Not too long ago, CNN Money reported on an international assessment of teenagers and financial literacy. The test, which was administered to 15-year-old students in 18 countries, ranked the United States in the middle. The top results went to Chinese students, with students in Belgium, Estonia, New Zealand, and Australia also scoring quite well. In […]
When my husband and I were looking for homes seven years ago, the real estate agent told us over and over again that we were making an “investment.” Even at the time, I was skeptical of these claims. I couldn’t see how, when we’d be paying $500 more per month (over rent), plus taxes, maintenance, […]
Gasoline prices are a hot topic. They feed debates around the water cooler, incite noon-hour rushes to fill up before price hikes, and even motivate boycotts. Because our mobile society still relies heavily on gasoline and diesel fuel for our transportation needs, this will continue to be an issue that affects just about everyone. Although […]
Last week, I explored three of the common benefits of raising the minimum wage. While the conventional wisdom suggests these minimum wage hikes will stimulate the economy, improve entitlement programs, and reduce turnover rates for businesses, the research has shown that those benefits aren’t nearly as clear-cut as the sound bytes might lead you to […]
Shopping is becoming increasingly streamlined. We used to think self-checkouts were the cutting edge of technology, but we’ve come a long way since then. Here are a few examples: Smart carts that will total up your items for you — and even make suggestions based on your choices Restaurants where you can order and pay […]
My very first job was working at a little mom-and-pop bagel shop in suburban Baltimore. I was 15, and I was thrilled to be earning a dollar more than the then-minimum wage of $4.25. Over that summer of 1994, I worked just over 30 hours a week making bagel sandwiches, wiping down tables, and running […]
