Seven pairs of easily confused money terms

Every area of specialization has its own vocabulary and its own subtleties in word choice. Here are seven pairs of money terms that seem interchangeable at first glance, but are actually slightly different … APR vs. APY These two abbreviations are familiar ones from banks and credit card issuers. Annual percentage rate (APR) gives the … Read more

Do your own store brand comparison testing

Store brands can save you money over name brands, but how will you know if the substitution will work? There's a sure way to find out ...

A common way to save money on groceries is to buy generic or store-brand items instead of buying name-brand items. Examples of store brands are Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club), Kirkland Signature (Costco), Great Value and Equate (Walmart), Private Selection (Kroger), and so forth. Like most ways to save money, this piece of advice has exceptions: … Read more

Ghosting a merchant and free trials

Ghosting is a bit of a cowardly way to leave a relationship. It's also a poor way to cancel a subscription. Say good-bye properly ...

Ghosting is a bit of a cowardly way to leave a relationship. It’s also a poor way to cancel a subscription. Say good-bye properly … Regularly signing up for free trials, with the intent of leaving the deal before any costs are incurred, is a game. I don’t think it’s a particularly fun game, but … Read more