The Only 3 Things You Need to Know About Money and Happiness
Jan 28, 2015
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
The final word on whether money truly makes people happier still eludes us. But here’s what we know so far. Maybe you’ve watched Citizen Kane recently—or just heard the truism that “money doesn’t buy happiness.” Either way, you may not be surprised by a new study showing that more income doesn’t seem to make people […]
Will 2015 Be Any Better? Ten Numbers to Watch
Jan 14, 2015
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
Enough with the debate over whether 2014 was a bad year (Islamic State, Ebola, Crimea) or a good year (homicide rates are falling). Time to take a look at the shiny new coin in the palms of our hands: 2015. How will it measure up? Here are 10 numbers to watch: U.S. unemployment rate in […]
How Holiday Shopping Can Help You With Home Shopping
Dec 15, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
When holiday shopping heats up, home shopping cools down. December is consistently one of the slowest home sales months of the year, according to real estate website Zillow.com. It’s almost as if consumers don’t have enough mental bandwidth to focus on both at the same time. But if you hope to buy a house in […]
4 Black Friday scams to avoid
Nov 24, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
You may have heard about the typical tricks retailers use on Black Friday — marking up prices just to mark them down, for example — but you may not know about other possible rip-offs that threaten to spoil your savings. Here are some scams that have the potential to turn the best day of the […]
Spotify responds to Taylor Swift: We pay more than $2 billion in royalties
Nov 12, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
Taylor Swift has criticized streaming services like Spotify for not sharing enough of its revenues with musicians. On Tuesday, Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek responded, saying that that streaming service is paying more than $2 billion in royalties. Ek defended the streaming service, calling it the fastest-growing source of new revenues for the music industry. “We started […]
The 5 Biggest Money Mistakes People Make
Oct 15, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
Are you in debt? Are you living paycheck to paycheck? Do you and your family have a plan for what you’d do if one of you lost a job? Do financial pressures take a toll on your marriage? Does every day feel like you’re on a runaway train? Dr. Phil shares what he believes are […]
It takes how long to open a child’s savings account?
Oct 01, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
‘Regulatory overkill’ means opening a child’s account is slow and laborious with parents forced to produce masses of documentation – and even watch videos How long should it take to open a simple savings account? When Michelle O’Brien popped into her local Lloyds to open an Junior Isa for her son, Aiden, who is three, […]
Phones 4U break-up looms as administrator dismisses debt-for-equity bid
Sep 18, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
The administrator of Phones 4U has rejected a bid to revive the collapsed and debt-laden retailer with a debt-for-equity swap as unrealistic. It means the chain of 550 stores is almost certain to be broken up and sold off, with EE and Vodafone in position to pick off the best locations and the likelihood of […]
Consider Inventing as a Form of Investment
Aug 21, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
Like any traditional business venture, inventing involves spending money to make money. Therefore, when contemplating the commercialization (and monetization) of an idea for an invention, think about all opportunities you have to spend your money and then consider whether it makes sense to invest. To make a good decision, have a clear understanding of this fascinating and exciting enterprise. Often, […]
Mortgage Rates Slip to Near Lows for the Year
Aug 14, 2014
Jeremy Parkinson
Finance
WASHINGTON — Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates declined this week, approaching their lows for the year. Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday the nationwide average for a 30-year loan slipped to 4.12 percent from 4.14 percent last week. The average for a 15-year mortgage, a popular choice for people who are refinancing, fell to 3.24 […]