Tag Archives: market research

Good News on the Financial Front

Looking for some good financial news? Well, the stories are out there, and Yahoo Finance dug up a few of the better ones.

Most of these folks got into debt in ways you would recognize. Student loans, sudden changes in health, unemployment…and plain ol’ bad decision making. We’ve all been there. So it’s good to see that people can climb out of the hole if they make a plan, make some sacrifices, and stick to it.

The headlines include:

  • Single mom retires $5000 of debt in a year while only earning only $21K
  • Family of five pays off $100,000 of debt in just four years
  • Woman eliminates $50,000 worth of debt in two years, despite six months unemployment
  • Retired couple cashed it all in to travel the world
  • Couple pays off $118,000 worth of debt in four years – on $70K annual earnings

These are just the headlines. There are some pretty inspirational stories behind them, so check it out!

How about you? Ever been in the hole? How did you make it out? Do you have an inspiring story? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Tightening the Belt for 2015

ID-100178555The Holiday season is upon us, traditionally ending on New Year’s Day. And what defines NY Day? Resolutions! There are only 3 worth mentioning – lose weight, reconnect with friends and family, and SAVE MONEY.

USA Today has an interesting piece out today, “5 Everyday Expenses Worth Eliminating in 2015.” See if one or more ring a bell in your household…

  1. Coffee to go. Jerry Seinfeld once said “I get my coffee on the outside.” Not smart. According to one consumer: “I was shocked to find that my $4.30 daily latte was costing me over $1,200 a year.”
  2. Take the bus. Not always a viable option, but it has financial and social benefits. Would you rather be stuck in traffic ALONE or with equally unhappy people? …yeah, I’m not sure about this one either.
  3. Pack your lunch. It’s comical watching my wife assemble her lunches for the week. Grapes, Wheat Thins, pretzel sticks, animal crackers, frozen meals… all portioned out in little Ziploc bags. But it’s better than spending $10 a day for lunch in food-obsessed Charleston SC!
  4. Cut the Cable. I will say it again. I ditched cable TV, cut back to internet-only, bought a set of rabbit ears and a Roku box and signed up for Netflix and Hulu. My bills went from $150/month to $50. It works!!!
  5. Quit the gym. There are MANY ways to get and stay fit. People say, “Well, I signed the contract, so now I HAVE to go!” Does that actually work?

There is a bunch more detail at the original article, so check it out! What do you think? Are you cutting back? Are these good ideas? Have any others to share? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Thanksgiving By The Numbers 2014

thanksgiving spendingOne nice thing about Thanksgiving is that, even when times are tight, we still celebrate it. There are years when we have to choose driving over flying, spend less on food than we like, or worry more about the price of gas. But the urge to get together and give thanks amongst family and friends remains strong. Yay, us!

So, is this one of those “fretful” years? Yes and no. Who knows if we are ever going to get back to 2007 levels of “comfort,” but this year seems to be better than last. How so? Let’s take a look at Thanksgiving by the Numbers 2014!

Travel:

  • 46.3 million: people who travel will be driving this Thanksgiving, or 92%
  • 50: miles driven on average, up 4% from 2013
  • $2.85: average price of gas, down 13% from 2013
  • $650 million: collective gas savings this year

Food:

  • 51 million: turkeys consumed on Thanksgiving day
  • 20%: of turkeys raised every year will be eaten this day
  • $21.65: cost of average turkey, down 11%
  • $49.41: cost of dinner for 10, 37 cents higher than last year

How about YOUR Thanksgiving spending in 2014? More travel or less? Driving or flying? Longer distance or shorter? More food and/or guests, or fewer? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page! Gobble gobble!

Sources

Tour the MindField Online Website!

cloudOver at the MindField Online Facebook page, we commonly hear, “I’m new—how does this whole thing work?”  That’s a pretty broad question, so we usually answer, “There’s plenty of info to be found at our website, www.mindfieldonline.com -check it out!”

But exactly what you will find has been a mystery, wrapped in a riddle, wrapped in an internet – until now!  So, keep your hands and feet inside the tram as we take an informative, exciting (but mostly informative) tour of the MindField Online Internet Panels website. And please, no flash photography!

Member Home: A really useful portal that gives you a quick look at announcements, surveys available (“Live Now!”), membership details, payout options, referrals, member profile survey status, payout balance progress… and more!

Try Our New Apps!: Located at the top-right of our Home page, this is where you can download the new SurveyCloud mobile app for Apple or Android devices.

Account Settings: Here is where you can update or change your user preferences, email or street address and your password.

Study History: This is a detailed list of your Transaction History, Survey History, and Cashout History.

FAQ: Check out the answers to some frequently asked questions HERE. Then, take a moment to realize “So THAT’S what FAQ stands for!”

Policies: How do you register? Who is eligible? What are the rules? Here is where you find out!

IQD: Other than farm fresh ingredients, what steps does MindField Online Internet Panels take to ensure the quality of our data? Find out HERE.

News: Much of the news you will have seen on our Facebook page, but you will get more detail here.

Winners: MindField Online has regular cash drawings and sweepstakes. Here is where you can see the winners. ALSO… don’t forget our 2014 Holiday season cash drawing for $1000!!!

