Kicked Out of the Co-op

Food co-ops help you eat healthy, eat well, and eat inexpensively. One couple credits their local co-op, in Park Slope, Brooklyn, for making it possible to bring their weekly grocery bill down to a mere $15 per person.

Spending Less on Halloween Candy? Now That’s Scary

About 30% of people say the recession is affecting how much they spend on Halloween this year. Nearly half of those affected say they’re buying less candy. Millions of children are planning a mass protest this Saturday, when they intend to roam the streets, bang on doors, and demand chocolate (no stinking pennies!) while dressed [...]

It’s a Deal: Free Chicken at KFC on Monday, October 26

Stop by a KFC on Monday, October 26, for a free piece of Kentucky Grilled Chicken. The promotion, curiously enough, has something to do with the United Nations. More details here.

Sans Cell Phone: Could It Actually Be Possible to Live Without One?

A stubborn, shrinking-but-still-substantial group of consumers refuses to buy cell phones. Why? Among other reasons, they like to control their availability rather than being “on call” 24/7—and they like the idea of not having $95 monthly bills, which is what the average iPhone user pays.

Cheapskate Wisdom from … Philip Roth

“I buy a lot of used books from AbeBooks and Alibris. It’s wonderful when you want to find something obscure and there it is for $3.98. It’s the greatest book bazaar that ever existed.”

Ten Bizarre Theories on Saving and Spending

Poker teaches important lessons about saving and investing. Foreclosures are better than mortgage modification programs. Debit card overdraft fees are good for consumers. PMS is responsible for impulse purchases. There is no shortage of strange theories out there—and some of them are actually plausible.

No More Real Estate Agent Fees. No More Dry Cleaning Bills. No More Charges for Pest Exterminators.

Among a certain group of consumers, it’s becoming a DIY world. To save money, they’re reevaluating many of the services the rest of the world has grown accustomed to paying.

Smartphone Apps that Help You Avoid Bank Fees

One of the frustrations of modern life is that often, you must spend money simply to get your money. I speak of the $3 fee for using an ATM not affiliated with your bank. Now, there are apps for the iPhone and other smartphones to help you avoid ATM fees, as well as other charges, [...]

Will Just Any Old Car Do? Will No Car at All Do?

Back-to-back stories in the NY Times point out two interesting trends in the automobile market. First, brand loyalty is long gone. Second, for many consumers, the car itself is gone as well.

Electronics and Toys: Cheap and Getting Cheaper

Flat-panel TVs, laptops, camcorders, GPS devices, and video-game consoles are all being sold at record-low prices. As we head into the heart of the holiday shopping season, Wal-Mart is planning on big price reductions on toys too.

It’s a Deal: Halloween Costumes Up to 75% Off at Toys R Us

Most of the Halloween costumes at Toys R Us are on sale already. Examples: A Transformers 2 Revenge of the Fallen Deluxe Bumblebee outfit is $9.99 (originally $39.99), and a Lil’ Vampire costume is just $4.99 (originally $19.99). Free shipping on most items too.