🐤 Dirty dozen

Markets: There might not be as much excitement on the calendar as in the past few weeks, but Wall Street investors will still have plenty to consider over the next several days. Nvidia is releasing its latest earnings report on Wednesday and several other companies — like Walmart, Lowe’s, and Target — are publishing their numbers this week, too. Economic indicators from the housing and employment markets as well as consumer sentiment are set to surface this week and we’ll also be hearing from the heads of the Chicago and Cleveland Fed.

Fade to black: The post-Thanksgiving savings celebration known as Black Friday has changed a lot since a retail industry dominated by brick-and-mortar stores was overtaken by the e-commerce revolution. These days it’s harder than ever to determine whether an online Black Friday deal is actually a big bargain or not. In fact, more than one-third of the advertised discount prices are the same as they were previously. But if you’re looking for TVs, electronics, or seasonal clothing, there are some pretty good deals to be found already.

Drought risks: States across the Northwestern U.S. are under wildfire advisories due to a prolonged period of dry conditions combined with high winds and humidity. There’s already a fire burning on both sides of the New Jersey-New York line that has engulfed 7,500 acres and counting. Certain hard-hit communities have already conducted voluntary evacuations. In New Jersey, experts say it hasn’t been this dry for this long in well over a century. Other states, including Connecticut and Massachusetts, are facing similar conditions and warnings.

Risk assessment: Prospective homebuyers have a lot of factors to consider before making an offer, and now Zillow has a new tool designed to help people anticipate the likely costs associated with climate change. The online real estate marketplace gives shoppers an option to calculate the expected risk of floods, climate warming, air quality concerns, and wildfires, among other things, and could help buyers save money in the long run by anticipating long-term expenses. But it’s just an estimate, so beware that things can always change.

Stamp of approval: A legend of American television is being posthumously honored with her own United States Postal Service Stamp. Betty White, known for classic sitcom roles including that of Rose Nylund on “Golden Girls,” will be depicted on a new stamp set to be released next year. According to the USPS, the image being used was created by artist Dale Stephanos using a 2010 photo of White as a reference. Her big smile and the stamp’s bright background is said to capture the “spritely sense of fun” White brought to TVs everywhere.

The college football rankings experienced quite a shake-up in the aftermath of recent games, with some of the Top 25 teams experiencing some of the most significant effects — for better or worse.

How the rankings shifted

One of the biggest upsets came when BYU lost to Kansas, upsetting its undefeated season record and allowing Colorado to advance. The two schools both currently lead the Big 12 conference.

But that was hardly the only surprising outcome of the week. In total, five of the teams included in the Associated Press Top 25 lost in matchups against teams that weren’t ranked at all.

One school that took a hit on the field and in the rankings was Tennessee. After a tough loss to Georgia, any hopes of making it to the playoffs rests on finishing the season on a hot streak.

But Georgia isn’t necessarily in a prime position either, with notable injuries among receivers and offensive linemen.

Some of the other Week 12 victories weren’t especially encouraging, including a defense-heavy win by Texas over Arkansas that highlighted some issues with the winning team’s offense.

But there was good news

Although BYU is no longer in pursuit of a perfect season, some schools remain undefeated. Oregon is 11-0 despite some apparent deficiencies in the team’s run defense. Indiana, on the other hand, is dealing with a few offensive bugs but nevertheless managed to eke out a win over Michigan for a 10-0 season record.

And for several of the Top 25 teams that struggled this week, the good news is that it’s not too late to make a last-minute push for the playoffs. Schools like Tulane and Clemson still have a chance to advance — that is, if they identify and address opportunities for improvement.

Tired of wasting time at the grocery store only to find boring snacks? Don’t settle for ordinary! No matter what you crave, Nuts.com has something to satisfy – from snacks to sweets to pantry staples to gifts and beyond, all unique just like you.

• Shop over 3,000 snack options or customize your own snack box,trail mix, or tray.
• Not sure where to start? Try their starter boxes!
• For gathering with friends and family, explore their charcuterie board essentials.
• Plus, get 20% off your first order AND free shipping when you spend $59 or more. See website for details.

When it comes to investing for retirement, there are many options available. Each has its benefits and risks, and choosing the right one depends a lot on factors such as how old you are now, when you hope to retire, and how much you’d like to have after you do.

And for those of you who want to undercut the typical retirement age of 65 by a few years (or decades), it’s crucial to identify a strategy that offers enough reward without too much risk.

Here’s a brief breakdown of six leading investments and how they might — or might not — be right for your early retirement plan:

• The standard: We’ll start with the good old regular investment account, which might not present the same growth rate as other options but does present some tax advantages.
• Roth IRA: This popular strategy lets investors withdraw their contributions without taxes or penalties, though you won’t be able to touch earnings until the age of 59 and a half.
• Stock index fund: By locking investments into a particular index, that money is diversified among respected companies, often leading to reliable, if not massive, gains over time.
• Municipal bond: Since the gains from this strategy aren’t particularly high, it’s better suited for higher earners with diversified investments who just want a safe, tax-free place to park money.
• Rental property: This has been seen as a relatively safe haven for generations and can provide lots of upside — profits, income, tax benefits, etc. — but can require significant upkeep.
• High-yield savings: You might not think of a savings account as a retirement strategy, but high-yield options can give you bigger returns than you might think to help fund your retirement.

There’s no perfect strategy, but with a little research you can find the one that’s best for you.

Fads come and go, but every once in a while there’s a collectible that defies its flash-in-the-pan tendencies to find real, sustainable value on the free market. In this article, however, we’ll be discussing a few items that ended up on the opposite side of the scale.

Let’s take a look at several once-promising collectibles that lost almost all of their value. Bonus points if you still have a collection of anything on the list.

Holiday Barbies

These dolls seemed to have some promise early on, but the sheer number of them produced meant they could never retain their inflated early values. Appraise Antiques founder Nora Curl explained: “Barbies were mass-produced in the heady days of the later 20th and 21st century, when there was a preconceived notion that all collectibles and numbers edition items would automatically rise in value.”

Pop star memorabilia

You might think that collectibles honoring iconic acts like Elvis Presley and The Beatles would always retain some value. While items that were owned or used by these artists still fetch big bucks at auction, most other collectibles simply aren’t finding receptive buyers among those in younger generations who didn’t grow up with their music.

Lunch boxes

Few things bring back nostalgia among Gen Xers and older generations quite like a vintage lunch box. These metal containers depicted some of the biggest pop culture images of their day. But since the folks who remember them are getting older and starting to downsize their lives, the demand for vintage lunch boxes has been trending downward for years.

There are countless other items we could have explored, including figurines, Victorian furniture, and even stamps, which have lost significant value. So if you’re tempted to shell out cash for a collectible, make sure you can afford to lose your investment.