Food Network Star Says "No Way" to Generics

Sandra Lee has crafted a mini-empire out of her DIY advice that teaches people to take economical shortcuts with pre-packaged foods. However, she comes out against the purchase of many generic branded products, claiming that if consumers took the time to compare the labels side-by-side with more expensive brand-name goods, often “there’s no way” they would hesitate to spend more on the fancier label. Read on.

Are Vitamins a Waste of Money?

For millions of Americans the idea of taking one multivitamin a day has been drilled into their heads. Marketing can be persuasive. But is the daily popping of these vitamins really necessary? WalletPop’s Consumer Ally, Mitch Lipka, takes a look.

KFC Is at it Again

Here are this week’s Five Fabulous Finds from Coupon Cravings, including free grilled chicken at KFC and free cookies at Barnes & Noble. Plus, get free Chex Mix, chocolate dipped fruit and loads of free magazine subscriptions!

Ask the Readers: Why Are YOU Saving for Retirement?

As I shared yesterday afternoon, although I believe National Save for Retirement Week is important, I find the topic dreadfully dull when stretched out for a week of blog posts. Lesson learned.

Still, I don’t think all retirement discussions have to induce snores or tears. In fact, when you think about it, retirement — especially early retirement — ought to be something to celebrate. When a person has managed to save and make smart choices, they have a chance to opt out of the rat race and pursue the things they really love.

(Note that some people, such as my wife, are fortunate to work at jobs they love in the first place. They’re already doing something they really love.)

Rather than talk more about the numbers or the various types of retirement plans, I thought it would be fun to have a chatty open discussion about our actual plans for the future. Each of us has a different vision of what we’d do if we didn’t have to work, a different reason for saving. I want to know what you intend to do once you’ve reached that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

I’ll go first.

I don’t actually envision my retired life being much different than it is right now. I’d still write — I’d just do less of it. For the past few years, I’ve spent 60-80 hours a week writing. That’s too much.

I got to spend most of September writing just 20 hours per week. With the rest of my time, I worked in the yard, walked around the neighborhood, and read comic books. I have to tell you, that’s ideal. That’s what I want daily life to be like in retirement. And I want to be able to spend several weeks per year traveling with Kris, visiting countries all around the world.

That, my friends, is my ideal retirement.

What about you? What do you see yourself doing in retirement? What does retirement mean to you?

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Related Articles at Get Rich Slowly:

• Ben Stein: Keys to Retirement Savings
• Free Professional Financial Checkup This Friday
• The Cost of Waiting One Year
• Daily Roundup: Retirement Planning, Free Credit Reports, and Structured Procrastination
• Ask the Readers: Pay Down Debt or Save for Retirement?

Pick the right pro at the right price

For anything from a small upgrade to a major remodeling job, perhaps the most important decision you’ll make is whom to hire. You’ll seek out a top-notch worker with a stellar reputation, of course, but first you’ll have to decide what kind of expert you’re looking for.

5 evil things credit card firms can (still) do

The credit card reform bill tries to help cash-strapped customers, but companies are just coming up with new ways to boost profits.