The Consumer Price Index shows that consumers have spent $375 less on food per consumer in 2008 than in 1984.

The relative portion of total spending by income in several category shows how different household proportionate their incomes.

The Consumer Expenditure Survey by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that, on average, consumer units with incomes of more than $150,000 spent more on food away from home than on food at home..

For a 20-year old smoker with a one-pack a-day habit, quitting will not only improve your health, but depositing the money into a savings account, yielding 5 percent annually and compounding daily, will grow to $279,568 in savings by age 60.

Even with the low interest rates of today’s economy, saving accounts can still accumulate significant interest.

The number of payday loan businesses has steadly been increasing in popularity during economic difficulties. However, a $200 payday loan that costs $40 equates to an annual inerest rate of over 500 percent.

Although rent-to-own deals can be tempting, you will spend more than what the purchase would have cost you by buying outright.

When paying off credit cards, it is better to pay the balance as soon as possible.

The Self-Sufficiency Standard was developed by the Wisconsin Women’s Network as a measure of the income level needed to enable a family to provide for their basic needs without public or private assistance.

Delaying an IRA contribution by only one year will cost tens of thousands of dollars.