Posted June 30, 2009 - 05:34 by Philip Brewer
The economy is way short of full employment, so naturally, consumer spending is down. Sooner or later employment, I think, will return to normal levels. Consumer spending will return to normal too--but don't look to the first half of this decade as "normal." Normal is something very different.
Posted June 29, 2009 - 13:31 by Xin Lu
According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the personal savings rate in May 2009 was 6.9%. This a 15 year high and a far cry from the negative savings rates of just a few years ago. Although a part of the increase in savings comes from the large stimulus bills passed recently, most of the increase seems to come from changes in Americans' spending habits. So who benefits from a higher personal savings rate?
Posted June 29, 2009 - 03:29 by Philip Brewer
I have a pair of shoes that are about to wear out. This sucks because they're shoes I wear pretty often (which is no doubt why they're wearing out). I'll probably have to replace them. I was mulling over a possible post on the universal experience of things wearing out, when it occurred to me that this experience may not be quite as universal as it used to be.
Posted June 27, 2009 - 22:50 by Jeff Yeager
The recession may have a silver lining in the form of better quality of life. Learn the 6 ways the recession has inspired us to save money and live well.
Posted June 26, 2009 - 19:06 by Nora Dunn
Imagine a life where you don’t have to worry about unexpected car repair bills railroading your monthly budget; monthly car loan or lease payments are non-existent, insurance and long-term parking costs are distant memories; and even the gas is paid for…welcome to a life of car sharing. Read on for a primer on the basics of car sharing with resources for you to find a program close to you.
Posted June 23, 2009 - 12:17 by Thursday Bram
When it comes to traveling through Europe, there's a lot to be said for taking the train. With just a little planning, you can see five or six countries in just a week — and for a price that doesn't break the bank. And if you are interested in extended travel — or live the digital nomad lifestyle — you can travel around the whole of Europe for a fraction of the cost of plane tickets or car rentals. These tips can get you started in the right direction to do just that.
Posted June 23, 2009 - 00:14 by Xin Lu
The Education of an American Dreamer: : How a Son of Greek Immigrants Learned His Way from a Nebraska Diner to Washington, Wall Street, and Beyond is the personal memoir of Peter G. Peterson, the cofounder of The Blackstone Group, and also the former U.S. Secretary of Commerce under President Nixon. Mr. Peterson became a billionaire when Blackstone went public in 2007, and he consequently founded the Peter G. Peterson Foundation. This memoir is a fascinating and adventurous tale of life amongst the humble, rich, and powerful.
Posted June 19, 2009 - 22:12 by Paul Michael
It's never pleasant to think about death and funerals, but if there is one certainty in life, it's that we're all going to bite the dust at some point. And just like most things in life, death is an expensive business. But did you know that there are options to the usual funeral...you really can Do It Yourself, if you have the stomach for it.
Posted June 19, 2009 - 09:19 by Philip Brewer
I spent my whole adult life trying to figure out how to get by on a lot less money, because I wanted to be a full-time writer and knew that it wouldn't pay enough to support the lifestyle I was living. Now that I've made the transition, I can see that I was worrying needlessly--there are three sources of big savings that come along almost automatically when you start to get by on a lot less money.
Posted June 18, 2009 - 23:09 by Xin Lu
A few months ago I wrote about several car buying incentives that were floating around. This was before the bankruptcy of Chrysler and GM and there was a rumor going around that the government would push consumers into buying new cars with a trade in program. Now it is official that a "cash for clunkers" bill has passed by both the Senate and the House. This $1 billion program was attached to the $106 billion war spending bill and offers vouchers to consumers who trade in their gas guzzlers. Here are some details on the program.
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