Reports of stolen dogs rose 49% in the first seven months of 2011.
The economy has really gone to the dogs when money-seeking thieves are pilfering dogs and selling them for profit.
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Growing number of Americans struggle to keep their cars on the road
“Many Americans rely on their cars for their livelihood, and losing access to them could be financially devastating.”
Margaret McCormick’s 2001 Toyota Celica has been sitting in the parking lot of her condo complex for the past four months. She can’t afford to fix the flat tire and broken transmission.
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U.S. economic uncertainty is the new normal
Many Americans are focused on bargains and careful to spend money only when they need.
Financial fears of most Americans seem to be adding to the nation’s economic woes. The recession. The financial crisis. The housing crisis. The persistently high unemployment rate. And now, the debt debacle. No wonder American’s feel uncertain about the U.S. economy.
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A third of gamers use real world money to buy virtual goods
Visa-owned PlaySpan with research firm VGMarket have released a new study on how and what gamers are spending on virtual goods. Nearly one-third of the general gamer population has used real world money (as opposed to virtual currency) to purchase virtual goods, according to the study. Console games with online play account for the majority (51%) of virtual purchases using real world money, with social networking games (30%) coming in at second.
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Eating healthy food is expensive for many Americans
The study found that it is more expensive to eat more dietary fiber and vitamin D.
The average American’s food bill can increase by almost 10% by adding healthier food to their diet – and that is just to boost a single nutrient like potassium.
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10 most notorious money laundering cases of the 20th century
Have you heard of these money laundering cases?
Money laundering is the process by which illegally obtained cash is made to appear as if it has been obtained by legal means. The funds are moved into valid accounts or businesses in order to hide or disguise the financial trail that leads back to the criminal activity. In 1996, it was estimated that between 2 and 5 percent of the world’s gross domestic product consisted of laundered money…
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How supermarkets trick you into spending more money
Make a grocery list and stick to it.
There are reasons your mother told you to make a grocery list and stick to it. From the parking lot to the checkout counter a supermarket is designed to make you spend more money and buy more food than you need.
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Ten simple ideas entrepreneurs turned into $100 million
Business is booming for Life is Good, with 2010 sales coming in at about $100 million.
There are a lot of people who have an idea for a business with the hopes that one day it will help them make millions. Ideas for businesses may be easy to come by but turning those ideas into huge successes is an entirely different story. There are many entrepreneurs with simple ideas and humble beginnings who have been able to effectively turn those ideas into booming businesses. And here are ten ideas that did just that.
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Almost half of U.S. workers would scrap summer vacation to save money
Thirteen percent of people take vacations knowing they may have to work if necessary.
About 45% of U.S. workers would scrap or scale back their summer vacation plans to save money if the economy remains volatile, according to a survey.
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Top 10 Most Expensive Cities in the World 2011
Most expensive city in the world – Toyko.
Americans might complain about the high cost of living, but overseas the U.S. dollar is even weaker. Find out where it buys the least.
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Americans Pessimistic About Income Growth
Americans tighten belts as they are squeezed by rising prices and stagnant wages.
Consumers are being squeezed on both sides by wages that aren’t increasing and rising prices. According to survey data by Goldman Sachs, the number of people who believe they will bring home more money one year from now is at its lowest in 25 years.
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Health Insurers Make Huge Profits While Many Americans Postpone Care
Health insurers propose double-digit increases in their rates, citing a need for protection against any sudden uptick in demand once people have more money to spend on their health.
Major health insurers in the U.S. are heading into a third year of record profits. Their earnings have been enriched in recent months by a lingering recessionary mind-set among Americans. Many who are postponing or forgoing medical care.
