It’s hard to claim that downhill skiing is remotely inexpensive. Colorado’s Steamboat Ski Area is noteworthy this year because its top price for a one-day lift ticket is “just” $99. In other words, it hasn’t crossed the $100 threshold like other Colorado ski resorts such as Vail, Telluride, Breckenridge, and Aspen have. For the month of January, though, learning to ski or snowboard is remarkably cheap—and in some cases, totally free.
A year ago, consumers eagerly handed over upwards of $200 for each pair of special fitness “toning” shoes that, thanks to designs featuring padded, wobbly, uneven soles, would supposedly tighten buns, thighs, calves, and abs. Nowadays, amid widespread claims that they don’t come close to working as advertised (and may even be dangerous), toning shoes [...]
Last month, I walked more than 200 miles. When I couldn’t walk, I biked. Why did I spend so much time on my feet? Because of high gas prices.
This week’s links cover topics ranging from school fundraisers that aren’t worth your time (and don’t raise much money), to resources for finding the best Black Friday deals, to effective, low-effort, low-cost ways to clean the bathroom.
“You don’t have to go to the gym to get some exercise.”
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 [...]
In honor the upcoming holiday weekend honoring work, here’s a roundup with a heaping share of tips celebrating the concept of working less and relaxing more.
First comes the news that the “miracle” product that’s been proven to help people lose weight is actually … water. Which costs nothing or next to nothing. Now, this groundbreaking insight: There’s a free or nearly free alternative to cosmetic surgery that will make you look and feel better than if you’d gone under the [...]
The idea that a certain kind of sneaker will significantly help the wearer get in shape and lose weight is “utter nonsense,” according to a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Another expert says, “Nothing about these shoes has any redeeming value.”
I’ve always been puzzled by the variety of ways people will pay to exercise, from gym memberships to personal trainers and beyond. Added to that are all of the exercise paraphernalia—designer yoga outfits, pulse monitors, skin-tight cycling shirts and shorts, all manner of tiny digital entertainment devices. To get some exercise, however, all you really [...]
