Dump the WSJ?

[lsbcal]

I've subscribed to the Wall St Journal for around 35 years straight. Just got a renewal notice for 2 years at $426. Seems outrageous given the info now available on the web for free. I never liked their editorial stuff anyway which is too severely slanted to the right. They don't even seem to try to balance it out. Their investment advice is sort of nonexistent. Jonathan Clements left just recently. The Saturday edition seems to be full of discussions of $40/bottle wine and other high priced stuff. Not my philosophy which is more LBYM. My Economist subscription covers the international stuff better and has more thoughtful economic focus. Seems all the WSJ can do is talk about M&A deals and the Ahead-of-the-tape column is a joke. Am I missing something here?

So what sources of financial info do others use? On the web I like Bogleheads, our ER forum, NY Times, Morningstar. Any other suggestions? It will be a relief not to have to plow through 2 papers every day. Nice to vent about this !!!

[cute fuzzy bunny]

I really like the WSJ and enjoy reading it when they offer me a free subscription.

But when I look at the cost of a regular subscription, my value meter always says "NO!"

I read a little of this or that on a lot of sites. I think maybe that gives you more of a balanced approach with the benefits of immediate feedback...

[W2R]

I think you have answered your own question! That is a lot of money to spend, especially if you aren't getting the kinds of articles you want to read.

It sounds to me like you have a good handle on sources for information, and if you read all of those you listed that should keep you busy!

[socca]

Rumor has it that Murdoch wants the WSJ to look more like USA Today. USA Today is cheaper

[Olav23]

If you just want a cheaper rate,

https://services.wsj.com/Gryphon/jsp...r.jsp?page=375


Or if you have frequent flier miles to burn:

230 issues of Wall St Journal for ONLY 1700 FF Miles (DELTA, CO, AA, , NW)

[Texas Proud]

I used to subscribe to them... but that was in 1999... I suspended my sub when I went overseas for a bit... seems they could not transfer the sub to the UK...

then when I came back... they did not want to deliver to my door for some reason.... I wanted to read it on the bus.... heck I still have about 3 or 4 months on my sub way back when....

I would get a 'free' copy for awhile... slightly used (or not)... we had the cleaning crew 'deliver' a copy to us from one of the law firms in our building... you can do that is you manage the crew...

I read the internet... I have thought about getting something so I can read it when I go to lunch or am sitting around... like that Amazon thingy... but just have not wanted to blow the cash....

SOOO, started to read some books again....

[clifp]

I subscribe online to the WSJ. When it first started I believe it was $60 now the price is $100 and next year is is $120/year. So this will be my last year, I am hoping to do the cancel trick and which generally results in a lower price.

[ladelfina]

I think I saw a chart somewhere comparing article content pre-/post-Murdoch. Decline in pure business/economics articles; rise in politics and 'lifestyle'.

You might consider the Financial Times.. they have quite a lot for free (w/registration).

[Gumby]

For the reasons you cite, I will likely not renew my WSJ subscription when it expires this year. I may subscribe to FT online.

[Maurice]

Interesting timing, I just canceled my online subscription last week.

clifp - you are right, they countered with a $99 offer when I canceled. (they had re-upped me at $119) I declined their offer.

In my case I read the NYT and FT in paper version every day, professionally I much prefer the FT to the WSJ, it covers fixed income and derivatives markets much, much better than the WSJ. Also, I know Murdoch will take it further down market so it felt good to cancel and give that as my reason.

If my leave of absence turns into ER, which is likely, I won't re-up my FT subscription when it lapses in a year or so. I agree there's too much info on the web to be paying several hundred a year for one of these papers, at least if you are a retired passive index investor.

[Dawg52]

I used to read it at work but haven't missed it now that I'm retired. Too much free stuff on the web. I have thought about dropping by the library to read it but haven't had a big enough urge to do so.

[ladelfina]

Bloomberg site is also good for basic finance headlines and such.
http://www.bloomberg.com

[Rustic23]

Just got a renewal for the Houston Chronicle, $177 for one year. Their Business section is 4 pages long on average, with 20 to 30% of that advertisement. WSJ for $426 for two years does not seem that out of place.

[Texas Proud]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rustic23 Just got a renewal for the Houston Chronicle, $177 for one year. Their Business section is 4 pages long on average, with 20 to 30% of that advertisement. WSJ for $426 for two years does not seem that out of place.

Interesting... I was thinking of subscribing so I can have something to read when I go to lunch.... but that is a bit more than I want...

I read a number of articles on Chron.com... I have never seen one in the paper that is not on the website... in fact I got it open in another window... reading a few articles

[Midpack]

Let my WSJ subscription go many years ago, in fact don't take any newspapers whatsoever any more (cost and environment). Have let most of my magazine subscriptions go to (same reasons). Read what I want at the library, get my financial info from the internet, whatever I need whenever I want it for "free." Only read I can't let go of is The Economist, just feel that it keeps me current on the world like no other source. My 2¢...

[samclem]

I enjoy the WSJ a lot--The news is concise but has enough background to provide context, I enjoy the editorials, and I even the fluff "lifestyle" stuff of higher utility than the material in my local paper. When I travel I buy it from the newsstand at the cover price and consider it a fair deal for an hour of quality reading while on the plane. Still, paying the subscription price for home reading seemed steep. So, I traded some airline frequent flyer miles, and I'm waiting for my home delivery to start. I "paid" 3000 miles for 38 weeks of the paper. Given all the hassles in trying to use these miles to get airline tickets these days, I think their market value is about 1 cent each, so this cost me $30 for 9 months of the WSJ.


https://delta.mpmvp.com/magazine/choose.asp
38 weeks for 3300 Delta Airline miles

https://nwa.mpmvp.com/magazine/choose.asp
38 weeks for 3300 Northwest miles

(There are other airline-specific sites out there)


You can also get 51 weeks of the Economist magazine for approx the same number of miles--another fantastic bargain.

[ladypatriot]

Sorry I missed this thread when it began.

I've been a WSJ subscriber for years; love the paper; plan to continue my subscription indefinitely. I generally skip or skim over political articles; not because of any slant but because of disinterest.

Many articles have lead me to research companies or industries in which I later purchase shares. This past week a brief article about self-care health tools (Tech Firms See Growth in Self-Care Tools by Victoria E. Knight) prompted me to research this particular segment of the health-care industry.

Also, I don't like reading articles, especially lengthy ones, online. It gives me a headache. The paper is portable; handy while waiting for appointments and in the car while DH is driving. Plus, the paper is cuttable (is that word?). I've cut out many articles to save for future reference.

It costs more than I wish it would but then so do my haircuts.

[Nords]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladypatriot It costs more than I wish it would but then so do my haircuts.

I haven't missed either one for more than six years.

Spouse has a "free" subscription to the local paper, which takes her more time to page through than I need to peruse their website. If she doesn't read it then it goes straight into the recycle.

[MGYog]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nords I haven't missed either one for more than six years.

Uhh, I think I would rather give up WSJ forever, then be bald.

[REWahoo]

Rustic, interesting you mention the ads in the business section of the Chronicle. This month the SA Express-News began running 1/16 page ads on the front page. I'd love to stop our $175-a-year subscription but a lifetime habit is hard to break.