So much for saving the planet. A recent survey reveals that over the past few years, Americans have become less likely to say they care a great deal about the current and future state of the environment. Similarly, we’re also less likely today to purchase all-natural or organic products, bother trying to use less water, and reuse things we already own—not when we can buy new stuff and toss the old items in the trash.
Grocery shopping can be a pain: long lines, out-of-stock products, clipping coupons. It’s a hassle. But if you take a few extra minutes before you hit the supermarket, you could potentially save a few thousand dollars a year. So follow these tips to drastically reduce what you spend on food and drink each year.
There’s no shortage of experts offering advice about where to buy things and how to score the best deals. But sometimes, shopping smarter means not buying at all. As satisfying as it might feel to get a great deal, sometimes the best thing you can do for your wallet is to keep it closed.
I’m not sure why you’d want to buy a beer for a friend—or your dad—on Facebook. But you can now do so. Here’s a roundup of odd and interesting consumer news and trends.
Here comes a new kind of vending operation that promises to be the “ATM machine of water.” Using a BYO reusable bottle policy, the machines dispense purified water without the plastic bottle, and at a fraction of the price consumers now pay at a typical vending machine.
I thought the recession was supposed to make absurd, conspicuous purchases like these go away. Guess I was wrong.
“Perhaps Americans will finally wake up and realize that the bottled-water companies are literally drilling up the water from under their houses and selling it back to them in plastic at the corner store.”
Wondering what the “story” is here? Well, the subtitle of this video, created by the same folks who brought us The Story of Stuff, is: “How ‘Manufactured Demand’ Pushes What We Don’t Need and Destroys What We Need Most.”
It’s not just about avoidance techniques. Also covered: What’s the most economical sandwich to make at home? If you’re thinking PB&J, you’re wrong.
Also: stuff you should never pay for, including certain insurance policies, brand-new technology, checking accounts, and ridiculous plastic surgeries. Cankle liposuction anyone?
