Consumer

Google’s super-simple and cheap cellphone service will now work with a broader selection of devices, including iPhones from arch-rival Apple. CNBC reports:

“Google Fi (formerly known as Project Fi) is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), which means that instead of just using one of the “big four” carriers, it automatically jumps between several cellular networks depending on which has better service. Fi hops between Sprint, T-Mobile, and US Cellular, and also favors Wi-Fi whenever possible, including for calls and texts.”

“The main appeal of Google Fi is a simple pricing scheme that, depending on a person’s usage habits, can end up being cheaper than any of the bigger carriers. It costs $20 for unlimited calling and texting, and $10 per gigabyte of data. Users get money back for whatever data they don’t use, and data usage over 6 GB is free (though Google will throttle speeds after users hit 15 GB). It also has no roaming fees in more than 170 locations.”

The 2018 holiday season is predicted to be a bumper year for e-commerce, helped by economic forces like lower unemployment and underlying trends like an ever-growing proportion of shoppers opting to spend their money online, and specifically on mobile devices. TechCrunch reports:

Thanksgiving, a day when brick-and-mortar stores tend to be closed, is a big one for online spending, and so far it’s off to a flying start. Adobe, which puts out real-time analytics tracking e-commerce sales, said that as of 10am ET, $406 million had already been spent online today — growth of 23.2 percent on 2017. Adobe tracks e-commerce transactions across 80 of the top 100 US online retailers and says its analytics are based on over 1 trillion visits to retail sites and 55 million SKUs.

At this rate, Adobe said it believes that sales today will total a record $3.5 billion, versus $2.9 billion a year ago. Notably, this is revised up from figures Adobe put out earlier this month, when it projected $3.1 billion in sales today. It’s the first day of the “big five” for holiday shopping. Figures from Internet Retailer research predict that the total amount that will be spent over the period between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday will be $21.6 billion. While rising tides might lift all boats, the biggest will reap the most rewards: it estimates that Amazon will account for nearly one-third of all sales.

YouTube’s “Movies & Shows” page added a “Free to Watch” section last month. They’re trying to compete with free ad-supported online movie offerings from Roku, Walmart, and Tubi.

YouTube quietly added around 100 ad-supported Hollywood movies to its site. The titles include a mix of classics like “Rocky” and “The Terminator,” as well as other family fare like “Zookeeper,” “Agent Cody Banks,” and “Legally Blonde,” among others. TechCrunch reported:

Before, YouTube had only offered consumers the ability to purchase movies and TV shows, similar to how you can rent or buy content from Apple’s iTunes or Amazon Video.

Currently, YouTube is serving ads on these free movies, but the report said the company is open to working out other deals with advertisers – like sponsorships or exclusive screenings.

YouTube’s advantage in this space, compared with some others, is its sizable user base of 1.9 billion monthly active users and its ability to target ads using data from Google.

In late October, Mega Millions announced that someone had won its $1.5 billion jackpot. But weeks have passed and no one has come forward to claim the record-setting prize yet. CNBC reports:

“Everyone’s talking about it,” said Jee Patel, the manager of the KC Mart in Simpsonville, South Carolina, where the ticket was purchased. “It’s a mystery.”

The winner, who beat the odds of 1 in 302 million, gets 180 days, or until April 21, to collect before the ticket expires.

If the prize goes unclaimed by the deadline, according to the Mega Millions website, “each participating state in the Mega Millions game will get back all the money that state contributed to the unclaimed jackpot.”

Americans kept on spending in September as income gains cooled, pushing down the savings rate to the lowest this year. Inflation matched the Federal Reserve’s target, reinforcing the central bank’s outlook for gradual interest-rate hikes. Bloomberg reports:

Purchases, which account for about 70 percent of the economy, rose 0.4 percent from the prior month, matching economists’ estimates, following an upwardly revised 0.5 percent increase, Commerce Department figures showed Monday. Incomes advanced a less-than-projected 0.2 percent, the weakest in more than a year, while Americans saved 6.2 percent of their disposable income, matching the lowest level since 2013.

