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Your Money

December 2, 2024

Welcome back. I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday.

At the end of the year, I like to check on how my spending may have shifted over time, particularly in specific categories. I had periodically used Mint, the now defunct budgeting app, but it had its share of quirks.

It was also free. I thought I might have a smoother experience with an app I actually paid for, so I turned to Quicken Simplifi a couple of years ago. But when I opened it up this weekend, I was frustrated to find the same types of issues I had in the past: duplicate transactions and subpar labeling on some transactions. (A Quicken spokeswoman said duplicate transactions can happen but are rare, and the app has a support team that can help.) I paid $52 for an annual subscription in August, and it says it will renew for nearly $72 next year.

I’m going to give a few more services a try in the weeks ahead: Monarch Money and Copilot Money are on top of my list because they told Ron Lieber earlier this year that they’re proud of the features (connecting accounts and more accurate labeling) that I find most irksome. If you have any favorites, please let me know — I’d love to hear what works for you.

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An overhead view of ships, cranes and stacks of shipping containers at a port.

Strategies

Will the Markets Check Trump’s Power?

The president-elect cares about financial markets, our columnist says. That gives investors a restraint on his decisions, even if it’s a tenuous one.

By Jeff Sommer

People walk past a cellphone store.

An A.I. Granny Is Phone Scammers’ Worst Nightmare

Daisy Harris, an A.I.-generated English granny, has been stymying scammers with meandering, time-wasting conversations. But can she actually make a dent in the flood of fraud?

By Ali Watkins

A man carrying a cardboard box walks up to the front door of a rowhouse.

How Online Shoppers Are Trying to Foil ‘Porch Pirates’

Some people race to grab their packages before thieves can nab them. Others move to buildings with dedicated mailrooms.

By Matt Yan

A person leans into the shell of a silver car on an assembly line with orange bins in the factory behind her.

Trump’s Tariffs Would Deal a Big Blow to the Auto Industry

Automakers and parts suppliers would struggle if President-elect Donald J. Trump followed through on his threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.

By Jack Ewing and Neal E. Boudette

HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Black Friday Used to Be Fun. Now, Many Shoppers Would Rather Sleep In.

Lining up early outside stores and hunting for deals was once part of a gratifying Black Friday. It no longer feels that way.

By Mike Dang

Crowd of people sorts through boxes at a large store decorated for the holidays

Black Friday May Have Lost the Chaos but It’s Still Huge for Retailers

Black Friday remains one of the busiest shopping days of the year, but its impact has been diluted by monthlong holiday sales and the convenience of buying online.

By Santul Nerkar

Illuminated glass sheds in a city square, seen at night from above.

Holiday Shopping, Up Close and Personal

The experience of interacting with small business owners at winter markets makes holiday shopping “a little bit more wholesome” for some visitors.

By Aimee Ortiz and Jeenah Moon

I Haul, Therefore I Am

It is the shopping phenomenon of our times, and now it’s an Amazon store.

By Vanessa Friedman

TRAVEL

An illustration depicts a cartoonish man with a large body and tiny head (beneath a baseball cap) running with a cart against a pink background. Both in and above the cart are images of travel: a passport, a rental car, umbrella, the Eiffel Tower, as was as random dollar signs within green and black circles, suggesting there are deals among all these images.

Frugal Traveler

$29 Flights, Half-Price Cruises: Whether It’s Black Friday or Travel Tuesday, Deals Abound

Our Frugal Traveler columnist waded through the sales, and found some of the best bargains she’s seen in years.

By Elaine Glusac

Airlines Are Padding Flight Times. It’s Not Your Imagination.

Flying in America has become slower even as official statistics have shown improvement.

By Ben Blatt

A man holding a croissant and wearing a T-shirt stands over a table full of food and looks over an infinity pool and ocean.

travel 101

How to Choose an All-Inclusive Resort

The number of all-inclusives has risen dramatically in recent years, with efforts to improve food and beverage quality and increase activities and amenities.

By Julie Besonen

Battle of the Mega-Ships? A European Behemoth Heads to the Caribbean.

The new MSC World America will arrive in spring, joining other huge ships. Be prepared for a strong European influence when it comes to design and food.

By Ceylan Yeğinsu

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