Some members of Congress are pushing for health reform amendments that make sense on several levels: Give consumers more freedom to shop around for insurance policies, along with some financial incentive to keep costs low.
Careers & Workplace
Is the New Frugality Here to Stay?
In 2009, cutting back was cool. Whether thriftiness proves to be short-lived fad or an enduring trend remains to be seen.
The Year of Living Cheaply: A Retrospective
In 2009, dorky, inherently un-fun words like “thrifty” and “frugal” were paired early and often with fancy ones such as “chic” and “glamour.” Folks long accustomed to using triple coupons and cutting their own hair enjoyed newfound status among their neighbors: Instead of being viewed as eccentric oddballs—or worse, as killjoys or …
Odd Economic Indicator Round-up: More Jews Moving to Israel, More-Cramped Cubicles, More Smoking and Surfing Porn
Perhaps they’re not quite as odd as the Hot Waitress Index (a theory in which waitresses get increasingly more attractive as the economy gets worse), but these trends are still rather unusual—yet revealing—indicators of how the economy is faring.
How to Outsmart a Debt Collector
Bob Brooks is a 17-year veteran in the financial services and investment industry, the author of a new book about avoiding credit and debt traps, and a radio show host who counsels callers about financial issues “from a Christian perspective.” One of his messages: When a debt collector is harassing you, it’s not the time to turn the other cheek.
The Unemployment Bowling League
Once a week, a bowling alley in Michigan (where else?) welcomes about 150 unemployed workers, along with some hiring companies and employer reps, to try to throw some strikes and get their careers out of the gutter. It’s all free too.
The ‘Racession’: Asians Are OK, Mexicans Aren’t, Blacks and Whites Suffer Together and Sympathize
Reports seem to show that the economic crisis hurts some racial groups far more than others. Is the recession racist?
The Art of Using Up Your Health Benefits By Year’s End
Health insurance companies aren’t bashful about getting the most they can out of customers, in the form of premiums, co-pays, deductibles, and so on. So, as the end of the year nears, it makes sense to make sure you’re getting the most out of your policy—especially on stuff you’re entitled to for free, like annual preventive checkups, …
In the Land of Opportunity, Not as Much Opportunity as You Might Think
Is a combination of hard work, intelligence, and talent a guarantee of success? Or has the American Dream become just a dream?
Will the Flu Outbreak Be Worse Because of the Economy?
Nobody wants to get the flu. But workers who are concerned that they could be laid off at any moment, or who don’t even get sick pay, really don’t want to get the flu.
Ten Signs that the Economy Is Still in Awful Shape
News is out: The economy grew in the third quarter. But don’t start the celebratory parade just yet.
Has the Recession Been a Curse or a Blessing?
The recession has been a major kick in the pants—but is that exactly what you needed? For folks who underwent big career shifts they were more or less forced to make, and who are happy about the changes, the answer is most definitely yes.