Americans are spending $69 more each month to fill up their tank, according to a Triple A report. CBS Chicago reports: “On Wednesday, the Chicago average is $3.26 per gallon of regular gasoline. The average price is $2.999 for the rest of Illinois, compared to the national average of $2.91.”

“Analysts say Americans are now spending 7% of their income on gas, a statistic that is up 1.5% from last year. If you make $45,000 per year, you’re shelling out over $3,000 just to put gas in your vehicle.”

You probably have heard that a car loses up to approximately 20% of its initial value within the first year. Yes, a car worth $30,000 will depreciate by $6,000 the minute you drive it off according to Trusted Choice. At the end of the year, wear and tear plus mileage covered could bring this figure up to 30% translating to a $9,000 depreciation. As per a statement by the National Automobile Dealers Association, an average person owns about 13 cars in a lifespan. Each of these cars on average costs $30,000. If those cars happened to be second-hand instead of new, you would save up to $130,000. Second-hand cars not only help you in saving money for the future but also help you get your dream car within your budget. Their lower asking prices aside, second-hand cars help you cut on registration, insurance, and customization fees.

Saving Money In A Second-hand Car

An analysis by Consumer Reports shows that a four-year-old car costs between $5000-$9,000 less than a new one. Well, the biggest advantage of buying an old car is that you let another person take the depreciation hit on the car. Interesting enough you can sell the same car at the same amount you initially bought it at, reason been depreciation had already occurred. If you want to save even more, research on second-hand car rebates in your locality. These rebates are basically second-hand car sell-downs from dealers or manufacturers trying to clear their inventory, sell older car models or boost sales. Buying second-hand cars from rebate programs can help you cut 50% of the initial car price.

The benefits of buying a second-hand vehicle are endless. For starters, these cars don’t have exaggerated fees. Secondly, customizing second-hand cars is cheaper compared to brand new cars. In addition, insurance premiums and annual registration fees are often lower especially for cars older than 3 years. Another perk of buying a second-hand car is the fact that you can be assured of quality as an old car already has been inspected and certified by relevant authorities.

Settling On The Ideal Car

Finding a second-hand car can be at times frustrating since there is so much to put into consideration. Taking time in the buying process of a car ensures you get a great deal. Knowing what you can afford and what car meets your needs are key. Make a list of say 3 or 4 cars from different brands that are within your budget and meet your needs. This will help you pick the most convenient option. Before settling on a particular car, use Carfax or Autocheck to check the vehicle’s history.

The Purchasing Process

The next step is getting a good dealer which is easy to do with the help of the internet. You can then research on similar models and see how much each dealer has to offer. Some dealers often post current rebates on each car model making it easier for you to decide. Mentioning rebates from other dealers also helps you get rebates and incentives that were previously not advertised. Even after getting the best rebates you need to negotiate the best price for your car.

Trying to sweet talk the salesperson on lowering the initial price should be your first approch. You can then mention the rebate. Always keep in mind you are trying to save as much money as possible. Offering money up front guarantees you the best incentives and rebates. In case you decide on buying an automobile that is less than 5 years old, it is advisable to buy one which is certified pre-owned as they have long-term warranties. Flexibility and trying to be reasonable on your part is important when seeking a good deal.

A car is probably the next most expensive thing after your house that you will probably own in your lifetime. You should, therefore, take your time before buying one. The fact that you can acquire your desired model, in good condition, but at a much cheaper price makes a strong argument on why you should opt for a second-hand car. Wouldn’t you agree? And just so you know, buying second-hand cars shouldn’t dent your ego as according to Edmunds, there are 40 million second-hand car purchases annually.

Consumers are on track to get one thing from Congress in response to last year’s massive Equifax Inc. hack: free freezes of their data held by the credit-reporting companies. The Wall Street Journal reported:

“The bipartisan agreement, set to be approved in the Senate by next week as part of a broader banking bill, would require credit-reporting companies to let consumers block access to their credit reports to potential lenders without paying a fee. Freezing access to credit data is a crucial measure consumers can take if they want to protect themselves.”