It’s a Deal: 40% Off Sherwin-Williams Paints and Stains This Weekend

From September 24 to 26, Sherwin-Williams is selling nearly all paints and stains at 40% off the retail price. Also, painting supplies are discounted by 30%, and wall coverings are marked down by 10%. Find a Sherwin-Williams store here.

Why Frugal-Minded Savers Loathe Inflation

“Inflation helps debtors and spenders at the expense of creditors and savers.”

Something I Expected: Health Insurers’ Requested Rate Hikes Are Way Higher Than Expected

We were told that health care reform would result in an increase of premiums to the tune of 1% or 2%. Now, however, insurers are trying to jack up premiums by more than 20%.

More Proof Consumers Just Love the Quick-Fix Gimmick

Trendy “toning” sneakers justify their high asking prices ($100 to $200 and up) by saying that their unique rounded soles help wearers to get better workouts, burn more calories, and better tone their butts, legs, and calves compared to normal sneakers. You can understand why consumers love the idea that simply putting on a pair [...]

It’s a Deal: Buy Two Toys, Get Third Free at Toys R Us

During Geoffrey’s Birthday Toy Sale at Toys R Us (lasting through September 25), when you buy two LEGO construction sets, Barbie Dolls, LeapFrog Learning Toys, video games priced up to $19.99, and toys from Playmobil, Mega Bloks, Playskool, Melissa & Doug, and Hasbro, you’ll get a third free.

Why Killing and Caring for Animals Are Both Recession-Proof

How are animals faring during the recession era? Well, in some ways, they’re better off than ever. In others, however, animals are more likely to find themselves literally in the crosshairs.

Saving by the Numbers

Here are 20 new resources that, among other things, will help consumers to save money or spend it wisely, to enable folks to get good customer service or to do good in the world even if they’re broke.

Apparently This Is Grim Economic Statistics Week

More Poverty! More Uninsured! More Stagnation! Plagues! Locusts! OK, I think I got carried away there for a moment. But yikes.

It’s a Deal: Free Admission at 1,300+ U.S. Museums

Saturday, September 25, is Museum Day, when more than 1,300 museums across the country offer free admission to all visitors who visit the above link, enter some info, and print out a ticket sent via e-mail. Participating museums are spread all over the country—33 in Illinois, for example, including Chicago’s Adler Planetarium and Museum of [...]

How Private College Is Like a New Car

In both cases, few people ever pay the sticker price.

Cheapskate Wisdom from … Vanilla Ice

“O.K., now you can buy a foreclosed, or tax-lien or short-sale home for a lot less than you can build a home.”