Are Public Wi-Fi Spots Safe?
There’s nothing quite as convenient as logging onto the Internet while sitting at a café or enjoying your local library. But is your personal information really safe when you use public Wi-Fi? Most people don’t bother protecting their computer, but this can be a dire mistake when it comes to public Wi-Fi access. Think about all of the personal information you have stored on your computer – bank account numbers, passwords, and personal identificat

Weekly Grab Bag: Best of Black Friday
Will you shop 'til you drop? Maybe you’ll hide in a cave until the madness has subdued? Either way, I’m sure you’ve put some thought into how you’ll spend Black Friday this year and you aren’t alone. I’ve rounded up some of the best tips and commentary I’ve read on the subject this week. We’ve got the naysayers, the yaysayers, and the folks that just that want to make sure you’ve got all the info you need to be a successful sho

Why Shopping on Black Friday Costs More Than Other Days of the Year
Am I the only one who doesn’t get Black Friday? I mean, the stores aren’t doing charity work here. They are forever in the business of separating consumers from their cash, and Black Friday seems to me like just another gimmicky way to do that. Think of all the hidden costs that are lurking on a Black Friday shopping expedition, and then ask yourself if it’s not cheaper to shop on other (less frenzied) days of the year. The sleep lost by wa

Friday Grab Bag: Long Arm of the Law Edition
It's Friday again, and that means it's time for the weekly SpendOnLife grab bag! This week we focus on Congress' Go-Go-Gadget arm that is reaching out further and further to protect consumers from the big bad financial industry. It started with the CARD Act, but now extends to regulating debit card fees, creating a new financial protection agency, and requiring full disclosure when data breaches happen. I'm all for

72% of U.S. Adults Fear Online Identity Theft
A recent ABC News / Washington Post poll found that seven in 10 adults are worried about falling victim to online identity theft. While technology and the internet provide convenience, most people feel that convenience comes with a price - namely, privacy and security. Here are some of the poll's findings: 57% of American adults feel that the internet greatly diminishes personal privacy (up from 42% in 2005 and 38% in 2000). 72%