The streaming wars have begun, but there's one big problem that Disney, Apple, and Netflix aren't talking about. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Password Sharing Is Streaming's Big Question Mark
| | | With Disney+ and AppleTV+ joining Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) in the ranks of streaming video services and the likes of HBO Max and Peacock on the way, binge-watching is bigger business than ever. But lots of people — including as many as 28% of Netflix subscribers — share someone else's password to get their online video fix. (Admit it: You've probably done this at least once in your life. No judgment here.) The major streamers all say this is A Bad Thing That You Should Not Do in those lengthy terms of service we all read so very, very carefully. But when it comes to enforcing that edict, so far, Netflix and others haven't done much about it. Maybe they figure that password sharers aren't likely to actually pay for their services if forced to. Or maybe they just don't want the bad-cop publicity they'd get for cracking down on illicit viewing of The Great British Baking Show. But as streaming services proliferate, password-sharing could start taking a huge chunk out of every contender's bottom line. That's why the major streaming services have finally begun making plans to end password-sharers' free rides — and they've got more in mind than just viewer-shaming ads with a '90s techno beat. To see why the golden age of not paying for stuff you watch online may be coming to an end, read the rest. | |
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| | Watch: Stocks vs. Real Estate — Which Is Better?
| | | We all know that putting some of our assets in real estate is good for diversification, but what about returns? Which asset class has produced better returns over long periods of time — real estate or stocks? | |
The War on Cash May Already Be Over "Digital Transactions Rule Everything Around Me" just doesn't have the same ring to it, you know? And rolling around on a bed in a giant pile of debit cards lacks a certain appeal. But as a means of purchasing goods and services, cash money is nonetheless rapidly losing ground to plastic and other higher-tech forms of payment. In a new survey, more than 70% of U.S. consumers say they reach for credit or debit when making personal purchases. So far, cash has one last lifeline to keep it in the fight: security. The same consumers who favor plastic over paper also say they're worried about the safety of their preferred form of payment. Cash can be stolen, sure, but it can't be hacked. And unless you write your home address, Social Security number, and bank account information on every bill in your wallet (which we emphatically do not recommend), cash doesn't come with a host of related concerns about data breaches and identity theft. To crush cash for good, digital payment providers will have to address those concerns. Until then, the dead presidents in your billfold can rest assured that day-to-day commerce will remain at least somewhat about the Benjamins. To learn more about what cash alternatives need to do to steal hard currency's crown, read the rest.
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3 Money Lies That Could Wreck Your Finances It's fun to talk stocks. It's fun to imagine getting rich. But taking a hard look at your own finances gets significantly less fun. Unfortunately, letting yourself get away with little white lies on the financial front can lead you into real trouble. We've found three sinister self-deceptions that can leave you and your money in a world of hurt. - Why worry about retirement? I've got plenty of time to save. Alas, you really don't! The magic of compounding interest means that the sooner you start saving, the less per month you'll need to sock away in order to reach your ultimate financial goals. And the longer you wait, the harder you'll have to work to end up with your desired nest egg.
- What's so bad about debt? Everyone has it. Some forms of debt are clearly better than others. Taking on student loans to get a good education or obtaining a mortgage to put a roof over your head has more tangible benefits than running up a massive credit card bill at sky-high interest rates. But any kind of debt still puts you in a financial hole from which you'll need to dig yourself out. The higher the debt — and its interest rate — the deeper and steeper that hole gets.
- I only need to worry about big purchases. Little ones are no sweat. Sure, $5 a day for the sweet caffeinated embrace of a latte doesn't sound so bad — until you reach the end of the year and realize you've blown $1,825 on your annual java habit. We're not saying you should lead a grim, joyless life free of any indulgences, but those seemingly little things do add up. Worse yet, buying stuff you don't necessarily need leaves you less money to save, which means you have less money growing and working for you over time. That can add up to a lot of lost lattes down the line.
To learn how to save yourself from these seductive spending sinkholes, read the rest.
| | Disney's Latest Magic, Facebook's Latest Challenge | | | Disney (NYSE: DIS) earnings produce some magic. Gap (NYSE: GPS) gets a new look. And Zillow (NASDAQ: ZG) raises the roof. | |
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