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Latest Posts from Consumerism Commentary

SteveDH, April 2013 Net Worth

Published Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 10:37 by Consumerism Commentary

Naked With Cash is the year-long series on Consumerism Commentary where seven readers’ households share their financial progress on a monthly basis. I’ve partnered with financial planners who will offer some guidance along the way. Read this introduction to learn more about the series. SteveDH is retired, and he and his wife have two grown kids. […]

How Today’s College Graduates Can Beat the Odds

Published Tuesday, May 21, 2013 - 13:44 by Consumerism Commentary

I graduated college in the first heyday of internet-connected businesses in the late 1990s. Jobs of all types were abundant. And although the “dot-com” bubble burst soon afterwards, unemployment rates remained historically low. This year’s graduates are facing more obstacles than those from fifteen years ago. […]

Anne and Matt, April 2013 Net Worth

Published Monday, May 20, 2013 - 10:44 by Consumerism Commentary

In the series Naked With Cash, seven Consumerism Commentary readers share their financial progress on a monthly basis. They are joined by Certified Financial Planners who provide feedback on their journey. Read this introduction to learn more about the series. Anne and Matt are twenty-seven years old, living in the Midwest, with two children. […]

Credit Card Basics: Everything You Should Know

Published Friday, May 17, 2013 - 17:08 by Consumerism Commentary

The credit card is one of the most divisive products among all the financial tools available. Ask around and you’re sure to find people who pay all their expenses using credit cards as well as others who swear the products are the embodiment of pure evil. Opinions among financial experts and thought leaders are just as mixed. […]

Elimination of the Payroll Tax Cut Reduced Consumer Spending

Published Thursday, May 16, 2013 - 12:18 by Consumerism Commentary

In 2010, Congress passed the Tax Hike Prevention Act, which among other things reduced the payroll tax from 6.2% to 4.2% starting in 2011. For two years, workers saw higher take-home income than they would have had the law never existed, and consumers responded favorably by using the extra money throughout the two years to save, invest, pay off debt, and spend. […]

Banks Borrow Money at Low Rates, Why Can’t Students?

Published Tuesday, May 14, 2013 - 10:44 by Consumerism Commentary

Senator Elizabeth Warren, the architect of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, introduced a bill in Congress to give student borrowers a break. […]

The Great Gatsby Backlash

Published Monday, May 13, 2013 - 11:34 by Consumerism Commentary

I’m looking forward to seeing Baz Luhrmann’s new film treatment of The Great Gatsby. The book, of course, is a seminal piece of American literature, and the new movie is yet another in a long line of interpretations. I like the director’s previous works, and I expect I’ll enjoy the new film. I read The Great Gatsby only once, and it was a long time ago. […]

The Honesty of Companies, Middle Class Stagnation

Published Sunday, May 12, 2013 - 19:47 by Consumerism Commentary

Happy Mother’s Day! Take some time to thank your mother for any good personal finance lessons you learned while you were growing up, whether by positive or negative example. A few times a month, Lance from Money Life and More will stop by to share some of the best articles from across a variety of publications, including other blogs and mainstream media. […]

Higher Home Ownership Linked to Higher Unemployment

Published Friday, May 10, 2013 - 11:08 by Consumerism Commentary

American culture has long promoted the idea that home ownership is key to the fulfilling middle-class lifestyle. You can be sure the National Association of Realtors will continue to do its darnedest to keep this interpretation of the American Dream alive; whether you’re buying or selling, it’s always a good time for Realtors to earn their livings. […]

Mint.com Tracks Two Million Users to Create Spending Index

Published Thursday, May 9, 2013 - 11:29 by Consumerism Commentary

When staff writer Sasha introduced Consumerism Commentary readers to Mint.com in 2007, I began to think about the power of massive consumer financial data. […]