money

The best money-saving tips of 2012

2012 was hellish in a lot of ways, but it was a good year for saving money.

Indeed, as any regular reader of The Cheapskate or CNET's Marketplace knows, you could count on finding a good deal -- often a great deal -- pretty much every single day.

Of course, some of the best money-saving advice applies all year round, not just on a particular day. With that in mind, I've rounded up some of my favorite thrifty tips from 2012. (It probably goes without saying that most of them will work just as well in 2013.)

1. Always buy refurbished Apple gear.… Read more

The 404 1,182: Where we take 12 steps to financial freedom (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Jill gives us 2012 year-end tax tips: four benefit changes.

- "Fiscal cliff" primer: Breaking down the plans.

- Alan Simpson goes "Gangnam Style."

- The Fiscal Cliff Huxtable.… Read more

Zynga looks to foray into online gambling in Nevada

We've heard of betting with virtual currency in Zynga Poker, but how about playing with some bona fide dollar bills?

Zynga made its first move to create real-money gambling games in the U.S. by filing its initial application with the Nevada Gaming Control Board yesterday, according to the Wall Street Journal. Now, the board has to decide whether Zynga will be allowed to hold a gaming license in the state.

The social-gaming giant has made no secret that it'd like to get into the world of real-money gambling. In fact, in October it announced a deal with … Read more

Polymer dollars: Fingering Canada's plastic bills

Her majesty looks fantastic in plastic.

A polymer portrait of Queen Elizabeth II is in many Canadian wallets now that a new $20 bill packed with anti-forgery tech is in circulation.

The plastic note follows the circulation of new plastic $100 and $50 bills, but since it changes hands with greater frequently, more Canadians are taking notice.

Reactions to have been mixed. Some say the bills tend to stick together in stacks and ATMs, others have praised their security features, and some say they look like play money.

Apart from Braille-like raised dots for visually impaired users, the twenty's … Read more

The 404 1,170: Where Aunt Jill does a little dance (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Review & Outlook: Obama's dividend assault.

- Obama win: What it means for your tax bill.

- Lies, damned lies, and Black Friday sales.

- Black Friday: 10 items NOT to buy.

- Follow Aunt Jill on Twitter!… Read more

No account needed messaging app with some nice features

WhatsApp Messenger is an iOS (and other platform) messaging app that allows notifications to be pushed instantly. It doesn't require usernames or logins, using just your phone number as your unique ID. And, unlike some messenger apps, WhatsApp Messenger is always on. The download is fast and the install is easy.

WhatsApp Messenger has an pretty standard interface with a list of clients and a chat window for each ongoing chat session. A neat feature is setting up group chats and being able to share video and music with others at the same time. Since WhatsApp Messenger uses your … Read more

The 404 1,146: Where we hiss downstream (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Avoid these 7 deadly financial mistakes for National Financial Planning Week.

- Entire, working mobile phone with SIM, free in this week's 'Entertainment Weekly.'

- Got a question for Jill? Send her a tweet and hear the answer on her podcast, Jill On Money!… Read more

The 404 1,128: Where Apple saves the economy (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Apple's iPhone 5 could add half a percent to U.S. GDP.

- Apple launches iPhone trade in program with competitive prices.

- What is a fiscal cliff?

- Aunt Jill recommends "Bernie," a film starring Jack Black and Shirley MacLaine.

- Follow Jill Schlesinger on Twitter and check out her podcast, Jill on Money!… Read more

Tweet the feet: Adidas kicks get a built-in Twitter feed

Let's fast-forward to 2016. We're in Rio de Janeiro. Runner Usain Bolt decides to go for another historic Olympics run. He looks down at his shoes, where an outpouring of fan support flashes across a tiny display. "Go Usain!!!! Do it in WR time #olympics2016."

This could happen now that we have a proof-of-concept social-media shoe. Adidas and shoe hacker/designer Nash Money got together to rip apart a pair of Barricade shoes and embed a Twitter feed right into the sneakers.… Read more