A long time ago—way back in 2009—frugality was cool, and showing off luxury items and high-end brands in conspicuous fashion was, well, unfashionable at the very least. There was talk of an entire “recession generation,” whose consumer behavior would always be affected by the era’s dramatic financial collapse. Yet in recent surveys, more people agree [...]
Also, plenty of stuff it’s best to avoid, including bad bosses, toxic spouses, diet soda, and voting for “American Idol.”
On Monday, February 21, the non-profit secondhand store chain Savers is selling all used clothing, shoes, accessories, and bed and bath items at 50% off.
“A salad spinner would have been a better investment, and I don’t even eat that much salad.”
A still-struggling, still-uncertain economy has increased the chances that you can’t help dreaming about the recession, your workspace is shrinking, your roommate could be a millionaire (on paper anyway), and you’re so sick of neighborhood potholes you’re considering filling them in yourself.
“You know many of them: phone companies, cable operators and cellular companies are the obvious ones.”
Everything currently in stock at Wisconsin Cheeseman—a specialty gift retailer that sells chocolates, nuts, fruits, jams, sausages, gift baskets, and of course, lots and lots of cheese—is marked down by 60% for orders placed by February 20.
Grocery stores like free sample giveaways because they get shoppers excited, feeling like they’re getting in on something exclusive and special. Shoppers like free samples for the reasons just mentioned, and also because, well, they don’t cost anything. As for the companies actually giving away the samples? They really like how free samples help them [...]
Food shopping with kids is a challenge: Not only are they prone to complain of boredom and sometimes walk away when you’re not looking, little ones are also apt to beg for sugary expensive treats strategically placed on shelves right at their eye level. The standard advice for parents hoping to supermarket shop in peace—and [...]
Federal, state, and local taxes and fees now account for 16.3% of the average wireless customer’s bill. In four states, wireless taxes are north of 20%. And what’s the most taxed state of all? That dubious achievement goes to Nebraska, where wireless users are taxed to the tune of 23.7%.
If you want to buy a house anytime soon, you better start saving—immediately, and in large quantities. Toward the end of 2010, the median down payment on homes bought with conventional mortgages was 22% in a sampling of major U.S. cities, up from as low as 4% in the fourth quarter of 2006.
