consumers. Cyber Monday sales skyrocketed compared to last year. That's according to analytics findings by IBM. Their research shows a record number of online sales and a strong Black Friday. Online sales were up about a third over 2010. The average consumer order increased … [Read more...]
Home Sales Slowing for Winter
November 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
With all of the gifts to buy and cookies to bake, home sales typically slow during the holidays. According to new data released by RE/MAX in their Monthly Housing Report, October home sales were 9% above October of 2010. The data encompasses 53 metropolitan areas. Experts expect to see further declines … [Read more...]
Consumer Reports Releases Naughty and Nice List to Help Holiday Shoppers
November 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Wondering who's been naughty and who's been nice this year? Well according to Consumer Reports there are plenty of big name retailers making both lists this year. They've unveiled their 2011 Naughty and Nice Holiday List just in time to help shoppers heading out to work on their gift lists. The list … [Read more...]
Americans Keeping Holiday Debt Down
November 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment
After two years of keeping the purse strings tight, Americans may be ready to loosen them a bit. According to ING Direct USA, nearly three-fourths of Americans say they expect to spend more this holiday season than they have during the past two years. Most say they're equally or less concerned with how … [Read more...]
Poll: Men Giving More to Charity this Holiday Than Women
November 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment
For the third year in a row the Red Cross conducted a national holiday giving survey. They polled more than a thousand people about their plans for spending and charitable giving over the holiday season. This year the survey found that 45 percent of people plan to cut back on spending on travel and holiday … [Read more...]
Holiday Can be Good Time for Family Financial Talks
November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
The holidays are typically full of family time. You spend more time with family during this portion of the year than any other. In fact, it may be the only time you see some relatives face to face. That's why some experts say you should take some time to do something more important than eating turkey … [Read more...]
Study: Most Consumers Paying Off Debt Incorrectly
November 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment
How do you pay off your debt? Do you tackle small bills and leave the big ones for later? New research published in the Journal of Marketing Research finds that consumers typically tackle small debts first, but they'd actually save more money if they did it the other way around. By attacking bigger bills … [Read more...]