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Latest Posts from Consumerism Commentary (page 8)

How to Adjust to a Global Employment Marketplace

Published Friday, February 8, 2013 - 14:27 by Consumerism Commentary

Chances are good that there is someone else in the world who can do your job better than you can, who is willing to work a lot harder, who can spend more time on the job, and who will accept a lower salary for the same position. Thus is the inequity in the employment marketplace when living expenses are drastically different around the world. […]

Capital One 360 Savings Account Review

Published Thursday, February 7, 2013 - 14:22 by Consumerism Commentary

Capital One’s decision to acquire ING Direct was a great strategic move, but the deal had a few problems. Because ING Direct’s parent company, as part of a European bail-out agreement, was required to sell ING Direct in the United States and in other global locations, and to cease using the ING Direct name, Capital One was forced to change its branding and marketing. […]

U.S. Postal Service Ending Saturday Delivery

Published Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - 12:54 by Consumerism Commentary

The U.S. Postal Service announced today that Saturday delivery of first-class items will end in August. When I asked a few years ago whether we should eliminate the Postal Service entirely, the question generated a good discussion, with many readers agreeing that the best solution to the perennial problem of the service not generating enough revenue to operate would be to cut back service. […]

Should Public Employees Go Bowling?

Published Tuesday, February 5, 2013 - 13:53 by Consumerism Commentary

Whether you’re watching a twenty-four hour news channel, the local news, or national news “magazine” programs like 20/20 and 60 Minutes, the program directors need to be concerned about ratings. Television ratings are everything to those who work in this industry. If you can’t get an audience to watch a program, there are no eyes for potential advertisers to reach. […]

TurboTax vs. H&R Block: The Battle

Published Friday, February 1, 2013 - 09:00 by Consumerism Commentary

As the I.R.S. is now accepting federal income tax returns, a war is intensifying. The war is between the major tax preparing companies. Intuit’s TurboTax, with its online and desktop software, and H&R Block, with its storefronts and online software, are the major opponents, and the battlefield is media, and the warriors are their advertising campaigns. […]

The Wrong Reason To Become An Entrepreneur

Published Thursday, January 31, 2013 - 10:00 by Consumerism Commentary

I don’t have the statistics pertaining to this, but I have a strong impression that many people dream about starting their own business, and many who do have this particular daydream are inspired to consider what this life would be like because they don’t like their boss. Or maybe they don’t like working for someone else in general. […]

Credit Card Checkout Fees Are Here

Published Tuesday, January 29, 2013 - 10:00 by Consumerism Commentary

I’m currently in California, visiting my mother, who as I mentioned in a previous article is in the hospital. While articles this week will likely be slow on Consumerism Commentary, one thing I won’t have to deal with while visiting family is the relaxed regulation on merchants who accept credit cards. […]

SteveDH December 2012 Net Worth

Published Monday, January 28, 2013 - 10:00 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. […]

LastDollar December 2012 Net Worth

Published Friday, January 25, 2013 - 12:59 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. […]

Take the Time to Meet With an Estate Planner

Published Thursday, January 24, 2013 - 14:28 by Consumerism Commentary

After putting this aspect of my finances off for the duration of my entire adult life, I finally found a recommendation for an attorney who focuses on estate planning, and we had our initial meeting earlier today. […]