- Diamonds rose in value this year, and have broken pre-recession levels. Even though Europe has seen economic turbulence in recent years, the diamond market has managed to keep strong. Demand by diamond jewelry retailers is up by around 15%. As well as being the perfect item of jewelry, diamonds are also being seen as great investments, just like gold and pieces of art. As diamonds never go out of fashion and don’t have a physical lifespan, it is perhaps no surprise that this new trend has developed, as those are two key qualities that long term investors look for. Further reading - Diamond Stud Earrings
- With people these days having less money to spend on their homes, you might have thought that sales of solar panels would be diminishing, however, 2011 has seen their popularity rise. This is because money conscious homeowners have recognized that investing in solar panels now will start saving them money straight away, and that their initial investment will be paid off within a couple years. Solar power grants provided by Governments in various countries have also helped to boost the sales of solar panels. Making the switch to solar energy has never been cheaper than it is now. Further reading - Solar Power
- Lawyers think that some people who suffer – from medical expenses or lost wages for example – as a result of being involved in an accident fail to make a claim for compensation because they are worried about what other people will think of them. They think others may look at them as being “weak” or a money chaser. This is a strange situation as those who have suffered through the negligence or carelessness of others should surely have a moral, as well as a legal, right to not be at a loss as a result. Further reading - Accident Compensation
- Men have been spending more money on clothing and accessories than usual in the past 6 months. Whilst women have cut back on new purchases, men have continued to spend in spite of most people having less disposable income available. Why is that? In part, at least, to the fact that stores have been targeting men more than ever before. Big retail stores such as French Connection, Ted Baker and Superdry have allocated more floor space to menswear than in the past, which has surely contributed to the rise in sales. Further reading - Mens Clothing
- You might be surprised to know that lots of people who regularly use coupons don’t do so out of financial need. A report published this week showed that around a quarter of people who use several coupons on each shopping trip have household incomes of at least $75,000, which is around 50% higher than the average household income. The report also found that regular coupon users shun brand loyalty to buy whatever items are discounted via coupons, and that a third of couponers think that people not using coupons are wasting their money. Further reading - Coupon Codes