Contact:  Here is how you reach the helpdesk. They are ready to help with all kinds of technical issues!

MindField Online hopes you find our website an informative, user-friendly experience. Thanks again to the best consumer panelists in the business – YOU.

Veteran Deals and Freebies 2014

veterans dayFirst off, a big thanks to our veterans, active military and their families! Now, go out and enjoy your freebies, such as a free haircut at Great Clips, a free Bloomin’ Onion from Outback, or a free beer at Rock Bottom! The list of participating retailers is long, and these are just the big national chains. There are likely many smaller retailers in your locale showing their appreciation.

Here’s a link roundup of the bigger deals. Enjoy… and be sure to thank a veteran today!

Back to School by the Numbers, 2014

According to the National Retail Federation’s annual survey

Retailers should get a bigger boost from back-to-school shoppers this year, as a longer list of school supplies and larger demand for electronics are expected to drive spending higher during the second-biggest selling season of the year. CNBC.com

Total spending on BtS for 2014: $75 billion, up 3% from last year

  • Per family (K-12): $669 total, up 5%
  • School supplies: $101 per kid, up 12%
  • Number of items on school supply list: 18, up 30%
  • Spending on electronics: $212, up 7%
  • Per college student: $916, up 10%

I guess the takeaway here is that in every example, BtS spending will go up. Great for the economy, but not so great for your individual wallet!

So what can you do about it? Surf the web for savings tips!

Any savings tips to share? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook Page!

July’s Best Buys!

july salesA couple of days ago, we reported “Consumer Confidence Hits Six-year High.” I wasn’t so sure about that at the time – you could say I was kind of neutral on the topic. And then, I got some news that kicked my consumer confidence down a flight of stairs.

Anyway, confident or not, everybody appreciates a bargain. And bargains tend to differ from month to month. Here is a brief list of July Bargains, followed by some links. You know, the usual.

July Bargains:

  • Grills
  • Summer clothing
  • Furniture
  • Fresh fruit
  • Shorts
  • Gym Memberships
  • Book August Travel
  • Laptops (Back-to-school sales are the 2nd-best time to buy, after Black Friday!)

So, those are the bullets! Here are the links!

And hey, how about a little self-improvement?

Do you know of any other great July deals? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!

Do-Gooders Pay More?

issuesWould you pay more for a product, or choose one company over another, if you perceived that company as “doing good?” Apparently so…

In Nielsen’s online survey of 30,000 consumers in 60 countries, 55 percent of respondents said they would pay more for products and services from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.   Business Week

And the age group most likely to do so? Millennials (age 30-ish.) So, what are the issues that these folks care about, enough to reward those companies that feel their pain? Here are the top 8:

  • 67% Increasing access to clean water
  • 63% Improving access to sanitation
  • 63% Ensuring environmental sustainability
  • 62% Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger
  • 58% Combating non-communicable diseases
  • 58% Reducing child mortality
  • 56% Improving maternal health
  • 56% Fighting HIV/AIDS, Malaria, other diseases

The article lists about 20 issues, and gives a lot more rationale, so check it out. What about YOU? Would you pay more for a product, or choose one company over another, if you perceived that company as “doing good?” Which issues inspire you? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page!

Undervalued Dad?

sliders
As I recall, we got mom EIGHT sliders…

An article out today asks the question, “Are American dads undervalued?” Meaning, is Father’s Day less important than Mother’s Day? It goes on to answer “yes,” and then tries to make a very big deal out of it. Frankly, I don’t know any dads who are offended by this.

The numbers do make the case, however. A survey by the National Retail Federation sampled over 6000 people regarding their Father’s Day spending for 2014. Check it out…

  • $12.5 billion – The total amount spent for Father’s Day
  • $20 billion – The total amount spent for Mother’s Day
  • $113.80 – Amount spent on each dad (husband, grandpa, etc.)
  • $162.94 – Amount spent on each mom (wife, grandma, etc.)

You can read the rest of the report HERE.

So, yeah, we spend more on mom. Why do you think this is? Does this mean we “undervalue” dad? Do you think dad is offended by this? Would YOU be? Let us know over at the MindField online Facebook page, and Happy Father’s Day!

Mobile Moms, Addicted Moms (?)

The cutest picture I could find. You're welcome.
The cutest picture I could find. You’re welcome.

A mobile addict is a consumer who launches applications more than 60 times per day, six times more than the average consumer. Today, there are 176 million mobile addicts, up from 79 million last year, a figure that represents a whopping 123 percent growth.             MobileMarketer.com

And a primary example of this behavior? MOMS. Check out these stats…

  • Moms are 10 times more likely to be a mobile addict than the average woman.
  • 87% of moms have a smartphone, up from 59% just 3 years ago.
  • 46% “admit” to being addicted, keeping their phone with them wherever they go.

Now, the survey had a definite tilt toward “young” moms – 20s and early 30s. These are women who have grown up with technology. How do they use their phones?

  • 81% say the #1 use for their smartphone is SHOPPING.

How about YOU? Are you a Mobile Mom? Are you “addicted” to your phone? And, BTW, have you tried the MindField Online Mobile App? Let us know over at the MindField Online Facebook page, and have a great weekend!